The finished banner

South Tyneside Miners Heritage Association was formed to celebrate the 100ft anniversary of the Westoe Shaft being sunk, and 25 years since the Miners Strike which tried in vain to prevent the early closure of Westoe Colliery in 1993.

It was decided to produce a new Westoe Colliery Banner to celebrate this anniversary.

Pupils of Westoe Crown Primary School which now occupies the site of the former colliery were asked to design the reverse side of the banner and for Bob Olley, a patron of the association to work up the design from the basic idea.

Bob and his grandson with the winning design

In July 2009 David Miliband, MP for South Shields and patron of the Miners Heritage Group unveiled the new banner which then lead the parade at the 125ft Durham Miners Gala on 1st July 2009 supported by the Westoe Colliery Brass Band. The banner was later dedicated and blessed by the Bishop at Durham Cathedral.

The new banner is on permanently displayed at Harton & Westoe Colliery Welfare.