On Friday 16th February 2024, we commemorated the 115th anniversary of the West Stanley Pit Disaster of 1909 which claimed 168 lives.

Stanley Town Council were joined by Town Mayor, Councillor Olga Milburn, Craghead Colliery Band, Mr Stephen Guy, Chairman of Durham Miners Association, as well local residents.

The service saw speeches from the Mayor and Durham Miners Association, music from Craghead Colliery Band and a Tommy Armstrong song performed by local resident.

Stanley Town Council would like to thank all attendees, GMB Union who attended with the West Stanley Banner, and those who lay tributes at the site.

Stanley takes Gold for Northumbria in Bloom (NIB) 2023, Large Town Category.

From the collective efforts of Stanley Town Council, businesses, schools and community groups & organisations, Stanley has finally achieved Gold for its efforts in the Northumbria in Bloom Awards, the hard work from everyone included has finally paid off.

In 2022 Stanley won Best in Class achieving Silver Gilt; and has received the Gold it deserves in 2023!

NIB is a nationally recognised Award with Cities, Towns and Villages entering the Awards all across Northumbria. The competition, now in its 59th year, is all about encouraging local communities to improve their area though community gardening and sound environmental practices. It is part of the UK wide Britian in Bloom campaign run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

Stanley receiving Gold is a real achievement, giving the people of Stanley something to feel proud about, our community should feel very proud of its achievements!

On Sunday 20th August we held our annual Miners Sunday celebrations.

We saw the Miners Banners being paraded down Stanley Front Street, led by Craghead Colliery Band.

The Front Street donned with activities including the Fun House, Circus Workshops, Side Stall such as Coconut Shy, Tin Can Alley, Hook a Duck and Shuggy Boats.

Thank you to all those involved from the local miners’ banner groups, volunteers carrying the banners, the Durham Miners Association for their support and Craghead Colliery Band for helping to create the Miners Banner Parade!

Check out the gallery below…

On the 23rd August at 12pm, Stanley Town Council held a Memorial Service to commemorate and remember the Louisa Morrison Disaster and those who lost their lives on the 23rd August 1947.

We would like to thank Town Mayor Olga Milburn, Councillor Jeanette Stephenson and Durham MinersAssociation Secretary Alan Mardghum for their speeches and commemorations.

We would also like to extend our thanks to the family and the friends of those who lost their lives as well as councillors and the public for attending the service.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas !

Thank you to all who attended the Christmas Light Switch On Friday evening. We hope you had a great time and enjoyed the festivities !

Many thanks to AH Events, Dan Charles for being an excellent host, Craghead Colliery Band, Artemis Productions UK, Anna & Elsa, The Grinch, Greenland Community Primary School choir, Khalysis, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy & Donald, Town Mayor Cllr Milburn, and of course Santa !.