Rebel Town Festival postponed until later in the year due to Delta variant

The annual event is organised by Follonsby Wardley Miners Lodge Banner Community Heritage Association and the Durham Miners Association. They are hoping to rearrange the event for some time in August.

In theory it was possible for the event to proceed as planned, but social distancing considerations made it difficult to guarantee public safety.

On the agenda for the day was to have been a banner parade through Jarrow town centre, stalls, musical and attendees could have enjoyed a drink.

There is a political slant to the occasion and guest speakers pencilled in included Jarrow MP Kate Osborne and former National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill.

The event marks Jarrow’s role in the history of Britain’s industrial relations since the 1830s, particularly the story of the 1832 Seven Men of Jarrow, who were deported to an Australian penal colony for a crime they almost certainly didn’t commit.

It was to be the fifth festival, although 2020’s event was also cancelled due to Covid.

Dave Douglass, secretary of the Follonsby Wardley Miners' Lodge Association, said: “I’m very disappointed because people were coming from all over the country to attend.

“The precautions we were going to have to take made it really impractical. We’re now looking for another date and we’re hoping for some time in August.

“We would like to apologise to people, but it was beyond our control.”

Tom Hall, director of public health at South Tyneside Council, said: “We are seeing increasing numbers of infections across South Tyneside, largely driven by the more transmissible Delta variant.

“The number of infections in the borough, and across the region, have been rising rapidly. In light of this, it is important that we all continue to follow public health guidance around hands, face, space and fresh air.

“Large scale events continue to pose a risk to public health which is why we have discussed the Government advice with the organisers who have decided to postpone this event until we move to Step Four of the Government Roadmap and infections have started to reduce.”

Support your Gazette and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. The Shields Gazette has been on South Tyneside since 1849, and your support means we can continue telling your stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe.