NEW BANNER FOR CARLISLE

New Carlisle banner blessed at Carlisle Cathedral at special dedication ceremony

A new RMT branch banner was unveiled at Carlisle Cathedral in June with a traditional trade union design, replacing the two old National Union of Railwayman banners from the RMT's predecessor trade union.

The new banner has been created by the renowned Durham Bannermakers who have created many banners for mining communities and progressive organisations. The old banners, which are thought to date from 1913 and 1926, were officially handed over to the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in the City for safe storage, restoration, conservation and eventual display.

The RMT Fishburn Band led a march from Carlisle Citadel Station to Carlisle Cathedral with the new banner followed by some other RMT branch and regional council banners.

RMT assistant general secretary John Leach, retiring regional organiser John Tilley and former general secretary Mick Leach marched with the new banner alongside the local dignitaries.

Regional organiser Craig Johnson said that RMT members had travelled from all over the country to attend

“We were so proud that other RMT banners came to Carlisle for the event and marched through the city behind our new banner including our own regional council banner - Manchester and the North West Regional Council - was joined by the Scottish Regional Council banner then the RMT Western Isles Port Committee, and banners from Manchester South, Preston No1, Crewe No1, Liverpool 5, Stockport and District, Newcastle Rail and Catering, Blackpool and the Fylde Coast and Wigan.

“Members of PCS, Unite the Union and the NASUWT also joined the march - along with a number of Labour Councillors from the City,” he said.

A special service of dedication was arranged in Carlisle Cathedral following the tradition of miners in the North East who have historically taken their banners to be blessed at Durham Cathedral and still have their banners blessed at a service in Durham Cathedral on the Durham Miners Gala day.

The service was taken by the Rev Eleanor Hancock, whose father Matt Johnstone had been a signaller in Carlisle Power Box, chair of NUR Carlisle North branch and a frequent delegate to numerous RMT AGMs.

“Carlisle Cathedral was an obvious choice to get our new banner dedicated and blessed as a railway city with a proud history of railway trades unionism and NUR and RMT involvement in the community and civic life of our city over many years.

“All the supporting banners processed up the main aisle of the cathedral as the Fishburn Band played, it sounded and looked an impressive sight,” said Craig.