They come from a land Down Under...

Photo: Paul Sterritt

Saddleworth’s Rushcart parade.

MORRIS dancers will forge a remarkable link this weekend between Saddleworth and its namesake — 10,000 miles away in Australia.

A team from Down Under will be dancing at the Saddleworth Rushcart Festival as it weaves a colourful mosaic across local villages.

And the Adelaide Morris Men are bringing a VIP letter of greeting from the Mayor of Saddleworth, South Australia, to Saddleworth Parish Council. The Aussie Saddleworth was named in 1844 by livestock expert John Masters in honour of his home community.

Speaking from Australia Adelaide morris dancer Bill Singleton revealed he performed at Saddleworth Rushcart in the mid-1970s with the Adlington and Gorton sides.

He said: “Our Adelaide side started around 40 years ago and we still have some of the earliest dancers with us. A number of us have been members of English morris sides and we toured the UK a couple of years ago.

Ed Worrall, the newly-elected squire of Saddleworth Morris Men, said: “We danced with the Adelaide side at an event a few years ago. They’re over for about two weeks, dancing with various morris teams, but they timed their trip to make sure they could appear at our festival.”

Councillor Neil Allsopp, chair of Saddleworth Parish Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Australian side to our community — they’ll be given a right gradely welcome.”



Where to see the morris men

Saturday

Uppermill Square: 9.30am — unveiling of the banner.

Greenfield: 10.45–11.30am — King William IV.

Uppermill: Noon-1.30pm — Museum car park, St Chad’s Gardens, Hare & Hounds, Conservative Club.

Delph: 2.15–3.45pm: Gartside Street; White Lion.

Dobcross Square: 4.15–5.15pm.

Dobcross: 5.30–6.30pm — The Navigation.

Sunday

Uppermill Square: Depart square to arrive St Chad’s Church for 11am service.

Uppermill: 12.15-2.30pm: Church Inn/Cross Keys: