Wartime spirit recaptured

The world at large may no longer be at war – but Saddleworth is determined to keep the wartime community spirit alive this weekend.

The Saddleworth Wartime Weekend, previously Yanks, is set to occupy the villages from Friday to Sunday, with men and women in military costume, historic military vehicles and jiving in the streets.

Hollywood heart-throb Richard Gere started the ball rolling back in 1978 when he starred in the film “Yanks” which was filmed partly in Dobcross.

And since 2001, the film has been the excuse for a major celebration of things wartime in Saddleworth.

But earlier this year it looked as if the annual celebration was off when a site could not be found at the time for the large number of military vehicles taking part.

But businessman Jonathan Williamson and fellow organisers believed it could still go ahead and took over the event from former chief organiser Peter Cartner.

Mr Williamson found a site off Church Road. But later with the help of Oldham Council, it was decided to set up camp for vehicles and visitors on Churchill Playing Fields.

This year’s event promises to be bigger than the last and starts on Friday with an Hawaiian night at the Waggon Inn, Uppermill.

Saturday lunchtime, will see a small convoy of military vehicles, a tea dance at St Chad’s Lee Street and jiving at the Waggon Inn, High Street from noon onwards.

And for those with energy left, there will be sunset swing 1940s dance at Friezland Parish Hall, Oakland Road, Greenfield.

Highlights on Sunday include a huge convoy of military vehicles from Churchill Playing Fields at noon, moving through Uppermill, Delph, the A62 above Marsden, Dobcross Village Square and Uppermill.

And Dobcross Village Square will be the scene of a`gathering to mark the “Yanks” film at 1pm, followed at 2 pm by a speech by a Winston Churchill lookalike.

Organiser Jonathan Williamson said: “We hope to entertain the crowds but we also want to honour those who were involved in the Second World War.”