Moor to do

Local organisations thrive in Saddleworth — and many would say it is just as well. Situated five miles from the nearest town, the district has very little ready-made entertainment. But the local societies make up for that as Geoff Wood discovers.

There is no cinema, no bowling alley and — for the moment, anyway — no supermarket.

Saddleworth has the views, the countryside, the quaint villages and pubs and some wonderful fresh air.

But ask what is laid on for village folk by the local authority and other outside bodies and the answers will be a bit slow at coming.

It follows that local societies and organisations play a major part in the lives of very many Saddleworth people.

And now their contribution is to be showcased at an open day due to be held in Uppermill.

The voluntary action event at the Civic Hall, Uppermill, from October 3 -5, will provide an opportunity for voluntary groups and special interest societies to promote themselves to Saddleworth folk.

Saddleworth Parish Council area also keen to hear from any group which could put on a short demonstration of their activities during the weekend, such as jujitsu, singing and dancing.

For more information please contact Saddleworth Parish Council on 01457 876665.

Councillor John Hudson, former parish council chairman, said: “We are very rich in Saddleworth in all these societies and choirs.

“We have an ever-changing population and we need the event in October to show off what we have.

“It is 20 years since an event of this type was staged and it is high time we demonstrated the diversity of the organisations here — and new ones are starting all the time.”

Leader of the Lib-Dems on Saddleworth Parish Council Councillor Brian Lord said: “I suggested this originally 15 years ago and there was something of a small scale event.

“I had another go with this 10 years ago with a committee for voluntary groups.

“I thought I would have a go for a third time and a special weekend is now resulting on October 4 and 5.

“This time there will be singers and dancers and the like putting on a show during the exhibition and we hope this will create more interest and result in more people attending at the civic hall.

“Voluntary organisations are really the bedrock of Saddleworth.

“The like of the Beer Walk and the Saddleworth Festival all stem from these working bodies. We don’t have a lot of commercial entertainment here so we have to make our own.”

Parish councillor Ken Hulme said the voluntary groups and societies were crucial to life in Saddleworth.

He said: “Without them life here would be very bleak. There would be no Whit Friday, no Beer Walk . . . the weave and weft of Saddleworth life is woven in with hundreds of local people getting involved in community events.

“And this of course makes up with a lack of facilities provided by Oldham Council for the area.”

One of the biggest success stories of the year has been Springhead Community Centre.

The centre in Ashes Lane was closed in December in council cut backs.

But by January 7, the Springhead Community Association had reopened it.

Its secretary Bill Firth said: “We will definitely be at the voluntary weekend and putting on a display.

“The centre is now so popular that we are in danger of running out of space — there was certainly a need for it.”

“We now have a good list of activities. One organisation, Saddleworth Singers, which moved away to Uppermill, is coming back.”

Groups range from very large organisations like the Saddleworth Historic Society with 500 members to small groups like the Saddleworth Naturalists with a couple of dozen.

The historical society has nearly 500 members and up until December of last year 42 new people had joined.

Many ex-Saddleworth people now maintain an interest in Saddleworth from their new home.

Saddleworth Naturalists centres on an appreciation of wildlife and the countryside.

There are nature study walks in the summer and a series of talks at Brownhill Visitor Centre, Uppermill, during the winter months.

Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents Association now has a membership of 100, boosted by an effective IT network reaching over 300 e-mail recipients.

They take every opportunity to make their voice heard against the kind of residential development which they say spoils the villages.

Saddleworth Musical Society celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

They will be staging the Mikado at the end of October at Saddleworth School.

There are around 60 members but the society are always looking for more. Meetings are held at the Lee Street Centre in Uppermill. For more information ring Margaret Rawlins on 01457 873341.

Saddleworth Round Table is a remarkably small band of enthusiasts which achieves a great deal in the charity stakes.

Their annual Saddleworth Beer Walk is now in its 35th year and this year raised £16,000 for charity.

In the winter, members help brighten up Uppermill with Christmas lights and their winter activities fund a large-scale pensioners party.

The Round Table is looking to recruit new men aged up to 45 who will be prepared to commit some time to this sort of work and anyone interested should phone Nigel Hill on 07966 196838.