Lancaster will be star of the show

Tony Whalley, one of the organising team with a commemorative mug

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Wartime Weekend is set for take-off

AN emotional D-Day celebration, including a spine-tingling flight of one of the last two remaining Lancaster bombers, is to be staged next weekend.

And nearly 100 military vehicles, dating from the First World War to the Gulf War, will rumble through villages to celebrate the Saddleworth Wartime Weekend.

The centrepiece will be a fly-past by the fabled Lancaster, which played starring roles in two films, “Operation Crossbow” and “The Guns of Navarone”.

The weekend opens at Uppermill’s civic hall on Friday with the National Service jive band, featuring the Crown Top Kings, playing hits from the 1940s and 1950s.

There will also be a rock and roll segment and guests are encouraged to wear period clothes.

On Saturday, from noon till 4pm, there will be a tea dance featuring swing music, hosted by B17 Boogie, at St Chad’s Village Hall in Lee Street.

The evening’s Jitterbug Jump will star the Suburban Swing Orchestra at the civic hall.

Tony Whalley, a 62-year-old sheet metal worker from Hollins, is one of the dedicated team from the Manchester Military Vehicle Trust staging the wartime event.

He said: “It’s specifically aimed at Saddleworth and we want to involve all the locals and community organisations too.

“This year — the 65th anniversary of D-Day — is very special and I’m sure everyone who watches our convoy and parade or joins the fun at our dances and other events will have a fabulous time.

“There will be something to appeal to all the family, from thrilling re-enactments to a huge convoy of impressive military vehicles driving through the villages.

“Hopefully, weather permitting, the Lancaster bomber will be seen in the skies above Saddleworth at 4.20pm on Sunday.

“It will set a seal on the whole weekend.”

Before the fly over, The Royal British Legion will head a parade through Uppermill.

PA474 is one of only two Lancasters remaining in airworthy condition out of the 7,377 that were built. The other is in Canada.

She was built in Chester in mid-1945 and earmarked for the Tiger Force in the Far East but the war with Japan ended before she could take part in any hostilities.

In 1964 she was adopted by the Air Historical Branch and took part in the two films.

Eventually, the aircraft joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and restoration work has continued ever since.

The aircraft bears the markings of EE139, the Phantom of the Ruhr, a Lancaster that flew her first 30 operations with 100 Squadron based at Waltham, before completing a further 91 operations with 550 Squadron at North Killingholme.


A commemorative limited edition mug of the weekend will be for sale, priced £3.99p.

For full information and programme details, contact Tony Whalley on 0161-652 6824.