Park and jive back in time

A TRIUMPHANT Yanks celebration is planned to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the legendary Saddleworth event this weekend.

Around 10,000 leaflets have been distributed across the borough ahead of the bumper festival of all things wartime, which gets under way tonight.

The trademark military vehicle convoy will see locals line the streets of Uppermill waving flags at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Much of the action will this year take place within the grounds of Saddleworth School following the anticipated closure of Churchill playing fields, with an old-time funfair, vintage stalls and swing dancing on Saturday.

Organiser Paul “Dogtags” Higginson says the anniversary celebrations will be a year to remember.

He added: “The festival is a credit to everyone that takes part, from the original organisers to the current team.

“In 10 years it has grown tremendously for all the right reasons.

“People want to come and celebrate, and it’s also a great opportunity for young people to learn about that era.

“It’s going to be another stellar year and we want to maintain the popularity of the celebration for years to come.”

Donations from this year’s event will go to the Royal British Legion, the Royal Green Jackets Care for Casualties and the Normandy Veterans Association.

The undoubted highlight of the weekend will be a poignant flypast of a Dakota aircraft at 1.45pm on Saturday and a thundering Spitfire flyover at the same time on Sunday.

The famous “Yanks” film will be re-enacted through Dobcross village on Sunday while the well-established Victory Swing Ball on Saturday at the civic hall in Uppermill will see the spirit or war-torn Britain brought back to life.

Paul added: “People come from all four corners of the country and every year the following gets stronger and stronger.

“Because many people weren’t around then there’s a certain curiosity about the era and Yanks just captures people’s imaginations.”


Timetable of events


Tonight:

7.30pm: In The Mood Jitterbug Jive Night, Civic Hall, Uppermill.

7.30pm: Wartime Sing As We Go, Old Bell, Delph.



Tomorrow:

10am: 1940s Field Cafe, Saddleworth School.

Noon: Military Vehicle Encampment, Saddleworth School.

1pm: Tea dance with B17 Boogie, St Chad’s Uppermill.

1.45pm: Dakota flypast.

7.30pm: Victory Swing Ball, Civic Hall, Uppermill.



Sunday:

11am: Mayor of Oldham’s coffee morning, Betty’s Fish and Chip shop, Uppermill.

11am: 1940s Field Cafe, Saddleworth School.

Noon: Military parade and convoy.

1.45pm: Spitfire flypast.

2.30pm: “Yanks” film re-enactment, Dobcross.

4pm: Battle re-enactment, Saddleworth School.