GI whizz!
Reporter: MARINA BERRY
Date published: 15 August 2011
Photo: Pictures: CHRIS SUNDERLAND
ON PARADE: military presence in Uppermill.
THE Yanks rolled into town at the weekend, turning back the clock to make Uppermill look like a 1940s wartime village.
Officers and civilians meticulously kitted out in Second World War gear paraded the High Street.
Jeeps and other camouflage vehicles tootled up and down from the base at Saddleworth School, and it was full credit to Yanks’ followers who made sure the 10th anniversary of this legendary Saddleworth event was a huge success.
The festival of all-things wartime has grown from strength to strength over the years, having at its centre the reputation of Dobcross as a scene from the famous “Yanks” movie, which brought Hollywood actor Richard Gere to the borough.
But two of the highlights — a flypast on Saturday by a Dakota and on Sunday by a Spitfire — were both cancelled, due to technical problems affecting both aircraft.
Celebrations on the ground continued, however, and the main street of Uppermill was virtually impassible as weekend revellers crowded the footpaths and spilled into the road to catch a glimpse of the Sunday afternoon military vehicle convoy.
Shops filled their windows with wartime memorabilia, cafes offered “off-ration” cakes and snacks and the pubs provided the ideal venues for wartime music to play out in the background for gatherings of people that looked as if they had walked straight out of the history books.
Amazing were the numbers of young people taking part, born decades after the end of the war, yet entering into the spirit with the camaraderie and bon homie which adversity brings with it.
June Bird, from Delph was a newcomer to the event and said: “It has been a great day with a wonderful atmosphere. It definitely won’t be the last time I visit.”
And Deborah Shaw of Royton, who is a regular at the annual festival with her family said: “It’s good to see so many people making the effort.”
The event evoked memories of an era gone by with an old-style funfair, stalls selling vintage gear, and swing dancing.
However the battle reanactment had to be cancelled on health and safety reasons due to the dangers of fighting with weapons on wet and slippery grass.
Organiser Paul “Dogtags” Higginson said, however: “It was a great weekend. The Saturday night dance was a sell out, the Sunday parade was fabulous, there was good attendance by military vehicles and the public, and we had some great, unusual raffle prizes.
Paul promised Yanks would be back for an 11th time next year, but warned organisers may ask for a small contribution from the public to help towards escalating running costs.
Lucky raffle winners will get the chance to experience some wartime spirit, thanks to prizes of an hours flying lesson in a byplane, sponsored by Birch Farm ice cream parlour, Heywood, a drive in a chieftain tank over a car, and a drive in an armoured personnel carrier, both donated by Demon Tanks of Fleetwood.
Proceeds from the weekend went to the Royal British Legion, the Royal Green Jackets Care for Casualties and the Normandy Veterans Association.
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