Walk crowds turn out in force

COMING through the crowds... are Kilngreen Church and Diggle Band. Picture: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

THE rain held off for thousands of revellers as they welcomed Whit Friday walkers to Uppermill.

The traditional event sees parishioners from churches across Saddleworth parade through the village centre with colourful banners proudly proclaiming their identity.

Adults and children lined the High Street to watch brass bands herald the arrival of congregation members from churches in Lydgate, Friezland, Diggle and Dobcross.

The churches taking part were Ebeneezer Congregational, Uppermill, Uppermill Methodist, Kilngreen Church, Diggle, Saddleworth Church, Upp-ermill, Christ Church, Friezland, St Anne’s Church, Lydgate, Holy Trinity Church, Dobcross, St Chad’s Church, Uppermill, Sacred Heart Church, Uppermill and Sandy Lane Congregational, Dobcross.

They were accompanied by Uppermill band, Oberburg Band from Switzerland, Marsden Silver Prize Band, Diggle Band, Camping and Caravanning Club Band, Greenfield, Dobcross Silver Band and Dobcross Youth Band.

Brownies, guides, cubs, scouts and rainbows accompanied by adults, rose queens and Sunday School members marched to rousing tunes and applause from members of the public.

Churches held their own services before joining the parade for a communal celebration topped off with hymns at the King George V Playing Fields in Uppermill.

Ice cream vans, burger huts and drinks vendors did a roaring trade as people packed into the field for the united service.

The past couple of years have seen the Whit Walks carried out in glorious sunshine.

But Oldham’s mini heatwave ended on Wednesday following some of the hottest days of the year at the end of May.

Overhead clouds did nothing to dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic crowds who saw Dobcross Silver Band open the joint service with “Hail Smiling Morn”.

The ceremony ended with a rendition of the National Anthem and featured readings from Reverend Canon Jim Burns from Holy Trinity, Dobcross, Reverend Frank Rowe, from Ebeneezer Congregational, Uppermill, and Father Jimmy Stubbs from Sacred Heart, Uppermill.




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