Pulling in the crowds

Photo: Chris Sunderland

IN full costume: Saddleworth Morris Men entertain.

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TORRENTIAL rain didn’t dampen the spirits of morris men as they danced through the streets of Saddleworth for the annual rushcart parade on Saturday.

The annual event sees folk dancers pull a 15ft bale tower from Uppermill to Greenfield and back again. This year’s jockey, John Squirrell, proudly sat on top of the cart.

Morris men from all over the country and beyond descended on Saddleworth to help pull the cart from the Commercial in High Street, Uppermill, to Greenfield and back before the dancers performed in Delph and Dobcross.

On Sunday, the cart was pulled up to St Chad’s Church in Uppermill where the rushes were laid in the aisles before the service.

There was more dancing in the afternoon along with the traditional gurning, worst singer and wrestling contests.

Sarah Pearson, from Delph, won the worst singer contest with her awful version of Minnie Riperton classic “Loving You”.


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