Tradition riding high at festival

MORRIS men from all over the world are preparing to descend on Saddleworth for the 39th annual Rushcart Festival.

The traditional event, this Saturday and Sunday, will see folk dancers entertain the crowds before a rushcart parade is led by a 15ft bale tower made from Pule Hill rushes.

The cart will be accompanied by up to 150 morris men from all over the world, who will pull the cart along the streets from Uppermill to Greenfield and back.

The rushes are cut during August and stacked up on a two-wheeled cart. The jockey - who sits on top of the 15ft high rush pile on the cart - is the longest serving member of the troupe who hasn’t yet ridden the cart. This year the honour goes to Aaron Daniels.

On Saturday the cart will be pulled from the Commercial in High Street, Uppermill, around the Saddleworth villages.

The following day will see the cart pulled to St Chad’s Church, where the top will be dismantled and the rushes mixed with fragrant herbs and flowers before being spread in the aisles.

This is followed by a day of dancing, wrestling, singing and gurning contests outside the Church Inn pub.