Organisers Ready For Yanks Weekend
The flags are already out at The Commercial in Uppermill.
The main organiser of this weekend’s Yanks Are Back In Saddleworth festival has said everything is “on target” for a successful event, despite a mixed weather forecast.
Paul “Dog Tags” Higginson said today: “Everything’s on target in between the raindrops. But the forecast is better for Sunday which we’re grateful for.”
He revealed there are just a handful of tickets remaining for Saturday night’s Victory Swing Ball at Uppermill Civic Hall, traditionally the centrepiece of the weekend.
You have to get a ticket in advance if you want to go, none will be available on the door, and to book your place call Ken Taylor on 07954 401717.
However, you can pay on the door for Friday night’s Jitterbug Jive at the Civic Hall. It’ll be £3 to get in. Also on Friday, the Old Bell in Delph is hosting a Wartime Sing-As-You-Go event, with tickets available directly from the pub.
Paul also said that Saturday’s Dakota flypast has been brought forward to 1:45pm because of the weather forecast. The Spitfire flypast is due to take place at 2pm on Sunday.
Other attractions include the usual military parade and convoy through the villages, a display of American Classic Cars in the King George V park in Uppermill, and a recreation of the filming of Yanks in Dobcross, again on Sunday. It was the shooting of the movie that inspired the festival, which first took place in 2001, and has become of the highlights of the Saddleworth summer.
The full itinerary of events will be available at shops and pubs across Saddleworth, as well as at the Tourist Information centre, but you can get an idea of everything that’s planned by visiting the Yanks Are Back In Saddleworth website here.
The charities which will benefit this year are the Royal British Legion, the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Care for Casualties, and the Normandy Veterans’ Association Fellowship Fund. You can read more about those charities at their websites here, here and here.
To read an in-depth Saddleworth News interview with Paul and Ken looking ahead to the weekend, click here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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Great, a load of fat blokes dressing up as nazis
I think you will find that the clue is in the title, “Yanks Weekend”. No mention of Nazis there I fear!!
Any sort of historical accuracy takes a back set to dressing up I am afraid
There will be more SS ‘re-enactors’ than you can shake a stick at – and some old overweight ‘US forces’
Looka the Chrn tonight picture of the procession an SS kubelwagen followed by a post war Lightweight Landrover
Does anyone know what time the activities on Sunday start???
Hi,
Having attended the victory swing ball, I can only express disappointment about the way in which myself and my family were treated. Having spoken to Ken Taylor and confirmed children were welcome, I booked tickets for the group to attend an event to which we were all really looking forward. We all participated in the theme with great enthusiasm, hiring costumes etc at great expense and were excited about this gathering and introducing our children to this great event. We attended, the children were beautifully behaved, however, they wished to dance at the side of the dance floor, as little girls do. We were dutifully informed, by a very officious women, that they could not dance and had to sit down. I made a complaint and spoke to the women that the children were enjoying the event and simply wished to participate. She agreed that this was ok only after making my wife feel very small. Further comments were overheard by what I can describe as only very narrow minded people with nothing in their lives, in other words jobsworths. When we queued for the hot supper I felt further victimised and challenged when this women again challenged me on whether the children had been paid for and then proceeded to give the children half portions. All I can say is that these sad, short sighted people should realise that the children are the future of these events as they are the next generation. If I was an organiser I would embrace families wholeheartedly. As a result the night was spoilt, we were made to feel like second class citizens because we had children. I would strongly urge anyone contemplating attending next time, don’t bother if you wish to include your children. OR WISH TO FEEL WELCOME!
its a pity the website isnt updated, it says “full itinary to follow”, we dont know whats happening, where and when. Pity its not a churchills, saddleworth school isnt big enough, parking is a nightmare
A couple of years ago I was horrified to see a vehicle with Nazi Swastikas and occupants in Nazi Uniforms driving down the High St during the “Yanks” weekend. I now make sure I am away for this weekend so I dont run the risk of bumping into these unpleasant people.
I was saddened to see that Andrew was so unhappy about the Victory Ball on Saturday night. I was also there and had a wonderful evening as I am sure most did. I do remember seeing two little girls dancing and was concerned that when the adults were dancing, it would be so easy for the little girls to be injured. Had this happened it would have been upsetting for everyone, the parents, the dancers and the organisers but especially for his little girls who as he said, looked really lovely for the occasion.
I feel that it was only right for the organisers to ask that they be kept safe.
We are all a friendly crowd and would not knowingly cause upset to visitors to our events. We want you to enjoy them and return.
I am wondering just how wildly the adults were dancing that they posed a risk to the children’s safety!