Pictures From Yorkshire Day In Uppermill
The Greenfield Band.
Happy Yorkshire Day!
Although the day falls on 1 August, which is today, the traditional Saddleworth celebrations took place at the playing fields in Uppermill yesterday, the nearest Sunday to the occasion. Here are some images taken during the event.
The significance of the date to Yorkshire has its origins in the Battle of Minden, which took place on 1 August 1759 during the Seven Years’ War, and featured a significant contribution from Yorkshire soldiers. You can read more about the battle in a Wikipedia entry here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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Yorkshire Day indeed. Was there a stall informing people that it is now known that the world is round, that groats are no longer accepted as payment, and that Ceylon is now referred to as Sri Lanka?
And there is still a special piece of Yorkshire on the western slopes of the Pennines. Lancashire, hands off!!
There’s probably more chance of achieving world peace than being able to resolve this old chestnut, but I think the reason the whole ‘Saddleworth is in Yorkshire’ argument winds some people up is because it is used in a variety of contexts, some much more serious than others.
For many, Saddleworth is in Yorkshire, as much as Lees and Oldham are in Lancashire – it’s harmless self-identity for historic cultural importance. For example, it gives people a cricket team to follow and allows people to choose which slang words and phrases suit them best. There will always be ‘proud Lancastrians’ ready to rise to any bait, but it would mostly be friendly banter.
For others, there is a much more serious argument, which ultimately could cost lives. Some people want to move Saddleworth into the modern administrative ‘West Yorkshire’ area. It may sound nice, but it isn’t necessary to do that in order to preserve cultural identity (my experience of Kirklees suggests that being in Yorkshire is less of a big deal to them, than it is to Saddleworth).
County boundaries have often changed in the past, usually to make administration a lot easier. Geographically it doesn’t make much sense to either have dedicated fire, ambulance and full time police in Saddleworth, nor would it be a good idea to have them travelling all the way from Huddersfield or Netherton; particularly on an icy winter day.
Personally, I don’t identify with either Lancashire, Yorkshire or Greater Manchester. For some postal addresses, Oldham will often be listed as Lancashire; sometimes I’ll describe where I live as ‘Greater Manchester’, but the reality is, most people don’t want to define themselves by an area. There are better things to worry about (that’s aimed at critics and advocates of this boring debate).
Many of us believe a South Pennine Authority – much on the lines of High Peak Council would be more appropriate for this area than this unhappy forced marriage with Oldham.
Not just Saddleworth, but Littleborough and other communities in the South Pennines would benefit by having their own authority rather than being tagged on to large urban areas like Oldham & Rochdale.
I am watching with great interest how the governments ‘localism’ bill proceeds through parliament.
I am coming to the conclusion that a referendum on Saddleworth’s continued relationship as part of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council should be held and this bill might give us extra opportunities to hold one.
But Lees and Oldham are in Lancashire, so too are Royton Shaw, Chadderton, Failsworth. Greater Manchester was formed as an administrative area, which was abolished in 1986, that’s 27 years ago.
Yorkshire day was a good day out, plenty to see and do. I spoke with many non Yorkshire folk who now live in the area, because the like the village communities and the way of life.
So let’s not argue over which county it’s in. Saddleworth is a lovely area to live in. which just happens to be in Yorkshire and administered by Oldham MBC which is in Lancashire.