Yanks are back in Saddleworth 2016
The Yanks Event 2015
Reporter: Stuart Littleford
In 1979 the film Yanks was released and shown in cinemas across the world.
It starred Richard Gere, Vanessa Redgrave, William Devane, Lisa Eichhorn and Tony Melody. The film was shot in Saddleworth, Stalybridge, Oldham, Stockport and Hyde in the North West. The film was set in the 1940s and shows American troops stationed in the North West training for deployment to Europe for D-day.
In 2001 a small team of volunteers organised the first Yanks event in Uppermill and since then the event has grown to become one the best 1940s event in the North West. The main event is to be held at Saddleworth School in Uppermill over this weekend 6 and 7 August.
At the school we there will be numerous attractions such as militaria and vintage food stalls, indoors and outdoors, military vehicle encampment, tea dance (on Saturday 11am-4pm) at the civic hall, home front & military displays, licensed bar, static Spitfire & WW2 engines, live entertainment and dancing at the school plus much much more.
The admission to the event has been retained from 2015 and will be £5 adult, under 16s £3 and a family ticket £12 (2 adults & 2 children under 16).
There will be FREE Admission to re-enactors for the whole weekend.
Over the two days of the event a Battle of Britain memorial flight has been booked, not just a Lancaster but a Spitfire and Hurricane as well. (Subject to weather conditions).
Saturday evening from 7.30pm till late in the civil hall there will be the Kalamazoo Dance Band playing all the music from the decades. Spinning the discs will be Trina plus the backstep boogie club, tickets which include a hot war time supper are £18.00 each.
For tickets call 07517 777837, tickets are now available from Betty’s Fish and Chip shop, High street, Uppermill. All tickets are sold in advance, NO tickets sold at the door.
On the Sunday the Mayor of Oldham, Deputy Lieutenant of the county Mrs S R Birtles JP, dignitaries and the Prime Minister The Rt Hon. Winston Spencer Churchill MP will be hosting a coffee morning for Normandy and RBL veterans. Any veterans who would like to take part in the parade please contact Paul Dogtags on 07709052501.
A former D-Day and Battle of Bulge veteran Mr David Leon Teacher M.B.E and Volunteer at Imperial War Musuem North and published author will be attending the ‘Yanks are back in Saddleworth’ event at Saddleworth school, Uppermill.
Yanks Event 2015
David was one of the first ashore at Juno beach, one of five beaches, on the morning of D-Day and served in Western Europe for most of the war. As well as having been awarded campaign medals for his service in Europe, David has recently been awarded France’s most prestigious award, the Legion d’honneur.
David has volunteered at the IW museum since July last year, giving talks to people of all ages about his experiences and views on war. In recent years he has helped many families trace the graves of loved ones killed in war, with some being as far afield as Sri Lanka.
He hopes that by speaking about these experiences, he will encourage more people to participate in acts of remembrance.
David will also be signing his book ‘Beyond my wildest Dreams’ at Saddleworth school. In his book David re-calls the day when he landed on Juno beach on June 1944.
Stephen Holt Press officer for the volunteer team told Saddleworth News: “The whole team are very humbled that David will be joining us at the Yanks event at Saddleworth school. We also hope that he will take part in the Midday parade on Sunday 7 August. We salute David and all his his colleagues whether past or present for the sacrifices they made that gave us the freedom we have today”
At 12.00pm on the Sunday the main parade will leave Bridge Street led by the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band, standard bearers, veterans, cadets, re-enactors and the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue pipe band. To the rear of the parade will be one of the largest military & civilian vehicle convoys in the North West, not to be missed!
1940s re-enactors are very welcome to attend the event and receive free admission and refreshments, but the organisors ask that German re-enactors do not wear Black (SD) Allgemeine SS uniforms with red armbands. Waffern SS combat uniforms are welcome as long as SS insignia is not displayed!
The organising committee are also keen to emphasise that those attending the event are asked where possible to use public transport as the village of Uppermill has limited parking.
Northern rail (Arriva) operate services from Manchester to Huddersfield stopping at Greenfield station where a free bus service will take passengers to the main event at the school. Regretfully as the buses are classed as Heritage they cannot accommodate wheel chairs. Full details of fares and time tables please visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk.
For those residing in the county of Greater Manchester TFGM have a special GM ranger ticket which gives unlimited travel on trains at weekends in Greater Manchester. Visit: www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/Tickets/Pages/tickets_rail.aspx
First Bus and other local transport providers operate services from Manchester, Oldham, Huddersfield and Ashton-under-Lyne. For timetables and fares please visit: www.tfgm.com/
For the latest up to date information on the event please visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/416876551672249/
Saddleworth News will be broadcasting parts of the Yanks event live over the weekend, so follow us on Twitter @saddleworthnews for more information.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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