‘Yanks are back in Saddleworth 2019’
10th-11th August at Saddleworth High School
In September 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. Since then the event has grown to become one the best 1940s event in the North West!
The main event is held at Saddleworth High School, Uppermill OL3 6BU regretfully there is no public parking at the school! We will have numerous attractions such as:
* Militaria and Vintage craft stalls, indoors and outdoors
* Military Vehicle encampment
* The North West 101st, The 45th field hospital and 10th armoured
* 25lb Gun display
*The Lister steam display
* Tea Dance Saturday 11am-4pm
* Home front & military displays
*Reenactors
* 1940s singers and dancing.
*Licensed bar
* Live entertainme
* Tea Dance, With Trina and the Backstep boogie club, Saturday 12.00pm-3.00pm. (£2.50 includes refreshments)
* German field hospital with surgeon!
* Food court with hot food and deserts to cater for all tastes.
* New for the 2019: The Thirsty mare Gin bar!
* Home front, military displays and fashion show (the Film ‘Yanks’ will also be played in the Assembly hall)
* *New for 2019: Due to the event being so popular we also have a classic car club and children’s funfair at King George Playing fields, which is a five-minute walk from Saddleworth high school, off the High street.
*Reenactors from all 3 services, civilian attire and USA
* 1940s singers and dancing including 1940s dancing duo Tom Powell and Ellie on Saturday.
*Licensed bar
* Live entertainment and dancing at the and much more.
nt and dancing at the And much much more.
*****Correct on 29/07/19****
The admission price to the event. £6 adult, under 16s £3 and a family ticket £15(2 adults & 2 children under 16. Pay once on the Saturday and return on the Sunday for free.
Over the 2 days of the event we have booked a fly past, via the Battle of Britain memorial flight which will circle over Saddleworth high School. (Subject to weather conditions and operational availability) Timings for the flypast are Saturday 13.42hrs and Sunday 14.35hrs.
Saturday evening from 7.30pm till late at Saddleworth School hall, we will have the Debonair Big Band playing all the music from the decades. Spinning the discs is Trina plus the backstep boogie club, also Paul Peaky Selby sing the hits from the decades. Tickets, which include a hot war time supper are £15.00 each, contact Box Office 07517 777837, you can also purchase tickets from Uppermill Post office, High street, Uppermill and the back-step boogies club. All tickets are sold in advance, NO tickets sold on the door.
On the Sunday the Mayor of Oldham, Deputy Lieutenant of the county, dignitaries and the Prime minister The Rt Hon. Winston Spencer Churchill MP will be hosting a coffee morning at the Methodist church hall, for Any veterans from past or present conflicts. who would like to take part in the parade please contact Paul Higginson T: 07709052501 or Steve Holt 07958 614558
At 12noon on the Sunday the main foot and vehicle parade will leave Bridge Street led by the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band, Standard bearers, Veterans and local Cadets. The second parade will be led by the Northenden Pipe Band and will consist of reenactors. Hopefully this year Tony Foulds from Sheffield will also be taking part in the parade. Tony featured on the BBC breakfast programme early in 2019 when Dan Walker aired Tony’s story, tendering a memorial to the crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress ‘Mi Amigo’ that crashed at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield in 1944. We hope Tony will join us in one of the military USA vehicles.
This parade will be one of the largest militaries & civilian vehicle convoys in the North West, not to be missed!
We must 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!
Park and Ride at Well-i-Hole farm:
We have been given permission from the owner of Well-i-hole farm for li
The parking is only for those visitors attending the main event at Saddleworth High school. Two double decker buses have been booked to provide a park and ride service. The conditions to park at the farm are as follows:
The scheme will operate from Well-i-hole farm and Greenfield railway station request stop only. The park and ride will open at 9.30am and the first bus will leave at 10.00am then every 30 mins (depending on traffic) The last bus will leave the school at 5pm for the farm and Greenfield railway station . The bus service will be provided by Go Goodwin’s of Eccles.
The scheme will operate from Well-i-hole farm and Greenfield railway station request stop only. The park and ride will open at 9.30am and the first bus will leave at 10.00am then every 30 mins (depending on traffic) The last bus will leave the school at 5pm for the farm and Greenfield railway station . The bus service will be provided by Go Goodwin’s of Eccles.
You will need to pay for the event wrist bands which are £6 for adults and £3 for children with a family wrist band at £15.00= 2 adults and 2 children. You will also need to pay £3 per car which includes the shuttle bus. If you purchase the wrist bands on the Saturday you can use these on the Sunday and only pay for car parking at £3 per car (Please no heavy vehicles)
To park at the camp site you will need to pay for the event wrist bands which are £5 for adults and £3 for children with a family wrist band at £12.00= 2 adults and 2 children. You will also need to pay £3 per car which includes the shuttle bus. If you purchase the wrist bands on the Saturday you can use these on the Sunday and only pay for the bus service at £3 per car (Please no heavy vehicles)
Reenactors who have applied and received their green wristbands will only need to pay £3 per car each day (unless you are already camping at the site)
Address Well-i-hole farm road, Greenfield OL3 7HY the park and ride will be sign posted.
** Well-i-hole farm or the YABIS team take no responsibility for any damage etc caused to vehicles who park at the farm. Parking is also subject to availability and you must park as instructed by the marshals.
The team would like to thank the management at Well-i-hole farm for all their help and grateful assistance!
Where possible, if you are visiting the event, use public transport as the village of Uppermill has limited parking.
Trans Pennine Express www.tpexpress.co.uk/ 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. Go-Goodwin’s have been asked to provide 2 double Decker bus which will have disability access.
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 the county of Greater Manchester. visit www.tfgm.com
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 our facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/416876551672249/
Yanks Team
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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