Yanks Organisers Happy Despite Flypast Disappointments
The view of the Yanks procession in Uppermill from one of the vehicles. (picture: Alison Barlow)
The main organiser of the Yanks Are Back In Saddleworth festival has said this year’s event went “really well” despite last-minute cancellations affecting both scheduled flypasts.
Crowds expecting to see a Dakota on Saturday afternoon, and a Spitfire on Sunday, were left disappointed as neither flight took place.
Paul “Dog Tags” Higginson explained that he’d only been told on Friday morning that the Dakota wouldn’t be able to fly, because of engine trouble. The Spitfire, which had been serviced last week, was unable to take off on Sunday morning because of low cloud.
Paul said: “It’s unfortunate, but as organisers we are at the mercy of the weather.”
Commenting on the weekend more generally, he added: “The crowds turned out, the parade on Sunday was a success, and the dance on Saturday night was a sell-out and a success as well.”
Much of the festival was held at Saddleworth School, instead of Churchill Fields as in past years, and Paul said: “We had a few teething problems with having two fields to work from, but that came from what I was told back in February, that we couldn’t use Churchill (because of the planned drainage work). But all in all it wasn’t too bad.”
It was the 10th anniversary of the weekend, inspired by the filming of the movie Yanks in Dobcross back in 1978. Charities to benefit this year were 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 good causes at their websites here, here and here.
More Saddleworth News coverage of Yanks, including articles, pictures and videos, can be found here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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A film 33 years ago referring to a film 66 years ago.
Saddleworth living in the past? Never!
“Care for Casualties .. ” .. “read more about those good causes” As long as ‘the casualties’ are those inflicting the killing and maiming, not those that can’t avoid them because THEY LIVE THERE.
Gotta keep up the militaristic propaganda however. OUR killings = good and righteous. THEIR killings = bad and evil. REGARDLESS.
Congratulations….
Another good rant George, keep ’em coming – this site would be dry without your quotes!
Anyway, regardless of the aircraft not flying, there were plenty of people out there who seemed to be enjoying the proceedings – us included!
Well done to this year’s organisers for bringing everything together and arranging another memorable event!
it’s a shame the organiser didnt pass the information about the cancelled flypasts on to SaddleworthNews (who would have tweeted the news) when he found out and I wouldnt have wasted an hour each day stood on the hill waiting for them to come over!
I’m angered by the phrase “those inflicting the killing and maiming”. It’s vulgar, and I feel it’s misdirected.
Irrespective of my own opinion of the conflicts, I have great respect for the bravery of the individuals who sign up, knowing that they may never return, or that they may return with severe injuries (physical or psychological).
The soldiers do not decide to go to war; they do a job, which many would not want to do, but most would agree is necessary.
I’m not a fan of the Yanks weekend, but charities such as the Royal British Legion help to look after ex-forces personnel and their families. It’s an outrage that there is a need for such charities.
On a separate note, whilst I agree with some of the things George has said in previous comments on this site, I wish he would find something better to do with his time. His comments all seem to be one-sided rants against Saddleworth, rather than reasoned debates that would help anyone. It seems strange that someone with such an apparent dislike of Saddleworth would want to contribute towards this site.