The Yanks are back

THE YANKS are back in town for their annual celebrations with a host of events across the community on August 9-11.

Wartime memories and forties fever will be rekindled as pubs, restaurants and businesses commemorate the making of 1979 blockbuster ‘Yanks’ starring Richard Gere.

Step back in time to the Golden Age of Swing at The Diggle Hotel on Saturday 11 with a free afternoon of swing music from 3-7pm.

And the car park will be transformed into a dance floor as guests take to their feet to perform the Charleston, Lindyhop, Jump Jive and Balboa.

The celebrations spread to Uppermill, where a Hawaiian Night will be held at The Waggon Inn on Friday 10, with Jukebox Johnnie from 7pm.

There will be more music on Saturday from Jukebox Johnnie on from 1pm and Rockabilly Fever at 2pm, followed by Jukebox Johnnie from 1.30pm on Sunday.

And don’t miss the outside bar and BBQ, with free admission, that will be running throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile at The Commercial, opposite the Square, guests can be wooed by troops sweetheart Katie Mustang, who will be singing all the wartime favourites on Friday. 

Then on Saturday and Sunday, Ricky Hunter takes centre stage to perform 1940s classics, and there will be music, an outside bar and BBQ all weekend.

In Dobcross, where part of ‘Yanks’ was filmed, David James, Dave Morris and The Dobcross Brass Monkeys perform at the Band Club on Friday at 7.30pm.

Enjoy a 40s dance lesson with Katz Korner from 3-4pm on Saturday before tucking into traditional, home-made, hot food from 4-5.30pm at the Old Time Café.

From 7.30pm there is more music and dancing before the weekend is rounded off with a free Residents Party on Sunday. Tickets for all events available from the Band Club: 01457 873741.

Saddleworth Vintage Bus Tours will be on hand to transport visitors, with free buses running from Well-i-Hole to Uppermill every two hours from 9.45am, as well as running to Saddleworth School every hour.

In the school grounds, ‘Yanks’ will set up an extravaganza of militaria and vintage stalls, displays including military and classic cars, live entertainment and a vintage fun fair.

There will also be a 1940s tearoom and a children’s assault course, as well as a full size static Spitfire on display in the school grounds.

And BBMF will be making a D-DAY flyover in a Douglas C-47 Dakota on Saturday at 2:15pm and on Sunday at 2:45pm.

Entry to the school costs £3 for adults, £2 for concessions, and children under 16, veterans and re-enacters go free, with proceeds from this year’s event – the twelfth of its kind – going to The Rifles ‘Care for Casualties’.

Paul ‘Dog Tags’ Higginson, one of the organisers, said: “We love putting on the event for the community of Saddleworth, as well as raising money for charities.

“It helps to raise money for the businesses in the area too, and hopefully we can put on another good weekend that people enjoy.”

The Civic Hall also has an action-packed schedule on Saturday, offering a war time cinema, a tea dance from 11am-2pm and Backstep Boogie Club with Dance lessons from 2-5pm.

And topping the bill at the Victory Swing Ball there from 7:30pm is Sticky Wicket and his swing orchestra along with DJ Major Swing playing music from the decades.

Dress to impress, with civilian or military dress preferred, and tickets cost £16 in advance, including a hot wartime supper, from Ian: 07815 300547.

Sunday starts with the Mayor of Oldham’s coffee morning at Betty’s Fish and Chip Shop on Uppermill High Street from 10:30am-11:30am, with complimentary hot drinks for the Mayor and Normandy Veterans.

And the three-day spectacle will be rounded off by a military parade at Sunday noon, featuring the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band, Normandy Veterans, Royal British Legion, Cadets, and re-enacters.