Fete
ENJOY A family day of fun at the Dobcross Village Fete on Saturday, July 6 at Holy Trinity School.
The event, which has a tennis theme this year, will run from 4pm to 7pm and attractions include fun and games galore and a bouncy castle.
More sedate activities will include stalls and demonstrations of preparing hanging baskets, with live music from 6.30pm and Dobcross Village Community manning the bar.
To be a stall-holder, apply to Friends of Dobcross School.
Singing
THINKING OF joining a friendly choir for ladies of all ages and singing abilities?
Saddleworth Singers and Jen Law, Musical Director, invite you to Springhead Community Centre, Ashes Lane, on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Songs range from Blues to Jazz, from Classical to Folk and from Romantic to Abba! Rehearsals start again on Tuesday, September 3, and you can listen or join in for a few weeks at no charge.
For more information, contact Kathleen Sykes on 0161 628 2564.
Calendar
A SADDLEWORTH calendar for 2014 is being put together by Parish Council chairman Graham Sheldon and his wife Diane to help fundraise for local causes.
And they want Saddleworthians to send in their favourite pictures from all seasons and of all villages to be considered for use in the calendar. Businesses can sponsor a month in the calendar for £50, with all proceeds going to Dr Kershaw’s, St Mary’s Placenta Research Clinic, and other local groups.
Please email images in jpeg format to ccsaddleworthpc@gmail.com and businesses can sponsor a month in the calendar by emailing or ringing Graham or Diane on 01457 872100.
Cinema
DENSHAW’s VILLAGE cinema has big plans for its small screen with a galaxy of stimulating films.
On Saturday, July 13 The Impossible tells a gripping story of survival in the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand and on Saturday, July 27 Oscar Award winning Life of Pi will be shown.
A Steven Spielberg special Lincoln is on Saturday, August 10 and on August 31 you can enjoy old folks enlivening their decline by becoming rockers in Song for Marion.
Prices: £5 for an adult, £4 for under 14s and a season ticket allows you to see five films for the price of four. Call 01457 870348/870074 or email mcgladdery.sharon@gmail.com
There are two showings of each film, usually at 6.00pm and 8.15pm, but this may be brought forward for very long films. The last showing will always finish before 10.30pm, which is the latest time you can use the Local Link taxi service.
The cinema has a big screen and full Dolby Surround Sound. For those with hearing difficulties, a hearing loop has been installed. Cakes and a beer or glass of wine rounds off the evening.
Coffee
OLUNTEERS AT Dobcross Band Club are holding their next monthly coffee shop on Saturday, July 6 from 10am to 12noon.
The events at the club’s Platt Lane headquarters have attracted more than 100 residents each month since they were launched in February to raise funds for the club.
With beans on toast now on the menu, along with drinks, cakes, toast, scones at teacakes, there is something to whet the appetite of everyone.
Anyone wishing to get to the club but unable to walk there can ring Val on 01457 876466 the day before to arrange transport.
Yorkshire
YORKSHIRE DAY celebrations will bring Saddleworth to life on Sunday, August 4.
The event will start with a brass band in Uppermill’s Museum Gardens, speeches and the reading of the Yorkshire Declaration, followed by a parade along High Street to King George V playing fields for the ‘Country Fair’.
For further details contact Brenda Cockayne: 01457 874686.
Dance
SADDLEWORTH-INSPIRED dance workshops are being held monthly for 7 to 11-year-olds by Born and Bred Dance Theatre.
Following the success of the Dancestry project earlier this year, each session will have a theme from the area’s past present or future, and will be held at St Mary’s School in Greenfield from 1pm-3.30pm on Sunday afternoons.
Parents can return around 3:15pm for refreshments and an informal sharing of dance work created in the workshop.
Themes are: Sunday 21st July – Operation Lindy Hop; Sunday 22nd September – Dove Stones; Sunday 20th October – Victorian Saddleworth; Sunday 24th November – Howzat! A Cricket themed dance workshop; Sunday 22nd December – A Saddleworth Christmas.
One child attending one workshop costs £6.50 but for two workshops it will cost just £10. For two children attending one workshop it will cost £10 but for two children for two workshops it will cost just £18.
Places are limited so please book in advance by calling Olivia on: 07983469398 or 01457878913 or email bornandbreddancetheatre@gmail.com.
Psychic
MOONSTONE PSYCHIC and holistic therapy venue in Greenfield is running a series of psychic events to connect you to the spirit world.
On Thursday, August 15, enjoy ‘An Evening of Mediumship with John Harrop’, starting at 7pm and tickets priced at £12 each.
Then join TV Psychic & Medium Paul Hunt for a series of psychic development workshops on Sunday, September 8, Sunday, October 13 and Sunday, November 10 from 11am-4pm. Tickets are £30 in advance, with an early bird offer of all three for £81.
All events take place at Mooonstone’s shop, Greenbridge Lane, Greenfield, and must be booked and paid for in advance by calling Susan or Marcus: 01457 871222 or visiting: http://www.themindbodyspiritshop.com.
Dementia
A CARING Dementia Friend is running a series of information sessions to help raise awareness and help sufferers across the community.
Helen Morris started the sessions at The Swan Inn, Dobcross, to help drive the government initiative and now has more events scheduled for July and August.
Saturday, July 6: Summer Coffee morning at Stoneswood Residential Care Home with Helen’s sessions at 10.30am and 12noon
Tuesday, July 16: at The Satellite Centre, Wellington Road in Greenfield, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Tuesday, July 23: at The Satellite Centre, Wellington Road in Greenfield, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday, July 31: at Uppermill Civic Hall, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday, August 7: at Uppermill Civic Hall, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Venues are being sought for events in August and September to cover Grotton, Springhead, Lydgate and Grasscroft. For more information contact Helen on 07976 702 171 or Helen@close-communications.com. Book online at www.dementiafriends.org.uk or join us at the event – all welcome.
Canal
HELP STREET Scene Greenfield spruce up the area’s canal towpaths to revive some of Saddleworth’s most-loved walking places.
Volunteers are cleaning debris, cutting back vegetation and resurfacing areas with stone along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.
The next dates are Tuesday, July 9 (towpath resurfacing), Saturday, July 27 (litter pick & vegetation clearing), and Thursday, August 1 (towpath repairs).
Equipment will be provided but please wear suitable clothing and boots, and you may wish to bring a drink and snack. For more information contact Gill McCulley on 01457 870364.
Meeting points and times are subject to change so please check before each event.
Concert
BEATLES CELEBRATION band The Threetles is hosting a special gig on Saturday, July 13 at the Uppermill Civic Hall.
‘The Threetles freak out’ will include performances from the main band – whose members are Paul Brierley, Thomas Jones, Andy Housley and Simon McGoran – as well as lots of supporting artists.
Tickets are available for £8 from Paul Brierley on 07876 207169 or 01457 878580, or from the Civic Hall. For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheThreetles
Elderberries
DOBCROSS ELDERBERRIES have announced their provisional programme of events for the year.
They will be holding coffee mornings on Saturday, August 10 and Saturday, November 16 from 10.30-12noon at Dobcross Church room, £1 admission paid at door.
They have also planned an Autumn half-day trip to Nantwich on Tuesday, September 10. Their Christmas lunch is scheduled for Thursday, December 5.
Notifications of all trips, coffee mornings and Christmas will be delivered prior to each event. Further information, contact Richenda Williamson: 01457 870471.
Any programme changes will be publicised in Dobcross Diary.
Charity
SUPPORT CHARITIES and causes at the monthly coffee morning in the parish community of St Chad, Saddleworth, on Saturday, June 1 at 10a.m – 11.30a.m at The Parish Centre, Station Road, Uppermill.
July’s chosen charity is Action Duchene, and throughout July the Parish community will be raising funds to fight Motor Neurone Disease.
Entry costs £1, which includes coffee and cake, and all ages welcome. A raffle will be held and greeting cards and other goods are on sale.
Carers
THE SADDLEWORTH Carers Group has outlined their proposed programme for the year. The group meet at Sacred Heart Church Hall Uppermill from 10a.m till 12noon.
July: 13 – Saturday – Strawberry tea; 26: – Fire Prevention in the home (Fire Service)
August: 9 – No meeting; 23: – Pub lunch – autumn outing planning
September: 13 – Autumn outing Eden camp/Lytham St. Annes; 27- Financial help for those with memory problems
October: 11 – Bulb planting/plant exchange; 25 – Talk on Nepal by Joyce
November: 8 – Bonfires and ghost stories; 22 – How to deal with unwanted callers (by the Police)
December: 13 – Xmas party Programme is provisional and subject to change.
Check with Eamon on 01457 810614, or Kath on 01484 845350, particularly if bad weather is forecast.
Community
GREENFIELD AND Grasscroft Residents Association will hold their next meeting on Thursday, July 11 at 7pm. at the Satellite Centre on Wellington Road.
There will be the usual news and discussions, with refreshments on arrival.
All Greenfield, Grasscroft, Friezland and Lydgate residents are welcome and for more information or to send in questions on local issues, contact secretary Mike Rooke on 01457 810666 or email info@ggra.co.uk.
Diggle
A HOST of fun family events are being help at Diggle Band Club this month.
On Sunday, July 7, there is a family barbeque and quiz to raise money for Help for Heores, starting at 2pm.
Then on Saturday, July 13, the monthly auto jumble sale will take place, this tie featuring classic bike parts, from 8.30am to 11.30am.
And on Sunday, July 21, Diggle A Band will entertain guests at a concert at 7.30pm, with tickets available from the club. For more information on any of the events, contact the club on 01457 872856.
Poems
WELL-KNOWN poet and script writer Julian Jordan is encouraging secret writers to come and share poems, short prose, song, scripts in a friendly, encouraging open-floor session at The Swan Inn, Dobcross.
The sessions take place every second Wednesday of the month, entrance fee £2. Julian is also the co-founder of Write Out Loud – a national organisation committed to encouraging poetry performance.
Visit their website: www.writeoutloud.org or come along and find out what it’s all about.
Musicians
BUDDING SADDLEWORTH musicians are enjoying success after reaching the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth.
The Oldham Music Centre Youth Wind Band and the Oldham Youth Orchestra will compete in the event in Birmingham on July 2-6.
At the regional heats, the orchestra impressed judges at Rochdale Town Hall with a selection from Guys and Dolls and Duel of the Fates from Star Wars while the wind band performed The King’s March and Shenandoah.
Bridge
OAKFIELD BRIDGE club welcomes players to join them at their weekly sessions at the Freemasons Hall, 138 High Street, Uppermill.
On Mondays, there are sessions from 1p.m to 4p.m for “improvers” who already play but wish to develop their game, consisting of 30mins tuition followed by assisted play.
“Duplicate Pairs” sessions for those who want to play competitive bridge take place on Tuesdays from 7pm, where if you are without a partner there is a host system in place so you are assured of a game.
The club also offers bridge lessons for beginners and improvers, and for more information ring the club secretary on: 01457 875122 or visit: www.bridgewebs.com/oakfield.
Library
DENSHAW LIBRARY has around 2,000 books to offer for the enjoyment of the community.
The books are given by the people of Denshaw, tidied and looked after by volunteers, and borrowed by everyone else.
The Library is open Monday to Friday from 6pm – 7pm and most times when the hall is in use.
The library is happy to accept new gifts of books and would like to get in touch with groups in other villages to work on an exchange scheme to broaden the services on offer.
There is also fast broadband in the Village Hall and WIFI throughout so you are welcome to bring your laptop and work in the library.
Health
OLDHAM LIB Dem MEP Chris Davies is standing up for e-cigarette users by fighting plans hatched in the EU and Westminster that would sweep them from the shelves.
He has written to the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency asking them not to regulate e-cigarettes as medicines – a more draconian proposal that would reduce their availability.
Bloom
EDIBLE BRITAIN is the theme for North West in Bloom 2013 as Oldham Council looks to follow up last year’s success debut when they were named Best City in Britain in Bloom.
The theme centres on plants and shrubs that make delicious and nutritious cooking ingredients, and judges will visit the town on July 8.
The WOW factor was unveiled opposite the Spindles Shopping Centre – a boot in reference to the magic beans in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ – and schools will be running competitions.
Residents can help the initiative by making hanging baskets to spruce up gardens and can also enter the photo competition to celebrate Oldham’s greener side Photos of anything natural across the Borough should be sent to bloomandgrow@oldham.gov.uk
Art
ARTISTS ARE invited to submit their work to this year’s ever-popular ‘Oldham Open’ competition and exhibition.
Any artist living, working or studying in Oldham can enter their media, including drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, film and video.
Entries should be made along with a completed form between August 29 and September 7 at the Gallery Oldham reception desk.
The exhibition will run from September 28 to November 16 and offers a visual feast of local talents for both artists and visitors.
For more information or an entry form, contact Gallery Oldham on 0161 770 4653 or email galleryoldham@oldham.gov.uk.
Tax
TAX CREDIT customers must renew claims by 31 July – or their payments might stop.
HMRC are sending out Tax Credit renewal packs and recipients are urged to check the information and then act as soon as they receive one.
Claimants must tell HMRC about any changes to their circumstances that they haven’t already reported. Get help and information on Tax Credit renewals by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/tax-credits or calling 0345 300 3900.
