A wife, mother and teacher who's always up for learning something new and meeting new friends.

Sunday 14 August 2011

Yanks!







This weekend saw the return of the Yanks festival in Saddleworth.  It’s the tenth anniversary of the festival, which first took place in 2001.
 You may be asking yourself why on earth Saddleworth has a Yanks celebration.  Well, it’s inspired by the filming of the wartime movie, 'Yanks', on location in Dobcross Saddleworth, back in 1978, starring a certain gorgeous young actor, Richard Gere.
(When I say filmed in Dobcross, it was only one scene but let's not get picky)

                             I've made this image extra big just because it's  a picture of Richard

Dobcross square where the scene was filmed



 Each year, locals get into the spirit of things by dressing up in 40's clothes and uniforms.  Ladies strut up and down the streets with their seamed stockings and beautiful shoes, linking arms with chaps in hats and suits.

Every year I say I'll dress up but I have still to stick to my word.



 These ladies were a little nervous about having their picture taken!
A 'Spoonful Of Sugar' my favourite cake and tea shop


Brass bands in the pub gardens play Glenn Miller music and jitterbuggers dance on the pavements.



Stalls selling tea and cakes are run by ladies in floral pinnies and headscarves.



 The main part of the celebration is the parade which passes through a number of villages.  Headed by our war veterans and representatives of local cadet groups, they are followed by a cavalcade of vintage military vehicles and marching military bands.




Yanks is a really great weekend, enjoyed by as many as 10,000 people.  Each year it grows from strength to strength and next year...
...I promise to dress appropriately!

4 comments:

  1. That sounds like a really fun festival. You should definitely try to dress up next time!

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  2. Thank you for the extra large pic of Richard; he's a very fine, um, actor, isn't he!

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  3. This looks like an amazing amount of fun and I would love to go!! I love the costumes and jitterbugging would be awesome.

    As for Richard Gere is it wrong if I say I think I like him better older? His grey/white hair is so gorgeous!

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  4. What a great idea for a festival. I love the older ladies getting their 1940s garb out (they probably still wear it around town?). Thanks for Rewinding x

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