Yanks for a fab weekend!

THE fabulous parade winds it way through Uppermill

5 More Image(s) In Gallery

UPPERMILL was festooned in a sea of red, white and blue for the annual two-day Yanks invasion

Thousands of people stepped back in time for one of the best 1940s events in the North-West.

Crowds lined High Street for yesterday's hugely popular parade, a highlight of the weekend. Led by pipers, they were followed by war veterans, cadets and a large convoy of military and civilian vehicles from vintage bicycles and motorbikes to Jeeps, tanks and trucks.

Re-enactors dressed for the occasion in military uniforms and glamorous 40s fashions, and a cigar puffing Churchill impersonator was a hit with spectators along with a portly policeman, US servicemen, spivs and land girls.

First held in 2001, the event is inspired by the 1979 Richard Gere film Yanks which was partly shot in Saddleworth.

There were also attractions on both days at Saddleworth School including a military vehicle encampment, Home Front and military displays, stalls, entertainment, a tea dance and a bar.

Kalamazoo dance band played on Saturday evening and "Churchill" also hosted a coffee morning for veterans with Mayor of Oldham Councillor Shadab Qumer.

And it was all eyes to the sky for fly-overs by an iconic Lancaster bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane.

Visitors included Phillip and Merilyn Mitchell from Wisconsin who have attended several times and Merilyn (73) said: "I am British by birth but married an America and we do World War Two re-enactments in the USA.

"I come home every other year so I originally looked around to see if there were any re-enactments and this looked liked something we would enjoy."

Phillip (79) has re-created the uniform of his uncle who was a B17 pilot stationed in Bedford and Merilyn added: "The community comes out and gets into the spirit of the event here."

Paul "Dogtags" Higginson, the event's main organiser, said: "It's gone fantastically.

"This year we had a 1940s fashion show, which was a new attraction and has gone down well, and a vintage steam engine."

He admitted that organising the event was stressful but added: "I think the results speak for themselves.

"The buzz is seeing everyone enjoying the parade and coming back to the school for a dance and to enjoy the other attractions."

• Check out all our Yanks pictures on our picture sales page.