Morris men ready for the rushcart

Rushcart celebrations

Saddleworth Morris men are limbering up for their legendary Rushcart Festival.

This weekend marks the 35th year that Morris men have built a rushcart during the traditional Saddleworth Wakes week, since they revived the celebration in 1975.

The packed schedule promises a fun-packed series of dance, colour and excitement across the community’s villages.

Morris men will also be using their displays to recruit new members who they hope will be keen join after seeing their intricate dances.

Ed Worrall, rushcart secretary, said: “We are not struggling for numbers, but we are keen to get more people involved with the rushcart and the Morris men.

“The rushcart is now firmly established in the Saddleworth calendar alongside the Whit Friday Band contests, beer walk and Saddleworth Folk Festival.

“The rushcart and Morris men have become famous across the UK and abroad and we want people to share the celebration with us.”

On Saturday morning, the cart is named at a special ceremony outside the Commercial in Uppermill Square, with a banner made by the Morris men. John Brooks, one of their members, will sit astride the cart over the weekend as the team’s jockey.

As the Morris men pull their rushcart around the villages, they will be keeping alive a tradition spanning hundreds of years. After the naming, the cart moves to Greenfield where they will dance outside the King William lV from 10.45-11.30am, returning to Uppermill at noon to perform in the library gardens, outside the museum.

In the afternoon, they perform outside the White Lion, Delph, from 2.15-3.45pm, then the Swan Inn, Dobcross Square, (4.15-5.15pm), The Navigation, Dobcross (5.30pm- 6pm), before returning to the Commercial at 6.30pm.

On Sunday, the rushcart leaves the Commercial at 10am for the long pull up Church Road to Saddleworth Parish Church for the Rushcart service at 11am. Dancing follows outside the church and the Cross Keys until 2.30pm when the rushcart launches its own “X Factor” with a worst singer contest. Wrestling bouts will take place on a field between the Cross Keys and Church Inn and the biggest crowd-puller — the gurning contest — takes place on the stocks outside the church.

For more information on becoming a Morris man or helping with the rushcart, contact Ed Worrall on 07747-803 271, or e-mail rush.cart@hotmail.com.