Out and About
            SADDLEWORTH RUSHCART 2019
Great turnout for annual extravaganza in proper summer weather
In taking on the role of jockey - fifirst given to Lennie Butterworth in 1975, Carl paid tribute to “great friend, Saddleworth Morris fan and local legend” Ged Casserley.
“This was my fifirst Rushcart without him,” he said. “Ged was genuinely more excited than me when he found it was my turn on top of the cart this year.”
Although the Rushcart draws much of the attention as it is pulled through the Saddleworth villages, the real fun starts on the Sunday outside St. Chads Church following a brief service. The afternoon descends into a collection of more dancing, music and entertainment, as well as a gurning, wrestling and ‘worst singer’ contests.
Expect more of the same in 2020 with even more sunshine. To fifind out more about the Saddleworth Morris men,please visit:www.saddleworthmorrismen. co.uk
 This years 45th annual Saddleworth Rushcart weekend celebrations took place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August. The crowds turned out in force to see this very unique gathering of Morris men, as the good weather certainly made an appearance throughout the weekend. The Saddleworth’s Morris Men paid tribute to the victims of St Peter’s Field 200 years on. They also remembered the life of popular and multi talented musician, Ged Casserley, as well as commemorated the Manchester Arena terrorist plot victims.
Every year the Morris dancers draw in crowds of hundreds of spectators with their elaborate outfifits and complex dance routines. The flflowers on their hats infused with their loud clogs ensure that the traditional Morris dancers put on a spectacular show
year on year, with this year being no exception. The famous Rushcart is made by the Saddleworth Morris men throughout August. It is traditionally stacked with Pule Hill rushes which can reach up to 14 feet high.The side the cart is decorated with flflowers and ribbons with a banner on the front.
A single man or ‘Jockey’ rides on top of the cart as it is pulled through the villages of Saddleworth by the many Morris men who have travelled to this beautiful part of the country to take part in this famous event.
This years ‘Jockey’ was Carl Taylor who proudly waved his copper beer kettle throughout the day. The weight of the cart and the Jockey can sometimes exceed two tonnes so the act of moving the cart along the undulating terrain of Saddleworth is a daunting act to say the least.
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