History of Austerlands and Scouthead: A Saddleworth Local History

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The award was collected by Paul and Joan Sykes, Geoffrey and Rosanne Fielding from Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group and Ann Mills and Neil Wilson from Waterhead Academy. The Above and Beyond Award was presented at the Scouthead Band Contest award ceremony held at Old Original, Scouthead. The signpost, which has plaques commemorating the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Saddleworth Parish Council’s role in managing it, was kindly made and donated to the community by Phil Moss, of local firm TJ Dobson. Sign unveiled at Dawson’s Field in Scouthead. Image by Phil Howard

THE IDENTITY of two of Saddleworth’s smallest villages is being rekindled by a brand new community group. NEW COMMITTEE: Joan, Andrea and June He took on the daunting task of reading through all the documents then moving forward, taking the lead throughout. As new Mayor, Joan’s duties will include leading the first band in the Whit Friday contests onto Dawson’s Field, presenting prizes at the contest presentation evening, and formally opening Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group’s Family Fun Day. David has been a resident of Austerlands for more than 40 years and has been involved with various committees over the years.In 2014 he became the Mayor of Austerlands and proudly led the first band, accompanied by his young granddaughter, from The Three Crowns along Huddersfield to Dawsons Field.

Our other young winners had a great garden too, growing vegetables and flowers as well as making the garden a fun place to be. A UNIQUE local tradition has seen a community champion honoured… with a silver clog iron. Joan Sykes, centre, the new Mayor of austerlands with outgoing Mayor Anita Aspinall and ex-Mayor Roger Fielding Here, at Pots and Pans on hills above Saddleworth, they gathered to share memories of, family, loved ones and friends who were never return to share these stunningly dramatic vistas. In 1985 he launched the Saddleworth Olympics which has now become an annual event and a tradition itself,” added the citation. With this worry in mind, I applied for Capital Asset Transfer of the field from Oldham to the Saddleworth Parish Council.

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Hymns were lead by members from Dobcross Brass Monkeys, and wreaths were laid by Saddleworth Parish Council Chairman, Cllr Jamie Curley and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, Debbie Abrahams, GMP Sergeant Neil Barker and representatives from Royal British Legion, Scouts and other groups, including Dvestones WI.

He said: “The field had been one of the very few bits of open green space in Austerlands and Scouthead accessible to the public. It was very much larger than it now as Oldham Council sold two thirds of it leaving the remainder. And considerable voluntary effort, work and expenditure by the Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group, together with members of the Scouthead band contest committee and local residents, transformed the field into a public park that is well used and enjoyed. The sign takes pride of place This will secure the Whit Friday Band Contest for the Scouthead Contest Committee and use for other community activities and further demonstrate its use is needed for this community. And Alison Clowes, the Royal British Legion standard bearer, returned to the hills after from representing Saddleworth at the televised service of remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall attended The Queen and Royal family on Saturday night.A delighted Saddleworth community is celebrating news of an extra special Christmas present this year. The field, which sits alongside the A62 Huddersfield Road at Scouthead, has been a key feature of the Saddleworth Whit Friday band contest organised by the local committee. A spokesman for the award scheme said: “Mr Needham fits all the scheme’s attributes and is very worthy winner.”

Its chair, Joan Sykes, said: "This area of green belt is a great local asset not only for our community group but for Saddleworth as a whole and one which could easily be lost if not protected.The ceremony, held at Saddleworth’s oldest hostelry The Old Original Inn at Scouthead, was conducted by ex-mayor Roger Fielding, complete with red tailcoat and white bow tie. She is the 19th mayor since the tradition was reintroduced in 1998 and she has recently received a prestigious Above and Beyond award for services to the community. A spokesperson for the Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group praising the couple said: “We’d like to thank them for all help and commitment given to the group. In addition, the group has agreed to oversee use of the field on behalf of Saddleworth Parish Council. The group also hopes to work with the Police and community services to improve the area’s safety, and to put up signage to target speeding in Heywood Lane and Thorpe Lane.