The great worry was the remaining part of the field could also be sold, leaving the community without a venue for the band contest or any other events.

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 Proceedings were conducted by Mr Roger Fielding, with prayers by the Reverend Lynn Woodall of St John the Baptist Church, Hey. 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.

Our appreciation also goes to Councillor Rob Knotts for the enormous amount of work he has put in on this project, the community group for their involvement and to Saddleworth Parish Council for its commitment." Saddleworth winners were also among those who received Private Gardens merit awards, including Les Chapman from Delph and Steven Lovett from Dobcross. 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 And Ray received a special certificate from the Rochdale, Oldham and Bury branch of CAMRA, the brewery watchdog, in recognition of services over the years.

CllrByrne, current chairman of the Saddleworth Parish Council, is believed she is the first person holding that title to attend at Austerlands on a Remembrance Sunday. The judges commented: “It’s been a pleasure to see how much Aimee has enjoyed this year of gardening. Ray, 68, who had a distinguished career as a top flight professional rugby league player with Oldham and later Keighley, said: “We had very loyal and respected customers plus tremendous staff.A delighted Saddleworth community is celebrating news of an extra special Christmas present this year. She clearly loves planting and growing things and she has inspired her mum and dad to join in doing their own bit of the garden too! Janet Iles, who created the tableau, said: “I decided to recreate what I did a year agoand invite people from the community to add their poppies too.

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. 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.

The annual Band Contest is a tradition David has been very keen to promote and keep alive. He is a very pro-active member of the committee and prepares the magazine. Benches and picnic tables have been installed and an award winning garden area developed by the group in conjunction with Waterhead Academy. Throngs of people once again turned up at the Oldham Parish Church memorial, while at Austerlands, 200 turned out atSaddleworth’s oldest Great War Memorial.

Before the application was submitted, the field and its surrounds were very poor with an extremely muddy entrance, falling down walls and barbed wire. We have many happy memories of coffee mornings and themed evening meals. You both have supported us and we will miss your company at our meetings. I always thought the people, the customers and mainly Ray were the character and Sue brought her own style. 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 HowardThe awards invite entries from across the borough whether it be a small or big garden, community garden, window box, containers or balcony. Wreaths were also placed by Stuart Cook, the Mayor of Austerlands; Geoffrey Fielding on behalf of Saddleworth Parish Council; Mrs Joan Sykes on behalf of the Scouthead & Austerlands Community Group; Gareth Farnam-Jones on behalf ofthe North West Ambulance Service and from a representative on behalf of the Debbie Abrahams, the Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth. Meanwhile, astunning suspended carpet of poppies offered a dramatic contrast to Diggle’s contribution to Remembrance (see above). In 1985 he launched the Saddleworth Olympics which has now become an annual event and a tradition itself,” added the citation. Former parish councillor, Robert Knotts, chair of the Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group, applied for Capital Asset Transfer of the field from Oldham to the Saddleworth Parish Council four years ago.