David Needham, a former chair of Saddleworth Parish Council, was presented with the Above and Beyond accolade by Joan Sykes, chair of Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group. 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. AN AUSTERLANDS man who has quietly championed local traditions over the years has been recognised with a prestigious community award. David Needham with Joan Sykes, chair of Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group 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.

Benches and picnic tables have been installed and an award winning garden area developed by the group in conjunction with Waterhead Academy. It seems to me Jesus knew the only way to transform the ugliness in the world into something beautiful, the only way humanity could heal its own brokenness and give itself a lease of new life was through the act of putting others before oneself. 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. They have teamed up over the last year so pupils can help develop the community garden at Dawson’s Field, providing a focal point for local activities, improving the look of the area and learning about the growing cycle.Led by Canon Sharon Jones and Mr Graham McGuffie, the village gathered with Dobcross Youth Band where a prayer of dedication was read at the newly installed Silent Soldier memorial. Because Dawson's Field at Scouthead has been asset transferred from Oldham Council to Saddleworth Parish Council meaning the facility can be used by villagers for 30 years. Before the application was submitted, the field and its surrounds were very poor with an extremely muddy entrance, falling down walls and barbed wire. Event organiser David Needham said: “From an informal gathering of a handful of people started in 1979, popularity of the event has grown significantly over the last few years.

After managing to curtail the sale of part of the field and following a lengthy period of negotiation, the community was able to get it transferred on a 30-year lease to Saddleworth Parish Council. As we are only just getting started there are lots of things we will be looking at but firstly it’s important to get people involved and to get everything set up.” A spokesman for the award scheme said: “Mr Needham fits all the scheme’s attributes and is very worthy winner.”

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. We were more than pleased with the large turnout which justified the Heywood Lane road closure. We are grateful to the Scouthead & Austerlands Community Group for providing the marshals for crowd control and traffic management. 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. The prize was shared by Aimee Bone, from Carr Lane in Greenfield and Paige, Krystal and Scarlett Jones of Peveril Road in Derker. 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.

The citation added: “As if this was not enough, he has many strings to his bow – local historian and keen photographer, with many pieces of his work featuring in local magazines.” 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. 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. And over the years, the pub has collected a host of brewing industry related accolades and several distinguished awards for its beautiful external floral displays.With Joan Sykes as chair, Andrea Jakeman as treasurer, and June Taylor as secretary, the group held their first meeting in April to put together a plan of action. 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. Proceedings were conducted by Mr Roger Fielding, with prayers by the Reverend Lynn Woodall of St John the Baptist Church, Hey.

OVER moorland polished by bright sunshine, they came in their hundreds to pay tribute at one of Britain’s most uniquememorials to those lost in conflict.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. David Needham is secretary of the Whit Friday Brass Band Contest Committee who will stage its annual Whit Friday contest at the 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.