Summer Wine appeal shows no signs of running dry
FANS OF COMEDY STILL FLOCKING TO HOLMFIRTH
THE final episode was aired nearly 14 years ago but Last of the Summer Wine still has pulling power in Holmfirth.
The West Yorkshire town continues to be a magnet for fans of the long-running sitcom who can be found wandering the streets, Compo-style, in all weathers.
On Thursday this week, Janet and Hugh Muir were visiting Holmfirth from their home in Glasgow, which is around 240 miles away.
Janet, who isn’t much of the Summer Wine fan, had surprised her husband with a three-day holiday in Holmfirth because he loves the old shows.
Neither had ever been to Holmfirth but they instantly fell in love with the place thanks to the old buildings, countryside walks and the various Summer Wine attractions, including their holiday accommodation, Nora Batty’s Cottage, and the nearby Summer Wine Exhibition.
Hugh has been watching the show for ‘donkey’s years’ – there were 295 episodes between 1973 and 2010 – and he still watches old episodes on the Drama channel.
“My wife is not that keen and says ‘oh you’re not watching that again.’”
Both agreed that Holmfirth is a ‘fantastic place’ to explore. They have visited Sid’s Cafe and Upperthong Cemetery to see the graves of actors Bill Owen and Peter Sallis.
Hugh said: “The Last of the Summer Wine museum was absolutely excellent with lots to see like old BBC props. We have been to all the main tourist sites and will be visiting all 12 of the blue plaques in Holmfirth on the Blue Plaque Trail.”
Janet described Holmfirth as ‘fascinating’ mainly thanks to wealth of old buildings, from cottages to churches.
And Hugh dismisses anyone who might suggest Holmfirth ‘move on’ from its reliance on Summer Wine to pull in visitors.
“That’s nonsense - I think Last of the Summer Wine, no matter what you say about it, will always bring tourists. You can’t ignore the fact that industry (created Holmfirth) but it was Summer Wine that put Holmfirth on the map.”
They are both planning to return to Holmfirth.
In Sid’s Cafe, there was a steady stream of visitors this week, many of them from out of town, including tourists from Japan, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. They have been snapping up fridge magnets, teapots, tea towels and other cafe merchandise.
Maxine, manager at Sid’s Cafe, said the sitcom still had huge pulling power. “It’s surprising how many from the younger generation are getting
into it now. We have a young lad aged 10 or 11 who visits (from Wales) with his grandparents two or three times a year. He dresses up in wellies and a cap and spends all his money on souvenirs.”
Michael and Sharon Potts, from Newcastle, can’t get enough of Holmfirth, having visited many times. But it was the Summer Wine show that first alerted them to the beauty of Pennine Yorkshire.
“We live it here and have visited four times. The first time was because of Last of the Summer Wine and then we fell in love with the area,” says Michael.
When Peter Sallis died they visited his grave, and they love to wander the countryside much like Norman ‘Cleggy’ Clegg did for all those years.
“It’s so peaceful here,” says Sharon. “The scenery is amazing.
Michael adds: “It was Last of the Summer Wine that drew us here. My mum and dad loved it. I think Compo is amazing.”
The couple are stopping for a couple of nights and then heading to Filey.
Sharon doesn’t want Holmfirth to lose its unique charm. “People love Holmfirth because it has got character. It’s like stepping in back in time.”