Holmfirth is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Last of the Summer Wine this weekend.

There were reminders of the iconic Compo and Nora Batty all over town as locals and tourists alike celebrated half a century since the sitcom first aired on TV.

The gentle humour of writer Roy Clarke made Last of the Summer Wine Britain’s longest-running and most enduring sitcom.

The show was filmed in Holmfirth for an incredible 37 years and 295 episodes were recorded. The stunning Yorkshire backdrop put the town firmly on the tourist trail.

The TV series started in November 1973 and the last episode went out on August 29 2010.

Summer Wine’s most recognisable character was welly-clad Compo who was smitten with battleaxe Nora Batty. Nora, famous for her wrinkled stockings, would shoo away his attentions with a broom and a few choice words!

Some stars of the show were in Holmfirth this weekend including Jonathan Linsley, who charmed audiences as café owners Sid and Ivy’s nephew Crusher and veteran comedian Tommy Cannon, who also guest starred in three episodes.

Holmfirth greengrocer Andrew Bray also hosted a talk about his friendship with the late Bill Owen, who played Compo.

Andrew was just 14 when he first bumped into the actor in Holmfirth when he asked for directions to his hotel. The pair later became firm friends and, sadly, Andrew helped arrange Bill’s funeral after his death aged 85 in 1999.

Bill is buried in Upperthong, alongside his co-star Peter Sallis, who played Clegg.

Scroll our gallery of images below from around town by Huddersfield Hub photographer SEAN DOYLE

In town this weekend there were a series of events including a “quiet drink” mini pub crawl, Captain Clutterbuck’s Treasure Hunt and the chance to be photographed alongside Edie Pegden’s (played by Dame Thora Hird) 1970 red Triumph Herald convertible.

A special mosaic textile was also on show around the town. Amanda McCrann, a Holmfirth-based mosaicist teamed up with artist Alison Bell to create a Last of the Summer Wine name-chains design. It features a chain of names all woven together crossword-style.

Details about all the events can be found HERE.

What’s On in Huddersfield in June 2023