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Hesketh Rectory
July 1943

My Dear Friends,
It is more than nice to be able to insert a message this month from our own Member of Parliament. Here is my thought for this month. "Every member of the King's Forces is a Missionary". We have often heard in Church or Chapel of missionaries. They are one very important sort of missionaries, but the most important of all are the ordinary Christians everywhere. They (YOU) can do just as much good, perhaps a good deal more, not by preaching but by just living as Christians.

Yours very sincerely
A P THORNE

House of Commons,
21st June 1943

Dear Rector,
It is with the greatest pleasure that I send you a message for your Newsletter to the lads in the Forces. As their Member of Parliament I can assure them that MPs, irrespective of party, are determined to do all that is possible to ensure that when the war is over the men from the Forces shall be properly looked after in the difficult task of changing the country over from war to peace. My personal message to our boys is that I am convinced that the post-war problems, both international and national., will be so difficult and far reaching that we shall only solve them if every effort is made to maintain in the years immediately after the war that national unity which is the foundation on which we are now building victory. When the fighting stops the war will not be over. We shall have beaten the Germans, the Italians, and the Japanese, but we shall still have to wage a strenuous war against the selfishness which is in each of us and against vested interests anxious to benefit themselves at the expense of the nation as a whole.
I conclude by wishing the Hesketh lads a speedy and safe return to their wives, sweethearts and friends.

Yours sincerely,
STEPHEN KING HALL

Points from Letters.
Lieut Pill (Betty Ball's husband) writes from North Africa and sends his thanks to all those who assist in the production of this letter.

Harry Buck, a very regular writer, wants to thank Margaret Melling for her effort for the NL and for her message.
Tom Hurst is on the high seas, and wants to be remembered to all the boys and girls from Hesketh who are in the Forces.

Ernest Buck, to whom we sent our best wishes on his marriage on June 12th, sends his special remembrances to Dick Townsley and Bob Sharples.

Will Ashcroft (Chapel Road) sends his best wishes to you all, and hopes you are all well. We were glad to see him in his place in the choir at Hesketh Church on June 22nd. It is nice to hear that he has attended the Church near his camp in Scotland regularly "when off duty". He hopes that Nick Whiteside has been able to keep his wonderful geese. Nick would probably tell him that he has now done one better and produced something more wonderful still, a baby daughter.
Tom Brewer has written from North Africa to say a warm thank you for the first Newsletter, and particularly to say that our letter gave answers to all the questions he has been showering home for the last six months. He says that Sydney Iddon's remark about the Marsh was like a breath of fresh air in "this blazing African sun".
Leslie Bramwell was in the Victory March through Tunis, having been in the front lines with the stretcher bearers. He was the last Hesketh lad to escape from Dunkirk. We wish him the best of luck and a safe return.
We rejoice with Mrs Henry Smith (Eileen Ball) and Mrs Wilfred Ellis (Minnie Fish) that their husbands are alive and safe, though Prisoners of War in Japanese hands (the former) and Italian hands (the latter).
We have just had an airgraph from John Jackson, which contains a special request to be remembered to all the boys. He wrote his letter during a sandstorm.

News from the Village.
Memories of the good old times were brought to our village on Saturday June 5th, when the Methodists held their annual Tea Party. It was a lovely warm day and in spite of wartime conditions the show of the kiddies' lovely dresses came up to the usual standard. The procession was accompanied by our famous prize band. As one watched the grand parade go by, it was with a mixed feeling of happiness and sadness that one thought about you all and how you would have enjoyed this day if only you could have been at home. Singing by the choir was conducted by Mr Oliver Wignall. No Fair was held, but there were races for the young people, and these provided good fun.
A big dance is being held in the C E School on June 25th and it is expected to be the best of the season.
Mr Mrs Roberts who left the village about eighteen months ago have returned to their old home on the Brow.
Ernest Buck was married to Sally Dandy at Holmes Chapel on June 12th.
William Ball (Shoreditch) has arrived home on leave accompanied by his ATS bride.
Sad news has been received by Mrs James Latham of Kearsley Avenue. Her husband, who was reported a prisoner of war in our last letter, has since died of fever. We send her our deep sympathy.
Gladys Edmondson was married to Bill Baxter of Banks, on June 19th.
Eric Whiteside of Dunkirk Farm, is to marry Mary Costa, of Southport, and will reside in one of the Almshouses along Broadway.
Joe Whiteside of Banks, known to Hesketh boys as "mush" has arrived home on twenty-eight days leave from abroad. He was married on June 17th to Betty Johnson of Banks.
Mr Mrs John Sharples' baby daughter died soon after birth. Our sympathy is with them.
Lieut Holmes, Commander of the Hesketh Home Guard is at present on sick leave. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Congratulations to Bert Price on being made a Corporal.
The following have been home on leave recently: - Harry Baxter, Jack Bassett, Hugh Melling, Joan Kelsall, Will Ashcroft, Jimmy Baxter, Bill Coulton, Joe Power, Rigby Melling, Kenneth Sunter, Stuart Leadbetter, Jack Bassett, Tom Iddon, Will Iddon, Ernest Buck.
Mr Mrs Raymond Golifer have a son. Also Mrs Hopkins (Rene Melling) has a daughter, at Rainford.
Tarleton Chapel Tea-party was held on June 19th, and Tarleton Church Tea-party on June 26th. Silcock's Roundabouts are in full attendance. Hesketh Bank Band went to Croston on June 5th for the Opening of their "Wings for Victory" Week. All expenses were paid by Sergeant Saul, formerly Banks Policeman. A 'knife and fork' tea was provided for the Band at "Shirtnecks" Black Horse.
Audrey Ashcroft four year old daughter of Mr Mrs John Ashcroft of Newarth is in Preston Infirmary, suffering from extensive scalds. She is now doing well.

RED CROSS.
Hesketh Bank has now twenty collectors for the "Penny-a Week" effort of the "Agriculture" fund. Since our adoption of the scheme in September 1942 £131.17.2. has been collected and sent to HQ in London for Prisoners of War parcels.
Recently a Rural Pennies week was held throughout Lancashire in addition to the usual house to house collections. Hesketh Bank rose to the occasion splendidly and organised special efforts in addition to contributions from the Bowling Club, the NFS, and the ARP Wardens Post. Up to date £275.4.4, has been received. The Home Guard is also to give a Display on June 30th on Mr W Topping's field. This, with the dance on June 23rd, should bring up the total to £300. At the recent "Bring and Buy" Sale for the Red Cross, which was opened by Mrs Herbert Croft, we heard from the latter that her husband, Dr Herbert Croft, is now Surgeon in Command of the Medical Services in Old Delhi. We congratulate him heartily.

Almost Extinct.
Small girl on bus: "Oh look, Mummy, it's a man conductress!"

So Nelson Passed.
Teacher (reviewing History): "And who was it who said, "Kiss me, Hardy?"
Class (with one voice) "Laurel"

Africa's Pledge.
Our freedom and security from aggression on this continent is the gift of the United Nations to us, and that gift calls us to fight with all our might by their sides until all of them enjoy the same freedom from aggression as ourselves. In gratitude we pledge ourselves to-day to do so to the very end.
General Smuts.

The Foundation of Courage.
The Lord is my light, and my salvation;
Whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom then shall I be afraid?
A Defiance of Death.
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And Death shall be no more;
Death, thou shalt die.

POSTSCRIPT
The following items have been received since we went to press:
News from the Village.
Frank Iddon (Hesketh Lane) is now one of the "BEVIN BOYS" and is being sent to Farnworth, near Manchester.
We are all proud of the two Hesketh Bank boys, Peter Dawson and John Coulton, (Moss Lane) and Newarth, respectively) who took part in the sinking of the Scharnhorst.
Mr Hugh Twist, Fermor Road, had quite a good day last Saturday on the marsh. He shot 20 wild duck and widgeon and one rabbit (!) Good work, Hugh.
Mr Coulton, one of our grand old men has died and was buried in the old Churchyard on Monday, January 10th, the same afternoon as Mrs Snaylam (Ellen Leadbetter). Mr Coulton will be missed by the marsh workers for whom he always had a pleasant word.
Mrs Fowler (Phyllis Dawson) has a baby daughter, and Mrs Coulton (Mill Lane) also a daughter.
Mr John Miller, another of our grand old men, is now back at work again after having been ill for a number of weeks.
John Jackson, home on leave from the Middle East, was the guest of honour at the WVS Dance on January 14th. After twelve months abroad he still looks the same, still wears his smile, and has a pleasant word for all.
The Home Guard had a party at the Becconsall on January 20th.
Mr John Iddon who lives at Jumps Farm, has been suffering lately from rheumatism, but is now getting better.
Here is a bit of good news from Tom Hurst who has been in hospital, and for us all. Tom's sister Annie and her friends got up a Dance (old English) for the NL Fund which obtained £49.2.0, on January 6th. It was an outstanding success in every way.
Betty Golifer is engaged to William Molyneux.
Clarence Iddon has been home on leave, also John Baxter.
Jack Edmondson, home on leave January 27th to 31st, sent the Rector ten shillings for the Old Church funds, which the Rector and Wardens will much appreciate. The Rector was very pleased to have a chat with Jack at the Rectory on January 28th.
The members of the Astland Pigeon Club, Hesketh Bank, had a very successful seasons' racing during 1943. Mr Hugh Cookson was the biggest prize winner, he also won the Silver Cup for old and young bird averages, and several members won prizes in the open races organised by the Ormskirk Federation. For the coming season 1944, there will be three trophies to fly for, one for old bird average, one for young bird average, and one for combined old & young. Mr John Iddon has been very successful with his birds at several shows this winter, winning quite a good number of prizes and specials.

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