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Hesketh Rectory
Hesketh Bank
June 1945

My dear Friends,
So Victory-in-Europe has come at last, and we rightly say first, Thank God, and then we add, Thank you who have fought for it! Nor must we forget that it is the People’s Victory, so many steadfast men and women have stuck it out. God give us grace to go on sticking it out till the end, and that end is not only Victory in the Far East but the true and lasting victory of an abiding Peace.
The words of the Bible, read on VE Sunday evening, did express our thoughts so well, Isaiah XXV.9 “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, He is our Lord. We have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
There is only one thing remaining to be done, and for that we echo the old words of the Prayer Book “Not only with our lips, but in our lives”. There is a lot to be done, if we are to prove our thanksgiving, and that is THANKSLIVING. We look forward to you helping us to do that at home. May that be soon. God bless you all.
Yours very sincerely,
A.P. THORNE.

To Members of H.M. Forces connected with Hesketh.
We thank Almighty God that by your courage, labours, and devotion to duty Victory over an evil and cruel enemy has been achieved. Many of you have suffered much and have given much for the accomplishment of this end, and we pray that the people and Government of this country will never forget the debt owing to you.
In the midst of our rejoicing we remember with pride those who have given their earthly lives for their country’s Freedom and Honour, and we pray that in the Paradise of God where they rest from their labours they may know that their sacrifice has not been in vain. We thank you for what you have done for us. We wish you a happy and prosperous future.
The COMMITTEE of THE NEWS LETTER,
VE DAY, 8 MAY 1945.

A MEMORABLE WEEK.
Monday the 7th was a day of expectancy; everybody was waiting for the news of Germany’s unconditional surrender, and in the evening the news came over the wireless that Tuesday, the 8th of May, was to be Victory in Europe day. On Tuesday the Village was gay with flags and bunting and cheerfulness abounded. In the evening at 7.30 a thanksgiving Service was held in the Chapel: the service was conducted by Mr. N. Rimmer and the preacher was Mr. Robert Wright. There was a good attendance. At 8 o’clock the same evening the Church was full for a service of thanksgiving taken by the Rector who spoke of the goodness of God, the steadfastness of the people during the years of war, and of our need of dedication to the service of God.
On Wednesday evening in connection with the Chapel Young People’s Fellowship two plays were given by the Hesketh Bank Dramatic Players in the Chapel School. The plays, which reached a high standard of presentation, were ‘Idols‘, by Phoebe M. Rees and “The Dark Lady of the Sonnets” by George Bernard Shaw. The Artistes taking part were Mrs. Sunter, Mrs. ?ill, Miss J. Wright, Mrs. L. Ashcroft, Miss E. Boston, Mrs. J Coulton, Miss M. Wareing, Miss C. Taylor, Messers L. Redford, D. Wright. Recitals were given by Miss Constance Worrall. Mrs. J. Ball (Cottom’s Farm) was chairman. The proceeds were for the welcome Home Fund.
The C.E. School was gay on Wednesday evening. The ladies of the Newsletter Committee had spent a day lavishly decorating the schoolroom in the National colours in preparation for the Dance and Whist drive, the latter ‘run by’ Mr. Douglas Iddon, which they had organised for the evening. It was a splendid success, there was a delightfully happy atmosphere about this function, and the organisers must have felt well rewarded for all their work by the pleasure they had given and the appreciation they had earned. £8/15/9d was added to the Newsletter fund.
On Thursday (Ascension Day) there was a scholars’ Service at 9 a.m. when thanks were given for the great Victory the Allies had won in Europe.
On Sunday morning at Hesketh Church there was a large congregation, including many members of the Civil Defence Forces, for a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication.
A collection for the red Cross amounted to nearly £10.

N.B. Pages missing

and on his way home.
Before closing for the Whitsuntide Holiday the children of the Hesketh CE Day School had a collection for the Overseas League Tobacco Fund, and enough money was raised to provide 3,300 cigarettes for our Fighting men and the Wounded.

HUNDRED END NEWS.
Jack Bury, Hundred End Lane , has been on leave. The shop near ‘Hundred End Station’ has been sold for 32000. The new owner comes from Leyland.

S. DUNSTAN’S.
Recently the Hesketh Bank W.V.S. organised a house-to-house collection for St. Dunstan’s and realised the sum of £30. Also Hesketh Lane Methodist Chapel arranged a collection for the same object and obtained £4. 12. Sir Ian Fraser, the Chairman of St. Dunstan’s, has acknowledged receipt of the above amount with his warmest thanks and says: “I am very glad indeed to tell you that practically all the Blinded Prisoners of War have now been repatriated, and have come to St. Dunstan’s. Some have already completed their training and are now fully employed. One has become an upholsterer in a ship’s furnishing company, others are telephone operators, and a number will be shortly entering industry.”

MARSH NEWS.
Tuesday, 22nd May.
At the end of April we had a few frosty nights and consequently most of the fruit crop has been spoiled. Potatoes which were through, were cut off at ground level, and the frost was so keen, that even the peas and caulies were badly damaged. I’m pleased to say though, that by now they are recovering, but the crop of early peas may not be as heavy this year. The main crop potatoes are now fairly well through, and the corn although slightly damaged by frost, is doing well again.
The farmers who had planted sprouts last week, anticipating a ‘shower’ got their wish last Sunday (Whit Sunday) as it rained all day. Some boys who had pitched their tents along the old bank however, weren’t very pleased about the weather that day!
Salmon catches have been poor so far this season. Only an odd one occasionally being caught.
I’ve heard that some widgeon are nesting on the Marsh and it is quite possible, as during the high tides about the 21st of this month, there was at least one block of about 300 still down there.
D.T.

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