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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
April 16th 1942
My dear Lads,
When you turn overleaf you will find that there has been so much
in the way of "Home Front” news that a few letters have
failed to receive answers. However I hope that that will be put
right next week. As you will see Tarleton has been fairly busy this
Easter. For the last two years I have had the pleasure of paying
visits to the lads away in England but this year I cannot do so
owing to petrol shortage. So many live in out of the way billets
that it is impossible to get round by train, or even bus. However,
I do hope to get a short holiday a little later and I intend to
stay at certain centres and see as many of you as I possibly can
in this way. I might even arrange for a few billeted within a reasonable
radius to meet me at some town and have a meal together. I am working
it out and will let you know what can be done in this direction.
The one thing, of course, is to keep us all together. And while
this thought is in my mind may I ask you not to forget to pray for
those of our comrades who are missing and prisoners of war, that
God, of His goodness, will give them courage and hope and bring
them back again in safety to those who love them.
With my Blessing and my love,
L. N. FORSE.
Home
Front News.
Jack Edmondson, brother of Will Edmondson, the painter, and of Mrs.
Kennedy, who kept a Fish and Chip Shop in the deserts at Croston,
died suddenly on Monday night. Last week none of the taps in the
row of houses at Sollom known by the various names Pepperhilloch,
Smithy Houses and Mount Pleasant, would produce any water. The West
Lancs R.D.C. was informed, and along came their watermain expert,
Dick Pickervance, to investigate. He found that a small fish with
a large head had got into the small pipe leading from the main to
the houses, and had thus stopped the flow of water. Being Lent it
would have been very convenient if fish and water had come out with
alternate turns of the tap. At the Easter Vestry meeting Mr. Arthur
Dandy was appointed People‘s warden in the place of the late
Mr. Fred Webster. He is our Sunday School Superintendent. John Webster
and Harry Edmondson were appointed to the list of Sidesmen. Seaman
Will Ball, R.N. is now home on leave. Gdsn Kenneth Watkinson, who
used to live in Kearsley Ave., and now lives at Longton, came over
to Tarleton while on leave last week. Bert Faulks, whose parents
are now living at Plox Brow, has had his papers' and is joining
the Navy next week. Dick Blundell, Johnson's Lane, has been called
up and is joining the Army this week. Roy Maggee, who married Muriel
Harrison, has been discharged owing to ill health. Tarleton N.F.S.
under the command of Mr. Harry Hodge, has now forty members. This
week they have been fitted out with complete uniforms and equipment.
John Hornby, H.B. mentioned last week as seriously ill, died at
the week end. Information given in last week's issue concerning
Arthur Parkinson, younger son of Mr. Herbert Parkinson, Moss Lane,
was slightly inaccurate. He is at Reading University studying his
B.Sc Degree in Horticulture, and the Army course he took was the
O.T.C. connected with the University. He has just returned from
manoeuvres in Berkshire. The A.R.P. Wardens at H.B., under the command
of Chief Warden Mr. Herbert Parkinson, Moss Lane, raised £40
last week for the H.B. Comforts Funds. Miss Cropper, Chapel Lane,
was the secretary of the event. Mrs. Dick Harrison, Kearsley Ave.,
has been officially informed that her husband was in Singapore when
it capitulated, and has been posted as missing. Another correction
to last week's issue; the baby born to Mr. and Mrs. Will Taylor,
(Blackgate Lane) was a boy and not a girl as stated. Sergeant Ernie
Ball was married on Saturday to Constance Maher of Luton, Beds,
in Tarleton Parish Church. His father's house in Gorse Lane being
full up with guests, Ernie stayed at the rectory the night before
the wedding. The Bride's father gave her away and two sisters were
amongst the bridesmaids. Bridesmaids carried ivory covered Prayer
Books in place of bouquets. Bride in white with long veil. Reception
and Wedding breakfast at Garlicks. A Squadron of Southport A.T.C.
visited Tarleton on Saturday afternoon. Bunting, flags and Venetian
masts along Church Rd. in front of schools. Mayor of Southport in
top hat and Chain of office.
Extracts
from Letters.
Pte Matt Sutton sends an airgraph from Iraq to say "Just a
line to let you know that I have arrived safely and am not finding
things too bad. I have already received 5 N.Ls and two Parish Magazines
which I think is not too bad, after spending only a few weeks in
this country. I wonder if you would mind thanking the Mothers' Union
for the 5/ which my wife forwarded on to me. We have decent canteen
here, pictures twice a week and a trip to the nearest town once
a week.” From Dvr Walter Moss in the middle east comes another
airgraph saying that he gets the N.L. regularly but having been
away from Tarleton so long he married a Croston girl and went to
live there he does not know all the lads who are mentioned. A long
Air Mail letter comes from Sapper Richard Johnson (Dick),from the
middle east. It is dated March 17th. Among other items he says "A
few days ago we went away on a course, but the only snag in it was
that it did not last long enough for it was quite interesting and
there was plenty of time for swimming afterwards. Perhaps it may
seem strange to you to go swimming in March but, believe me, it
was quite hot. One or two of the N.Ls get delayed, but taking them
all round they turn up pretty well, for which I am thankful as they
contain more news than you could get in an ordinary letter. A/C
W. Riding (New Road) says "I think this the coldest place I
have been to; it reminds me of home being so flat and trees growing
as it were in bunches typical of 'united we stand, divided we fall,'
each upholding the other in times of stress and trouble. I went
to H.C. this morning at 7 o'clock, quite a number being present
considering the great difficulties in attending; getting dressed
in the dark,etc. They are a decent lot of lads where I am now, and
the Y.M.C.A. caters for various tastes by organizing discussion
groups on subjects ranging from Ghosts to next Thursday's speech
on 'What would Christ do"'. A/C1 Tom Smith (Hesketh Lane) says
"For the past 5 or 6 weeks I have not received a copy of the
N.L. I feel that I am losing touch with current affairs in Tarleton
as during the time that I was in receipt of it regularly, I found
myself looking forward eagerly to its appearance." (We can
assure Tom that the N.L. has been regularly mailed to him week by
week and cannot understand its non arrival). Says of his station
"The station itself is an Advanced Training Unit where pilots
acquaint themselves with the handling of twin engine aircraft. Much
of the flying is done at night and in good weather our planes are
roaring through the sky for 24 hrs out of 24. We work mostly from
dawn till dark and get one day off per week. The food here is excellent."
Dvr.Tommy Burns writes "Just a few lines to say that I've been
discharged from hospital and am now having a few days in the Convalescent
Home which is only a few minutes walk away." Goes on to say
that he has had quite a good time while in hospital and thinks that
Cambridge is a delightful place, as, of course, does the rector.
Hopes to get convalescent leave next week. His brother, Corporal
Jimmy Burns, sends a long Air Mail letter from the middle east.
Says "I do not know if you receive my letters or not but I
have written you one each week. As I do not see my name in the N.L.
I suppose you must not get them. I get the N.L. regularly and would
not like to be without one myself, so you can bank on me dropping
you a line every week if I get the N.L. or not." (Thanks, Jimmy,
but we can assure you that the N.L. has been sent to you regularly
every week without fail, and only suppose that the fishes are finding
them equally interesting to read). Goes on to ask the rector if
he got the photo of himself that he sent. (Yes,Jimmy, and it is
now amongst those of your schoolmates in the Lady Chapel in Church.
We acknowledged its receipt in the following N.L. However, again
many thanks for it, you look the picture of health, and it is a
good photo). Says "Well, sir, I am still in the same old town,
and still with young Dick Sephton from Rufford, and young Taylor
from Southport, so I am not on my own. I have been in touch with
Frank Foster by letter, and have had a letter from my sister's husband
Harry Forest and he is about 700 miles away.” (Note, all these
lads are in the middle east). Wishes to be remembered to all the
lads in Hoole, Tarleton, and H.B. and his brothers Dick, R.N., Gdsn.
George, and Dvr. Tom, also to Tpr. George West, Dvrs. Bert Price
and Harry Cookson, Sergt Jimmy Leacy, Gdsn Harry Crook and Gunner
Dan Stazicker. Gunner John Ball has changed his address. Says "we
are not allowed out of camp at night after 7 o’clock because
we have to man the guns. The day before we left I met Edwin Johnson,
from Holmes, Mere Brow, I was going to meet him again on following
Saturday but we moved in the meantime". Wishes to be remembered
to all the lads in the Forces. Corpl. John Houghton, (the Ormskirk
Advertiser reporter) writes "I do want to thank you for the
regular receipt of the N.L. which contains such interesting items
of news. It may be of interest to you to know that the N.L. goes
all round the Orderly room. Regularly every week the Draughtsman
from our Drawing Office (Doug. Turner) comes down and calls out
"Has the N.L. come yet". |
