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No:233
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
21st September 1944

My Dear Boys and Girls,
Things really are looking brighter, literally as well as metaphorically. For the relaxing of the blackout restrictions has made our village quite gay again at night, and the 'stand at ease' order given to all the Civil Defence Units has given everyone much more time for recreation. Of course, we owe our good luck entirely to you and your comrades who have borne, and are still bearing, the heat of the day in the front line of battle. I only hope that everyone will recognise this and give credit where credit is due.

The Church bells also are now rung for the Sunday Services, and we are trying to get more ringers from the younger generation. But when you come home I am hoping to rope a good many of you in for active Church work. There is no better or more exhilarating comradeship than that of a band of men and women bound together with the common purpose of serving their God and their Church.. Here again is a very good subject for discussion. Does one get more real and lasting pleasure by serving God or serving oneself? The only snag in such an argument is that if you have not tried the former you really won't know the tremendous joy it is to give oneself to the service of God. And one is not really qualified to argue about what one has never experienced. Well my space is up, so once more with every prayer for you all, and with my Love and my Blessing,
Ever your affectionate friend,
L N Forse

Home Front News.
Nellie Hodson, Kearsley Avenue, was married on Saturday to LAC Peter Barton of Birkdale, Southport, in Tarleton Parish Church. Reception and Wedding Breakfast in Church Schools, honeymoon at Kendal.
Doris Molyneux, Holmeswood who was our village Queen a few years ago, and is now a Sergeant in the WAAFs was married on Saturday at Holmeswood Methodist Chapel to Flight-Lieut Winston Kitchener Hynem, RAF who comes from Barbados. Reception and wedding breakfast at the New Mornington Hotel, Southport. Honeymoon at Tenby.
LAC Jimmy Swift, who married Agnes Rigby, broadcast from Nairobi, East Africa, on Sunday morning.
Mr Herbert Parkinson, Moss Lane, broadcast in the Home Service Programme on Monday last at 9.35pm in a special feature entitled 'The Land is our 'Concern'.
Mr Holmes, the father of Jimmy, is leaving his house in Blackgate Lane and is going to live with Jimmy.
At the recent Tarleton Horticultural Show, Mere Brow School children won nine prizes in the special children's competitions for drawings, essays, etc.
Mr George Sutton, senior, Aschroft's Farm, Park Lane, Holmes, who had to have a leg amputated in Southport Infirmary, is now back home, and is doing well. In the double number issue of September 7th, the extract given by Corpl Clemmy should read that he was a friend of Tom Parkinson of Carr Lane who was killed while with the RAF in Corsica. We apologise to all concerned for the mistake.

ON LEAVE
Bert Price; Eric Booth.
Hoole Show which was held about three weeks ago made well over £1000 for the Red Cross.
John Caunce has sent the Rector two photographs of himself taken in bathing costume in Italy which make him appear not only to have been born somewhere in the African desert, but also, so conspicuous are his hefty muscles, as if he could easily defeat Jack London.
Mrs Caunce, John's mother, has successfully got over her operation and is now convalescing at Lostock Hall.
Up to date 72,000 News Letters have been sent to Tarleton boys and girls in HM Forces. Its total cost up to date has been £900. Miss Evelyn Webster has addressed 72,000 envelopes stuck the same number down and has licked 72,000 stamps. The Rector has written many million words on his typewriter. To get at the correct number, count the number of words in one NL, multiply by 72,000 and add a good many more for the frequent double numbers. He has also received, read and taken extracts from over 7,000 letters from lads and girls away in HM Forces.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
Corpl Fred Forshaw writes from Jhanai, India Command, "I am sure that demobilisation is going to cause some bad feeling out here. The boys in India see the victory celebrations in England without being there to take part. They see the more fortunate munition workers etc., being in first for housing, the pick of the jobs, and when eventually they come home the urge to help the ex-Servicemen will probably have lost its gloss. Thank Ian Forse for his kind remembrance and wish him for me, through the NL, fair winds".
Stoker Jack Twist writes, "You will see by the address that I have joined a new submarine which is a very famous one, she is one of the luckiest submarines in the Navy, so I am glad to be on her. I am very happy in my work though it is a great change from farming, as we don't see much daylight. I think in this Service the men and the Officers are more together than on a surface ship. Jerry knows that we can send any of his ships to the bottom and so he keeps out of our way. Remember me to my three pals, Norman Wright, Eric Abram and Bob Latham".
Dvr Dick Sephton airgraphs from MEF "You will see that I have changed my address and am now in a new country, though I have been here before, I notice that most of the boys have now left England for France. Please convey my regards to them all through the NL as I think that is the best way to convey them. Since I arrived here it has been all re-shuffling, adopting new systems and that kind of thing. But I like it as it makes the days pass quickly.
My kind regards to all the boys wherever they may be".
Ldg/M/M Arthur Proctor RN writes from his ship anchored off Ceylon, "I have had quite a nice surprise in the form of seven NLs. The previous ones were received in South Africa. You will see by the address that I am still in Ceylon, but not in Colombo. We hardly ever go ashore, but there is not much there anyhow. My kind regards to all in the Forces especially Jack Hodge, RN and Jack Waters, MN, and may they all arrive home safely".
2nd Lieut Mick Melling writes from BLA "We have been moving on at great speed since I came out here. At present I am in Belgium, but I expect very soon I shall be wandering around Holland getting the local colour. I was quite well off in France in that I could speak the language fairly well. I am living in hope of meeting some of the Tarleton lads over here, and hope to do so soon. In the meantime give my kind regards to them through the NL, also to Bert, Hugh and Harry Crook".
Marine Leslie Hodson writes from BLA "Now that I am over on this side I thought it was about time I wrote. So far I have not met anyone I know, but I think I met as many Tarleton lads as anyone when I was abroad before/ remember me to Bill Wright and tell him I wish to hear from him soon.
Sapper George Barker writes from BLA "At long last, as you will see from the address, I have been paddled across the pond. This being the Capital, ENSA have taken over another theatre and another cinema, three in all,. The Salvation Army van has been a very great help to us. I have not had any mail for a fortnight, and at the rate we are going I don't expect there will be any yet. Please remember me through the NL to all my friends in the Forces".
Gunner Arthur Harrison writes from BLA "As you will understand we have had to wait for our mail to catch up with us, These last few days have been full of interest; all through France we got a great welcome, I will never forget it. The French threw flowers and pears and apples etc. into our trucks as we went along the streets. They certainly told us some horrible stories of their life under Jerry rule. Our trucks are covered in flowers and flags of France and Belgium".
Trooper Alec Barnish aerographs from MEF "Last week I received a letter from my brother Ted. He is in the best of health and is kept busy in Italy. A few weeks ago I got the opportunity of seeing the Holy City, and a few more places we are so familiar with in our spiritual life. I enjoyed a most interesting tour. Please convey my best wishes to all my local friends in the Forces, and add a special good wish for your many good helpers".
Pte Jack Parker airgraphs from Assam, SEAC. "I see that I have been 'mentioned in despatches' in a couple of NLs I have now only another two years to serve in India unless Grigg shortens the time a bit. The European war seems to be coming to an end, and the Japs are getting a good pasting. The news has certainly made good listening in the past few days. I am still going on OK. My greetings to you and all Tarletonians"