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No: 251
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
January 25th 1945

My Dear Boys and Girls,
In a letter received this week from Kenneth Dandy he adds a postscript saying, "Someone has just brought another News Letter for me. To my mind 'Old Faithful' is another good name for it".
It is a fact that for nearly five years now the NL has gone forth week by week without a break to every lad and lass from our Parish.
But some of the praise must go to you. It is your letters to me, which arrive so regularly which are the mainstay of the NL. Some few, indeed receive them each week, and never send me a single line in return, but they are very few, and could be counted on the fingers of one hand. I do thank you most sincerely, for your help in this way, for by writing to me you are keeping your pals from the village in touch with yourselves and are providing them with a little bit of interesting reading to while away a few moments.
'Old Faithful' is a good term, and I hope that time will prove that it may rightly apply to me as well as to the NL, and I also hope that it may equally be applied to each one of you.
With my love, my Blessing and all my Prayers
Ever your faithful Old Friend,
L N FORSE

HOME FRONT NEWS.
Miss Elizabeth Barron (Doctor's Lane End, Sollom), who is on war work at a saw mill at Burscough, had three fingers cut off her left hand on Monday by an electric saw. She is in Southport Infirmary doing well.
Miss Elizabeth Alty, who used to live at Sollom, where Roger Spencer now lives, died at Ormskirk last week and was buried at Tarleton on Monday. She was 62 years of age.
The NFS, (commanded by Company Officer Harry Hodge), held a very successful Social Evening in the Schools on Wednesday. Wives and Sweethearts invited. Knife and fork supper, tons of delectable food, followed by Christmas Tree, Competitions, Songs and Dancing. Garlick's did the catering.
A Ribble bus trying to avoid Garlick's Confectionary van coming from Hesketh Lane, skidded on the snow by the Co-op and ran into the wall of Howard's cow byre, knocking down the lamp post at the corner. Front of bus smashed in, but driver was unhurt, as were all the passengers.
Mrs Sutton, Fermor Road, late of the Grocery shop in Hesketh Lane, has heard from the Admiralty that her son Jimmy, who was a Petty Officer in the Navy, was definitely killed during the landing on Walerchan Island.
Last Friday the children of Mere Brow School gave a really excellent play. Room was packed. In the interval the Swimming Certificates were presented.
Petty Officer Dick Baxter and Petty Officer John Taylor, and Submarine Artificer Will Ball (Newarth Lane), all of HB are home on leave. Also
Will Iddon, Council Houses, HB, is home from BLA on leave.
George Wilson, of Bretherton, (Wood Rd, South Rd) has been reported killed in action. He was married and was 24 years of age.
Hugh and Harry Sutton, both in the Navy, and both from Bretherton, (brothers) are home on leave.
An old Tarleton lad, married and now living at Rufford, on Saturday brought to the Rector a large model of a Fortress aeroplane, two feet from wing to wing, cut out of a solid piece of wood from a tree growing only last week in Rufford Wood. There is not a nail nor anything glued in it. He wants it to be sold in aid of the NL Fund. We thank him most sincerely.
Mrs Wignall (nee Margaret Latham, (Hesketh Lane), has presented her husband with a second child - a daughter. Ernie Ball is on leave. His wife has come up from Luton to be with him.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
Cpl Fred Forshaw airmails from Jhansi, India, "We had the usual Army Christmas, not too rowdy owing to the beer shortage. I have been posted to the New Delhi branch of our business which will be a welcome change. I am glad to see that our mutual friend General Carton de Wiartt is in the New Years Honour's List. If I had known that you know General Giffard I could have paid my respects to him some time ago., The 14th Army is going great guns just now, and I hope that Monty and Uncle Joe on your side have something very unpleasant in store for Adolph in the near future".
Dvr John Caunce airmails from BLA, "First I must say how sorry I was to see in the NL that Miss Chapman had met with an accident. I only hope that she is doing alright. I was sorry I could not be with you on Epiphany Night but I did think and say to myself 'They will be having a nice party tonight'. I am sitting up in bed writing this letter to you. Remember me to Mr Catchpole, and tell him I sympathise with him on the loss of his wife. I am looking forward to the day when I shall be sitting in my old chair in the rectory and just lean over and switch the wireless on".
AC Harry Moss (Mere Brow) writes from Iceland, "I don't think that the attitude of the Icelanders towards the Allies is any different now to what it was when we first invaded in the early part of the war. They are evidently very jealous of their independence. Please thank the British Legion, the Mothers' Union, and I think, the Bowling Club who unfailingly turn up each Christmas in aid of such impecunious Service-people as myself in their time of need".
LAC Robert Bridge (used to live at Sollom, then went to Banbury with all the family) airmails from India, "I have just come out of Hospital after having dysentry for the second time. I have been lucky enough to get in touch with Bill Lowe, who, as you know, is out here in the Army, and we are hoping to spend our leave together very soon. I have been in India two years now, mostly in the jungle, and I can honestly say that I don't like the place. Please give my very best wishes to everyone at dear old Sollom and Tarleton, and to all in the Forces".
AB Ken Dandy, RN sends both a letter and an airmail, "I do not want much, but that little is darned hard to get. Will you ask John Caunce if he remembers when we travelled together to work on the 7.30 bus (when I caught it). We had some very enjoyable trips to work and back. We have a garrison Church here at this Italian port, and I manage to attend fairly regularly. Our present Padre has just come down from the Front Line and gives us some very interesting sermons. Remember me to Corporal Bill Bridge, my brother Tom, John Caunce, Hubert Thompson, and all the Tarleton boys and girls. I have just put in a request to go on seven days' leave to Rome".
Dvr Bill Harrison (Kearsley Avenue) airmails from CMF, "I am in Italy now and must say that it is a big change after being in N Africa. I have had three days leave in Rome and quite enjoyed it. I see from the NL that there are a lot of Tarleton lads in Italy, but up to date I have not seen one. Remember me to all my cousins in the Forces, also my brother Tom who is in the NP Corps which the rest of the Army dislike, also to John Caunce, George Farrington and all in HMF".
Dvr Bill Ellison airmails from, CMF, "I had a surprise on Christmas Day. We had four lads allotted to each platoon who had just come out of Hospital, and one of them was a Sutton. He was born at Sollom and used to work for old Mr Taylor at Bridge End Farm. You will know him. We had a nice day together. Then on Thursday afternoon I got a bigger surprise. I was driving through the town when I saw a face I thought I knew. I pulled up and it was Ronnie Iddon. We found that we were only three miles apart. He is very well and looks much fatter".
CFM Ken Ogden writes from BLA, "Last week I had a 48 hours in Brussels which I enjoyed very much, but I am looking forward to the seven days at home which I hope will be in about two months time. At present I am having a busy time getting things ready".
Pte Jack Parker airmails from Digboi, SEAC, "Digboi is a town in
North Assam. The civvy population is very large, but the surprising thing is they haven't a Church - or a Kirk, as most of them are Scots. A Club is the first and last consideration. My opinion of the Burma Sahibs is not favourable to them. Some lads were going to Midnight Mass (RC), and I went with them. I had made my Xmas Communion on Christmas Eve at the Hospital".
AC1 Dick McKean airgraphs from MEF, "My brother is still stationed near me, and we have just spent two days together. During the past few days we have had the heaviest rainfall for years, and it is bitterly cold. I hope that you received the parcel I sent you. Remember me to my brother Frank, my brother-in-law William, and all in the Forces".
Leading Seaman Jim Latham writes from his ship, "Thanks for the NLs especially during Christmas week. When all other letters fail the NL still keeps rolling along., Christmas with me was rather quiet in one way, and hectic in another, as all the ship's company were rather merry. I was sorry to read in the NL of Jack Blundell's death as I worked in close touch with him for a good number of years. Please convey my sympathy to his wife and his son Dick".