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No: 280
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
August 16th 1945

My Dear Boys and Girls,
It is often said that you find more local news in the NL than you learn from those at home, and even Tarleton folk like to read it to find out what has happened in the parish right under their noses.
I can quite believe this, because I have found the greatest difficulty in getting the past fortnight's news from Tarleton folk. I have, as you know, been away for ten days and when I got back had to rely upon others to tell me what happened during my absence. I drew a blank.
Had I been in Tarleton myself I should have found plenty of small incidents, and odds and ends that would have interested you, for I go snooping around,nosey-parkering, with my ears wide open in order to provide for you the little bits of news I know you like to hear about.
However I am back now and I hope most sincerely that you will not again receive a News letter with no `Home Front` news in it, as you did last week.
Well, you know how devoutly I pray that you may all be back soon in the old village to cheer and support me in my old age. May that day come very soon now. With my love and every good wish, ever your affectionate old friend, L.N.FORSE.

HOME FRONT NEWS
Mr. Sidney Dandy, Oak Cottage, Lord Lilford's sub-agent at Tarleton was married last week at Rufford last week to Miss Margery Allen, daughter of the local vet.
Mr. Henry Lowe, Moss Lane, died last Tuesday and was buried at Tarleton on Friday. The rector being away, Mr. Thorne of Hesketh Bank took the service. He was 77 years of age.
During the rector's absence from Tarleton Mr.Wm.Dandy and Mr.Joe Cowell have been running the overseas leave boys home in the middle of the night.
Gdsn.Aubrey Smith is in hospital suffering from a bad foot.
Elsie Johnson of Hundred End celebrated her 21st birthday on Saturday with a large party held in the Tarleton C/E schools.
Hoole Show last Saturday. Fine day and fairly good attendance but not so good as last year.
Nannie Howard, Coe Lane, was married at Christ Church, Southport, last week, to Dennis Stanley Kershaw of Southport.

ON LEAVE
Bob Edmondson, Jack Marsden, Nick Forshaw, Arthur Croft, Frank McKean, Bob Howard, Maurice Haskell, Ken Ogden, Bill Wright, Alan Jay, Ronnie Whiteside (HB), John Iddon (Chapel Lane,HB), Fred Burns, Leslie Hodson, Elsie Winstanley, Henry Moss (Mere Brow), Harry Price.
Last Sunday Alan Jay, going back from leave, got stranded at Preston owing to the railway strike. The rector fetched him home at midnight and he set off again next morning.
Preston holiday week with most shops closed in Tarleton and many people off on holiday. Weather - brilliant sunshine.
Owing to the railway strike many people were stranded at Southport on Sunday night as there were no trains running from Southport to Preston, and naturally the buses were overloaded.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
Sgt. Ernie Ball writes from India "I am getting on quite well with the language out here, and if you see someone walking up the rectory steps with about three sheets draped around him,and an umbrella, turban etc.,don't think that it is the rectory ghost. It will only be Ernie suffering from the effect of the sun out here, and gone really Hindustani. As I write this I am up in the hill station on a week's rest, and it seems lovely and cool as we are 8000 ft. above sea level, but we return on Sat. worse luck. It seems lovely to get into bed at night without first having to climb under a mosquito net."
Bdr. Dick Blundell, RA writes from India Command "I see in the latest issue of the NL that Philip Rigby is in --. I wish that I had known sooner as I passed through the place the other day and it would be good to meet someone you know. I am beginning to settle down and am even getting used to the heat, but as to the flies, well! I had better not describe them as they might pester me still more should they find out what I think of them. Tell any lads out here that if they see the 55th Heave RA trucks on the road to ask the driver for RHQ `Tiffy` and fix up a cup of `char` and a chinwag about the old place. Remember me to Vernon Ogden, Stan Quinlan, John Iddon (Gorse Lane) and also the Rowland Bros."
Gunner Arthur Harrison writes from BLA "We are still at Braunlage which is only a small village. The people here go about without any shoes and even the kiddies are barefooted. I was one of the party to go to Brussels for the big parade. We got plenty of cheers as we marched along. We left here on Wednesday in our Katadors at 5pm., we got to LUNENBURGH at 7pm. We went by train to MINDEN, then went on to GENNEP, where we had dinner, then on to ANTWERP, where we went by barge to BRUSSELS. On Saturday we were on parade and received the 1939-1945 Medals, the France medal and the Germany medal."
Sapper Eric Abram writes from CMF "I am quite brown and really look like an Italian. Everyone I meet asks me if I am an Italian, they cannot believe that I am an Englishman, I am now so very brown and dark. I was quite surprised to see that Robert Latham is going out east; there seems to be a good many going out there now. Remember me to Jack Twist, Norman Wright and all my friends."
Mr. John Hornby BEM, Rn., writes from the Kiel Canal "It gave me a thrill to think that I was the only Tarleton boy in this area; at least we are represented all over Germany from Tarleton. I have got my warning for demobilisation and I should be home for good about the middle of this month after nearly 30 years continuous service."
LAC Malcolm Parkinson writes from BLA "I am playing in the Wing Tennis team. There are six of us and as the AOC of our Group is offering a cup, we are having inter-wing competitions. We play all over the continent travelling by air. I am in France, but that does not prevent us going to Holland to play a match. I only returned from 3 days in Brussels this afternoon, and next week we should be going into Germany for a match. Whilst in Brussels I was out on David Hanson's airfield. I saw quite a number of his squadron's aircraft, but not his own, and I was unable to contact him."
Gunner Edward Harrison writes from BLA "I notice that Bill Barker was very near to my billet by what he says in the NL. I suppose with being a Dvr. he gets about quite a lot. I would like you to tell him through the NL to be sure and root me out. At present we are at SINNELAGER (1) near PADERBORN, looking after quite a few thousand Russian ex-POWs. I notice he wants to know if I would rather be at Perth again doing my first six weeks' training. Well, it was a bit rough at first but I still think I would rather be there than have this joint."
L/Cpl. John Ball, CMF (Church Road) writes from Paiforce "This time I have landed in the middle of the desert, the nearest town being 280 miles away. We only receive letters twice a week, and even these are delayed, but I am glad to find that the NLs are following me around. I have met a lad from Southport who knows Tarleton well. We have not much in the way of entertainment out here - we get a film show once a fortnight. But we have plenty of books, a canteen and a swimming pool. The nearest place to us is a village called RULBAK a quarter of a mile away. It is a native village and is out of bounds to us."
Pte. Jack Parker writes from JORHAT, India Command, "Your remarks in your little sermon - you called it that about a spiritual war now that we lads have more time on our hands and no imminent danger to life - is as true out here as to the lads in Europe. Much of the trouble is that the people back home, except those who have loved ones out here, don't worry or think that the war is over out here. The lads who come back from leave say that they constantly remark "Now that the war is over and finished." So a lot of men have lost faith in the fellow-countrymen."
L/Cpl. David Clark writes from MEF "Any day now I should be on my way home having completed four years overseas. Although unknown to Tarleton I have always been very interested in receiving the NLs especially appreciating your letter on the front page which has always been very comforting. When Peace comes to the world and the thousands who have been spared return home once again, you should have a very happy and contented community." David signs himself `One of your old St. Annes Boys`. When the rector was a curate at St. Annes-on-Sea, David was a member of his Lads' Club.
Cpl. Jimmy Swift writes from Husbands Bosworth "We are very quite here and there is very little going on. We are all looking forward to our demob Group. I know that it will take a time to settle down and get back to normal, but we are eager to be on our way and to start life anew. It is very pleasing to note that the Jap war will not be long now before it is finished."