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ISSUED WEEKLY SINCE MAY 1940

No: 307
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
May 23rd 1946

My dear Boys and Girls,
As you will see overleaf, I am now getting very near to the final issue of the News Letter. I have decided to cease publication for several reasons, the principal one being that nowadays I do not receive sufficient letters to make even a decent page of extracts. This was to be expected, for we now have over 200 of our lads and girls at home demobbed, and many others actually on the way home. However, I do intend to issue a really final, and double-double number on our own particular Victory Day, the date of which has not yet been fixed; it will certainly be a number well worth keeping as a souvenir all your lives. Also it will contain the names of all those from Tarleton who have served in the Forces throughout the War.

Whatever you do, do not forget to come and see me directly you get demobbed, and if there is anything at all that you would like me to do for you, please do not be afraid of asking. May God bless and keep you all and give you a safe return to the old village.
Ever your affectionate friend and rector. L.N.FORSE.

Home Front News.
Mr. Morrison's car was stolen from outside his garage one night last week, and was found the other side of Liverpool. So far the police have not discovered who stole it.
The rector went to Leicester last Wednesday on Army business. He started out at 7am and got back at 10.30pm going through Ashbourne, Buxton, Derby etc. He did it by car.
The Home Guard had a meeting to decide what to do with their Benevolent Fund now that they are disbanded. They decided to give £36 to the News Letter Fund, and £6.10s to the War Memorial Fund. For which we thank them.
The Churchwardens and Sidesmen were "sworn in" at Chorley Parish Church on Saturday last.
A "Bring and Buy" sale was held a week last Saturday to raise the sum of £230 which the Churchwardens borrowed to pay for the re-pointing and repair of the Church spire. The schoolroom was crowded with "bringers and buyers" and the total raised was £281. Bryan Latham (Harry Latham's son and Mr. Bailey's Grandson) aged two years won a bottle of rum.
The Sunday School Tea Party has been fixed for June 1st. Silcock's roundabouts and Fair has promised to come in full force.
The rector called a meeting in the schools last Tuesday of all the Tarleton demobbed to discuss the housing and other problems. A "Watch" committee is being formed to look after the interests of the ex-Service men and women.
Bank Hall has now been taken over by the Royal Corps of Signals. The first thing they did as they came in was to knock down one of the stone gate posts at the front entrance.
Mrs. Jimmy Abram (nee Winnie Laing) has presented her husband with a son.
Mrs. John Taylor (nee Jean Armstrong) Bannister Farm, Gorse Lane, has presented her husband with a son - the second.
Mrs. Harry Taylor, Sutton Lane, has presented her husband with a daughter.
Christine Proctor, Kearsley Avenue, fell off one of the old barges in the canal last Sunday into the canal and was rescued by Jean Tomlinson, Kearsley Avenue. Jean is only eleven years old.
Bretherton Junior Football team won the League cup and the Challenge cup playing on the Leyland Motors Ground last week. In the same team were Tom Wilcock and Cliff Harrison from Tarleton and John Sumner, well known to Tarleton lads, from Bretherton.
Borings for oil are being made at Mawdesley but so far none has been found. The rector can thus still live in the hope that there may be some under the rectory lawn. It would be nice to have one's own supply and to run a pipeline from the lawn to the rectory garage - without needing coupons.
Hubert Tindsley sent a telegram home last Tuesday telling his parents that he had married a Welsh girl names Beryl Mary, who was a L/Cpl in the ATS and whom he had known for some time. Mrs. Tindsley introduced the rector to her when she was last in Tarleton.
Some Preston boys burnt absolutely to the ground the wood-constructed Chemist's shop at Longton - opposite the church - belonging to Mr. Ramsbottom. They also partially destroyed by fire the small garage near the Blue Anchor dance room at Hutton. The boys were caught and are up for trial.
The second Welcome Home party was given in the schools on Friday for those demobbed since Christmas. About 100 demobbed lads attended with their wives or sweethearts. A substantial tea then a short Service of Thanksgiving in Church, and then a long night dance in the schools.
Mary Wignall of Hoole, was married on Saturday last in Hoole Parish Church to Harry Lancaster of Hutton.
Just as we go to press we hear that the oil prospectors have begun seeking oil in Tarleton. They have tried in Dick Melling's field, Thompson's field, and at Townend, Plox Brow. So we may yet see a well on the rectory lawn.
Mrs. Stanley Quinlan has presented her husband with a son - the second.
All this week James Coulton and Tom Wilcock from Alty's have been repairing the British Legion Club room and making the roof water-tight; when they have finished it will be repainted inside and out.
Ken Dandy is on his way home to be demobbed.
The following have sent subscriptions to Miss Kathleen Topping, Ferndale, Church Road, Tarleton, towards the gift we intend to present to Miss Evelyn Webster to mark our appreciation of the great task she has performed so well in addressing, stamping and dispatching the 100,000 envelopes containing the NLs sent to those serving in the Forces throughout the war years:- Alice Bentham, Fred Bentham, Harry Latham, Pearl Whitehead, George Wait, Sidney Ball, Ernest Ball, Harley McKean, William Abram, Mrs. McKean and her daughter, Mrs. William Abram, Ronnie Sergeant, Arthur Molyneux, Eric Edmondson, Robert Howard, Hubert Thompson, Eddie Farrell, Jack Moss, Anonymous, Tom Bolton, Ada Coulton, William Ball (Scoot), Peter Brian, Walter Ascroft, Ernest Nicholson, Clifford Hambilton, Jack Ashcroft, Arthur Worth, Herbert Nutter, Kenneth Nicholson, Richard Taylor (Mere Brow), Austin Barton, Yorrie Davies, Frank Proctor, Nick Forshaw, Henry Baybutt, Eric Hind, Kenneth Hind, Muriel Hind, Harold Rawlinson, Bert Rawlinson (both of Bretherton), John Webster, John Pickervance, Harry Iddon, Jack Edmondson, Tom Smith, Edwin Barron, Jim Burns, Alan Jay, Alfred Rowland, Jim Latham(Moss Lane), Jack Hodge, Malcolm Parkinson. This is the third list so far published in the News Letter.
The Tarleton Flight ATC are going to Bomber Command Station, Walney Island, for a week's training, on June 29th.
The Police have found the thief who broke into Mrs. Edgar's house, Blackgate Lane, and stole a gold watch and some money. He was a lad who had escaped from a Borstal Institution.

Important Notice.
The subscription list for Miss Evelyn Webster's Testimonial will close on Saturday June 8th. The final list of Subscribers will then be published and the amount collected will be given in the News Letter. Miss Webster will be asked what she would like to be bought with the money subscribed, and the gift will be made to her on the day chosen for the great Victory Day in Tarleton, when the gratuities will be presented to those entitled to them, by the Welcome and Welfare Committee; and the rector's Berlin and other medals will also be presented to those who have gained them. As far as we can state at present, the last News Letter will be published on June 30th. We hope, however, that those lads who will still be in the Forces at that date, will continue writing to the rector so that he can keep in touch with them.
The Girl Guides held a Sale of Work in the Schools on Saturday afternoon and raised about £60. The money is for the Guides south of the Ribble, Penwortham, Longton, Hoole, Tarleton, Hesketh Bank, etc.

Extracts from letters.
L/Bdr. Nick Taylor, writes from Chaubatti, India Command "I am now in the Depot police at a leave centre in the foothills of the Himalayas. The scenery is by far the nicest I have seen in my travels. The last fifty miles to the camp has to be reached by truck, which gives one the thrill of a lifetime. Round the snake-winding mountain roads there is a drop of some thousand feet and some of the bends really make one hold one's breath. We get stacks of wild animals in camp like jackals, barking deer, monkeys etc. The worst animal we have to watch is the black and spotted panther. There is plenty of entertainment, like horse-racing, fishing, shooting, dances etc., and smashing billets with white sheets."
Sgt. Ernie Nicholson writes from GHQ 2nd Echelon, India Command "Perhaps you would like to know what I am doing at a GHQ. Well, I am dealing with R.A. Records and it's a very welcome change from footslogging. Tom Fazackerley and Dick Blundell are the only two RA chaps I know from Tarleton and I know their locations from dealing with their Units. I am hoping to be in Tarleton next October (Group 42) and I hope that it is cold. We had two minutes' rain here on Sunday and everyone dashed out to have a look at it."
LAC John Sutton writes from Sind, India Command, "I am sendng you my present address, I hope the last in this filthy country. I wrote to Hugh Melling when he was near Calcutta but as his lot were moving, as he thought to Japan, we never met; but being in the same demob group, we may be on the same boat coming back. I should be making home in August if they cut some red tape and stop making RAF men work for British Overseas Airways Co. Sweating seems to be the main occupation out here; you just lie on the old 'charp' and it runs out of you. Still we are quite near the Indian Ocean and now and then get a dip."
Pvte. John Ashcroft writes from Medan, Sumatra, SEAC., "I came here by air last week and had a very comfortable time. It is nearly three hours flying from Singapore. I believe that Java and Sumatra are known as the last two active service areas in the world; we have to carry rifles at all times, and go about in twos and more at night. This is a lovely country, sunshine, and rain almost every day but, as you know, not very peaceful. I hope that the work of the Church is going on well in Tarleton with plenty of willing helpers and bigger congregations now that a lot of the lads are getting home."
Gunner Tom Fazackerley writes from Deolali, India Command, "I am hoping to be leaving India in about two weeks time for demob so I shall be able to come and see you. We are still having some very warm weather and we have had some rain but only a cupful. They will want a lot more rain than this to grow all the food they need, but it does look very bad as far as the food here goes. Remember me to all the lads in the Forces and wish them all the best."
LAC Harold Pilkington writes from Air Booking Centre, Singapore, SEAAF., "I must say that Singapore is pulling itself together very well after the Jap occupation and very soon the number of troops here should be cut. I see from the NL that Jim Southern is billeted in St. Nicholas Flats, along River Valley Road, a spot I pass at least six times every day. You can well guess where I am straight off to, for I know Jimmy very well. So once again it is the good old NL that does the trick, and I take this opportunity of thanking everyone concerned for the unfailing duty to us away. I am Group 45 and I hope to be home in September. Where my billet is now, I overlook the harbour which is full of boats of every size and description, including Japanese warships. But alas none of them is for me yet!"
Sapper Jimmy Harrison writes from MEF "At the moment I am at Mex, about three miles from Alexandria. Trucks are run twice a week to the Beach and, as you can imagine, they are crowded. I am working on the docks but the only boats that interest me are the demob ones. I slept one night in one of them, the Empire Mack, as we couldn't get back to camp owing to trouble in town. Four of us had a whole troop deck to ourselves and were very disappointed because she did not sail. Since I have been here I have met Bob Latham and Harley McKean. I am due for fourteen days' leave and I intend to spend it in Cyprus. I had considered Palestine but there is too much trouble there without me adding to it. I will close now as my pencil is getting hot."
Dvr. John Caunce writes from CMF "I have had more trouble with my knee through footballing and I have been to the MO with it. So I am taking things easy and am working in the Office. A week ago my pal and I were sent in front of the Major for our first stripe, but we both refused, for to have a stripe in this Coy is worse than a dog's life. I am sending you an issue of the "Battle Axe" which is printed by this Division. Thanks for offering to send me anything I need, but at the present I cannot think of anything except, maybe, my one-way ticket home."
AB Kenneth Dandy writes from Trieste, Italy "In my last letter to you I said that two sloops had started painting ship, but in the NL you put positioning ship, which is wrong. Maybe it was my writing. Two more cruisers are coming up here next week for the Victory Parade. They are the Superb and Arion. We have already started square-bashing and route marches, and the Army are having quite a few tanks in the parade. I am not in this one as I am on special duty. It's the first parade I've missed. I am Group 52 so I should be on my way home very soon. Please give my best wishes to Tom Dickinson and Arnold Bailey and a speedy demob to all who are still in the Forces."
Dvr. Billy Whittle writes from BAOR "I have been here in Cologne since last Thursday. Seven other lads are with me at 18 GHQ for a week's Guard. It being my day off I think I will take a trip to Dusseldorf. It's about 30 miles from here. There are plenty of amusements in Dusseldorf, quite the opposite to this joint where there is not even a nice building, everything being `flat`. I have made friends with an elderly couple in Dusseldorf. I have been to their flat and was surprised to find a neat, tidy and spotlessly clean little home."
Sgt. Frank Hewitson writes from 'At Sea - Port Said'. "I am very happy to report that the moment which I have awaited so long is now fast approaching and I expect to be in civvies before the end of the month. It was a sudden surprise to me whcn I was called forward from my Unit in SEAC several weeks earlier than I expected and had only three hours notice to pack, see the MO., QM., etc., and catch the primitive Burmese train. Needless to say I caught it. We were put into an American converted cargo vessel at Rangoon and it has everything but the comfort one would expect of a Yankee ship; in fact, it seems to have every modern inconvenience."
PSA Joe Tindsley writes from HMS Demetrius, anchored firmly in York Road, Netherby, Yorkshire, "At the moment I am living a life of east. I am in sick bay suffering from German measles. There has been an epidemic of them here. It wouldn't be too bad, but I'll be back-classed through it, and my leave will be put back a week or two. It is a fine camp here, conditions are better in every respect than at Glendower, the food is better, the canteen better and there are better facilities for sport. That's all, as I've run out of news."
Clifford Hambilton writes from Ingol, near Preston, "On my release from the Army, I should be very grateful if you would kindly convey to the people of Tarleton my deepest gratitude for all their loving kindness towards me during the long years of my confinement in a prisoners-of-war camp in Germany. It has been a source of pride and pleasure to me, and my parents, to know how grand they have all been in ever keeping the POWs ever in their thoughts."
William Sutton (better known as Billy Sutton, of Blackgate Lane) writes from Little Hoole "I have almost finished my re-settlement course; as I told you when I saw you that I was going to take up Undertaking. I have been to a firm at Bamber Bridge for most of my training. When I am demobbed I shall be working for my father at Tarleton and I intend to work the Undertaking up with the other business."
Harry Hindley writes from Moss Lane "It is great to be writing to you as a civilian at long last. The old times are coming home fast now, and it is grand to meet old pals one has not seen for years. May all the rest soon join us in Civvy Street."
Fus. Ronnie Iddon writes from India Command, "Since I came back from the course at Rawlapindi I have been very busy. So far I have not met many lads out here that I know, but I did come across a lad from Ormskirk whom I knew when at home, and we had a nice talk. If any of the many Tarleton lads in India get near a place called Lucknow, please tell them, through the NL, to look me up. Anyone will tell them where the MT sleep. I am hoping to be home somewhere about October this year. Please remember me in the NL to all the boys and girls in the Forces, wherever they may be."
(Note: Ronnie Iddon's letter should have been amongst those from lads on foreign service but it arrived after all the rest of the NL had been written so we had to squeeze it in here. This is Ronnie Iddon from Hesketh Lane. The other Ronnie Iddon, Carr Lane, is at home, demobbed).
William Melling (Hesketh Bank) writes "Just a note to let you know that I am being demobbed next Thursday May 23rd after four years, nine months in the Navy. Thanks for sending the NL for so long."
Kenneth Robshaw writes "I am about finished in the Army and shall be demobbed next Wednesday, May 22nd. I go to Ashton-under-Lyne for my demob suit and then straight home. I am then going to London to stay with a friend for the Victory Parade. I really shall miss the NL which has been a grand way of keeping in touch with each other and really has been most welcome in the thick jungles of India."

The Lighter Side.

Ministry visitor: "Do you have long hours here?"
Workman: "No, just the usual length - 60 minutes!"