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ISSUED WEEKLY SINCE MAY 1940

No: 309
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
July 4th 1946

Tarleton Rectory,
Preston.

My dear Boys and Girls,
Truthfully speaking, the notice at the head of this letter is not quite correct, for I did not issue a News letter last week nor the week before, but as I have never failed for the past six years to issue it every week until now I thought that I could honestly continue to use the heading.
Well, we are now getting to the last issue, which, as I have said, will be a bumper one.
The lads are now coming home demobbed in quick succession, and it really does look as if practically all those who were in the Forces for the last two years will be home by Christmas.
One last request. Do please, one and all, who are still in the Forces write to me so that my final issue can really be a bumper number, and one to be kept as a souvenir for all time.
With all my love and every Blessing,
Ever your sincere old friend and rector,
L.N.FORSE.

Home Front News.
Mr. James Bentham (Fred’s father), Kearsley Avenue died on Saturday and was buried in Tarleton Churchyard on Tuesday. He was 64 years of age.
Mrs. Howard of Hoole (nee Mary Howard, Barron’s Farm, Tarleton), has presented her husband with a son.
Young Vincent John Stringfellow (Jack) of Chapel Road, H.B., fell into an ammunition pit in the Army Camp near his house while playing with some of his mates. There was water in the pit and Jack was nearly drowned. A soldier at the camp got him out, he was taken by ambulance to Preston Infirmary and was unconscious for three whole days. He is now slightly better.
Joe Leather of Town Lane, Hoole, was married on Saturday to Molly Barker, late of Hoole, now of Bretherton.
William Stezaker of Park View, Liverpool Road, Rufford was married last Wednesday to Madeleine Bellot of Brussels, Belgium, at Rufford Parish Church. He met her when he was stationed in Brussels. He is now demobbed. The bride was ‘given away’ by Mrs. J. Ashcroft of Rufford and the best man was the bridegroom’s nephew Ronnie Stezaker.
Walter Rawsthorne has now been demobbed and is living with his Belgian bride over Clegg’s shop in Hesketh Bank.
During a gale last week one of the clerestory windows in the parish church blew right in, fell on the floor of the Church and not a pane was broken.
The only sign of Victory day being kept in the village was a few flag displayed here and there in the village, including those at the Church and the British Legion.
Owing to the inclement weather the Church Sunday school was unable to “walk” on WhitSunday afternoon. However the Rufford band played the hymns, and other music in Church for the Service.
The weather was again very wet for the Methodist Sunday School Tea Party. It rained all day, especially hard in the afternoon, but Mrs. Knight again kindly gave the children an afternoon at the Cinema. There was no procession round the parish.
Teddy Silcock, eldest son of Herbert Silcock, the proprietor of the Fun Fair, which came to Tarleton for the Tea Parties (Church and Methodist) was married on Wednesday by the rector in Tarleton parish Church to Anita Williams, whose family have the shooting gallery at the Fair Ground. Reception and Wedding Breakfast in the Schools afterwards. Honeymoon in the Isle of Man. A large number of people, friends of both families and local people attended the ceremony.
Hugh Iddon opposite Howards and works for Mrs. Howard at Barron’s Farm was married on Wednesday at the Methodist Chapel to Alice Hague, daughter of Mr. Joe Hague, of Carr Lane. Reception at Garlicks.
A start has already been made of building the 36 houses in Sutton Avenue. They will, of course, be Council houses to rent.
Richard Iddon, the builder, has been given the contract for draining the new portion of the Churchyard. The work must be done before the land can be consecrated.
Stanley Banks, Carr Lane, is in Preston Infirmary. He has had an operation for a hernia, He is doing well.
Hesketh Bank Musical Festival was held in the C.E. and Methodist Schools last week.
Another Teddy Silcock, son of Mr. Edward Silcock, brother of Mr. Herbert above, who is also the proprietor of the Fun Fair, is to be married at Tarleton Parish Church on July 12th to Estelle Shaw whose people are also in the same line of business.
Mrs. Edgar of the Lock Cottages, Sollom, fell into the canal on Thursday and was drowned. Verdict at inquest ‘found drowned’. She was buried at Tarleton on Saturday.
Hesketh Bank Welcome Home Committee distributed their gratuities to their ex-Service men on Saturday afternoon. £21 to each man and woman, irrespective of the length of time spent in the Services; and £42 to every widow of a Hesketh Bank man who died through the war.
Last Saturday afternoon the Croston Welcome Home Committee held a garden party at the rectory on behalf of their Funds. The rector of Tarleton lent some of his many decorations.
Also on Saturday afternoon the Tarleton Church Sunday School teachers held a Garden Party on the Rectory lawn. Maypole, Morris Dancing, Rufford Band, Fortune Teller, Whist Drive and tea on the lawn. Proceeds for Sunday School Funds. A very good attendance. Opened by Mrs. Bridge of Lathom.
Also on Saturday afternoon last Patrick’s Circus visited Tarleton. So as not to clash with the Garden party the Rector arranged with Mr. Patrick to erect the Circus on the field next to the rectory lawn. A bridge was thrown across the ditch; the circus opened for the first house at 5.30, after the tea on the lawn, and when the Garden party was practically over. So all the Garden Party went across to the first house at the Circus. The second house was at 7.30. Quite a good show, performing horses, dogs etc. Acrobats, clowns, etc. Zoo attached containing lion, monkey, peacocks etc.
John Caunce has written to say that he expects to be home on leave (L.I.A.P) about June 25th.
Jimmy West has also been demobbed.
A troop of Boy Scouts are coming to Tarleton to camp at the end of July.
George Burns returned home, demobbed, on Monday last.
Hesketh Bank Sunday School outing to Southport took place on June 19th.
Very fine day; tea in the Temperance Institute.
While Nurse Freeman has been away ill we have had a supply nurse. This nurse while driving her car to Mere Brow, somersaulted into Runner Platt. The nurse was unhurt, and the car is now once more on the road.
Lewis Clark has been demobbed.
A private car going through Rufford, when near Nansen’s Café in trying to avoid a runaway horse crashed into a lorry coming in the opposite direction. The car was completely concertinaed, but the driver, though badly cut, was taken out alive.
Mr. John Forshaw of Holmes, died on Thursday and was buried in Tarleton Churchyard on Saturday.
The infant son of James Sharrack and Winifred Mary Abram (Jimmy Abram and Winnie Laing) was christened on Sunday in Tarleton Parish Church with the names Christopher James.
The infant daughter of Richard and Doris Parkinson (Dick Parkinson, Hesketh Lane and Doris Wignall) was christened on Sunday in Tarleton Parish Church with the name Joan.
The following is the third list of Subscribers to Miss Evelyn Webster’s Testimonial from those serving in the Forces in recognition of their appreciation of her services in sending the N.Ls each week: Harry Devitt; Mr. Robert Hull (Joiner); John Ball; Commander Caunce; Kenneth Robshaw; Albert Becconsall; Joseph Rimmer; Alec Barnish; Ted Barnish; Frank Hewitson; Nicholas Dewhurst; Agnes Swift (nee Rigby); Eva Foulds; Frank Foulds; Ken Ogden; Ronnie Iddon; Jackie Sutton; Robert Bond; Harry Harrison; Harry Whitehead; James Parkinson; Robert Latham; Will Ellison; William Parkinson; William Benjamin; Tom Dickinson; Robert Edmondson; Jack Marsden; Jimmy Sutton; Richard Blundell; Abel Bickerstaff; Dick Gabbott; Howard Gabbott; John Rimmer; Mrs. Darrell (nee Ball, Hoole); Herbert Parkinson; Eric Abram; Pamela Fairey; Jack Clammy (R.A.F. friend of Tom Parkinson who was killed in Corsica); Arthur Barron; Philip Rigby; Robert Iddon (Bretherton); William Iddon; Alan Barnes; Dick Townsley; Robert Ball (Newarth Lane, H.B.); Aubrey Smith; Tom Spencer; John Spencer.

Extracts from Letters.
Major Eric Hind writes from BOMBAY: “I am shortly to be released from the Army and write to thank you for the famous N.Ls you have sent, I have read it in the jungles of Mateya, Samutra and Burma and it has quite honestly enabled me, for a few seconds to forget the dangers around me and transport me back to that long, straggling, peaceful and typical Lancashire village where I have spent the happiest days of my life. I have often thought of writing and suggesting something which I considered you would consider facetious. It is that you change the order of your initials from L.N. to N.L.; N.L. standing for News Letter of course.” (No, Eric, my initials in the order given to me in Baptism stand for something even better, and more appropriate - the old Loyal Norths. A regiment I served for 25 years.)
LAC Eric Bell writes from B.A.O.R. “All the Units on this ‘drome are being disbanded at the moment. I believe the Army is taking over and using it as a camp and as an airfield for the Army light “Spotters”. My own view is that it is rather a waste of such a fine airfield when “Spotter” planes can land and take off in a cabbage field. I know that quite a few Tarleton boys were posted in and around Lubeck, and I am wondering if there are any here now, I’m a bit stumped for what to say next, but if my letter has done nothing else, it will, at least, let you know that I am still alive and kicking.”
Dvr. John Caunce typewrites his letter from C.M.F. “I am still working in the office, so this accounts for this typewritten letter. I shall be able to help you with your typing when I get back. I played football about a week ago and as usual I hurt myself, but I am better now and I shall be playing again on Monday night. I have not met any Tarleton lads since I met Ronnie Iddon but I am keeping my eyes skinned for any I may see. Remember me to all my Tarleton pals in the Forces, and to any who have been demobbed”.
L/Bdr. Nicholas Taylor writes from CHAUBATTIA, India Command “At last I have received some very good news. I have to pack my kit and proceed to Homeward Bound Dept. at Deolali. I hope to be home on a short disembarkation leave, prior to being demobbed, at the end of June”.
Dvr, Robert Iddon (Bob, used to work for Jack Mee), writes “Just a few lines to thank you for the N.L. which I have received since arriving in Japan. Life in Japan has not been too bad so far, and I think that it is much better than India. We are in Barracks about five miles from Kure. I have also been to Hiroshima, the city where the first Atomic bomb was dropped. It doesn’t seem possible that one bomb could do so much damage. All that is standing is a few concrete buildings; all the rest is flat. Every bit of land here is cultivated, even on the steep hillsides. Another thing that is very beautiful here is the cherry blossom; some parts of the countryside are covered with it. I went to Church on Easter Sunday in a nearby hospital and we had a very nice service”.
Submarine Stoker Jack Twist writes from H.M.S. Submarine TAPIR “ For the last few months we have done nothing but move around. We are now in Australia and our submarine is due to leave Sidney for England in July. It will indeed be great to see the old village once again. I am pleased to say that I have been receiving the N.L.s O.K.. We have been in nearly all the ports in Australia. This is a great country and the people have treated us swell; still I don’t think that it is as good as England. Please give my kind regards to all in H.M.Forces and all my other friends in Bretherton and Tarleton.
Corpl. Hugh Melling, R.A.F. writes from B.C.O.F. “Just a line to let you know that I am still alive and in Japan at last. I landed at Kure on the 19th after three weeks on the boat, and then a couple of hours on the train and am now at Iwakusi about 15 miles from Hiroshima. Now that I have seen what the Atom bomb did to Hiroshima, I can quite understand why the Japs packed up. The place is absolutely flat. I did not see a single building standing. The Japs, however, are making great strides towards reconstruction. Temporary wooden buildings are being erected all over the place. The people themselves seem quite happy and willing to co-operate. I suppose they do resent our being here, but don’t show it. I can assure you that Japan is 100 per cent better than India, and it doesn’t smell. Remember me to all Tarletonians still in the forces, and those demobbed”.
Pte. Barron (Hesketh Lane) writes from B.A.O.R. “As you know, I have been in the Infantry all my service, but am not looking forward to being a Red Cap after being in the Infantry for such a long time. I am now stationed at a place called LUCHOW, some 50 miles from Luneburg. The worst trouble with this place is that it is too far from any big town, but we can get into Luneburg at the week-ends. It will be a while yet before I get my one-way ticket. Give my best wishes to Jack Hodge, and say that I hope we shall meet in Civvy Street before long.”
Dvr. Billy Whittle writes from B.A.O.R. “I have learned with some regret your decision to cease publication of the old N.L.. It sure gave the lads a lot of real pleasure to read of the happenings that went on in the village. Often it was the means of two local lads bumping into one another over here. Out here the lads are either ‘group happy’ or are wondering where they will be posted to. Tomorrow all the Company is on parade in full war paint as the C.R.E. is coming along with a bunch of ‘Brass Hats’ from G.H.Q.. Why all this fuss and bother over celebrating V. Day I don’t know. It’s a waste of good time and energy. I think if they gave us all 5/- and told us to celebrate in our own fashion we would be happier. I wouldn’t mind betting that the sight of us trundling up and down the street amuses the Jerries”.
Pte. Arthur Barron (Chapel Cottages), writes from Southampton, “I do hope that it will be possible for me to receive the final publication of the N.L.. It will interest you to know that Colonel Jones of Bank Hall, is stationed here and, a you know, the Company tailor sees quite a lot of his superiors. I am at last able to say that with God’s help I shall soon have finished with this life. I should leave here on June 20th and hope to resume my duties as a tailor in Tarleton.”
A.C. Harry Moss writes from Emsworth, Hants, “This will be the last letter I shall write to you before I finish my service with the R.A.F. Looking back I don’t think that I would have liked to have missed all the experiences I have had. Bad times there have been and plenty of them, but these are easily forgotten and submerged in the memories of all the happy times. My only trouble now lies in my future; whether to return to my dry-as-dust and uninspiring job at B.T.R., Leyland or launch out in some other direction. As regards civilian life my only fear is that the every man-for-himself attitude should once again be resorted to in order to exist, and also the graft that seems sometimes so apparent, which almost makes one lose faith in humanity”.
Wren Muriel Hind writes from Inskip, Lancs., “I was very sorry to hear that the N.L. will no longer be continued, so I feel this is my chance to thank you very much for each one I have received. My work is very interesting and I am actually the captain’s Writer and at the moment am swotting for Leading Wren Writer examination, which is composed of Naval Secretariat work. I don’t expect to be demobbed until at least October, as the Secretariat Branch is about the last to be demobbed”.
LAC Freddy Coupe writes from Bushy Park, Teddington, Middlesex, “I’ve just about settled down to life here, and have quite a decent job. We are allowed out till midnight every evening and can get the week-end off from Saturday to Monday morning. I didn’t get a posting near home, but am very near to Raymond’s place so I go and visit him quite often.”
Jimmy Latham, Moss Lane, writes from home, “I am returning to my old employment at Henry Alty’s prior to making another attempt to join the Fire Service. I cannot say that I have not liked my Service experience with its chances to see new places and people. I have made some good friends whilst in the Navy.”
Bet Fawke writes from 7, Hadassah Grove, Lark Lane, Liverpool 17, “I have not been to Tarleton since my demobilisation, but I will certainly come and see you when I do make the trip.