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Hesketh Rectory
Hesketh Bank
July 1944

My dear Friends,
You will like to know that every day we have special prayers for you all, in Hesketh Church at 7.30p.m. and we are thankful to record that quite a number of people are coming most regularly to these services.
We cannot broadcast this actual service to you, but we can broadcast the prayer part. After all, our intercessions are the spiritual wireless, and God has ordained that through our prayer His strength can come to you. Seven thirty p.m. is not the only time we are praying for you, but it is an important time, and it will encourage you to know this.
Yours very sincerely,
A.P.THORNE.

POINTS FROM LETTERS:
We are not surprised that there have been very few letters from the boys this past month. They are otherwise engaged.
Stoker David Rimmer, brother of John, sends his first (to us) from H.M.S. Algerian to thank us, and the comforts fund for kind gifts received. He sends remembrances to brother John, and Cecil Cookson, Frank(?) Taylor, and all the lads.
Ronnie Whiteside (C.M.F.) refers with sadness to Harold Wignall’s death. He says that Italy’s blue-bells (May 12) remind him of England. He wishes he had been in his place in the Hesketh Band on ‘Salute the Soldier’ Sunday, April 30th. He is in the best of health and looking forward to kicking Jerry right out of Italy. He sends his love to all and the very best of luck to his cousin David (R.N.) for his next voyage.
John Coulton writes from H.M.S. Euralus (May 31). He has had 3 weeks in hospital down south during May but managed to get a 7 days leave out of it. He wants Jimmy Woodhead to know how sorry he was to miss him. He says “we have plenty of ‘Townies’ on board, as we term it, from Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Southport, so we cannot grumble.
Tom Brewer (C.M.F.) writing from Italy says it was not a pretty sight to see children at their cookhouse door begging for scraps. He shudders to think what occupied countries such as Greece are like. Tom has seen Vesuvius and the ruins of the famous Pompeii. He says he would give his right arm for a grey English sky, the blazing sun of Italy is too prolonged for him. (Fred Carr’s address, Tom is DVR. F. CARR, 215 BATT. 51, MID. MED. REGT. R.A., M.E.D.F.)
Harry Buck was much interested in the events of the Titmouse Brow described in a recent N.L. He thinks he knows the author. He sends us congratulations on the result of ‘Salute the Soldier’ week.
William Bailey writes again. He says that the old saying ‘you mend with practice’ applies to the N.L. and he continues, ‘the stork seems to have been putting in a little overtime over Hesketh Bank just lately, it must have been the March air.’
Joe Eastham (S.E. Asia) reports on some hot weather. 106 in the shade on the Indo-Burmese frontier. He again expresses great thanks for the N.L. and to the Hesketh folk for all their kindness. Congratulations Joe on your promotion to Corporal. He send greetings to Rigby Melling and Stacey Gautrey. He thanks Rigby for his kind message.

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE:
Congratulations to Wendy Bond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Bond, Station Road, who has won a scholarship.
Rosie Brewer, Newarth Lane, has got scarlet fever. John Ashcroft, Newarth Lane , has had a bad time with neuritis, being confined to his bed for the last three weeks. He is slightly better.
Alan Coulton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Coulton, the Delta, had an accident (injured pelvis) which took him off to the Preston Infirmary. He is now back home again but will have to be in bed seven weeks and then return to the Infirmary for plastic treatment. He is progressing favourably.
Mrs. Brockley is in Southport Infirmary, and is making good progress after an operation.
Mrs. Marsden (cycle shop) is in the Women’s Hospital, Catherine Street Liverpool, and is improving after a serious operation.
Alice Cookson (Grocer, Shoreside) was married to William Strettle, of Preston at Preston on Whitmonday.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright (junior) have a son.
You will all be sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Frances Iddon of Shoreside, on May 30th, and much sympathy is felt for Bessie in her bereavement. ‘Auntie Frances’ as she was called, was one of the most well known of Hesketh’s old parishioners, and was a staunch follower of the church. In spite of her growing weakness she maintained her character for determination up to the end. Only three days before her death she insisted on sitting outside her house to watch the Chapel procession. She was 74 years old.
Another death has occurred, this time among the Chapel followers. Mr. Joseph Nicholas Whiteside, of Moss Lane, who died on June 7th rather suddenly. Mr. Whiteside was a very well-known member of Hesketh Lane Chapel, and was a local preacher. Our sympathy is with his widow and family.
The Chapel tea Party and Procession took place as usual on Saturday before Whitson. May 27th, with Band and Banner leading the way. It was a lovely afternoon, and there was singing at the usual stopping places. Tea was served at the Chapel School for scholars and teachers and Sports were held on the Recreation ground.
The Church Sunday School Anniversary was held on Sunday June 25. The Rector preached in the morning, Rev. H.C. Pope, Vicar of New Longton, in the afternoon, and Rev. E. Steinly, Rector-elect of Bretherton in the evening. A Choir of Sunday School scholars, trained by Mr. Goring, sang special hymns, and took their part very reverently in the service. The Collections were over £15.
We send our congratulations to Arthur Parkinson (Moss Lane) on passing his Finals for the B.Sc. Of Reading University.
Tom Hurst after a fortnight at home has been drafted to the Military Hospital at Calderstones for special treatment, and is doing well.
John Rimmer, Chapel Rd. late of the brickworks, has landed in France, also Will Ashcroft, Chapel Rd. and Clarence Iddon, Chapel Rd. and George Taylor, Shoreside. George Taylor has sent his mother an epaulette from a German prisoner whom he helped to capture in Normandy. We wish them all the best of luck and a speedy return.
Bob Iddon (Sub. Lieut. R.N.) has met his cousin Ralph abroad. They had not met for three years.
Jack Edmondson, Chapel Rd., has been discharged from the R.A.F. owing to eye trouble.
Thomas Bond, Moss Lane, was in the invasion but has had to return, suffering from shock. He was granted 36 hours leave home, and is much better. He has returned to camp in England by this time ( June 26) and is ready for action again any time. We send him our sympathy over his recent experiences and our very best wishes for the future.

MARSH NEWS. June 24th.
On Whit Monday I was biking along Shore road. The hedge along the old bank was just one mass of white blossoms. If this all sets into berries, according to the old saying we are in for a hard winter.
Sprout and Broccoli planting is all finished. They had a decent start, as it was not necessary to cart water down this year, thus saving a lot of hard work. As far as I know up to date, no peas have been picked, but they will not be very long now. The first caulies have been cut for about a week. Quality is quite up to standard, and in fact rather better than last year.
This week has been ideal for hay making, and they have been very busy amongst it.
Another similar week, and most of the clover will be stacked. The heads of the wheat have all got out, and oats will not be long before they too show their heads.
The salmon fishers are still not having much luck, but hope to do better ere long. Quite a number of gulls have been nesting on the ‘out’ marsh along the ‘salmon’ gutter, and , rather disappointing to report, the boys have destroyed the eggs. All there seemed to be left were a few young ones which had hatched out.
D.T.

BOWLING CLUB:
Since our last news we have had a lot of bowling, having played for the Garlick and Sagar Cups and doubles League Handicap. Bobby Cookson won the Garlick cup, beating Arthur Baxter in the final. Although Arthur lost, it was a good performance for him to win in a previous performance and run up in the next. George Tiffin won the Sagar Cup, beating Richard Bannister in the final. In the League doubles handicap, W. Cookson (C.V.) and Robert Tinsley beat two Holmeswood players in the final. League Bowling is progressing very well but it is a bit too soon yet to say who will win the league.
The League singles were played at Rufford on June 24th, with an entry of 85. W. Cookson (C.V.) was beaten in the final by Ed. Walsh (Parbold) 15 to 13. Bobby Cookson, Richard Bannister, and Jas. Sharples (son) were also amongst the prize winners, not a bad day for the Hesketh bowlers.

STORY OF A PAINT POT.
Most of you know the keen competition which arises amongst our village housewives when the time of the annual school treat draws near, and many of them try to see who can have the best painted windows. One night, shortly before the great event, one of them had just finished painting her bedroom window and stepping back to admire her work almost came to an untimely end. In her efforts to avoid a somersault she upset the precious paint down the side of the house. The result however was a very beautiful scene, featuring the sun rising over snow capped mountains. So reports a spectator, but the housewife did not think so, for before many neighbours had time to view the work of art she had got hot water and paraffin on the job, with plenty of elbow grease, and with a few well chosen words had the mess mopped up!

“PLENTY OF ROOM” (From Empire News June 25th.)
The train was packed. People were standing two deep in the corridors. The “most comfortable” compartment boasted 20 passengers. Three elderly women looked hopelessly up and down the train. In their hands were heavy suitcases. “Here you are, ma” shouted a cheerful......

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