DIARY

FORTON POST OFFICE, Methodist Church Hall, : OPEN Mon - Fri 9am-1pm All activities & meetings paused until further notice

Baby & Toddler Group: Fridays 10-11.30am in term time Toffee Stall: Fridays 3.20 - 3.50pm in term time Children’s Judo Club: Fridays 5-5.45pm (younger group) & 5.45-6.30pm (older group) in term time - contact Antony 07738 408731 for further details Dog Training: Mondays 6-8.00 pm; Tuesdays 6-7.00pm (Monday class outside during OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2020 summer - contact Elaine 07790 395289 for further details) Fitness/Weight Classes: Wednesday, 6-7.00pm & 7-8.00pm and Saturday, 7.30-8am & 8.10-9am (To book contact Jennie Marie 07502 981608) South Lancaster Speakers Club: Methodist Church Hall, Hollins Lane Most 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7.30pm September-May (Contact David Knox 01524 805554) Singing Club: St Peter’s Church, Scorton Thursdays, 6.30pm - contact Jan Hindle 07730 646581 1st Forton Scout Group meet at the Scout Hut on Hollins Lane Scouts – ages 10½ to 14 – Thursdays 7.00 to 9 pm Beaver Scouts - ages 5½ to 8 - Tuesdays 6.00 to 7.15pm Cub Scouts - ages 8 to 10½ - Wednesdays 6.00 to 7.30pm Brownies - Mondays 6.00 to 7.30pm Please tel 01524 792089 for more information

Village Hall The Hall is now open as a Covid 19 secure premises, meaning that all groups can return to using the hall if they would like to. We are working to the recommended guidelines and have hand sanitisers throughout the Village Hall, one way system in place, social distancing to be maintained, face masks to be worn where possible etc. If you would like

to hire the Village Hall for your group to use or for your own event, please enquire through Michelle Weir on 07799 370639.

There is no diary of events at the present time. Do keep in touch with your friends, club secretaries and organisers.

Information about Church Services Parish Council meetings are usually and events on page 11 held on the 1st Monday of each month at 7pm

The Parish website address is: fortonvillage.org Coordinator - Neil Adams (791004) email: [email protected] Private Peter Hulland 1894-1917 - Pages 12, 13, 15 & 17 The email address for the Village Voice is: [email protected]

Content not attributed has been contributed by the editors VILLAGE VOICE New Owls - page 3 VILLAGECONTENTS VOICE Except forCONTENTS reports made by Christine Dickinson retires - page 5 Village Voice Editorial Team & Advertising: David & Rhona Sharp (791758) Except for reports made by Proof Reading: Margaret Mansfield members of Forton Parish Cricket Club season - pages 7 & 9 Council,members the ofviews Forton expressed Parish in Distribution: West of A6 - Janet Huddart (791571) & Michael Briggs (791026) C o u n c i l , t h e v i e w s The Village Remembrance Service - page 17 East of A6 - Fiona Riley (792245) reports are not necessarily thoseexpressed of the Council. in reports are not necessarily those of the John Spencer’s tale - pages 19 & 21 Printed by Colin Cross of Council. Angel Festival - page 23 Shoebox Appeal - page 23 ITEMS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE (December/January) BY 13 NOV, PLEASE 2 3 Parish News - Chairman’s Comments (Continued from page 2) The Parish Council met in reality in the Village Hall on September 7th, but meeting rules for site layout, house types and mix, green space, drainage, landscaping, noise mitigation, have even been changed since then! We were delighted to start the process of co-opting tree protection etc. These are important matters on the design of this major expansion of June Farebrother. June is a long-standing member of a local establishment, having worked our village if it is to retain its rural character. When these detailed applications are made I in further and higher education for 37 years. She was also at one time a Forton School urge you to examine them and send your comments to Wyre. You might want to see if they governor and therefore brings a wealth of local experience to the Council. are consistent with our Masterplan. There is an opportunity for innovative ideas on a road safety grant (thanks to Dave Suart When we are notified about these detailed applications I will put them on the Forton bringing this to our attention). This would be a time for everyone to put forward ideas for a Facebook page as well as on the Parish Council website. very important area of our village, with possible grants of 20K, (cameras in Ratcliffe Wharf I hope you will come to Parish Council meetings with your views as well as sending them to Lane?). Please see: roadsafetytrust.org.uk and give your ideas to myself or our Clerk Wyre. Please let me know if you have any questions. where we can discuss them at the October meeting. Best Wishes, Peter Young HSL have submitted their planning application 18/00469/OULMAJ, the biggest planning in 1st Shireshead Brownies Forton, and councillors have already made comments on the A6 junction in particular. I am sure there will be more to add when we get further details and residents won’t be slow in New Leaders! There are lots of changes taking place at the moment: making constructive comments. Brown Owl, Ruth, is stepping down after many years, Nichola is Work has been continuing on the two safety/speed installations in Hollins Lane, which it is stepping down as Barn Owl, and Megan Owl is off to university. hoped will control vehicle speeds. The residents are having a dreadful time with the three Charlotte (Snowy Owl) is in training to lead the 1st Shireshead Brownie building sites, but the Council is doing its very best to check that the builders are in unit, and being supported by Ruth, Nichola and Becky. We will be planning a ‘thank you’ compliance with the regulations. party when we can return to face-to-face meetings to show appreciation for all the time I would urge everyone to look at the C-19 ‘Covid Symptom Study’, where you can and commitment shown by Ruth, Nichola and Megan over the years. contribute a health comment every day whether you are well or not. It is a non-political app. which enables people to give essential reports from all over the country. Virtual Zoom meetings have continued over the summer Janet Huddart and into the autumn and we hope that we might get back to meeting in the hut after half term (depending on Planning News Guiding Association guidelines, local restrictions etc). In As you may know the new Wyre Local Plan came into force in January 2019, following a the meantime, the Brownies are working on their Zero comprehensive examination by a Government planning inspector. This included a morning Waste badge, thinking about how we can rethink, recycle, examining Wyre’s plans for Forton when his questions were directed at County Councillor reduce and reuse materials to play a part in protecting the Matthew Salter, Tim Brown our planning consultant and myself. The main outcome was environment. Keeping track of all that their household that the scale of development that Wyre planners wanted for the Forton Extension was throws away in the waste on a single day has stimulated reduced from 468 to 310 houses. This is still more than we wanted because it is too rapid ideas from the Brownies to recycle more and upcycle an expansion of the village but this is the best we could achieve. This 310 figure is now where possible (imaginative ideas for boxes, bottles and embodied in the approved Local Plan and covers four development sites. cartons). With games and time to catch up on news, the The Local Plan stipulates on pages 148 to 149 that no planning permissions would be Zoom meetings have been great in keeping the group in granted until the Forton Masterplan was approved by Wyre Council which happened on touch and to continue to have fun together as Brownie 24th July 2020. If you are not sure what a masterplan is then here are two quotes from friends. ‘Keeping together’ has also been recognised by the Guiding Association UK and we Wyre: “To provide a framework for the delivery of a sustainable development that are all pleased to have received a new badge to mark this unusual time. responds positively to the local context.” and “Masterplans are about setting out a vision For more information on the 1st Shireshead Brownies, contact the Owls: Snowy Owl, for an area undergoing change ... taking the initiative in terms of design, layout, houses, Charlotte (tel: 07969 436872 or email:[email protected]) and Brown Owl Ruth (tel: jobs and service.” The Forton Masterplan is not yet on the Wyre B.C. site but can be found 01524 792306). on: hsland.co.uk/forton HSL are Manchester planners who put in a planning application two years ago covering two Mobile Library of the four Forton Extension sites. The reference is 18/00469/OULMAJ and it is for up to The van is scheduled to be in School Lane 195 houses, 1 ha of employment land and a community centre to the north and south of (near Coronation Avenue) School Lane. Now that our Masterplan is approved HSL have reactivated their application. from 3.15 to 3.50pm on It is an outline application which seeks approval for the principle of development and for 1st & 22nd October and 12th November access off School Lane. The Parish Council has agreed its comments on this application and Glenys your Mobile Librarian this can be found on the Wyre planning application system and on our website. offers a warm, friendly welcome to her Our comments are not only about the safety and free flow of traffic on School Lane but also ‘New White Library Van - Chitty Chitty Book Book’ on the design of the School Lane/A6 junction. Also we want to ensure the design of these junctions will be safe for pedestrians and cyclists, including crossing the A6. The P.C. The Mobile Library stocks books in a variety of formats and has a wide range of fiction and comments incorporate the views of councillors and also those of residents from their non-fiction titles for all ages. It is easy to join if not already a Library member. For details letters (which are still all on the Wyre system from two years ago). of exact times and locations of stops, please ring 07717 543763 or email: If the HSL application is approved they will put in detailed applications seeking approval garstang.mobile.ml3@.gov.uk (continued on page 3) Please note routes and dates can be subject to change.

4 5 Forton Primary School The school doors opened on the 3rd September with staggered drop off and collection times, extra hygiene measures in place and social distancing where possible and what a fantastic start to the academic year it has been!

The children settled back into the routine of school life quickly and are thoroughly enjoying being back together with after school clubs in operation and trips to Hothersall Lodge booked.

The school community have welcomed our new families and teachers in the usual warm Forton way and 2020/21 promises to be a good year. Lorna Boase, Head teacher

Lawn Care Lawn Treatment Forton Beavers, Cubs and Scouts From only £14 plus vat ‘Arkela’ Christine Dickinson is retiring as Forton’s Cub Leader. She has been a leader and assistant leader for over 45 years and was a helper some time before that.

Her commitment to scouting and the group has been absolute and without her help, the group would not have survived the lean times when numbers were low. She was awarded the Silver Acorn Award in 2003 for ‘specially distinguished service’ and has attended the Scout Leaders’ Gilwell Reunion every year. Most of all she loved working with children and can remember nearly every cub who has been in her pack over the years. Many of the present cubs are the children of her past Forton cubs.

Finding time has never been a problem for Christine. She has had a busy family life with five children and now has eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. When her children were old enough she started work at Bushells House Care Home at Goosnargh where she eventually became Deputy Manager. she has not fully retired and still works there part-time.

Pictures show Christine in her much remembered role as camp cook and investing a new cub.

CAN YOU HELP PLEASE As a thank you the group is putting together a book of memories to give to Christine. Scouts have played such a large part in so many lives and provided so many memories. If you have recollections of your time in Forton Cubs, please can you write them down and let me have them. Also, if you have any pictures of yourself as a cub or of Christine, please can we include these (I can help with scanning and copying of photographs, please ask). Please can you let me have these a.s.a.p.

John Nelson, Group Scout Leader, Tel: 01524 792089, email: [email protected] 6 7 Shireshead and Forton Cricket Club LOOKING BACK ON A SHORT, BUT SUCCESSFUL SEASON Computer Help At Home Despite the contracted nature of the season, which began back on 11th July, Shireshead have enjoyed success at all levels and participation rates are at an all time high. National concerns about players drifting away from the game after lockdown have not manifested For all Computer or Internet and themselves at Shireshead. The club worked hard to establish a coronavirus safe system for Tablet Problems Connection Issues use of practice facilities well before the season began, which was appreciated by seniors, juniors and the ladies’ section alike. Repairs Plain English Tutorials

Call Graham on 07787 727443

The 1st team’s season began with a whimper and ended with a bang. Successive defeats left Dave Jack’s men at the foot of the table after five games with a lot of accompanying head scratching. However, since then the 1st team have put together a string of successive victories in no small part down to Dave Jack himself, whose bowling statistics have been astounding, who (up to the time of writing with a game left) has taken 38 wickets for only 238 runs in 88.3 overs, giving him an average of 5.61 runs for every wicket he took. Dave claimed four five wicket hauls with his best figures being 9 for 15 runs against Bare. With the bat, Oliver Wilkinson has stood out since emerging as 1st team opener. 16 year old Oliver has scored 250 runs at an average of nearly 30. The season for Simon Gould’s 2nd X1 has been blemished only by an emphatic defeat in the final of British Rose 20/20 Cup Final at Arnside against Cartmel. That apart, they have won their division by a full 30 points and at the time of writing are looking forward to a play- off final on 19th September against Westgate. New recruits Jake Agar and Jack Cunnington have impressed, and Jack has taken 23 wickets at an average of just over 10 per wicket. With the bat, Simon Gould has made 259 runs with an average of 29 including two half- centuries. The highlight, however, must be Stephen Yates’ 110 against Ingleton scored in his indomitable aggressive style. B.C Maintenance Under the auspices of Mark Sutcliffe, Shireshead 3rds finished in the top half of the table and with a glut of super talented young players exciting times are ahead in the 2021 Decorating,Tiling Install new fencing season. 14 year old all-rounder Ernie Collinson has score 365 runs including three 50s, averaging 30 runs per game. Put this together with his bowling statistics of 21 wickets at Painting inside & out Flat pack assembly an average of just over 10 per wicket (the 3rd best in the whole club) we realise that we Fascias/Guttering Kitchen updates etc have a special talent. The other left arm bowlers, Thomas McCartney, Eddie Haigh and James Sutcliffe have been a formidable force and the emerging Aiden Weir impressing and improving. Credit must go here to Mark Sutcliffe, whose visionary outlook has allowed General Property Repairs young players to ‘cut their teeth’ and improve. Indeed, with two U16 teams and an U14 team plus two U11 teams the conveyor belt of talent looks to continue with the emphasis being on participation and enjoyment for all. A Over 10 years experience huge commitment by coaches Mark Sutcliffe, Jonty Collinson, and Paul and Matt Yates No job too small! should not be underestimated and the club is fortunate to have such a team of happy volunteers. Bill Jacques and Andrew Cragg have maintained the ground and pitch painstakingly since Contact Brent on 01524 793949 or 07947 508272 April, ably assisted by a sub team of helpers. We all appreciate John Carter’s contribution to the club ensuring the bar runs smoothly, especially after the (Continued on page 9) 8 9 (Continued from page 7) range of measures and protocols in place since the pavilion opened up for business, and Phil Hall for keeping the coffers in order. Forton Post Office Forton Since Mr Johnson announced the ‘Rule of Six’ it looks likely that the club will not be open 01524 793402 during the off season but hopefully we will be up and running next year and we look Post Office forward to another successful season. I will keep the village posted of news from the club For all Post Office services except and news of any social events, such as quiz nights, as and when we are able to reconvene Car tax & Passports socially. Mike Park, Chairman *Cash withdrawal *Cash & Cheque deposits *Chip ‘n’ Pin *Post your parcels At the moment and for the foreseeable future, the pavilion to UK & abroad *Drop & Go facility *Euros on demand or ‘Click & Collect’* will remained closed to the bowling teams. The green is *Other currencies to order (1 or 2 days) *Travel Insurance* open to club members who social distance and abide by CGB rules, check website for latest updates. *Greetings Cards & One4all Gift Cards *Range of Stationery* Garry Mollart AMPLE FREE PARKING Forton Baby and Toddler Group: I am happy to say that we are welcoming back Methodist Chapel Meeting Room, Hollins Lane our Baby and Toddler Group on a Friday morning, starting on Friday 25th September, 10- 11.30am at Forton Village Hall. Monday to Friday 9am-1pm Due to Covid-19 restrictions we will have to keep to limited numbers, so if you would like to attend then please contact Jenna Metcalfe on 07850 008428. If we have a large amount of people wanting to attend the Group then I shall look at hiring the Hall on another morning to accommodate everyone. I look forward to seeing you all once again. Forton Field Day: We usually have our AGM in October, however this year we shall be postponing this until a later date, we shall advertise when we are happy to go ahead. Rest assured that plans are going ahead and we are working behind the scenes towards our 70th Field Day in June 2021. Fingers crossed that we will be able to go ahead with the event! Jenna Metcalfe

The Committee are sorry that, at the present time, it is still not possible to Luxury Kitchens, Bathrooms, get together for meetings. We see it as being on sabbatical. As soon as we Bedrooms & Home Office can, when it is safe to do so, we shall meet again. In fact, we hope, if it is possible, we may have a social gathering in the Village Hall near Designed to your every need Christmas. if the new shut-down has been lifted again. We have had to postpone the Autumn Craft Fair until the Spring, so look out in the New Year Free Design Service I Complete Installation Service Available for news of this. Next year will be just 12 months from what we hope will be a very grand year for this Women’s Institute as 2022 will be its Centenary Year. Members are asked to Nateby Works I Longmoor Lane I Garstang I PR3 0JB Tel: 01995 606311 start thinking how we can celebrate it fittingly. www.ccsupplies.co.uk I www.fittedkitchenpreston.co.uk [email protected] In 1982, to mark sixty years, a small engraved wine glass was given, we understand, to every member. On one side it has Forton WI, 1922-1982 and on the other side an engraved rose. If any old Fortonian and WI member still has hers, would she please contact Pat Murgatroyd, our present President. FORTON GLASS This WI has a good record of being involved in all sorts of creative activities. In the past, when the HIGH QUALITY PVCu WINDOWS & DOORS ‘new’ houses came: Coronation Avenue and School SUPPLIED OR FITTED Lane followed by the extension to Wallace Lane, FAILED/MISTED UP DOUBLE GLAZING UNITS and new estates called Spring Vale, Lunesdale and REPLACED IN TIMBER OR PVCu Ribblesdale Drives, Troutbeck, Lakeland and Ennerdale Closes, to say nothing of new houses on GLASS CUT TO SIZE, BALUSTRADE GLASS Hollins lane; they brought an influx of young HORTICULTURAL GLASS, MIRRORS & SHELVES families and women who rarely had jobs in those days. It was largely these who joined the WI and Tel: 01524 751600 or 07580 025368 brought all their imagination to bear on having fun Email: [email protected] in new ways. One of these was the staging of pantomimes and this of Aladdin in 1973 is an OR CALL IN AT UNIT 18, GALGATE MILL example. The WI scrap books, from which this photo came, are a fund of memories over GALGATE, LANCASTER many years up to the present. Pat Murgatroyd, President (791580) 10 11 NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES LANDROVER®SPECIALISTS United Reformed Church: We shall hold a Celebration of Harvest service on the 11th October. This year in a break with tradition the service will be at the normal time of 9.15am 01524 791 214 or 07990 554 883 rather than the traditional 3pm service. Sadly there will be no Harvest Tea after the service. Looking forward to the future, we shall hold two services a month on the 2nd and 4th Sunday at 9.15am. As always, masks to be worn and social distance rules apply. The Open Church will not start again until 2021. LANDROVER® PARTS Hollins Lane Methodist Church: We are open for worship again at 10.30am, each Sunday. We welcome you to join us, dutifully masked and safely spaced. Sadly we cannot LANDROVER® SALES offer you a cup of tea after the service and our other commitments are on hold. St James’ Shireshead: On Sunday 4th October, we will celebrate our Harvest Festival. REPAIRS & SERVICING Like most things this year it will have to be very different from our normal service. For Unit 5, Hamilton House Workshops, Station Lane, , Garstang, PR3 1AN many people the future looks bleak. As the furlough scheme unfolds many may find they have no work and a large proportion of them will be in low paid jobs. There are people in www.rogersonsgarage.co.uk the village who have already lost their job. We have decided that instead of asking people to bring gifts to church on the day, we will invite all in the village who can to contribute Celebrating 100 years of a family run business - 1920 to 2020 goods towards the work of the Lancaster based ‘Olive Branch’. They run a food bank for those who find it hardest to make ends meet. Harvest is a time for giving thanks for all God’s gifts not the least the safe gathering of the food to sustain us. We have approached them to ask what food is most wanted and useful to them. This is not an exhaustive list but offered as a guide (fresh produce is difficult for them to deal with): tins of baked beans, spaghetti, soup, curries, chilli, steak or chicken meals, ham, hotdogs, peas, carrots, sweetcorn, potatoes, tomatoes, rice pudding, custard, fruit, small jars of coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate, long-life milk, cereals, porridge, jam, individually wrapped biscuits. We are going to use the Bowling Club as a collection point and we will let you know via social media when it will be open or we can collect from your house. For more information or to arrange for some food to be collected, please give our vicar Peter a ring on 07970 923141 or email:[email protected] You can also leave it in the church porch, we will go every evening up to 3rd October to move it into church. Everything we collect will be delivered to the Olive Branch on 5th October. Many thanks for all your support. Roman Catholic Churches: St Thomas and St Elizabeth, Thurnham; St Mary and St Michael, Garstang; St Bernadette, Bowerham. Please contact them for details of services. Jonny Leech - Wyresdale Ward District Councillor Plenty of people are going through tough times at the moment, whether this is through bad health, the difficulties of childcare, new working arrangements and financial hardship due to Covid-19. Or if this is through what seems to be like an ever increasing building schedule of new works going up in our village: network rail making repairs and updates, building A & P sites making our roads dirty, developers changing plans or the new Masterplan! Forton residents have really been ‘up against it’ over this long summer period and I want to Painting and Decorating take this opportunity to say well done to you all for persevering, looking after one another orton based and for the hard work put in by those who keep the village looking great and its people Satisfaction guaranteed F Competitive rates cared for, such as: the Parish Council, the Village Hall committee and the Trust. We are No job too big or small Free no obligation quotes blessed to have so many people who are invested in the village’s and the villagers’ well- being. A special mention has to go to the residents on Hollins Lane whose efforts have been exceptional in reviewing, researching and keeping developers accountable. I am working hard to represent our thoughts and interests at Borough level and making representations not just to the Planning Committee but also portfolio holders and senior Wyre officers and Councillors. We are trying hard to look after the village and hope that our efforts are not in vain. Call: 01524 903204 / 07858 796676 I hope that everyone is keeping safe and well as we continue through this pandemic and if there is anything I can do to help then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Email: [email protected] Jonny 12 13 Private Peter Hulland 1894-1917 2/5 East Lancashire Regiment No. 39876 Private Peter Hulland, whose name appears on the Forton War Memorial was born and brought up in Hollins Lane. He was described by a friend as being “such an amiable and agreeable chap who made many friends” and by a relative as “a really handsome young man who loved children”. In his obituary it was suggested that “he was the very antithesis of a fighter, and regarded war with abhorrence but he was ready to do his duty when the call came”. He was killed in action on 27th November 1917 in Flanders at the age of 23. The evidence suggests Peter was trying to make something of himself in life which makes his early death even more tragic. He was a young man of whom our village and his adopted town of can be truly proud. Left: The datestone of 1915 over the gateway into the former C.W.S. dairy (now Chaigley Court, converted into housing) opposite Chaigley Farm, Chipping Road near Clitheroe. Right: The cottages built for the dairy workers with the dairy buildings behind. It is possible Peter was born in 1894, the son of John Hulland and Isabella, née Barnes, who were Peter and his new wife Maggie were offered one of these cottages. married at St Paul’s Church Shireshead in 1878 and lived on Hollins Lane all their Peter’s connection with the Oddie family no doubt also led to his meeting his future married life. His father was born at Conder Green, Thurnham, while his mother was wife. Mrs Oddie was a regular worshipper at St Paul’s Church, Low Moor, where her from . When Peter, their ninth child out of ten, was born, the family were living in daughter, Esther, sang in the choir. Peter also attended St Paul’s and became a well- a four-roomed cottage at Hollins Hill. His father had worked as a railway platelayer regarded member of the congregation. There he may have met his future wife, Maggie before becoming a road labourer and stonebreaker for Garstang Rural District’s Christy, who was just a year younger than Esther. Maggie was described as a ‘vocalist’ Highways Department. Tragedy struck the family more than once. Two children did not and probably a friend of Esther’s, as in 1918, she, her mother and her sister attended survive into adulthood and their mother died in childbirth in 1898, being buried at Esther’s untimely funeral. Shireshead. In 1910 John married again to a single lady with three children but there would soon have been room in the cottage for his new family, as by April 1911 the last P e t e r ’ s m a r r i a g e of the children of his first marriage had left home. Peter’s three older brothers had all certificate shows that he left for Canada between 1903 and 1912. Lydia the youngest child, aged 14 in 1911, was working as a farm worked as a parlourmaid in Walton-le-Dale, while Peter, two years older, had become a labourer at Low Moor farm servant at Landskill Farm, Barnacre where he would have worked with dairy cattle Farm when he married and sheep. Maggie on 8th May 1915 at St Paul’s Church. Peter had been a pupil at Forton Council School, where he was admitted in 1899. He Maggie’s father, a self- probably walked each day across the fields to and from school, then on the corner of employed painter and School Lane and Wallace Lane, with other members of his family, and at least two other decorator, had died in boys of his own age from Hollins Lane, including John Bowman and Tom Wright, both of 1911 and there would whom died on service in the First World War. In 1900, the school Logbook shows Peter’s have been room for Peter schooling was disrupted over five weeks by the diphtheria epidemic in which Peter and and Maggie to move in three of his brothers and sisters were temporarily excluded and a cousin, Sarah, died. Peter and Maggie at their wedding on 8th May 1915. Peter’s with Maggie’s mother at older sister, Naomi Barnes Hulland, is the second on the left. the family home at Thanks to the comprehensive obituary which appeared in the Clitheroe Advertiser and 8 Union St, Low Moor, as most of her brothers and sisters had left home, if they did not Times after his death, we can trace the next steps in Peter’s career. From Barnacre, he have their own accommodation. Maggie, the youngest daughter was a cotton spinner moved to Low Moor Farm, just outside Clitheroe to work for Mrs. Alice Oddie who had in one of Clitheroe’s mills. A family member has recorded her memories of their kept on the farm after her husband died in 1895. The 1911 Census shows she was wedding reception. Being wartime, food was becoming scarcer but at the reception assisted by her son and two farm servants, rearing dairy cattle, and producing and despite there only being “a bit of ham salad and jelly“ it was considered “a jolly good delivering milk. Working there, Peter would have gained more experience in the dairy ‘do’ ”. Their son, William John, was born on 1st October the following year, after Peter business which would have helped him in his next job as timekeeper at Chaigley Farm, had joined the army but still in . Their second son, Peter junior arrived on 15th owned by the Manchester Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS). From the early May 1918, six months after his father’s death, presumably conceived on his pre- twentieth century, the CWS was buying up dairy farms all round Manchester including embarkation leave before he left for the Western Front. some in the Hodder and Ribble valleys and establishing dairies on the premises in order to supply liquid milk to the industrial areas. It bought Chaigley Farm and other Peter was conscripted into the Army in April 1916. No records have survived of his farms not far from Clitheroe and in 1915 it built a dairy on land opposite Chaigley Farm military service, but his obituary states that he was first posted to the 4th Battalion of together with a number of workers’ cottages. However, in the following year the Royal King’s Own Lancaster Regiment, and then to the 2/5th East Lancashires. He conscription came into force and in April 1916 Peter’s career was interrupted by his call left for France in October 1917 and joined his battalion engaged in the Battle of up to serve in the Army. Passchendaele, which ended on 10th November 1917. (Continued on page 15) 14 15 (Continued from page 13) D.C. WILSON Two letters quoted in the obituary show Peter was still on the front line under fire 17 days later, when he was killed by a shell. His commanding officer wrote to Maggie PENNINE GARAGE informing her of Peter’s death “on the morning of 28th November”. (His Lancaster Road, Forton, Preston, PR3 0BP Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Certificate however, states he was killed on 27th.) He gave her brief details of what had happened, describing Peter as a 01524 793323 www.dcwilson.co.uk [email protected] soldier for whom he had the deepest respect.

• New & used car sales • Tyres Peter’s comrade in arms, Private Godbert, also wrote a moving account giving slightly • Mots • Brakes more information than the officer about how he died: “I was not actually on the spot when he was killed, but I can tell you that he and three of • Servicing • Exhausts his chums were killed in a dug-out on the top of which a shell fell and blew it in. It may • Air conditioning regas • Engine diagnostics console y ou to know that y our husband suffered no pain as all four were killed instantly & leak detection ... he and his four companions were buried in the spot where they were killed. A cross has been erected bearing the regimental numbers and names so that he is not in a Courtesy cars available free of charge nameless grave. I can assure you I shall miss him very much ...” Open 6 days a week Monday - Friday 8.00am-5.30pm & Saturday 9.00am-12.00noon The circumstances of Peter’s burial are unusual. He was killed near a pill-box previously used by the Germans as an observation post, at a place dubbed ‘Tyne Cot’, on the Passchendaele - Broodseinde Road, recently captured by the Australians from the Germans at the battle of Passchendaele and converted into a first aid post. The Allies held it for six months before it was retaken by the Germans in April 1918. The allied soldiers who died in the battle and its aftermath in or near the building were buried in that area, with crosses marking their graves. When the CWGC established the great Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, the surviving makeshift graves were left in their original position, although the crosses were replaced by the special CWGC gravestones and the Cross of Sacrifice erected on the pill-box. The graves of nearly 12000 soldiers brought from other burial grounds were placed in straight rows at Tyne Cot cemetery, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, together with the memorial commemorating nearly 35000 servicemen who died after August 1917 whose graves are not known.

Left: The Cross of Sacrifice erected at Tyne Cot cemetery. Peter’s grave is behind the cross, just out of sight on the left. Right: Peter’s CWGC gravestone, replacing the original one, with his name and two others, presumably two of his ‘chums’, all killed by the same shell (27th/28th Nov.1917) Private Stokoe from Tweedmouth, was described in his obituary as “one of the very best” and Private Wright was from near Manchester.

(Continued on page 17) 16 17 (Continued from page 15) Peter received the British and Victory medals at the end of the war. His name is included on the Low Moor and the main Clitheroe war memorials, as well as the one in Forton. He is also one of 49 names on the plaque dedicated to the fallen of the Manchester CWS buildings and shopfittings department in Salford, including a number of men from Clitheroe and Low Moor, and since restored. These may have been some consolation to Maggie, who was left with two children under the age of two to bring up. Her great- granddaughter tells me that Maggie made sure that her two sons never forgot their father. The family remained in the Clitheroe area, and have made their mark on the musical life of the town. We, too, in Forton, honour a young man who led a worthy life, cut short by the horrors of war. Perhaps Peter’s story is representative of all those young men on our War Memorial who did not return home from the battlefield.

Left & centre: The Low Moor War Memorial, situated near St Paul’s Church, Low Moor, Clitheroe where Peter attended. The Alston brothers and Charles Park were also on the CWS memorial plaque in Salford. Right: The Clitheroe War Memorial, in the Castle grounds, which includes Peter’s name. Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Mrs Lorna Boase for the use of the Forton School Logbook, insights from Terry Mansfield who carried out the original research and John and Margaret Spencer* who have taken a special interest in the story. My special thanks to members of the Hulland family who have generously provided photographs (front cover and Peter and Maggie’s wedding) and given information about Peter. Written sources include records on www.ancestry.uk and newspaper articles on www.britshnewspaperarchives.co.uk Janet Nelson 2020 *See also pages 19 and 21 for the related story of a remarkable series of coincidences. The Village Remembrance Service Sunday November 8th starting at 10.40am outside at the War Memorial, a short simple service leading into the Act of Remembrance

Please wear masks and take care with spacing If you have any queries, please contact Margaret Mansfield (791338) 18 19 Private Peter Hulland - Dead but not forgotten! A visual inspection of Forton War Memorial will reveal the name of Peter Hulland, who died in the First World War. Had it not been for a number of amazing coincidences that have occurred over the last 15 to 20 years, the information on the Village War Memorial would be about as much as anyone would know about the man, his life and his family: however, you must read on ...

In 1988, together with my wife, Margaret and our two sons, David and Stephen, I moved from our former home in Clitheroe to Forton as a requirement of my promotion to police inspector, based in Lancaster. It was, in my mind, a temporary move as I intended to move back to Clitheroe on my retirement, which was just ten years away. Many will know that the temporary move lasted well beyond my retirement, and extended to 30 years before returning in 2018 to a new home built in the field that Margaret, and later our two sons, played in as children.

Some years ago, Terry Mansfield of Wallace Lane, produced a background information sheet in relation to one or two names on the village war memorial and the information was shared at the annual November village gathering to mark the Armistice. The information in relation to Peter Hulland, was sufficient for my wife Margaret to realise that she knew of the Hulland family in Clitheroe.

The story so far was that Peter Hulland was born locally to Forton and became a farm worker. As a young man, he left Forton as he had obtained work in the Clitheroe area eventually with the Co-operative Wholesale Society, (CWS), which owned a number of large farms around Clitheroe and a creamery in the nearby village of Chaigley. He married Maggie, and together they lived at 8 Union Street, Low Moor, Clitheroe. Like many organisations, the CWS would have been required to provide many of fighting age for the war effort, and Peter Hulland found himself attached to the East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action subsequent to the Battle of Passchendaele on 27th November 1917 and now lies in Tyne Cot War Cemetery in Belgium. His sacrifice is also mentioned on the Clitheroe War Memorial and also in the village of Low Moor.

At the time of his death, Maggie was expecting a child, and when the child was born, he was also given the name of Peter Hulland. It was this man (by now also deceased) and his daughter that my wife knew of, and as a result of the connection, Terry Mansfield was able to make contact with the widow of Peter Hulland (jnr) and their daughter. As far as I remember, he invited them over to Forton, but whether or not they visited I cannot recall. Sadly, both Mrs Hulland and her daughter have since died.

A few years later, I had retired from and had taken up employment with a large firm of solicitors, and was engaged in the defence of civil proceedings being taken against our clients. One such client was Wyre Borough Council, which was at the wrong end of a lawsuit. In order to establish the facts of the case, I needed to create a reconstruction of the alleged incident, which had involved the movement of a large rock within a park. I was told that the rock in question was no longer available, but I asked that a rock or stone of similar size be produced for the reconstruction to be held on a later date. When I attended a reconstruction in a park in , the rock was delivered in a tipper trailer, and when it was tipped onto the ground, it rolled over and there facing me, engraved in the stone, was the name Peter Hulland, together with a couple of other names, which I photographed and later confirmed that they were in the exact same order as appeared on Forton War Memorial. It turned out that, as many will know, prior to 1990 or thereabouts the Forton War Memorial had been located adjacent to the bus stop on the A6 and around 20 years prior to my discovery in Fleetwood, an accident had occurred on the A6 (continued on page 21) 20 21 (Continued from page 19) and the War Memorial had been badly damaged, requiring a section to be replaced. The damaged section had apparently been left in a corner of the Council Highways yard in Fleetwood from the day of its removal from Forton to the day that I discovered the connection in Fleetwood.

Sometime later, perhaps a year or two, I was watching the North West News on the television and there was an item regarding a police raid on a scrap metal yard in Manchester and the subsequent recovery of a large bronze plaque that had been stolen from within the old CWS offices in Manchester, that were in the process of restoration. The plaque had previously been located in the main foyer area of the building and was a memorial plaque to employees of the CWS who had been killed in WW1. Amazingly, the camera focussed in on the name of Peter Hulland. Within seconds, I called Terry Mansfield who had seen the very same news item. We marvelled at the continuing coincidences linked to Peter Hulland. Surely there couldn’t be any more coincidences connected with the story, but read on ...

Roll the clock forward to Monday 31st July 2017. To mark the fact that it was 100 years since the commencement of the Battle of Passchendaele, there was a great deal of TV coverage from Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium, where many British and Commonwealth soldiers are buried as a consequence of the Battle of Passchendaele. The coverage was broadcast around the world and will have been viewed by millions. As part of the ceremony at Tyne Cot, a small number of individuals marched from the assembled congregation and they each went to a different part of the cemetery and stood behind a headstone. In most cases, the person present was a direct relative of the soldier who was buried there, but in the last few there was no such connection. In each location, the television camera showed the detail on the headstone as the person explained their link with the person buried there. in the case we are interested in, the person merely said something along the lines ... “This is the final resting place of Private Peter Hulland, a soldier of the East Lancashire Regiment”. This was yet another of the unbelievable coincidences surrounding Peter Hulland. Again, there was a telephone conversation between myself and Terry Mansfield. In September 2018, together with a friend, I undertook a motorcycle tour of the First World War sites in France and Belgium and just had to visit the grave of Peter Hulland and pay my respects to a man, who I never knew, but somehow had formed an attachment to. Headstone nearest to the camera bearing East Lancashire Regiment insignia, marks the exact spot where Peter and comrades were killed. Having returned to live in Clitheroe, I became a member of the Clitheroe Civic Society, of which I am now secretary. I was discussing the long list of coincidences with our chairman, who is a retired architect. When I had finished the story, he told me as a newly qualified architect, he took up employment in Clitheroe and has remained here ever since. His first job in the area was to design a small bay window extension for a lady in Clitheroe. When the construction work had been completed, the lady asked him to come and inspect the finished article that she was so delighted with and invited him to take afternoon tea with her in the new extension. Yes, you’ve already guessed, the lady in question was Mrs Hulland, the widow of Peter Hulland (Jnr). John Spencer ([email protected]) 18th August 2020 22 23 Angel Festival Sadly, due to the Covid 19 pandemic and Government advice regarding social gatherings the planned St James’ Shireshead Angel Festival will take a slightly different format this year. The idea is for households/businesses to make an Angel with family, friends or neighbours and display it in your front garden, yard, window or anywhere it can be seen from Friday 4th - Monday 7th December 2020. The Angel may be in the form of an angel scarecrow, painting, wooden angel, floral display or any other creative design you wish. There is no charge for taking part, we would just like to encourage the whole community to get involved. If you intend to take part or would like further information, please call Ruth Ross 01524 792306 or email: [email protected] by Friday 27th November. A list of roads where Angels are on display will be issued so people can plan a route to see the Angels on their daily walk or plan a socially distanced Angel hunt round the village with family and friends.

Shoebox Appeal Once again, this year we will be running the Village Shoebox Appeal for Operation Christmas Child. Shoebox gifts are given to children regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or faith. The aim is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way through each gift. Samaritan’s Purse work in and through local Christians in each country who understand the context in their area. Simple gifts packed with love in Jesus’ name, deliver hope and joy to children all around the world, regardless of their faith or religious background. Preprinted boxes for filling are available from St James’ Church, Forton Post Office, Forton School, or can be delivered to you if you call Ruth Ross 01524 792306. Due to more stringent import regulations, toothpaste, sweets and liquids can no longer be included in shoeboxes. Filled shoeboxes should be dropped off at St James’ Church, Forton Post Office, Forton School or can be collected from you by calling the number above by Sunday 8th November 2020. THANK YOU.

THE PARISH COUNCIL Parish Clerk: Lindsey Hall Home Farm, Clifton Hill, Stony Lane, Chairman Mrs Janet Huddart Forton, PR3 0AR Tel 791571 Tel. 01524 791313 Dr Peter Young, OBE email: [email protected] Tel 792678 County Councillor Mrs Lesley Dodgson Mr Matthew Salter (07803 723958) Tel 792978 District Councillor Mrs June Farebrother Mr Jonny Leech (07980 759576) Tel 793436 Mr Don McLoughlin Forton Parish Council operate a publication Tel 792805 scheme. For more information, please contact Mr Robbie Stewart the Parish Clerk. Tel 07791 669140 Mrs Sarah Taylor Parish Council meetings are usually held on Tel 792528 the 1st Monday of each month in the Playing Field Pavilion Some Councillors may be contacted by email: Mrs Janet Huddart: [email protected] Mr Don McLoughlin: [email protected] Mr Robbie Stewart: [email protected] Mrs Sarah Taylor: [email protected] Dr Peter Young: [email protected]