DIARY In the Village Hall unless otherwise stated Regular activities Baby & Toddler Group: Fridays 10-11.30am in term time Toffee & Books: Fridays 3.20 - 3.50pm in term time Dog Training: Mondays 6-8.00 pm; Tuesdays 6-7.00pm (Monday class outside during summer - contact Elaine 07790 395289 for further details) Weight Classes: Wednesday,6-7.00pm and 7-8.00pm (to book contact Jennie Marie 07502 981608) South Lancaster Speakers Club: Methodist Church Hall, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2019 Most 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7.30pm September-May (Contact David Knox 01524 805554) 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 FORTON POST OFFICE, Methodist Church Hall, Hollins Lane: Mon- Fri 9am-1pm

FORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Mid-term closure: Monday 21st October - Friday 25th October (inclusive) OCTOBER NOVEMBER Wed 2nd: Bowling Club Social in the Pavilion Sat 2nd, 10am-3pm, WI Winter Craft Fair Sunday 6th, 2-5pm: Harvest Time Art Sun 3rd: Deadline for Shoebox Appeal Exhibition & Sale, St James’ Church Sun 3rd, 12-1pm, 1.30-2.30pm or 3-4pm: Roller

Thurs 10th, 3.15-3.50pm: Mobile Library, Disco sessions. School Lane Wed 6th: Bowling Club Social in the Pavilion Fri 11th: Bowling Club Presentation Dinner, Wed 20th: Bowling Club Social in the Pavilion Ashton Hall Thurs 21st, 3.15-3.50pm: Mobile Library, School Wed 16th: Bowling Club Social in the Pavilion Lane Thurs 17th, 7.30pm: WI talk ‘Antiques, Thurs 21st, 7.30pm: WI Annual Meeting Auctioneers & Valuers’ by Bill Nelson Thurs 29th, 7pm: Bowling Club AGM in the Mon 21st, 7.30pm: Field Day AGM in the Pavilion Pavilion Thurs 28th - Sun Dec 1st, 10.30am-3.30pm: Thurs 31st, 3.15-3.50pm: Mobile Library, National Crib Festival, URC School Lane A time to remember - Pages 12, 13, 15 & 17 Parish Council meetings will now be held on the 1st Monday of each month in the Playing Field Pavilion The Village Remembrance Service Church Services and events are on page 21 beginning 6.30pm for 7pm. Sunday November 10th at 10.15am in the Village Hall led The Parish website address is: fortonvillage.org by Canon Peter Ballard, Vicar of St James’ Coordinator - Neil Adams (791004) email: [email protected] The Act of Remembrance will follow outside at the Items of interest regarding Forton’s past remain available on: War Memorial http://www.shireshead-forton.co.uk

Shoebox Appeal - page 2 The email address for the Village Voice is: [email protected] Brownies need new Owls - page 3 Content not attributed has been contributed by the editors VILLAGE VOICE Roller Disco - page 5 VILLAGECONTENTS VOICE Except forCONTENTS reports made by Bowling Club season - page 7 Village Voice Editorial Team & Advertising: David & Rhona Sharp (791758) Except for reports made by Proof Reading: Margaret Mansfield members of Forton Parish Angel Festival - page 7 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 East of A6 - Fiona Riley (792245) reports are not necessarily WI Craft Fair- page 9 thoseexpressed of the Council. in reports are not necessarily those of the Nativity Crib Festival - page 9 Printed by Colin Cross of Council. Chance to buy artwork - page 19

The new Reverend - page 19 ITEMS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE (December/January) BY 11 NOVEMBER, PLEASE 2 3 Parish News - Chairman’s Comments The summer term at Brownies finished with a favourite walk along the *Firstly, a very big thank you to Neil Adams for the hours of work he has put into the canal from Potter’s Brook to Ratcliffe Wharf. The canal banks were in negotiations for masterplanning in Forton. He has worked meticulously on the complicated full bloom and it was a perfect time of day for spotting wildlife and details involved. After he left the Parish Council, he continued this work while keeping close completing the I-Spy challenges. Badges and ice lollies in Brown Owl’s contact with the Council. garden were a great end to the evening. Wyre planners now say that future negotiations must be directly with the Parish Council For the forthcoming term, and so this work has been transferred to Peter Young. there are lots of fun and games planned and we *I urge everyone to look at the details for the 60 houses development on Hollins Lane. will be having an active 18/00660/FULMAJ. We need to support our neighbours by sending letters of objection to e v e n i n g w i t h t h e the totally inappropriate development that has been proposed for a country lane. Please L a n c a s h i r e C r i c k e t contact a councillor if you need help in tracing this application. Women and Girls Coach in The Council has sent a letter (read out at the recent Council meeting) listing our September. A great objections, which included useful comments from Hollins Lane residents. opportunity to develop some cricketing skills and *Aware of the concern for trees, the Parish Council have granted money to the Village Hall learn more about the committee for investigations to ensure the safety of the Pavilion car park. game, which will also build on the ‘Respect the *The culvert on School Lane beyond the Cricket Club is in a worrying state and a structural Ref’ activity in the new survey has been commissioned. Girl Guiding programme. Looking for leaders! It is with a heavy heart that Ruth and Nichola have decided that, *Following news at the recent meeting called by the Village Hall trustees, that there might after many years as ‘Owls’, this will be their last year as leaders. The local Commissioner be a road through the school site (to connect houses from the field behind the school to for Guiding has been informed, who will now attempt to find new leaders for the group. If School Lane), it is understood that this is unlikely to go ahead. you know of anyone who may be interested in becoming a Brownie leader and would like Janet Huddart more information, please get in touch with Ruth. We want to leave the unit knowing that it will continue to grow and develop. Shoebox Appeal For the last few years Forton Village has generously supported Operation For more information about the 1st Brownies, contact the Owls: Brown Owl Christmas Child run by the Christian development and relief organisation Ruth (792306) and Barn Owl Nichola (791301). Samaritan’s Purse. Anyone can join in - a very practical way to express our Forton Primary School concern for some of the neediest children in the world. Preprinted shoeboxes and leaflets telling you how to pack and pay for sending the The new academic year has begun with a new look to Forton School. Many thanks to the shoebox, can be collected from school, St James’ Church, Hollins Lane Post Office or ‘Garden Gnomes’ for cutting hedges and trimming edges around the school grounds. calling Andrea Bookless on 07811 324394 from the first week in October. Fill your Thanks also to George Tostevin from G.A.T. Garden Maintenance, for digging out the front shoebox and return it to school, Church or the P.O by the 1st November or on Sunday 3rd flower bed and reseeding it. It all looks wonderful. November at 10am, bring it to the special all-age ‘shoebox’ service in St James’ Church. In addition to a smart frontage to school, we also have new staff who have joined the team. Patrick Haley, Lana Graham and Courtney MacPhearson have already made a positive impact upon the children’s learning and built positive relationships with the ght Orch children and parents. Meanwhile, the ‘old timers’, Miss Braithwaite, Mrs Simpson, Mrs orton Li estra F Physick, Madam Brook, Mrs Bainbridge and myself are loving working with our new team. At the Village Playing Field Churches Together I am also delighted to welcome our new families to school, the Budds, the Pierce Oztoks, Service on September 1st, Mike Cook (violin and the Stirzakers, the Lunds, the Stobarts, the Wilsons and our new children, Sam, Holly, trumpet), Rebecca Hodgson (trumpet), Susan Ella, Alfie, Chloe, Zac, Sana, Ryu, ZaK, Georgie, Feivel and Chris. Dodgson (keys) and Mark Blewitt (violin) provided the tunes. Two years ago, we opened our Pre-school which has gone from strength to strength and now, due to demand, we have increased our admission number from 10 to 15, and places Our next scheduled outing is as part of the much larger Forton Light Orchestra at the are going rapidly. village lights switch-on. We would love to hear from members old and new to join us for the annual light switch-on and playing of traditional and new Christmas carols. If you are Please visit and see us in action. We are so proud of our school! interested in joining us, drop me an email and I will pass you the music. Mark S. Blewitt at [email protected] Lorna Boase, Headteacher 4 5 Forton Field Day AGM The committee would like to say once again a big thank you to everyone who helped on the day and gave up their time to organise another successful day! The Forton Field Day committee is made up of new and old residents of all ages, from all over the village. If you would like to bring new ideas to help keep Forton Field Day going or would just like to lend a helping hand, please come along to the Field Day ‘Cheese and Wine’ AGM in the Playing Field Pavilion on Monday 21st October at 7.30pm.

We meet four or five times a year to arrange jobs such as house to house collections, the Rose Queen and retinue and entertainments etc before sorting the actual day itself. Commitment can be as little or as much as you want. Any help is always gratefully received. For more information, please contact Forton Field Day Chair, Andrew Challenger on 07737 897689 or Treasurer, Jenna Metcalfe on 07794 337282. Lawn Care Lawn Treatment Forton Field Day committee will be arranging a few village events to help raise funds on the From only £14 plus vat run up to our big 70th Field Day in 2021!

Our next event is our Family Halloween Roller Disco, at Forton Village Hall, on Sunday 3rd November. Fancy dress is optional and there are three sessions, 12-1pm, 1.30-2.30pm or 3-4pm, tickets are £6.50 each.

Tickets include roller skates (size 8 juniors to size 13 adults) and safety equipment, along with professional instructors, 30 people per session.

Please reserve your tickets in advance by contacting us on [email protected] or Claire Pye 07812 567011/ Jenna Metcalfe on 07794 337282. Under 12s to be accompanied by an adult. Tuck shop and refreshments available.

Forton Baby and Toddler Group What a lovely summer holiday we all had, and we are now settling back at our Baby and Toddler Group. We have welcomed a couple of new faces since starting back in September. We are looking forward to planning some Halloween and bonfire crafts in our next couple of terms.

We have a great group of mums and grandparents who bring along their baby/toddlers to the group each Friday. If you would like to join us at our Baby and Toddler Group, we would love to see you during term time. Please just come along on a Friday, 10am-11.30am in the Village Hall. Jenna Metcalfe Village Hall and Playing Field Update Thank you to all the residents who attended the Village Meeting. We are still working through details with the Charity Commission. Things are moving fast, so please watch out on the Parish website/noticeboards for further details.

By the time you read this, the wooden climbing frame at the Play Area should have been removed by Wyre - this is because it was found to be rotten and therefore unsafe. Wyre are also looking at removing the stones from the mound area following an incident at Field Day when a child needed stitches. The Play Area equipment has to be funded by the Committee, so if anyone has time to apply for grants etc, please let us know. We do have money from the Bowland Gardens development but will decide on spending this once the location of the Play Area has been agreed with the Masterplan.

Thanks, Village Hall and Playing Field Committee 6 7 The bowling season is now over with only the Ladies teams having fixtures until the end of September. We have Computer Help At Home managed to field full teams in most games with help from our ‘floaters’ but are still short of players in some of the For all Computer or Internet and teams. Please think about joining the Club in the New Year to get a bit of fresh air and exercise. We are very happy to help beginners as well as welcome experienced bowlers. If Tablet Problems Connection Issues you have ever played golf, cricket or any other sport, you will enjoy bowls!

We have a success to report. Our B team in the Over Wyre League have again done Repairs Plain English Tutorials exceptionally well in only their second season, completing a championship and cup double. They will compete in Division 2 next season and renew rivalry with Owd Nells who were runners up to Forton in both the Dairy Cup and Division 3. A “well done” from all at Forton Bowling Club to Dave and his team. Congratulations also to the five players in the team who featured in the Division 3 merit table. Further success was achieved by our Young Vets team who narrowly missed promotion to Division 2 and by Colin Haggan who was runner - Call Graham on 07787 727443 up in the Division 3 merit table. Our Presentation Dinner takes place on Friday 11th October, again in the grand surroundings of Ashton Hall, the venerable home of Lancaster Golf Club. We again had a fantastic evening there last year with lovely food in baronial surroundings. All are welcome even if you aren’t yet a Bowling Club member, so if you aren’t a member of the Golf Club and fancy seeing inside Ashton Hall, come along. Admission is by ticket only purchased in advance from any committee member and priced at £20. The Bowling Club’s AGM will be held in the Pavilion on Thursday 28th November at 7pm and all are encouraged to attend.

After two successful years, Alan Grocott has organised another series of Social Afternoons, to be held at the Playing Field Pavilion on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from2- 4pm throughout the winter months. The first afternoon will be on Wednesday 2nd October. There will be a nominal £1 charge to cover tea and biscuits and cards, darts and dominoes are offered. Other activities may be introduced depending on the interests of the people who attend. You don’t have to play and can just come for a chat if you prefer. All are very welcome and you do not have to be a member of the Bowling Club. Just turn up on the 2nd October, 2pm.

Finally thanks, as always, to all who have contributed to the successful running of the Bowling Club this year. The weather has been mixed but we have had many compliments about the green and its surrounds, solely due to all the hard work put in by members. Hope B.C Maintenance to see some of you at the Presentation Dinner or at the new Social Afternoons and maybe around the green to start bowling in 2020. Decorating,Tiling Install new fencing Viv Tabner, 01524 791118 on behalf of Forton Bowling Club Committee Painting inside & out Flat pack assembly Angel Festival Fascias/Guttering Kitchen updates etc St James’ Shireshead Church, Forton will be holding an Angel Festival on Saturday, 7th December, 2-5pm in the Church on Whinney Brow Lane. A host of angels will be on show together with a ‘create an angel’ craft General Property Repairs table, a family Christmas film ‘On Angel Wings’ by Michael Morpurgo is showing at 3.30pm and 4.30pm and refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon. Over 10 years experience No job too small! You, your family, business or group are invited to create an angel using any medium or loan us an angel which is a family favourite or of significance to you. Contact Brent on 01524 793949 or 07947 508272 If you would like further information on how to participate or about the event itself, please contact Ruth Ross, 01524 792306. 8 9 Forton WI presents a Forton Post Office Forton Winter Craft Fair 01524 793402 Post Office For all Post Office services except Saturday 2nd November, 10am-3pm Car tax & Passports Forton Village Hall Free Admission - Refreshments Available *Cash withdrawal *Cash & Cheque deposits *Chip ‘n’ Pin *Post your parcels to UK & abroad *Drop & Go facility *Euros on demand or ‘Click & Collect’* Craft Stalls, Cakes, Plants, Raffle *Other currencies to order (1 or 2 days) *Travel Insurance* *Greetings Cards & One4all Gift Cards *Range of Stationery* In aid of North West Blood Bikes & Lakes AMPLE FREE PARKING whose volunteers do a fantastic job transporting blood & urgent medical supplies to hospitals Methodist Chapel Meeting Room, Hollins Lane Could be just the opportunity to get a few Christmas presents Monday to Friday 9am-1pm The fair is fully booked with some new stalls this year as well as knitwear, plants, jewellery, cards, toiletries, decorated eggs, fancy goods AND a WI cake stall. Further details from 01524 791580 or 793549 Nativity Crib Festival in Forton URC November 28th to December 1st, 10.30-3.30pm each day Display of Nativity Cribs with refreshments

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Nateby Works I Longmoor Lane I Garstang I PR3 0JB Tel: 01995 606311 www.ccsupplies.co.uk I www.fittedkitchenpreston.co.uk [email protected] Once again we are holding our Nativity Festival. Last year was a tremendous success with all sorts of nativity sets on show, pictured above. From traditional to ones from all over the world and some novelty ones. If you have one we can display or if you are interested in knitting Christmas roses for this year’s Festival, leave contact details in the Church FORTON GLASS postbox to obtain a pattern and wool for the roses, contact Susan Redmayne on 07912 HIGH QUALITY PVCu WINDOWS & DOORS 572895 or any Church member. SUPPLIED OR FITTED

FAILED/MISTED UP DOUBLE GLAZING UNITS Temporary Road Closure REPLACED IN TIMBER OR PVCu Ratcliffe Wharf Lane, Forton from the junction of Winder Lane to outside the Jackson Hill bungalow. GLASS CUT TO SIZE, BALUSTRADE GLASS HORTICULTURAL GLASS, MIRRORS & SHELVES The prohibition will be operative daily from 9.30am-3.00pm on Thursday 10th October until Friday 11th October 2019 or until completion of the works within this period. Tel: 01524 751600 or 07580 025368 Email: [email protected] Alternative route for vehicular traffic affected by the closure is via: Ratcliffe Wharf Lane - Park Lane - Garstang Road - Cockerham Road - Lancaster Road - OR CALL IN AT UNIT 18, GALGATE MILL Ratcliffe Wharf Lane and vice versa. GALGATE, LANCASTER 10 11 It is with sadness that we record the death of one of our loyal members, LANDROVER®SPECIALISTS Margaret Hewitt, on August 1st. She was always willing to help and when she was able, she was mainly to be found aiding the Treasurer. Her baking was prodigious. Even when she wasn’t well, she sent in boxes of homemade cakes for 01524 791 214 or 07990 554 883 special events. Our condolences go to her husband Chris and all the family.

August 14th was our Social event and this year we chose to have a Mystery Coach Trip. It LANDROVER® PARTS was intriguing as the coach driver went via and everyone was guessing, wrongly, where the destination was going to be. In the end it was Levens Hall for a tour of LANDROVER® SALES the splendid gardens and an optional tour of the Hall plus food and drink in the café and a good time was had by all. REPAIRS & SERVICING On 2nd November, we shall hold our annual Winter Craft Fair which, this year, is going to be in aid of North West Blood Bikes Lancashire and Lakes, a very worthwhile cause which we Unit 5, Hamilton House Workshops all heard about at one of our meetings a couple of years ago. Station Lane, , Garstang, PR3 1AN Delegates at the WI’s Annual General Meeting in Bournemouth voted overwhelmingly for www.rogersonsgarage.co.uk the Resolution aimed at tackling the decline of local bus services. As a result, we have joined the campaign by pushing for our MP to make sure services round here don’t worsen and to try to get them improved. Christine, our Secretary, said in a message to her that it is easy to assume that because the A6 is so close we are well served by buses but even here there has been a deterioration that we do not want to continue, especially for the older and less able members of the community.

The topic for the October 17th meeting looks set to be fascinating. Bill Nelson will talk about ‘Antiques, Auctioneers and Valuers’. The November 21st meeting will the AGM. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the breadth of the group’s activities. We would love to welcome newcomers to our meetings which are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. If you have any queries, please contact President Pat on 791580 or Secretary Christine on 793549. Margaret Mansfield Walks around the village with my dog As the nights draw in and summer fades, I take time to enjoy this autumn season: an excuse to slow down, reflect and observe the changing landscape. My walks around the village usually involve walking our quiet country lanes, cherishing the sights and sounds of the season.

With swallows having flown back to Africa, the skies are now filled with skeins of geese A & P migrating from the Arctic Circle to feed in surrounding fields. Other migrating birds to look out for are flocks of the thrush-like fieldfares and redwings, often seen feeding together in Painting and Decorating large flocks. As dusk falls rooks can be seen returning to their large nest colonies. The collective noun for rooks is a building of rooks and this is not surprising, as some colonies Satisfaction guaranteed Competitive rates can contain up to 65000 individuals. These common birds have negative connotations as to No job too big or small Free no obligation quotes be called a “rook” meant you were a cheat. By the end of the 19th century a raw recruit in the military became known as a ‘rookie’, supposedly because they were easy to cheat. There is a large colony of rooks by Clifton Hill on Stony Lane in the beech trees.

Beech trees, beautiful and graceful trees, produce beech nuts in the autumn. These are also known as ‘masts’. If there is an abundance of these in a year, it is known as a ‘mast year’. The hedges around our village are rich in a tapestry of species, from the majestic oak to hazel, rowan and ash, the latter know as the ‘Queen of the forest’. Autumn brings an Call: 01524 903204 / 07858 796676 array of colours as the trees’ leaves begin to shut down and fall. Who can remember as a child, the simple pleasure of running through a pile of fallen leaves, collecting conkers or Email: [email protected] trying to catch a leaf as it falls to the ground? Heather Moorland 12 13 The Great War - Forton lives cut short

Following their article in last October/November’s Village Voice, A plaque in St Paul’s Churchyard commemorating Eric’s uncle, Rev. CSB John and Janet Nelson have done further research on the four First Spooner, the Vicar of Forton, his wife and World War soldiers buried at St Paul’s churchyard, and also on their children John Wilcock, the only man on the Forton War Memorial not awarded a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (C.W.G.C.) headstone. The result is a reminder that not all Forton soldiers died PRIVATE TOM WRIGHT: 1893 - 1918 on active service abroad and that they all have their own individual stories. PRIVATE JOHN BOWMAN: 1894 - 1916 John Bowman was born in 1894 and lived in Hollins Lane with his widowed mother and sisters. He attended Forton School from June 1898 to November 1908. He was working locally as a gardener in 1911. He joined the 1/5th (territorial) battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (KORLR) early in the War and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Somme. He was transferred from France to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, near Southampton, where he died of his wounds on 27th July 1916, aged 22.

Opened by Queen Victoria in 1863 the Tom Wright, the son of Thomas Wright, was born in 1893 and brought up at Hollins Hill Royal Victoria was the largest military near John Bowman. Tom started school at Forton six days before John and left in hospital in the country with 1000 beds, September 1907 aged 14 to work as a farm labourer. He enlisted in the 2/5th KORLR, increasing to 2500 during the First and left for France in November 1917 on active service. Some eight months later he World War. Arthur Conan Doyle posted returned home to Forton on leave and contracted influenza, probably catching it on a the fictional Dr Watson to train there as crowded train on his way home or some other place full of people. The first wave of the an army doctor. Now demolished, a ‘flu’ epidemic had started in early 1918, and although the epidemic was widespread by museum has been opened in the the early summer in towns such as Lancaster and Preston, with most of the deaths in surviving hospital chapel. From Netley, the 18-45 age range, there were probably fewer cases in the rural Garstang area. John’s body would have been Part of the Royal Victoria Military There was no mention of the epidemic in the Forton School Logbook until the second transferred by rail to St Paul’s for burial. Hospital, Netley (public domain) outbreak in the autumn. Tom died at home on 27th July 1918 of influenza and pneumonia and a civil death certificate was issued. He was treated as a war casualty DRIVER ERIC OSWALD SPOONER: 1899 - 1918 with a C.W.G.C. headstone on his grave at St Paul’s. At least he had died in his own bed Details about Eric, the nephew of the Vicar of Forton, are surrounded by his family. contained in last year’s article. He had been brought up in South SERGEANT JULIAN HENRY HUGHES: 1881 - 1918 Africa and joined the South African Signal Service. He caught a disease in France and died at Cambridge Military Hospital on Not all soldiers went abroad on active service in the War. Sergeant J H Hughes’ story 28th October 1918, aged 19. As with John Bowman, some two shows that service at home could also be dangerous. years before, his body was brought to Forton for burial at St Paul’s. Julian fought in the Boer War (1899-1902) in South Africa with the Loyal North Lancs Regiment (’the Loyals’) and after it ended, he may have joined the South African Constabulary. (Continued on page 15) 14 15 (Continued from page 13) (Continued on page 17) D.C. WILSON In 1904, he survived a bullet in the head and returned home to Preston. His younger brother, George Hooper Hughes, also went to South Africa to join the Constabulary (of PENNINE GARAGE which Sir Robert Baden-Powell was Inspector General) but was killed in 1905. Julian Lancaster Road, Forton, Preston, PR3 0BP never fully recovered although he worked as an ‘athletic sports outfitter’ in 1911 and by 1915 as a local government clerk. 01524 793323 www.dcwilson.co.uk [email protected] In April 1915 he re-enlisted in the Loyals, calling himself ‘Julian Hooper Hughes’ and • New & used car sales • Tyres increasing his age by two years. Assessed as unfit for active service abroad, he was • Mots • Brakes posted to the Royal Defence Company and sent to Liverpool on ‘home duties’ where he was promoted to Sergeant and his military character described as “very good”. • Servicing • Exhausts Physically he was 5½ feet tall and weighed 11½ stone. • Air conditioning regas • Engine diagnostics & leak detection Courtesy cars available free of charge Heysham Rectory Open 6 days a week Monday - Friday 8.00am-5.30pm & Saturday 9.00am-12.00noon Auxiliary Hospital, on the right of the picture (thanks to Heysham Heritage Association).

In January 1916, however, Julian was gassed when a gas retort exploded, and spent the next 21 months in hospital. He was at Heysham Rectory Auxiliary Hospital in March 1917 but in June he was sent to Manchester for treatment. On the way there the ambulance lost a wheel and he was thrown out, hitting his head in the same place as the original wound. Returning to Heysham, he had an operation on his skull and he was discharged on 28th September. He was posted to Knockaloe Internment Camp, Isle of Man (where he might have met Joseph Pilates), but within a few weeks he was discharged as unfit for duty. The Army medical authorities gave the main cause for his discharge as syphilis. He died on 7th May 1918, aged 36, at Cross Hill Farm, , tended by a nurse. The causes of death on the civil death c e r t i f i c a t e w e r e “ ’ g a s ’ p o i s o n i n g ” a n d haematemesis (stomach bleeding). He was buried at St Paul’s, where a C.W.G.C. headstone was placed on his grave.

Julian was born on 29th May 1881 in Worcester. His father Ivan Hughes (d.1904), was a respected provincial journalist who also wrote poetry. Julian’s brother Hubert was also an articulate, professional man who in 1953 became a candidate in local council elections in Kensington, London. The family moved to Preston in the 1890s where Ivan worked for several of the town’s newspapers. Julian married Edith Anne Mitchell, aged 21 from Morecambe in 1914 by whom he had had a daughter, Constance, in 1910. Neither has been traced. 16 17 (Continued from page 15) PRIVATE JOHN WILCOCK: c.1879 - 1918 John belongs to a group of soldiers who were not honoured by the C.W.G.C., as the disease from which they eventually died had not been diagnosed before they were discharged from the Forces. Their civil death certificates can provide the evidence that they could have caught the disease during their military service. In John’s case the evidence is indecisive but his medical history suggests he suffered from serious lung disorders exacerbated by active service.

The former Lunesdale Sanatorium, now part of Keyline Builders Merchants, Marsh Point, Luneside, Lancaster

John was born in the Leyland/ area in about 1879 but his parents soon moved to Thurnham and later to Bloomfield House Farm, Bay Horse. He worked as a farm labourer. He enlisted in December 1915 and joined the 2/5th KORLR on 24th March 1916 at the age of 37. He left for France on 6th February 1917 in what has been described as the coldest winter of the War, during which he contracted pleurisy. Seven weeks later he was at the County of Middlesex War Hospital, St Albans, suffering from bronchitis and emphysema. In late July, shortly before his discharge due to ill health, it was noted that “no T.B. had been found in his sputum”. John returned home to Forton, but on 31st May 1918, aged 39, he died of “general tuberculosis” at Lunesdale Sanatorium, Lancaster, his death being registered by his brother. Despite the Army’s medical findings, his family obviously believed he was a victim of the War as he is remembered on the Forton War Memorial. His burial place has not yet been found. More family information on the soldiers can be found in last year’s article. Our thanks to Lorna Boase of Forton School for the use of the Logbook and everyone who helped us in our research. Digital sources include: www.ancestry.co.uk http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk// and www.heyshamheritage.org.uk/ Janet and John Nelson Poppy Trail Garstang and District Heritage Society were inspired when they decided to locate a number of ceramic plaques in the old Garstang Rural District Council area, at places connected to local people who fought for their country. Forton’s ceramic poppy is pictured on the front cover. Along with all the others it was made by Pottery and features a QC code. The code takes you to the Society’s website and when ‘read’ reveals something of each location, with a Poppy Trail map planned for the future. 18 19 Harvest Time Art Exhibition & Sale featuring local artist Stephen Hunt St James’ Church, Shireshead - Sunday 6th October, 2pm-5pm Come along and enjoy a cup of tea with cake whilst perusing the beautiful harvest displays and artwork in our lovely church.

Contact: Susan Dodgson - [email protected] or 01524 383375 Forton welcomes Rev’d Derek As St Paul often said at the beginning of his letters ...Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello everyone, I have been asked to write a small piece about myself by way of an introduction as the ‘new’ Methodist Minister for Hollins Lane Methodist Chapel. I was born at a very early age in Bolton, where I went to church, school and then work. After being baptised at the local Congregational Church, I moved to the Methodist Church because that’s where the local Boys’ Brigade Company was, and would be the place I would meet my wife.

Before I became a Methodist Minister, I worked for the Post Office for 28 years, ending my career after 28 years to join the church. I have served the Methodist Church in Longton & New Longton, Preston, & , then Congleton before moving to live in Lancaster and to serve as Minister of , , Garstang, Hollins Lane and Scorton Methodist Churches.

Married to Judith for 38 years, we have four children, three daughters and one son, and six grandchildren. My hobbies include cycling, swimming (when time permits), watching the television drama NCIS and following the ups and downs (mostly downs) of Leeds United Football Club, please don’t all “boo” at once.

It will be my pleasure and privilege to serve God back in Lancashire, a place I call home, and should anyone like to contact me, my email is: [email protected] Every Blessing, Rev’d Derek Road Safety in Forton The speed limit in many parts of Forton is now 20mph, for the good reasons that this minimises the probability of accidents involving cars and other road users, and helps to prevent fatalities if accidents do happen. Drivers are mainly very considerate in Forton but, please could every driver take care around the rest of the village too, whatever the speed limit? There are several potentially dangerous spots in Forton, especially in the summer months when vegetation is high, restricting forward visibility: the whole of School Lane (not just the school area) and Wallace Lane on the bends just after Wallace Farm, heading north, and on the blind bend near Lincluden and Ashlyn where the lane is extremely narrow. Wallace Lane is used daily by elderly pedestrians, children on bicycles, parents with young children, children on ponies and dog walkers. Please keep everyone safe by slowing down. Simply pipping the horn before a bend does not absolve the driver of responsibility if an accident happens and it will not remove a vulnerable person from the path of your car. Parents of younger drivers, please share this information and help to save lives. S J Holland 20 21

Messy Church Saturday, November 30th, 4-6pm, Forton School Join us for messy crafts, songs, worship and food together. You will be most welcome. United Reformed Church Sunday, October 13th, 3pm, Harvest Service followed by afternoon tea. Donations as usual to the LDHAS centre at Edward St, Lancaster. Sunday, October 20th, FLAG Joint Pastorate Service at Garstang URC. No service at Forton. Open Church : We extend a warm welcome for you to come along and chat at these afternoon get-togethers. Wednesday, October 2nd from 2pm, the speaker will be Phil Moore, the manager from the LDHAS Centre. Wednesday, November 6th from 2pm, the topic will be ‘The Robinsons’ Summer Journey’, a tour round the country’s flower shows. Nativity Crib Festival, November 28th - December 1st, 10.30am-3.30pm daily: Start your Christmas celebrations at the URC with our display of nativity scenes and Christmas tokens from all ages and times. Sunday December 1st, 3pm, Christmas Celebration Service. Hollins Lane Methodist Church Our weekday afternoon sessions have recommenced to which all are most warmly invited.

Wednesdays, October 10th and November 13th from 2-3.30pm, Forton Friends are an opportunity for friendly chat over refreshments and a game of dominoes if you feel like it. The Wednesday Fellowship:The meetings (followed by a cup of tea) are of a more devotional nature. October 17th, 2-3.30, the speaker will be Margaret Mansfield on ‘My African Childhood’. November 20th, 2-3.30, the speaker will be Stella Clarke. Coffee Plus: Fridays, 10-11.30ish, coffee, tea and biscuits are served and there is the opportunity to purchase ‘Fairly-traded’ goods from the stall. If you are visiting the Post Office, please stop awhile and join us. St James’ Shireshead Every Sunday, 10am, Family Eucharist with Sunday School and young people’s activities. 1st Sunday monthly, 10am, All-age Eucharist. Saturday, October 5th, 8.30am, Men’s breakfast. Saturday, October 5th, 6.30pm, Harvest Supper, Forton Village Hall with entertainment by Rob Mason with Lancashire tales and songs. Tickets £12 including hotpot supper and sweet. Sunday, October 6th, 10am, Family Harvest Eucharist in church. 2-5pm, Art Sale and tea & cakes in church. 6pm, Harvest Evensong. Saturday, November 2nd, 8.30am, Men’s breakfast. Sunday, November 10th, 9am, Eucharist with hymns. Roman Catholic Church There is no Roman Catholic Church in the village so the nearest services are: Sunday Masses, 8.30am, St Mary and St James, Scorton Sundays, 9am, St Thomas and St Elizabeth, Thurnham Vigil masses: Saturdays, 6pm, St Mary and St Michael, Garstang Saturdays, 6.30pm, St Bernadette, Bowerham The Community Prayer Group meets in the United Reformed Church Hall from 9.15- 10am on Fridays, next meetings are October 4th & November 1st. 22 23 Jonny Leech - Wyresdale Ward District Councillor I hope everyone has had a good summer and enjoyed their children being off school for the holidays. There are no Wyre Council meetings in August, so nothing major to report back. However, the Wyre Voice, a publication containing details of events that are happening within the Borough, received criticism over its lack of content for rural Wyre and what is happening in our beautiful area as there is much to report. I am pleased to inform that the way in which Wyre Voice will now be compiled should now include more correspondence with local councils and more relevant information. The Members of the Village Trust and the Parish Council have been working extremely hard on our behalf, dealing with the Masterplan and the extensive work this produces. Unfortunately, there are many elements that we cannot influence but there are some we can ‘speak into’ and have our say to try and get the best for our village. The Trust hosted a productive evening in the Village Hall to inform and listen to your opinions and should be highly commended for all their efforts. Mobile Library The van is scheduled to be in School Lane (near Coronation Avenue) from 3.15 to 3.50pm on 10th and 31st October & 21st November Glenys your Mobile Librarian offers a warm, friendly welcome to her ‘Big Yellow Library Van’

The Mobile Library stocks books in a variety of formats and has a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles for all ages. It is easy to join if not already a Library member. For details of exact times and locations of stops, please ring 07717 543763 or email: [email protected] Please note routes and dates can be subject to change.

THE PARISH COUNCIL Chairman Mrs Janet Huddart Parish Clerk: Lindsey Hall Home Farm, Clifton Hill, Stony Lane, Tel 791571 Forton, PR3 0AR Tel. 01524 791313 Dr Peter Young, OBE email: [email protected] Tel 792678

Mrs Lesley Dodgson County Councillor Tel 792978 Mr Matthew Salter (07803 723958) District Councillor Mr Jonny Leech (07980 759576) Mr Don McLoughlin Tel 792805 Forton Parish Council operate a publication scheme. For more information, please contact Mr Robbie Stewart Tel 07791 669140 the Parish Clerk. Parish Council meetings are usually held on Mrs Sarah Taylor the 1st Monday of each month in the Playing Tel 01524 792528 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]