Ribble Valley at war

Sunday Music

Sunday Music At The Castle

Sunday's holidays at home programme embraced community hymn singing and a band concert, both events taking place at the Castle bandstand. Music was provided by the band of the Royal Engineers, and the vocalist was Miss Martha Dyson, a soprano of established reputation. A large and appreciative audience was attracted. The evening concert began with the band playing the rousing and stirring march "Washington Greys", followed by Suppe's popular overture "Pique Dame" and the sweet melodious waltz "Casino Tanze". Under the leadership of Bandmaster H.W.V. Roberts the band in these three contrasting numbers, gave evidence of their sound musicianship and quality."Waltzes from Vienna" was the band's opening number in the second half after which they played "Blue Bahamas" and "Cheroke" which proved very popular.Their final item was a well chosen selection of Leslie Stuart's songs which the audience sang along to. Miss Dyson was a delight to listen to and her "Cherry Ripe" was a hit with everyone.

We see here again how the Royal Engineers are involved in the local community.

Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated Friday July 21st, 1944. 

Whalley Honours Local Hero

Whalley Honours Local Hero -Villagers Gift to W.O. 'Bert' Taylor, D.F.M.

Warrant Officer 'Bert' Taylor, D.F.M, of the R.A.F of King Street, Whalley, was on Tuesday presented by the Whalley War Honours Committee with a scroll and sum of money in token of the villagers congratulations on the honour he has gained. The presentation was made in the course of a ball, held at the Assembly Rooms, and the large company showed their warm approval of the committee's action in no uncertain terms. Mr J Troop as Chairman presided at Tuesday's function which was the happiest of order. After thanking the committee secretary Mr R Eatough the Chairman then introduced Colonel Green to make the presentation. Colonel Green served throughout the last war and was awarded the Military Cross and was also honoured by a similar committee and local presentation.The founding member for this was the late Miss Elizabeth Pollard and of that original committee only two members remain that being Mr Tom Hilton of Langho and Mr James Cotterill of Whalley. During World War One presentations had been made by Sir Henry Worsley Taylor. Bert Taylor has lived some eight years in the village and married a local lady. By his gallantry and devotion to duty as a Pathfinder in the R.A.F he has lived up to the high traditions of the Royal Air Force.

Clitheroe Advertiser and Times dated Friday November 17th, 1944.

Bishop Dedicates New Memorial At Whalley

Bishop Dedicates New Memorial At Whalley.

A Memorial to eleven Whalley, Barrow and Wiswell men who lost their lives in the 1939-1945 war was dedicated by the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt. Rev. C K Prosser, at a Remembrance Day Service at Whalley Parish Church on Sunday morning. The memorial, which is a plaque surmounted by a canopy is in red and gold and the names of the men whom it commemorates are inscribed in gold lettering. It was handed into the keeping of the church by Col. L. Green and received by the vicar the Rev C. R. Brown. During the service the Last Post and Reveille was sounded by a British Legion bugler, and after the service, members of the Whalley and District branch of the Legion marched to the cenotaph where a service was conducted jointly by the Rev. J. Wright and the Rev. C.R. Brown. A wreath was laid by Mr W. Martin a veteran of the South African War. In the afternoon, members paraded to the cenotaph at Billington, where a service was conducted by the Rev. G.H. Raynor of Wilpshire.

Clitheroe Advertiser and Times but no date. Possibly early 1950's!

Cenotaph Ceremony

Cenotaph Ceremony

Homeage was paid on Sunday morning, typical of many similar scenes throughout Ribblesdale and Bowland for those who lost their lives in two world wars. More than 100 took part in the parade and ceremony at Bolton By Bowland, including members of the Chatburn and District Branch of the Royal Britsh Legion under the branch chairman, Mr A. H. Rendell. Royal Observor Corps under Mr C Grant, Bowland Girl Guides under their captain Mrs J. F. Webster. Women's Institute under its president Mrs W. Heaton. Young Farmers Club under its chairman Mr A. Stott and the West Riding Constabulary under P.S M Pike. Mr J.F. Webster T.D. was in charge of the parade which had been organised by the Bolton By Bowland War Memorial Fund and Ex Servicemen's Association under the chairmanship of Mr. A. Toy. After a service at St Peter and Paul's Church, conducted by the Rector, the Rev, E. Smithies, the parade marched to the cenotaph where wreaths were laid by Mr J. Brotherton and Mr J.G. Wolfenden and the Roll of Honour read by the Rector. The last Post and Reveille were sounded by Mr T. Wilson.

Clitheroe and Advertiser November early 1950 -no exact date.

Gisburn Services

Gisburn Services

Special services were held at St Mary's Church, Gisburn and at Rimington on Sunday. There was a service of remembrance at the Parish Church in the morning and the large congregation included representatives of the British Legion and ex servicemen and local organisations. Special hymns and prayers were included and the vicar, the Rev, W.M. Lister spoke on "Remembering Gratefully." A collection for Earl Haig's Fund amounted to £4.17s. A service also conducted by the Rev, Lister, was held at Rimington in the afternoon when the pianist was Mrs Harrison. Collections amounted to 12s. At the evening service at Gisburn the vicar spoke on "Thankful Remembrance." Following the morning service at Gisburn, representatives of the various organisations in the village went to the war memorial where wreaths were laid by the British Legion and by individual members of the congregation. A special prayer of commemoration was said by the vicar.

Clitheroe Advertiser and Times November early 1950's -No exact date.

Clitheroe Remembrance Service

Clitheroe Remembrance Service

Members of the Town Council accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress to morning service at Clitheroe Parish Church and in the evening attended a Clitheroe British Legion service of Armistice and Remembrance Service at St James's Church. The service was conducted by the Legion Chaplain the Rev. A. Lord who in the address paid tribute to the Legion's great work. During the service the list of those who died was read by Mr R. Stubbs and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by a bugler of the St James's Church Lads Brigade. Earlier in the day there was a ceremony at the Clitheroe cenotaph in the Castle grounds, where wreaths were laid by the Mayor and Mayoress of Clitheroe, the Corporation British Legion, Toc H, Rotary Club, Young Conservatives, Young Britons, R.A.O.B. (Crown) Lodge and Primrose Lodge and the Boy Scout Association. The Rev. F. Smith was the preacher at Moor Lane Methodist Church and the list of those who died was read by Mr. J. P. Doody. At Clitheroe Wesley Remembrance Services, the preachers were the Rev. J. Wright and the Rev. R. McLoughlin and at the Congregational Church the Rev. C. J. Guildford was the preacher. Members of the Bowland Rural Council accompanied their chairman, Councillor T. Walker, to a service at Grindleton Parish Church on Sunday morning when the sermon was preached by the vicar, the Rev. A. Cresswell. A wreath from the council was placed on the war memorial by Mr. H. Procter. On Sunday afternoon, members of the Council attended a service at Waddington, when a wreath was laid at the cenotaph.

Taken from the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times early 1950's -no exact date.

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