;v IK* •"S5 , . s* . . ■ • •"■•". “*■■'.y H.r.^---—• ••• ; «i-■ ’?• •, ,.-. i l l ' !?i PAGES FROM HISTORY


The day a German pilot dropped bombs


on two local homes Sheila Nixon reports how the attack shattered village life


EVEN in wartime Britain, it seemed a particularly cruel attack-when a German aircraft made a surprise raid on a peace­


ful local village. In a day-time attack, on October


30th, 1940, the pilot dropped two bombs on houses in Chatbum. The village had no air raid shelters


the Royal Engineers' barracks at Low


Moor, but had miscalculated. It is not clear how many soldiers, if any, were there at that early stage of the war. The killed on the day were reported


as Mrs Mary Elizabeth Wilson, a widow, and Mr Lawrence Westwood, the driver of a petrol wagon which was being driven through the village


and no air raid siren because no one ever thought it would be a target for Hitler's bombs. Now, the Chatbum bombing ranks


as one of the local area's most shatter­ ing events of the 20th Century - an experience forever etched in the mem­ ories of those who were there. Two people were killed, two others


rences in London and other British cities during 1940 when Britain stood alone, but Chatbum seemed the most unlikely of targets. After all, refugees from the London Blitz were being sent to the relative safety of the Clitheroe area, so who would have ever thought that a local village would have found itself in the "front line"? Wartime reporting restrictions pre­


vented the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times from naming Chatburn in its reports of the bombing. One headline stated: "Bombs on a


£ The highest possible


praise must be given to


died later from their injuries, many more received minor injuries and sev­ eral houses were left in ruins. Such scenes were everyday occur­


the villagers for the


courageous


way in which they faced the ordeal s


while the raid was in progress. Fortunately, the village school was


North West village." But, of course, all our readers knew which village had been hit and eye-witness accounts and pictures of damaged homes were included in the coverage. There were various theories why


undamaged and the pupils acquitted themselves well. It was said that at the first hint of trouble they dived under their desks as they had been taught in air raid practices. Our report stated: "The raider flew


the pilot had released his bombs on Chatbum, the most likely being that he was using Pendle Hill as a land­ mark and had meant to drop them on


a brow, completely demolishing it and severely injuring the solitary occu­


pant. "The second bomb fell squarely in


the roadway between two rows of stone-built houses. Walls were cracked, roofing torn off and many windows were shattered. Several casu­ alties occurred in the neighbourhood." The post office had its windows


blown out and its roof ripped off and the sub-postmaster was cut by flying


glass. Our report continued: "People who


were working in the district several miles away reported seeing the approach of the raider. Nurse Teece said she was at the door of her house and, seeing the German markings on the plane, threw herself to the ground and shouted to farm workers in a nearby field, 'Get down! They will machine-gun you!' "Passengers in a bus clearly felt the


tance." Despite the suddenness of the


On the corner are the renin inc „ , ..........* A N°rt^«7wfe7iimrw;,7R;~i^f 11 it 'Si-


i® t


shock of the explosions, and the con­ ductor of another bus said the plane appeared to follow him for some dis­


strike, Chatbum’s emergency services and wartime spirit were equal to the challenge. According to our report, "a promi­


nent local resident said the highest possible praise must be given to the villagers for the courageous way in which they faced the ordeal. "Village neighbourliness has never


extremely low so that the German, markings were at once observed. It circled the village and then returned, dropping two bombs which several people saw fall from the machine. One of them struck a house at the foot of


been more effectively demonstrated as people, whose homes were wrecked, were at once offered shelter and other assistance preferred. "The ARP workers generally


responded with wonderful efficiency and zeal."


HOUSES IN A NORTH-WEST VILLAGE DAMAGED BY A BOMB


photo 8i- Northern Daily Telegraph


J-oat infringement at Hurst Green


w o u » Robert Cornthwaite. when chared


?5/°r,e the County Justices, a t ® r o f f 'a f l lM nnfh t y jn Clitheroe-


hotel, one—a pantry window— be otherPcasesltlUffh?SCreenet?T ^ «ie


mfZdoZ{ih a+ cF tain ahd blind/’ P w


offeiice-was pointed put to 'h ta JS f ! f


t.-'o-R- Sagar said the lights were


dStantble fr°m about forty yards tiy^efsudant told the court that


*he windows were fitted with cur- a ins and blinds, and that he went


samedni^ht,renilses ^ 9 o’clockthe anfiss lgTh ^ C(2uld see nothing.


ciao c eeto?hnw i^ - F^°ess^one’was slose to the window it was not pos­


ible to see any light. fs


TWO PEOPLE KILLED AND OTHERS INJURED.


d a y l i g h t r a i d ___i.^-3 <-econt.!


* E S S ¥


injuries. The killed were:


S e r f™ ” “ cd mWr . ,


being' driven throug h piace. whilst the ra d was tak 8 1 ^ The Savely injure w-


ies about the head ana his cottage was dama0e .


3 : w a g ! jsrws


are Miss AUce Roblnso ^ EUjah house wrs demoMn Halstead (62). who re


nose


inuur- when.


Both bvTI?wpnt through tiro -a ~


Mta1' Ct- Tam Wood! m!ss Taylor m


1 Klvmg tre a tm en t S o ^ G r a h a m -------------------- - Arthur


and Emma Leigh- dozen villa- Prob^bny r lceivedminor injuries


S mated'*W first-aid part.es o n the spot


eaUy th a t ne machme-gun lire.


fortitude shown bJ tablet


of X f S'^hT distinctly heard is confirmed by : other


Knowledge and service have led to firm being decorated’, wfth prize


STRONG emphasis on up-to-date technical knowledge and excellent all-round service ensure the contin­ ued success of Clitheroe decorating supplies shop F. A. Allen and Sons Ltd. I t has brought a top retailing


y" /"


prize to the Ribble Valley 1 The business has a long and proud his­


tory, having been founded in 1928 by Mr Frank Allen and run by him and his sons,


Norman and Ronald. I t serves retail and trade customers


from a wide area - proprietors Roland and Hazel Hailwood took over nearly two decades ago and show year in, year out that they know what people want, and make sure they provide it at the


right price. Prompt, cheerful, well-informed ser­


vice played a big part m F.A. Allen and Sons clinching the coveted title of Inde­ pendent Wallcoverings Retailer for 1999. "We are proud to be a specialist shop in


a specialist town," says Mr Hailwood. The double-fronted premises are handily


situated for access and parking on Wes­ leyan Row, on the way to Edisford. It is very appropriate that they are in the shadow of Clitheroe Castle, for, as is well known, Mr Hailwood is the borough's town crier and holds other offices as well. He is keen to stress the team effort which keeps the shop very busy.


I it ’Pi - v f e e ■a* i 1 s ^ ^ 1 1 !i lJ7 'i T ' v - * -m i ' ’ >' s « « _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -V f l


staff, maintaining a high level of knowl­ edge and making sure it is up to date," says Mr Hailwood. "A shop like ours can meet competition


Advertising Feature "We have a good input from all our


by offering value for money in goods and advice for free. "This is a traditional area and long­


standing ideas are still important. But we are also sure to keep up with the game when it comes to contemporary designs


and materials. The national award reflects that, as well as many other fea­


tures." Allen's premises are deceptively spa­


cious and there is room for wide ranges of paint, wallpaper, sundries, equipment and accessories. Leading makers repre­ sented include Crown, Dulux, Solvite, Polycell, Sanderson, Crowson and Harle­ quin and there is a wide range of quality and price. If Allen’s team members can find a way to put on a special deal, they do.


the shop can offer a host of money and time-saving tips, often for the amateur decorator and sometimes even for the professional one. A visit is a must for anyone planning decorating or similar work.


The practical approach of everyone at


& s ta t ement observers,


SS& -SS8 --------- . atPuie Methodist ehapel


smashd. DU^ tb the scene, was tribute to


which was neare headmaster and u n to u c h e d . The n a


WRECKAGE AFTER A NORTH-WEST VILLAGE HAD BEEN _______


RAIDED


his assistants alike P " ldren> sta t - the coomess oi tl n danger ing that at the f ^


their


the scholars dl„v. been taught In , . desks, as they had , tewas oniy 0n i I


air raid practices. ool windows '• / ’ Home in ruins but mother unscathed


VILLAGER Florence Jeffs found her home in ruins, but her mother unscathed, after a German bomber left his calling card in Chat-


burn. Miss Jeffs remembers dash­


ing from Chatburn Mill, with a friend, to their bombed homes - fearing the worst. An area bounded by Dale Ter­


race, Ribble Lane and Shaw Gardens had taken the main impact.


find her mother, Mrs Margaret Jeffs, standing in the backyard of her house in Shaw Gardens. But her happiness was short­ lived, for not far away, at Ribble Lane, a tragic scene awaited her friend. Dorothy Wilson arrived to


Miss Jeffs was overjoyed to


find the body of her widowed mother, Mrs Elizabeth Wilson, lying under the rubble of her


Miss Jeffs (85), who still lives in the same house. "Dorothy and I


bombed home. "It was a terrible day," said


left the mill together. We could­ n't get up the road because a petrol tanker was ablaze. "We had to go over the fields


and then branch off to our homes. Dorothy had the tragic experience of seeing an arm and a leg lying under the stones. "There were no air raid shel­


backyard with a neighbour, after hearing the aircraft going over over. The blast demolished all the internal walls of our house, but the outside walls were left standing. "I felt very lucky to find my


ters in the village and no sirens to warn us of enemy aircraft. Nobody ever thought Chatbum


mother still alive. Gomg into the backyard saved her life." It took eight months for the


would be bombed, but we knew how to recognise German planes by their markings. "My mother went into the


house to be repaired and during this time Miss Jeffs's married sis­ ters came to the rescue, provid­ ing temporary homes for those members of the family without a roof over their heads.


We have lots to shout aboutJ F.A. ALLEN & SONS LTI


t f - j r W f G s B & y s s n T T e B e p I h i& m G S O l i O O Voted “Best Independent ★


Wallcovering Retailer of \ 999” ★


★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ . ★ ★ ★ ★


D o n ’t be in the dark about colour Everything for a


* ★ . ★ *


Millennium Face Lift VISA


TmE^m 8EXRRES5I


M y a lsM in y


The Ribble Valley's leading supplier to the Professional and DIY Decorator • ■■


__: - - —— ^ ——— ———— — -I -M I > ★ ★ ★ C i 6 t : B * G r & @


>. f A ’■*’**' jpvsrfs:


’* -mm '■•-■•I P


h ^ ? d J'5?*' ' going home early, hl^ PJacked the premises, out but over-


SAWLEY


repIled' “Rach wSidow^ s V?erintendent Kay,


i .


—-The fortnightlv winter.


Shane^on'iM-nT,rteld ^ tlle Methodist RevP H Aita ^ ’ evening, when the


.h . Allen presided nv»,. a »»ood


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