Week beginning April 7th 2003

Explosive anniversary! Monday, April 7th is the 60th anniversary of the day on which a barrage balloon crashed onto Paull Primary School! All surviving school friends are invited to a reunion meeting at 7.30 p.m. in the Royal Oak, Paull (opposite the school) - please bring along any photos you have of Paull life and people. For further details ring Jim Uney on 01482 899083.

This is the transcription of the entry in the school's Log Book for the 1940's :
"April 7th 1943 : Today, Wednesday, a violent wind blowing from early morning caused the barrage balloon moored to a barge in the river to sway and swoop dangerously at the end of its cable. Finally it dived into a building adjoining the school, and exploded. At 9.30 a.m. the children were at the end of their scripture lesson when a sudden and quite unexpected explosion shattered the whole building. In one second the school was a wreck and the air was thick with dust and soot. The children, who scrambled over the debris, were got safely out and were received in the street by anxious parents and others, for a crowd had quickly collected. Miraculously not a child was hurt. For a short time the air was so thick that the teachers had to grope amongst the desks to see if any children had been left behind hurt. The windows had been blown in and blazing fragments of the balloon clung to the frames. The doors were all shattered and plaster and slates having fallen, large patches of sky could be seen through the roof."
Other items from the log books, starting from 1873, and more about the school can be seen on the school's website http://paullprimaryschool.freeservers.com/

Gardeners welcome : The next meeting of the Preston and District Allotment and Garden Society will be held in the Blacksmith's Arms, Preston, on April 7th commencing at 8 p.m. All are welcome to attend, and prospective new members are always welcome to come along and join in.

Welcome to the new Vicar : The collation of the Reverend Ivan Howitt, the new vicar of Hedon and Paull, will be held in St. Augustine's Church, Hedon, on Tuesday April 8th at 7.30 p.m. followed by a reception in the Alexandra Hall. All are invited to attend and celebrate the start of Ivan's ministry with us.

Guides Assemble in Hedon : On Wednesday 9th of April the Annual General Meeting of Girlguiding East Yorkshire will be held in Hedon, when Guide leaders from all over the county will hear about the achievements of the organisation throughout the past year. This year the event is being hosted by our local units and Holderness Rangers, who meet in Paull, will provide the colour party.

Wordsworth in Hedon : The golden hosts of daffodils are out and the poet William Wordsworth is coming for tea in Hedon. In reality, authors Margaret and Robert Cochrane are making a welcome return to Hedon Town Hall, to give a talk about 'The Secret Life of William Wordsworth' sub-titled 'The Naughty Bits!' - it promises to be a fascinating afternoon. The Cochranes have carried out major research and written extensively on the life of the well known Lakeland poet and his family and the Mayoress is delighted they have generously donated their time and agreed to speak on this occasion. The final Afternoon Tea of the season is on Friday, April 11th at 2-30 p.m. Tickets cost £3 and are available from Hedon Town Hall, 898428 or from 'Sungate,' Church Lane, Hedon, telephone 891050.

Flower - Power! Also on Friday 11th, the long-awaited floral demonstration arranged by Hedon Rangers Under-13s' Football Club will take place in the Alexandra Hall at 7 p.m. If you have still not bought a ticket, telephone 01482 898394 to check availability and to book or to ask for further information. All the proceeds of the evening are part of the fundraising drive to pay for the team's trip to Holland this year.

Red Nose thank you : Songbirds - the Preston Out of School Club - would like to thank everyone who joined in the Red Nose Day fun by wearing pyjamas and fancy dress. The sum of £35.88 was raised for the appeal. The Songbirds are having their usual children's holiday workshops over the Easter break for children aged 4-11 years, at a cost of £3.50 per workshop. The club is registered with Ofsted and the Social Services to provide full day care between 7.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Please ring 01482 890476 for details.

Reminder - Paull Over 60's Club : the club meets every Tuesday afternoon at 1.30pm in The Crown, Main Street, Paull. New members are always welcome, and you don't HAVE to be over sixty - all enquires to Jon Major on 01482 898383.

Palm Sunday Church Services (April 13th 2003)
Hedon : St. Augustine's Parish Church : Holy Communion at 9.30 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Ivan Howitt.
Hedon Methodist Church, Church Lane : morning worship at 10.30 a.m, evening service at 6.30 p.m.
St. Joseph and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Baxtergate, Hedon : Daily Mass times : Sunday 10.30 a.m., Monday 9.15 a.m., Tuesday 9.15 a.m., Wednesday 7.30 p.m., Thursday 9.15 a.m., Friday 7.30 p.m., Saturday 6 p.m.
Hedon Pentecostal Church meets every Sunday at 10.30 a.m. in the Jubilee Room of the Alexandra Hall, St. Augustine's Gate; a Sunday School is also held at 10.30 a.m. every Sunday.
Paull : St Andrew's Parish Church : Evensong at 6.30 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Ivan Howitt.
Paull Methodist Church, Main Street : Holy Communion at 3.00 p.m.
Preston: All Saint's Parish Church : Holy Communion at 11 a.m.
Preston Methodist Church : morning service at 10.30 a.m.