Herald - Issue 419

Page 22 • The HERALD • 17th February 2022 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v EXPERT DOMESTICS APPLIANCE SERVICES S ales and R epairs to A ll M akes and M odels 169-171 LONG LANE, HOLBURY • TEL (023) 8089 0054 POSSIBLY THE ONLY INDEPENDENT MAIN DEALER IN THE NEW FOREST For Bosch, Belling, Britannia, Candy, Ebac, Hotpoint, Hoover, Indesit, Ice King, LG, LEC, Liebherr, Miele, Neff, Sebo, Siemens, Stoves, Whirlpool, Zanussi and more... Free Standing & Built In Sales Centre Over 300 appliances in stock www.expertdomestics.co.uk M.D.S. DIGITAL INSTALLS/SERVICE • DIGITAL AERIALS/FREEVIEW • SKY DIGITAL/FREESAT DIGITAL • EXTRA TELEVISION POINTS • TELEPHONE LINES/POINTS • TELEVISION SYSTEMS SETUP/TUNED • WALL MOUNTED TV’S QUALIFIED, FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE FREE SURVEYS/QUOTES BEAULIEU: 01590 611011 MOBILE: 07717 194441 All Electrical Work Undertaken Additional sockets & lighting New Consumer units installed Full / Part property rewires Hot Tub supplies installed Led Lighting installed Fault Finding Call Mike on: 023 8048 0818 07796 710581 Email: mctelectrical@virginmedia.com HANNAH’S ELECTRICS Your Local Female Electrician NEED AN ELECTRICIAN? From simple upgrades to complete house re-wiring - and everything in-between, Hannah’s Electrics is the perfect choice. A trusted tradeswoman with sensible rates covering Southampton, New Forest & Waterside areas CONTACT HANNAH 07585 778136 W: www.hannahs-electrics.co.uk • E: hannahelectrics@gmail.com Like us on Facebook TALES FROM THE GRAVEYARD Written by Patricia Hedley-Goddard, Churchyard Archivist for the ancient parish church of All Saints’, Fawley There has been a church at Fawley since 971 A.D. and the graveyard contains over 3,500 known souls within it. In this edition I tell the ‘Tale’ of Sgt Claude Lionel Geoffrey Hood. Claude Lionel Geo rey Hood was born on the 1st March 1909 in Northamptonshire to William Herbert and Mabel Hood. His father originally came from Wigston Fields in Leicester and had worked as an Engineer Foreman in a shoe and boot factory. He marriedMabel Abbot in 1905, and she came from Saint Andrews, Kettering. is marriage produced two sons, John Herbert Redvers Hood who was born in 1907, and Claude Lionel Geo rey, born in 1909. By the time Claude was born records show that the family had moved to Leicester. In the 1939 population register, when he was 30 years old, Claude was listed as living at 42 Brading Road, Leicester with his wife Mariane nee Hickling, who was 3 months younger than him. e household also consisted of a female Deaconess named Phyllis Selifant. Armstrong Whitworth Whitely bomber and he joined the crew of bomber P5044 captained by Flying O cer William Stenhouse who was 26 years old. e crew consisted of the captain, a pilot o cer aged 19, two wireless/gunner operators aged 18 and 20 years and Sergeant Claude L.G. Hood, the ‘old man’ of the crew, now aged 31. On the evening of 14th August 1940 the crew were sent to bomb the fuel storage tanks in Bordeaux on the South West coast of France. ey successfully carried out their mission and returned to England in the early hours of 15th August. ey crossed the English channel and in the o cial reports of the Botley Observer Corps log they observed an unknown Whitely bomber ying in a westerly direction towards Southampton Water The tragic accident resulted in all five crew members being killed a erwards to Abingdon for Operational Training. At this time he was 30 years old so would not necessarily have been placed in an operational front line unit. However, in 1940 he was posted to number 77 Squadron based at Dri eld in Yorkshire as an Observer. e aircra he was assigned to was an During 1939 with the outbreak of WW2 Claude o ered his services to the RAF Volunteers and was sent to the Isle of Man Air Observer Navigation School and then Continued on page 23 LEPE’S HEALTHY WALKS Every Thursday, at 9.30am Meeting every week come rain or shine. Join them for a 3 mile walk around the park and along the beach at a leisurely pace. Walking outdoors in the fresh air can increase mental and physical wellness and this group will be meeting up every week. So why not get your regular dose of nature and Vitamin Sea! ey will be doing a circular walk around the park which will include Lepe Point Conservation Area where dogs, unfortunately are not permitted. Meet outside e Lookout at 9.30am. ey will walk over shingle, grass and boardwalk with very little gradient at a leisurely pace. Free parking for all attendees. Please dress appropriately for the weather. If you’re new to the Healthy Walk/Walking for Health Scheme you can register your details on their website before the walk. You will only need to do this once and it’s just to make sure they have your details. is also covers other walks happening around the New Forest and beyond.