JUNE 2026 - HEATWAVE, STORM, SOMME 110TH ANNIVERSARY. NOT A NORMAL NEWSLETTER!

June  - Normally we write about life at No.fifty6 during the month and of course thoughts turning to the 1st July commemorations – with this being the 110^th anniversary of The Battle of The Somme.

But if you will forgive us this month – this is not a “normal” newsletter. So firstly an apology to our guests this month and our lovely loyal readership. Though there are many wonderful tales to tell, we cannot do them justice this month so the stories will be told next month! We have so enjoyed having familiar and new faces with us during a very busy and very hot June – you have all been amazing.

On the night of 20th June into 21^st June our wonderful village was hit by a once in a lifetime storm. It was not forecast, everyone was preparing for bed as usual. Then it was as if we were in an apocalypse. For about an hour our village was hit by intense wind, rain and the most enormous hailstones you will ever see. It is not an exaggeration to say they were the size of tennis balls and fell from the sky with the intensity of petanque balls falling to earth. Impossible to go outside for fear of injury or death we had to ride it out. We lost power, the noise was deafening and the whole thing very, very scary. As it subsided, we and our guests went out to survey the damage as far as we could see in the dark.

We are just so glad no one was injured. Our neighbour, a widow, came to us at midnight in her pyjamas she was so scared.

We had our 2 cars in the car park and 3 guest vehicles. All had smashed windscreens and mirrors and body work riddled with dents. The morning light, after no sleep, confirmed the damage to the cars and also to our roof in the dining room and main house – compromised but holding up. Our flowers – which we love in the summer – were decapitated, new pergolas dented, garden tables damaged.

So much of the last week has been taken up with sorting out the damage. Our 2 cars – including our new one and beloved orange MG have been towed away and now await insurance assessors. We have had estimates for our roof damage and again this is with our insurers.

Our guests have been wonderful despite having their own damage to deal with – so long times spent on the phone sorting those out, us helping out with the French language in the case of hire cars, of course.  There are stories to be told there for another day. As we say, at least no one was hurt.

Thankfully, we can continue business as usual at No.fifty6. Guest areas were not affected. We have a temporary vehicle so even have wheels!

It is just that the time usually taken to write the newsletter has been taken up with phone calls, emails, insurers, tradesmen, car issues etc.  Then of course planning for 1st July. 

Every house in Ovillers La Boisselle has been affected. It was localized to our commune. A very bizarre weather event. Le Poppy restaurant at the bottom of the village had a 50 cm sea of mud run off the field and go through their car park and into the dining and kitchen areas. The Commune and friends, including farmer friends with machinery  helped them clean up so that they could open on the Monday.

The incident made the national news and there is now  political debate as hailstone damage is not on the list of events which make this a natural disaster recognized in law– that classification would enable speedier resolution of insurance claims for example.

Whatever gets thrown at us, we keep smiling. We remember it is only things, not people, and is nothing compared to what the lads faced here in 1916.

And it is a salutary reminder, please make sure you have insurance for all risks when you visit France.

https://www.tf1.fr/tf1/jt-13h/videos/nouvelle-nuit-dorages-dans-la-somme-46696714.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawSvN_xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKBfhXjEqFvjkgVoOrOEwVXwyFDhlKLTwjBQxddPI1A-eppmLQRYFDcwqxls_aem_r4IHKkLvsyZccmtGe4Kzmg

https://www.facebook.com/reel/791477353956480

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1561225612226198

To finish, our thoughts turn to 1^st July and the 110^th anniversary of The Somme Battle and we think of all those, who paid the ultimate price, all those who were injured, all those who survived but bore the scars forever.  We will be commemorating the event here and will be at Lochnagar to lead the 07h28 service, an honour to remember those men. 110 years later we still live in a world torn by War, with so much suffering, intolerance and prejudice.  As humans though, we know we are all capable of joy, hope, kindness and tolerance. We hope the latter qualities prevail.

We saw it in our Commune as everyone pulled together to help after the storm. We think that solidarity would make those who fought here 110 years ago extremely proud.

Instead of a poem this month, with reflection on 1^st July, we reproduce here the last letter of Private John Scollen. John, from Seaham was with the 27^th Northumberland Fusiliers  - Tyneside Irish. He wrote the letter on 27^th June 1916 to his wife Christina. They had 7 children.

My dear Wife and children it is with regret I write these last words of farewell to you. If it is God’s Holy will that I should fall I will have done my duty to my King and country and I hope justly in the sight of God.

It is hard to part from you but keep a good heart Dear Tina and do not grieve for me for God and His Blessed Mother will watch over you and my bonny little children and I have not the least doubt but that my country will help you. For the sake of one of its soldiers that has done his duty. Well Dear Wife Tina… you have been a good wife and mother to look after my canny bairns and I’m sure they will be a credit to both of us.

Dearest wife Christina accept this little souvenir of France, a cross made from a French bullet which I enclose for you.

My Joe, Jack, Tina and Aggie not forgetting my bonny twins Nora and Hugh and my last flower baby whom I have only had the great pleasure of seeing once since he came into the world, God bless them.
I will try and get to do my duty whilst on this perilous undertaking and if I fall on the top of a massive bayonet then you will know that I died in God’s Holy Grace. Tell all of my friends and yours also that I bid them farewell now.

My Dear wife and children I have not anything more to say only I wish you God’s Holy Grace and Blessing so GOODBYE GOODBYE and think of me in your prayers. I know these are hard words to receive but God’s will be done.

From your faithful soldier, Husband and father John Scollen B Coy 27th S.B.N.F.

Goodbye my loved ones, DON’T CRY.

John, aged 42 was in the 3^rd wave attacking La Boisselle that 1^st July morning. He is one of the missing and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, and also back home in St. Mary Magdalene Church in Seaham. The cross he made from French bullets, is still in the family.

.

David’s June Joke: 

What is The King’s favourite kind of precipitation!

Hail.

Normal Newsletter service will resume next month. We hope to see you soon. Take care in the heat!