This is the last GAZETTE of the present quarter (the extra page is an Easter egg from the Editor, to read next week when we are not printing). The full subscription rate for the next quarter (12 issues @ 25p) is £3, and is due by Monday, 11 April. But the one-free-issue offer of £2.75 still applies until tomorrow - cash or cheque to 94 Udimore Road or 5 Bridge Place in a sealed envelope with your name and delivery address, please.
If there is a tick against your name on this copy of the GAZETTE, it means we think you have already paid. If you think you have paid but are not ticked, please ring Rye 222303 by Saturday.
Ryesingers came home from Hastings on Saturday evening exhausted not only by a long day's singing (they entered six classes) but also by the weight of five cups and a vast impressive shield. To be awarded a cup, a choir not only has to come top of its class but also to gain at least 85 marks, and even Ryesingers' first-time-ever entry in the Male Voice Choirs class achieved this - just. The choir also won the Ladies' and the Men's Madrigal Cups, the Shield for the Mixed Voice Choirs (they were the only entrants here, but still got 90 marks), and the Cups for the larger and smaller Ladies' Choirs.
Far from working all winter to achieve these results, Ryesingers have only had the six weeks since "Pirates of Penzance" to learn six new set songs and polish up a further six own-choice pieces. Doubtless we shall have the chance to admire their latest collection of silverware in the town before too long - and in the meantime, heartiest congratulations to Lesley Brownbill and all her singers.
Rye Town Council is looking for people to sell Town Lottery tickets on 10% commission. The Town Clerk tells us that they want (a) someone to take over the distribution of batches of tickets to shops, pubs and other outlets, since the present agent no longer has the time; (b) people who would like to sell tickets to households in their neighbourhood; and (c) someone interested in manning a sales kiosk in the Town Hall forecourt (also on commission) at busy times during the season. (a), (b) and (c) can, of course, all be the same person. Contact Mr. Baker at 223902 in Town Hall office hours (see back page).
The Town Lottery is low in funds at the moment, having just spent £11,500 on the Freda Gardham playing field, and since all profits go to Rye purposes (normally in many small grants) it is in everyone's interest to support it. Top prize is £1,000, and as soon as this is won the rest of the tickets in the current series are withdrawn, so everyone buying a ticket can be sure they have a chance of the Big One - which does not always apply elsewhere. At present each 25p ticket has one game, with a 1 in 9 chance of winning something, but plans are afoot for tickets with more games and more but smaller prizes, which many people would prefer.
Since question of Library opening hours is not, they feel, quite settled, Mrs. Kirkham and Mrs. Lovell have decided to extend the original petition, which they suspect was missed by many people who would have signed it if they had known. (The rejected proposal was that the Library should be closed all day Friday, all day Tuesday as now, on Thursday afternoons and during the lunch-hour, though with earlier opening hours.) Copies of the new petition are now displayed in many places in the town, and are also tucked into various peripatetic handbags, to be whipped out whenever a likely signer comes into view; anyone who really can't find a copy to sign should ring Jo Kirkham (222562) or Marion Lovell (222615). The staff are not allowed to have a copy in the Library itself; but of course if anyone likes to stand outside on, say, a Friday morning...?
2.
Mrs. Valerie Cooper, of King's Avenue, who died in Rye Hospital on Friday, was 43. She had been in poor health for some time. Mrs. Cooper was a member of an old Rye family and had lived most of her life in the town. Her husband Reg has many friends in the area in connection with his carrier's business, all of whom will sympathise deeply with him, his three children and baby grand-daughter in this very sad loss. The funeral takes place on Thursday at 10 am at Hastings Crematorium.
Mr. Gerald Bellhouse died suddenly at his Cadborough Cliff home at the weekend. He was 70, and a widower. He attended Rye Grammar School, and later worked at his uncle's garage by Monkbretton Bridge. During the war he served in the RASC and was attached to the 195 Air Landing Field Ambulance (glider troops). He took part in the D-Day landing, and was landed by glider over the Rhine to join up with Russian troops on the Baltic; just after VE Day he flew out to Norway to join the First Airborne Division. After the war he returned to Rye and joined Mr. Tom Green at the Gluepot in Ferry Road, and at Mr. Green's death he took over the business, continuing there until his retirement in 1974. Gerry Bellhouse will be much missed in the town, particularly by the congregation of St. Mary's, where he was a sidesman as well as a familiar figure on duty at the foot of the church tower during the summer. The funeral will be on Thursday at 9.30 am at Hastings Crematorium.
Mrs. Lillias Smith, of Ashenden Avenue, died in hospital on Monday, aged 89; the funeral takes place at Hastings Crematorium at 11 am on Tuesday, 5 April. We hope to publish a fuller obituary after Easter.
The new-look Frank Golden hopes to open its doors again on Easter Saturday, fingers crossed - certainly the windows look charming already. Miss Shirley Mepham and Miss Helen Paige (soon to be Mrs. Giles) were still unpacking stock on Monday, but clothes for both men and women were already on the rails, together with lingerie and towels; the haberdashery had not yet arrived but was expected at any moment. Mr. Fassum tells us that he is hoping to arrange for a visiting corsetiere (or whatever the modern equivalent is) for the benefit of those who have problems over finding comfortable bras, etc., ready-made.
Mr. Wren, manager of Woolworths, says that they have now taken back the former antique shop next door; plans for it are not yet settled, but he hopes it will be reopened as part of the main store by the beginning of the season.
In response to readers' enquiries, we asked Le Fevre, Wood & Royle, the architect who are dealing with the former Southern Rentals shop, whether they were yet able to say what the shop would be when the extensive alterations to the premises were complete. The answer is sorry, no, nothing is decided yet.
It looks as if Rye has gained another and very welcome venue for meetings, talks and other more light-hearted functions. Prue and Tony have come from Bognor Regis as the new proprietors of Peppers in Cinque Ports Street, and they plan to make more use of the large room complete with stage behind the main restaurant, and will be glad to hear from anyone interested in hiring it. It has a licence for 100 people for music and dancing, and of course there are refreshment facilities available for functions of all kinds. Tony tells us that he is thinking seriously of showing films next winter, to fill the gap left by Papa Joe, as well as other possibilities. As for the restaurant itself, they open at 10.30 am for coffee and continue until the last customer leaves at night! Every day they offer a special lunch menu and another for dinner, with a la carte as well, and their prices are in some cases lower than were charged previously. They are also providing what we do not think is available anywhere else in the town: the opportunity for a really early evening meal or high tea, since customers can order anything from the menu at any time of day (except for the "specials", only available at normal lunch and dinner times). So people wishing to eat in the town before, perhaps, going on to an evening meeting, or to feed their children early, can now do so, and we are very glad to hear it.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 30.3.83 - page 3
There was a most spectacular Easter Bonnet Parade at Freda Gardham School's Easter Tea on Thursday, when some 125 children showed off their fancy hats and masks. First prize winners were Claire Bayntun and Mark Swain, Hannah Lage and Simon McGowan, Hayley Goodlett and David Twine; and Mrs. Millford and Mrs. Adams in the adults' class. A large number of visitors passed a most enjoyable after-noon, with another showing of the school film and photographs of various school trips, and £124 was raised towards the purchase of new stage curtains.
Northiam and Rye Branch of the RAFA held its AGM last Monday and installed Mr. A. Sommerfelt, a pilot from the days of the Royal Flying Corps, as its new President in succession to Air Marshal Sir Douglas Morris, who retires from office after ten years. The Branch was pleased to learn that it had won the trophy for the most improved Collection in the area during Wings Week; it first won the award ten years ago, since when a total of £4,600 has been collected.
Any ex-RAF or WRAF locals who are not members of the Association but would enjoy a reminiscent get-together are asked to ring Gordon Stanbridge (Brede 882589), Brian Sealy (Brede 882299), Vic Gibson (Rye 222557) or Len Banister (Rye 223396).
The RNLI Wine and Cheese Party at the Community Centre on Thursday evening had a bonus not forecast on the invitation cards: two RNLI films. The first was very topical, showing in some detail a rescue operation involving two types of lifeboat and a helicopter - exactly the same services as were involved over the Royella off the mouth of the harbour three days earlier. The second film showed the training of a crew - with an exuberant coxswain who seems a natural for television. But the event was primarily a social evening, and the guests much enjoyed the conversation and the excellent refreshments provided by the Committee.
The Rye WI Group Craft Show brought an extremely high standard of workmanship to the FE Centre on Saturday afternoon, when a large number of entries were much admired by an even larger number of visitors. Very varied talents were on display, and it was helpful to note the judge's comments on each article, though sometimes it seemed that she (or he?) was being almost too finicky - but this does emphasise the quality of work expected from WI members. Individual entries were attractively arranged in the first room; in the second were seven "shop windows", each with its own name and including six craft items made by members of the proprietary Institute, while marks were also given for staging. The Silver Rose Bowl for this class went to Rye, and Rye also gained the Silver Cup for the Institute gaining most marks overall. The Pottery Vase for the Institute gaining the highest average marks went to Iden, the Imari Plate for the Art section was shared by Beckley and Peasmarsh, and the Pottery Cup for the Institute gaining the highest number of Gold Stars in relation to the number of entries went to Playden; 26 Gold Stars (20 marks out of 20) were awarded at the Show as a whole.
For its latest exhibition the Easton Rooms has taken on a new look. The permanent display of work by regular exhibitors, which used to be upstairs, has been moved into the front room and is therefore visible from the street. The area devoted to changing exhibitions is now the back part of the gallery and the two rooms upstairs. The current show, of paintings, prints, ceramics, drawings and sculpture, is the work of staff at the Hastings School of Art - some of whom are already familiar names at the gallery, though it is pleasant to see, formally exhibited for the first time in Rye, paintings by Colin Hammond of Cadborough Cliff. The show runs for a month and makes interesting viewing. The memorial exhibition of the work of William Warden continues at the main Gallery in East Street.
... and coming up
Rye Museum opens, as usual, tomorrow - the Thursday before Good Friday. Easter being early has meant a very busy time for the gallant band of cleaners and polishers who prepare the exhibits for each new season, this time after a winter of real tribulation. Mr. Bagley tells us that the Maritime Year exhibition, so successful last year, continues for 1983, with new exhibits; and there will also be on show the first selection of the material given by Mr. Healey from the old Frank Golden shop (GAZETTE no.10)
THE RYE GAZETTE, 29 30.3.83 - page 4
After Ryesingers' latest successes (front page), we thought it would be of interest to publish some notes kindly given to the GAZETTE by Mrs. Winifred Bodilly and Mr. Geoffrey Goddard of Cadborough Cliff, both of whom write from their own experience of music in Rye in the days before the Second, and indeed the First, War.
Mrs. Bodilly is of course the daughter of Mr. Sprigg Walker, who is still remembered with great affection and respect by his remaining pupils. She tells us:
"Many people of today have no idea of what went on in the music way in Rye during the early 1900s. Mr. Sprigg Walker was then Headmaster of the Boys' School and organist of Rye Parish Church, and in his time, the Choir regularly sung an 8 am Eucharist once a month. Recitals of music also took place in the church, and Lady Maud Warrender, whose country residence was Leasam House, was always very interested in all that happened in Rye. She and her brother, the Earl of Shaftesbury often used to sing at these recitals, she having a lovely contralto voice and he a beautiful tenor voice.
"The Rye Choral Society was formed, Mr. Sprigg Walker being the conductor, Mrs. Howes (the Wife of the then Vicar of Rye) secretary, and Mrs. Dacre Vincent the accompanist. There was a splendid orchestra which accompanied the works being sung. Lady Maud Warrender often brought the soloists from London. Every Good Friday sacred cantatas were sung by the church choir, which consisted of about 20 boys or more, and at one time three solo boys, and about a dozen or more men, some of whom also sang solos. Special services and cantatas were sung by the choir on Good Fridays, Easter, Whitsun and Christmas.
"The Monastery then belonged to the Church (bought with money collected from a bazaar which was held each afternoon and early evening for a week in the old Agricultural Hall, with plays, tableaux, displays and stalls of every description). The Sunday School was held there, also the Choral Concerts, and the Rye Players there performed many Gilbert and Sullivan operas. These Were conducted in the early days by Mr. Sprigg Walker, but later by Mr. Frederick Bodilly, who had come to live in Rye after the war. Mr. Bodilly, whose special instrument was the violin, often played it at the recitals in the church and at concerts in the town.
"During the 1914-18 War, Mr. Sprigg Walker arranged a carol-singing party, singing round the town and in some of the country districts. The money - £400 or more - was collected for the Soldiers and Sailors Funds.
"After 1933, Mr. Bodilly formed the Rye Ladies Choir and the Male Voice Choir. Miss Isobel Baillie and also Miss Marcia van Dresser came to sing with the choir at one concert. The Male Voice Choir not only sang in Rye but visited villages around, singing their many part-songs."
Mr. Goddard's grandfather was a sign-writer and inscribed the original lists of Mayors in Rye Town Hall, a tradition continued by his father and later - but, he says, with less skill because he was trained as a plumber - by Mr. Goddard himself. He remembers singing under Mr. Bodilly's baton:
"I first sang in the Methodist Church Choir when 17 years of age and participated in choral works given every Good Friday. The conductor was Mr. Pierce Pettitt of Iden, who I Understand was a self-taught musician and violinist. He was always carried away by the music, and on one occasion fell off his, platform and landed amongst the orchestra. The Church was always full on these occasions and, after it was razed to the ground by a German bomb, the Easter Recitals were given-in the Sunday School" (the present Church). "As the years progressed the Choir was augmented by members of other churches - Rye, Rye Harbour, Winchelsea and Rye Baptist. Mr. Jim Foster took over as conductor; he also formed the Methodist Choir, which was very fortunate in having many excellent voices. Two instantly spring to mind, Sylvia Soan, contralto, and Joan Button, soprano their rendering of "All in the April evening" was always superb. The choir went from strength to strength, and we were always giving concerts and helping numerous charities. I was also a member of Mr. Bodilly's Male Voice Choir, which numbered about 25, and we were always in demand, as was the part-song "Comrades in Arms". Mrs. Bodilly was the pianist. Oh, to turn the clock back!"
THE RYE GAZETTE, 30.3.83 - page 5
Royal British Legion members from six counties will be sponsoring Chris Ashbee, of Military Road, when he runs in the 26-mile London Marathon on 17 April. The race starts in Greenwich Park and takes a very circuitous route to Westminster Bridge, which Chris expects to reach 2 hours and 49 minutes later. Such certainty can only come from a very experienced runner such as Chris now is, and although he is being sponsored per mile, there cannot be anyone who will not expect him to complete the run, barring accidents; the interesting part is whether he achieves his predicted time. At Westminster Bridge to cheer him across the finishing line will be a coachload of local supporters from Rye Branch of the RBL, on whose behalf he is running (he is an Associate Member) for the Poppy Day Appeal. RBL Chairman Bob Bowler tells us that there are sponsorship forms in many of the town's shops and pubs, and they will welcome non-Legion sponsorship for a local man running for an extremely worthwhile cause. Further information from Bob Bowler (Rye 223145) or Bruce Palmer (Rye 225316).
Thomas Peacocke School's Old Scholars Association holds its Annual Reunion at the Mermaid on Friday, 8 April. People will be arriving from 7.30, and there is a short AGM at 8 before the social side of the evening begins. Mr. Will Dunlop says that this year they particularly hope to see people who left between 1962 and 1965 (inclusive) whether or not they normally come to reunions - it will obviously be a pleasant opportunity to meet contemporaries after many years, and worth a special effort. This year, too, those who left in 1975 will be especially well received. The Association has found that this "band" invitation system has been very successful, which is not to say that all old scholars, of whatever vintage from Stone Age onwards, are not most welcome as well.
It seems a bit far ahead to be talking about May 1984, but the Association is already planning for a reunion at Bedford for all those who were evacuated there between 1940 and 1944. Forty-years-on from 1940 saw a very successful reunion in Rye; now the Association is going to celebrate the school's return to Rye by meeting at Bedford. Organisation at the Rye end is in the hands of George Roberts (Mayellen, Sea Road, Winchelsea - Rye 226544), and he will be glad to hear from anyone who was at Bedford with the school, whether or not they are likely to come to the reunion. Do please pass on this information to any Old Scholars who may have lost touch with the school over the years - by our reckoning, the people concerned will all now be somewhere in their fifties.
The Old Scholars covered themselves with glory, despite horrible weather, when they played the school recently and won 5-1 at football and 4-0 at mixed hockey.
Thomas Peacocke Upper School welcomed Mrs. Pam Corbett and her son Andrew on Friday afternoon, when Mrs. Corbett was one of the judges of the third-year drama competition for the John Corbett Cup. The original starters in the contest had been whittled down to four for the final, on the theme of "Power” which they treated in very different ways.
We unfortunately missed the first play - something about an atomic device to blow up Hastings? - but much enjoyed the sad little tale presented by Mrs Spencer's form about two tramps who came only temporarily into money. "The Good, the Bad and the Sidney" was a morality play in a school setting; and the final play, "Power", was the one that got the laughs. Mr. Gaunt's helpful discussion of the good and bad points of the plays was something to be remembered for future productions; and it is certain that John Corbett himself would very much have enjoyed the afternoon of (as it happened) his birthday.
Mrs. Corbett presented the Cup to Miss LaPorte's form for “The Good, the Bad and the Sidney" and Craig Coleman and Robert White shared the prize for the best producer, while Andrew Toole as Sidney was adjudged the best actor (with his grandparents, quite by chance, there to witness his success). Awards for encouraging individual performances went to Michael Scriven and Stacey Bradshaw, while sharing the prize for best script writer were Peter Thompson, Patrick Lovell, James Sinden and Philip King for "Power”.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 30.3.83 - page 6
A large, intent and appreciative audience at the FE Centre on Monday wandered with Alan Dickinson along the roads and lanes of the area to the north of Rye, a hundred years and more ago. Alan originally started his collection of photographs, and then slides, with just Playden, but it expanded to Iden and Rye Foreign, though he pointed out interestingly the way that Iden remained a self-contained village for a long time, while Playden was becoming a desirable residential neighbourhood even before Sir Reginald Blomfield developed Point Hill. Military Road, however, used to have quite an industrial tradition, with a lime kiln and a brickworks, and several wharves - one slide showed Pollard's Wharf, now nothing more than a half-forgotten name but then full of boats. There was a brewery where the tennis club now stands, and a golf club beyond Saltbarn; the inconvenient slope to the ground may have led to its fairly swift demise. New England Lane in around 1900 was a built-up and well-frequented route to the marsh, the ferry at the bottom of the steps being the only way of crossing the river until Monkbretton Bridge was built in 1893. There were fascinating pictures of Leasam House before it was, literally, enveloped in the present Blomfield building; and the staff who served the Curteis family there would have been extremely surprised to know that their faces and indeed their names were recalled to an audience a hundred years later! Space does not allow more details; but anyone who missed the talk would be well advised to catch up with it next time Alan can be persuaded to show his slide collection.
Although a recent exhibition in Hastings did not concern Rye in theory, so many of us use the town that we thought a note about it might be of interest. The Borough Council is proposing a long-term and major redevelopment scheme for the town centre as well as some of the outlying parts; the scheme hinges on whether the cricket ground can suitably be moved to Summerfields, and they have to convince both the Trustees of the ground and the Inspector conducting a public enquiry into the project.
Five developers have submitted plans for the cricket ground, for shops of various sizes, buildings of various heights and assorted car parking arrangements; at least one is proposing to demolish the existing Queen's Parade and start again. If the plan goes through, other alterations would be made in the town centre. A pedestrian precinct is proposed for the Memorial area, plus Wellington Place as far as Woolworths, Robertson Street as far as the United Reform Church, and Cambridge Road as far as the Post Office. Three roads instead of the present seven would meet at the Memorial, and a new one is planned to run from the far side of Wellington Square alongside Woolworths down to the sea front, with Wellington Place pedestrian again from there to the fountain. Another new road would link Cambridge Road with Robertson Street, cutting through roughly where the wool shop and the fish shop are now. The present one-way arrangements would be extensively altered. A second multi-storey car park is planned for the present Post Office car park facing the cricket ground, and another shopping development for the decaying gas-works site at the top of Queen's Road. George Street in the Old Town would become pedestrian, with other alterations at that end of the town.
The cricket ground development, if it goes through (and there is considerable opposition), is likely to take the best part of ten years to complete. But the road changes have to be made beforehand to cope with the increased traffic. The Council hopes to attract national ‘names’ ‘not at present represented in the town - British Home Stores, Mothercare, Richard Shops, for instance; they say that if the big shops come, more people will do their shopping in Hastings and the smaller shops will benefit as well. Rumour has it that Boots are interested in the empty Tesco store; if so, they might make room in the town centre for somewhere to-buy just a couple of grocery items without having to queue for twenty minutes in Sainsburys! And at least the advent of a little competition might mean that at last we could get a better Marks.
(Hastings people are being asked to fill in a questionnaire with suggestions; a popular one, apparently, is that there should once again be a memorial at the Memorial - never mind what to, just any memorial!)
7.
To Gordon and Sheila Stanbridge of Udimore, and also of Rye Police Station and Rye Model Laundry respectively - who celebrated their Silver Wedding on Tuesday, 29 March, 25 years after their wedding in Northiam Church.
To Christine Sealy, of Broad Oak, who was among recent London University graduates presented to Princess Anne, the Vice-Chancellor. Christine, who gained a Second in English last summer, hopes to teach primary school children after she has completed her training. Her parents had a busy day, because the same evening her brother Douglas returned on leave from his second tour in the Falklands, where he was able to contact Ian Townsend and his family.
Mr. Suker, of Pottingfield Road, tells us that our two recent congratulatory references to Martyn's success in television have been hopelessly inaccurate. We are very sorry to hear this and hope to have an absolutely correct story later.
After last week's issue, we found ourselves far from clear about Rye's imminent political standing. So, prompted by Sir Brian Batsford, we contacted Mr. Owen Porter, the Hastings Conservative Agent, who has explained the whole matter.
First of all, what is absolutely clear is that until the next election Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine remains our MP, and anyone requiring help at that sort of level should continue to get in touch with him as before.
What is happening on 1 April is that the Rye Conservative Association joins the Hastings Conservative Association to form (not surprisingly) the Hastings and Rye Conservative Association. This joint Association will meet in Hastings on 29 April to adopt Mr. Kenneth Warren as prospective candidate for the Hastings and Rye constituency. On 15 April, as we said last week, Mr. Warren will attend the AGM of the Rye Conservative Association at the Town Hall - but in an unofficial capacity, since he will not be our MP nor even at that point our prospective candidate. It will still be nice to see him, however, taking the opportunity to meet Rye voters.
Mr. Porter gave us some interesting figures. At the May 1979 General Election,
the Hastings electorate of 57,699 voted 21,300 Conservative, 12,392 Labour and 6,474 Liberal, plus a few hundred votes for non-serious starters. This gave Mr. Warren a majority of 8,919.
The chunk of the Rye and Bexhill constituency which is being merged with Hastings includes the following parishes: Fairlight, Guestling, Pett, Three Oaks, Winchelsea, Winchelsea Beach, Icklesham, Rye Harbour, Rye, Camber, East Guldeford, Iden and Rye Foreign. The total electorate of this area is about 9,000.
Obviously these 9,000 votes will be spread in at least three directions, and we may find ourselves with a much more interesting and close-fought General Election next time than we have enjoyed for very many years.
We made a few enquiries about which of the basic shops and services will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday (as far as we know, Saturday and regular Sunday morning openings are as usual) - apologies if we have left anyone out:
Woolworths opens on both days. Horrell’s are open for sales and prescriptions on Friday from 11 to 1, and Boots on Monday from 12 to 1.
Food shops - Spar opens both mornings, and at mid-morning on Friday offers a gateau-tasting from its new freezer range. Liptons opens on Friday morning only. The Freezer Centre opens all day Friday until 6 pm. The Dairy Shop will be open on Friday morning, possibly Monday too. Jempsons at Peasmarsh are baking on Friday and will be open all that day. Mills, the Cinque Ports Street greengrocers, will open on Friday morning. The Fish Shop in The Mint will open midday on Friday, midday on Sunday and all-day Monday.
Trains and buses both run a winter Sunday service on Friday, Sunday and Monday.
For trains, this means every two hours from 10.11 to Ashford and from 11.12 to Hastings. Buses consist of four each way on the 550 route to Hastings (main road).
8.
Thursday 31st - W I Market – Comm. Centre 10
Monday 4th - Coffee morning and sale, Cancer Relief, Red Cross Centre, 10 to 12
Tuesday 5th - FRAG talk "Society on Parade" (Mark Girouard), Town Hall, 8
Thursday 7th - National Trust talk "Railway Architecture" (G.A. Buck), CC, 7.30
Friday 8th - Old Scholars AssociationvReunion, Mermaid, 7.30 (see page 5)
Saturday 9th - Coffee morning and sale, Rye Bonfire Boys, FEC, 10.30
Tuesday 12th - St. Mary's Annual Parish Meeting, Town Hall, 7.30pm
St. John Ambulance are having a stall at Rye Market on Thursday, 7 April, and will be grateful for any white elephants left at 7 Bankside!
Last week's coffee morning at Udimore, for Muscular Dystrophy, raised £64.
Staff and girls of Saltcote Place joined last week in a farewell to Mr. Brian Nettle, the boarding house's retiring caretaker, when the Headmaster of Thomas Peacocke School presented Mr. Nettle with a carriage clock. Mr. Nettle, who has been at Saltcote for six years, is now setting up in business on his own as a painter and decorator and can be reached at Rye 223445.
Best of luck to Gary Bourn of Udimore Road, who will be playing with the Sussex U.19 team at the England Schools Festival in Skegness at Easter (soccer)
We are so sorry to hear that Mr. Richard Synnott's house in Wish Ward was damaged by fire on Saturday evening; but very relieved to know that neither Mr. Synnott nor his guide dog were at home at the time.
All good wishes for a successful season to Rye Town Model, open this week for the summer.
The Town Clerk reports that from 6 April his office at the Town Hall will be open from 8.30 to noon and from 2 to 4.15, except on Tuesdays; when Mr. Baker is not available, the Council's new clerical assistant Mrs. Scammell will be on duty.
The Rye Citizens Advice Bureau tells us, arising from our recent reference to new invalidity benefit regulations, that there is good news for some, since the Budget has done away with the "invalidity trap". From November of this year, anyone who has been on an Invalidity Pension together with rent and rate rebates can change over to Long-Term Supplementary Benefit, which is higher, without needing to be on the lower ordinary Supplementary Benefit for a year first. Please pass this on to anyone you know whom it may concern.
Planning: Fletcher's House are applying for permission for an external fire escape (at the back of the building) in connection with their recent successful application for a drinks licence.
Anyone who has noticed that the front room of 47 Ferry Road appears to be a hospital for rocking-horses may be interested to know that Mrs. Jane King is building up a stable of them – stripping them down and repainting them to their original splendour. She tells us that she is always looking for more (wooden ones) and will be glad to hear from anyone with one to sell - Rye 224861.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office. It is published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 94 Udimore Road, Rye (222303), who is always glad of news items for inclusion - deadline Monday afternoon, 9 am on Tuesday for dire emergencies. The GAZETTE will cost 25p weekly from 13 April (no issue on 6th) and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday.
Photocopied by Sussex Secretarial Services, 11 Claremont, Hastings (0424 422633).