For the third year in succession, the GAZETTE wishes all its readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We are most grateful to the people at our pick-up points: Bas Laurent of Cadborough Stores, Hazel Hammond, the Vicarey family at the Freezer Centre, Steve Denny at Penny Royal, Janet Webb at the Tuck Shoppe, the bar staff of the George Hotel, and perhaps extra Also to specially to Veronica Briggs of Squirrels, our one retail outlet. the Midland Bank; to Geerings of Ashford who service the photocopier; and 8 not to all those who have helped us gather in the news over the past year, forgetting the invariably helpful staff of Rother Council in Rye, Bexhill and Battle, and the Bexhill office of ESCC's Highways Department. There will be no GAZETTE next week nor the week after; issue no. 113 will appear on 9 January. £3 subscriptions are due now from those whose copies are not ticked; they should be paid either before 21 December or after the 30th, but if possible not in the intervening week when the office will be closed. Cheques payable to THE RYE GAZETTE, please, or cash in an envelope with your name and delivery address on it.
Those who went down to The Grove on Saturday morning to learn more about the proposed Sports Centre came away rewarded. The suggested site was pegged out on the playing-field, leaving a gap between the three houses at the school end of the road and the end of the building. In the hall was a model - now on view in the window of Freight Express-Seacon opposite the Town Hall of the type of building which could be provided. This particular version was produced by Record, a Yorkshire firm whose representative produced sample building materials and showed slides of the different stages of construction. It was designed for heavy use and minimum maintenance, and was felt by the steering committee to be an affordable compromise between the traditional type of construction for which there would now not be enough money, and a plastic-roofed hall which the committee had seen else- where and shunned. They have a figure of £150,000 in mind as likely to be avail- able from Rother and the Sports Council jointly, and for this sum a building of the type shown could be erected - 18m x 30m (with scope for extension later if required) x 8.25m to the apex of the roof.
Suggestions already made for use of the Centre include indoor tennis, hockey, icket, five-a-side football and bowls; badminton, table-tennis and squash; basketball and volleyball; snooker, pool and darts; weight-training, exercising and keep-fit, aerobics, judo, sauna and sun-tanning; trampolining, a climbing wall, roller-skating/dancing and even "ice"-skating (on a plastic surface). With suitable equipment all these could, we were told, be accommodated in a hall of the type shown though not, of course, simultaneously! - and interest was expressed by devotees of some of the sports in providing the necessary equipment.
For people unable to come to the exhibition, a questionnaire is available at the Council Offices, and the replies will help the committee to assess the amount of support for the project. Sports Club secretaries, please note - but these are intended for individuals too.
Over £90 was raised for the equipment fund in the course of the morning.
Every year in mid-December the verger at St. Mary's, Geoffrey Bateman, carries out a remarkable piece of research into the contents of the church's visitors' book. He lists all the homelands of the people who have signed it, with the number from - a list far too long for us to reproduce here. The total number of signa- tures in the book during the last year is 19,312, a thousand more than the year before; the total number of territories, 144, is also greater. We feel sure that Mr. Bateman will be happy to show the full list to enquirers at the Rye Bookshop.
2.
Tragedy struck a Rye family on 11 December when Mr. Philip Woolley was among the victims of the fog disaster on the M25. Mr. Woolley, a lorry-driver for Messrs. J. Alsford, was 35; he and his wife Wendy (nee Wilkinson) lived in Henley Close. There is the deepest sympathy in the town for Mrs. Woolley - who is expecting a baby in a few weeks' time - and her two children, and also for Mr. Woolley's parents - who live in Peasmarsh - and the other members of his family.
Mrs. Winifred Southerden, of King's Avenue, died suddenly at her home on 14 December; she leaves a widower, a son and a daughter.
Mr. Geordie Jones, who died peacefully in St. Helen's Hospital on 13 December, was 83. Mr. Jones leaves a widow, a daughter - Mrs. Anne Swaine of Fishmarket Road - and a grand-daughter.
Mr. Charles Barden, of New Winchelsea Road, died in hospital on 15 December; he was 73, and leaves a widow.
Mr. Stanley Boots, who was 77, died in Rye Hospital on 16 December, leaving a widow and two children.
We are so sorry that owing to a misunderstanding we said last week that the late Mrs. Catherine Norman of King's Avenue left a widower; Mr. Norman died some years ago.
George Hotel manager Adam Terpenning is very anxious to get in touch with someone who left a message for him at the hotel last week. Mr. Terpenning's red Talbot Horizon car, parked in Lion Street on the morning of Friday, 14th, was damaged in an incident with a delivery lorry belonging to Messrs. Tibbett & Britten. The caller had seen what happened and was offering to be a witness; but the phone number he left must have been misunderstood, since Mr. Terpenning has been unable to contact him. Please will he - or anyone else who witnessed the accident - get in touch with Mr. Terpenning at the George Hotel as soon as possible? Rye as it was a rather special view
Local recipients of one of ESCC's two official Christmas card designs this year will have been pleased to see that it shows a Rye scene - Lamb House as it was before the Garden Room vanished, with snow on the cobbled street and the roofs. There is, it turns out, more of a story to this than ESCC knew. We happened to remark on the card to Sir Brian Batsford, who is of course the National Trust's tenant at Lamb House. He looked thoughtful, not to say amused, and asked who the artist was. The picture, a quiet watercolour, was signed Brian Cook. And Brian Cook is the name which Sir Brian used as a painter before a seat in Parlia- ment and other commitments took up most of his time.
Brian Cook worked for Batsfords, his mother's family firm, throughout the 1930s, designing over 200 book jackets for them and for other British and American publi- shers, and contributing illustrations to the company's English Heritage series - specialising in a colour process by which (we quote from the catalogue of the 1983 Arts Council exhibition at the Hayward Gallery "Landscape in Britain 1850-1950") "the brilliance of colour achieved became widely familiar as the trademark of the Batsford Books on Britain". He was elected a Member of the Society of Graphic Arts in 1933, and of the Society of Industrial Artists (of which he is now a Fellow) in 1936, and was awarded a Diploma at the 1935 Paris Exhibition. He designed various travel posters, and was responsible for the complete layout of books by, for instance, Oliver Messel and Cecil Beaton.
The Lamb House picture, however, is quite recent; Sir Brian painted it as a Christmas card design for the National Trust, who offer it in their main catalogue (though it was not among those chosen for sale here by the local Centre). ESCC has made the same card available to Councillors and staff, and Mrs. Yates tells us happen that a County Council uses as a card a picture by one of its ratepayers of that it has received a lot of very favourable comment at Lewes. It can't often
the house he lives in!
- 3- THE RYE GAZETTE, 19.12.1984
Two of Rye's most distinguished citizens - who happen to be next-door neighbours in Church Square - celebrate their birthdays over the Christmas holiday. Alec Vidler will be 85 on 27 December (and this might be the place to recall that at a recent meeting in the Community Centre he spurned the microphone used by earlier speakers and was nonetheless heard with perfect clarity at the very back of the large hall.)
Patric Dickinson will be 70 on Boxing Day, and BBC3 is celebrating the event with a birthday programme at 6.15 that evening, recorded recently in Bristol. As his wife Sheila says, this is not the most convenient of times; but people who know the poet and his work will find a way to listen
Tributes were paid at Rye Magistrates' Court last Wednesday to Mrs. Mercy Whitehead of Guestling, who retires from the joint Battle and Rye Bench at the end of this Mrs. Whitehead has been a magistrate for just over 24 years; she was Chairman of the Rye Bench in the days before its amalgamation with Battle, and She has also has been Chairman of the joint Bench for the past three years. Her served on four other bodies in her capacity as a Justice of the Peace. cessor as Chairman is to be Mr. Howard Peck of Catsfield. Among those expressing their appreciation of Mrs. Whitehead's long service to the community were Deputy Chairman Mr. J.H. Jury, the Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. M.J. Read), Chief Inspector Dyson for the Sussex Police, prosecuting solicitor Mrs. Fay Wright, and the Probation Department.
(And for those who had noticed Mrs. Wright's name in recent court reports, and had wondered - yes, it is the same Fay Wright who has played such an effective part in recent staff plays at Thomas Peacocke School, where her husband Gil teaches.)
We were very glad to see, last Thursday evening, that both the High Street light by Adams and the middle one on Hilder's Cliff were working again (GAZETTE no. 111) maybe they were also on earlier in the week, in which case we maligned the ESCC contractors. However, the entrance to Cyprus Place is still (on Monday, anyway) in darkness, and this was reported three weeks ago; perhaps a third lamp post on the corner is required? As the poet said in quite a different context, the road is at present "black as the Pit from pole to pole" - the other pole being by the lway, offering no help to those coming into the darkened street from the bright lights of Wish Street.
At Rye WI's AGM on 12 December, Mrs. Margaret Cobbold was re-elected President, Mrs. T. Hodgson Secretary, and Mrs. J. Freeman Treasurer. The Secretary's report outlined a successful and interesting year: the start of a new drama group, darts and scrabble contests, coffee mornings and jumble sales, trophies won in Craft and Produce Shows and money collected for the RNLI and the Maldives appeal. Miss Ivy Phillips won the cup for the most points gained during the year. Four Branch members have celebrated their 90th birthdays since last year's meeting! The Treasurer reported on a healthy financial position, and the meeting closed with carols and a reading of John Betjeman's "Christmas" by Mrs. Clark.
Rye Library is looking very cheerful with pictures and cards made by pupils at Playden, Freda Gardham and Tilling Green schools. The staff are always willing to exhibit pictures by children at any time of year, whoever brings them in- school, parent, or the proud artist in person!
Readers who want something to do over the long Christmas break may like to be reminded that the jig-saw library can offer a wide range of puzzles, all available on ordinary library tickets. The Library is open for the rest of this week.
For Rye, the big application before Thursday's planning committee was the supermarket plan. This was approved, subject to no fewer than 15 conditions (an average application has four or five at most). The Councillors were considering an amended plan which showed rather more detail than the one on view in the Council offices; we understand that the amended one will be available there soon for people who want to check up.
Some of the conditions were the usual ones about advertising, landscaping, not cutting down trees, drainage, road and path surfaces, access for disabled people, roofing materials, etc.; and it is stipulated that the entrance pillars of the station approach shall be retained. But the Council wants more details about pedestrian use of the site: footpaths, crossings, barriers, etc., serving both the actual supermarket and the station, car parks, loos and bus stops. It also wants an assurance that the car and coach park between the railway and the market will be built first, before the bus garage or anything else; and moreover, that if it is to be a paying car park then payment must be on exit and not on entry (to avoid the sort of situation which arises in Ferry Road on a summer Thursday). This park will have access to Rope Walk; in and out for cars, but exit-only for coaches who will of course have to cross the north-bound carriage-way on their way out (except perhaps for the occasional optimist who hopes to take his fifty passengers out via Dead Man's Lane!).
Other Rye applications dealt with were change of use for Crown Fields from car park to builders' yard (connected with the supermarket application and relating to Ellis Bros), granted; a sunblind for Casa Conti, deferred for design improvements; Seawitch Marine's moorings, granted subject to Highway and SWA conditions; altera- tions to houses in The Grove and Udimore Road, both granted; a new kitchen roof in Watchbell Street, granted subject to no objections from the Historic Buildings Commission; and change of use for the station flat, granted subject to there being no objections within the statutory period. (All these decisions are still in craft only, and the applicants will of course get it in writing from Rother.) The Anglia application for 89 High Street was deferred at the Society's request.
It was not in their press release but was postered at Hastings Station: weekend return tickets, normally available for use only over one weekend, can be used at more or less any time over the Christmas and New Year holiday between 21 December and 3 January. BR are also scrapping all the time restrictions on Awaydays, etc., over the holiday period. Check the details, though, when you buy your ticket. and (perhaps) later Michael Dearing of the Transport Users Group has been told by the Area Manager's office at Ashford that the possibility of an extra evening train on our line will be under consideration when the timetable for the Region generally is revised again in May. Since main-line train times are to be altered anyway, this wouldn't necessarily be the 6.20 as such restored to us; but the complaints do seem to be getting through (see GAZETTE no. 108). And our commuting correspondent was told that in future the 6.43 from Ashford is supposed to get to Rye regularly by 7.15; but when we tried to check this officially with Ashford, everyone concerned was in conference, so it is a case of waiting and seeing. If they are going to change our regular train times again in May, let us hope that they tell Thomas Peacocke School in good time for any school timetable changes to be made - not only for pupils who use the train, but for the vastly greater number who cross the line to the buses. Results
Both Rye Sea Cadets and Rye Playgroup were well pleased with the results of their Christmas Fairs on Saturday. In the morning, the Sea Cadets raised about £250 at the Community Centre; and in the afternoon Father Christmas helped the Playgroup raise £234 N. Bettley of King's Avenue won the well-filled Christmas hamper. The previous week, the NSPCC coffee morning at the George Hotel made £388, and the Hill House League of Friends Christmas Bazaar at the Town Hall about £140.
5.
Enquiries in the town's main shopping areas revealed the following opening hours over the Christmas and New Year holiday; we could not of course list everyone, but have tried to cover those whose wares might be urgently needed. There is nothing binding about the list, we hasten to add anyone can change their mind depending on the weather and the number of customers about. (Other Christmas closures were listed in the last two GAZETTES; and the dustman have the whole of Christmas week off, but will be working normally on New Year's Day.)
Those who, like the Editor, welcomed the handrail on Conduit Hill will not object to the arrival of another plaque in the town, since it marks the fact that the rail was provided in 1984 by the East Sussex Association for the Disabled and ESCC.
The plaque, on the wall near the top of Conduit Hill, is very appropriately placed, since it was made by Denis Townsend of Iden Pottery just below it and shows that side of Conduit Hill. So this seems a good place to mention two new lines intro- duced by the Iden Pottery recently, one is a range in a most unusual opalescent glaze, achieved by the use of ground not mother-of-pearl - which sounds an 11scen The othmost mediaeval concept (though Denis does not do the grinding himself!) a cross-Channel venture: a series of Rye plates by an Anglo-French artist, Robin Kildea, who lives at La Fertée-Alais outside Paris. Robin paints each plate him- self, as a watercolour, and they are fired at the pottery on the Strand - as are others with French scenes, exported to their home ground for sale. Iden Pottery will be having an exhibition in France arranged by Robin in April, when the mother- of-pearl pieces will be prominent among the work on display.
shepherds supported the lovely final tableau at Freda Gardham School's nativity shepht of angels - there must have been thirty of them - and a full flock of play began to assemble at the foot of the stage there was much reassuring waving and relieved recognition between actors and audience. Smaller siblings watched virtuously or explored the back of the hall or simply slept throughout; parents looked taut, grandparents beamed.
But once the play began, everything turned very professional. Mary and Joseph, Gabriel, the Innkeeper, the Kings and the animals in the stable all played their traditional parts, with the story helped along by carols from the heavenly choir under its small choir-mistress - conducting angels and audience alike with great enthusiasm. Equally enthusiastic was the cymbalist of the percussion group which supported Mrs. Baldwin at the piano.
Both actors and audience thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon, and Mr. Le Lacheur thanked the mothers who had made the costumes - also the staff, and in particular Mrs. Baldwin, who as well as coping with the nativity play had also had musical responsibility for the carol service and the previous evening's entertainment by the Juniors.
Thomas Peacocke Lower School's carol concert on Thursday was a very pleasant occasion, much appreciated by the parents and friends who packed the hall. As well as music from the choir and carols in which the audience was invited to join, young instrumentalists at various levels of skill performed; we really ought not to mention names, but four were outstanding. Angharad Bowman and Helen Menzies- Sacher were extremely competent on the clarinet and flute; Richard Treloar, not very large, played the cornet with the poise and panache of a professional bandsman; and Graham Slack's piano solo clearly marked the start of a musical career. The readers were Julie Hunter, Michael Clark, Loraine Charman, Trevor Hogben and Julian Humphries. The music was directed by Mrs. Bush, with Mr. Spooner at the piano. PTA members served coffee after the performance, when the school's Christmas tree - given by a parent, and only about six inches shorter than the hall - was much admired. The collection was divided between Hill House and Lower School music fund.
A presentation at the Rye Majorettes' Christmas Show at the Community Centre on Saturday marked a successful year's fund-raising by Mrs. Wilkinson's young ladie Representatives of the Rye Harbour lifeboat crew were very pleased to receive two gifts for the new Lifeboat House: a barometer and a pair of binoculars. Life- the barometer will boat Secretary John Barnard had been consulted beforehand; match the office's existing clock, and he hopes to have a plaque on it recording the Majorettes' generosity - though a plaque on the binoculars would be difficult!
The show, compered by the entertainment manager of Romney Tavern, New Romney, where the Majorettes perform regularly during the summer, included a display of baton- twirling and other dancing and sketches by the girls, with some striking costumes.
Rye Racers entertained 160 local old-age pensioners to a sit-down Christmas meal at Thomas Peacocke Upper School on Sunday: roast turkey, carrots, sprouts and roast potatoes, followed by mince pies and cream and a glass of sherry; John Sperring of Jempsons provided the birds, the George Hotel the potatoes, and Andy Thomson of Longs 200 mince pies, with the school kitchen facilities used for the final heating-up. The Racers had a lot of helpers, but are specially grateful to TPS caretaker Bob Choate and his wife. Entertainment was provided by the Ashford Accordion Band, and dancing became the order of the evening before guests were taken back to their homes by Graham Trill of Camber and various private cars.
An extra £42 went into the Racers' kitty as the proceeds of a raffle for a giant teddy, given by Fran White after she won it in the George Hotel draw.
7.
Congratulations to Peter Austin, Sussex Express editor and once its Rye reporter, who is to be the new Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of the Senews Group (which includes the Express and the Hastings and Bexhill Observers among its titles). Editor of the Express will be the present deputy editor, Lee Pateman.
An unusual report to Rother Council came from its Chief Environmental Services Officer last week. He expressed his appreciation of the efforts of his staff in dealing with the effects of the storm on the night of 23/24 November and the disposal of the 45' Lesser Rorqual whale washed up dead on Bexhill beach - and we are glad to say that the Council heartily endorsed his view. (The removal operation was, we hear, not very nice at all...)
Some thirty Peasmarsh people had a night out with Paul McCartney not long ago. The superstar not only invited friends and neighbours in the village to the London premiere of his new film, but supplied a coach, rooms for his guests to change in in a very exclusive hotel off Whitehall, a delicious buffet meal before the show, and refreshments for all tastes in the coach on the way home. It is not every village where ordinary residents can boast of having been out with Paul McCartney until two in the morning!
The new lifeboat house at the Harbour is almost finished; the builders, Eldridge & Cruttenden of Hastings, hope to have the remaining outside work the access ramp, grilles to prevent people getting underneath via the outlets left for the tide, and so on - all completed before the end of the year, weather permitting. The inside decorating will be done by the lifeboat crew and supporters during the next three months.
As construction progressed, Rye Harbour residents were increasingly taken aback by the size of the building; the structure itself is raised on stilts because of the tide, which makes it much larger than people realised when they first looked at the plans. But doubtless the RNLI will make good use of all the space, which includes a small office for the SWA and a souvenir sales area, as well as improved crew quarters and of course room for the new larger lifeboat and the landrover which tows it. The new boat, when it comes, will be an all-the-year-round model, but Colin Marsh is not sure whether it will arrive in time for the start of the new season in April or whether the old boat will be back for a while first; she is anyway off service now for the winter.
As for the money, £9,000 has been raised locally around £1,000, Joan Parkes tells นค in one week which included the Mayor's teddy-bear rally and the RNLI coffee moning. The original estimate for the building was about £34,000, but this has been reduced by the generosity of local firms. Readers will already know that in return for the office space, Southern Water Authority built the foundations, and Messrs. Le Fevre, Wood & Royle made no charge for doing the plans. Now Colin Marsh tells us that Alsfords have given the timber; Eternit, a building materials firm from Royston who have a depot at the wharf, have given the roofing materials; and Long Products of Harbour Road are providing some of their own hard-wearing floor-covering. And there may well be other donations on the way. Mr. Marsh adds that the local appeal still needs some £7,000 (the difference is being made up from a legacy which the RNLI has assigned to the project); but he sees every prospect of this being raised before too long.
After reading our recent story about the three "Mary Stanford" lifeboats, Laurie Band says that the lifeboat in his slide show must be to judge from the clothes - pre-1881. What he would love to have is a picture of "Mary Stanford II", the Rye Harbour boat, but the only ones he has seen were taken after the disaster. If anyone does have a photograph, postcard or even an "artist's impression" of her as she was in life, please contact the GAZETTE or Mr. Band at the Rye Harbour Garage, as he would be most grateful for the cam of it to make a slide for his collection. (We would like to send one to loan Ballycotton, too.)
Thrift Shop, Red Cross, 10.30 to 4 (and Friday and Saturday) Carol Service (nine lessons and carols), St. Mary's, 6.30 Carols by Candlelight, Baptist Church, 6.30
Midnight Eucharist with hymns and carols, St. Mary's, 11.30 Midnight Mass with carols, St. Anthony's, 11.30
Holy Communion, St. Mary's, 8
Mass, St. Anthony's, 9 and 11
United service for members of all churches, St. Mary's, 10.30 Thomas Peacocke School recent leavers evening (1979 onwards), Queen's Head
Watchnight service, Baptist Church, 11.30
Vidler & Co's monthly auction sale, 10 Term begins
FRAG talk, "Conservation of British Butterflies" (Dr. John Feltwell), TH, 8
Next issue of the GAZETTE
Rye WI meeting, FEC, 7
• Congratulations to Andrew and Zena Gaunt of St. Leonards on the birth last Sunday of their first child, Trevor Charles a first grandson and fourth grandchild for Zena's parents Mr. and Mrs. Peter Batcheler of Cooper Road.
• Rye Firemen are once again helping out Father Christmas with his deliveries on the morning of Christmas Day. bour, Winchelsea, Winchelsea Beach, Playden and Iden to deliver parcels left They will be escorting him round Rye, Rye Har- at the Fire Station between 10 and 5 on Saturday and Sunday (22nd and 23rd) and from 1 to 5 on Monday (24th). Labels cost 25p for firemen's charities.
• Mrs. Sheila Barton is appealing on behalf of the Meals on Wheels service for drivers and "mates". Those who could help and it is a regular (but not three-times-a-week) commitment should contact Mrs. Barton at Rye.
• A special football match takes place on the Cricket Salts on Sunday afternoon (23rd) - kick-off at 2. Rye United (Old Union Boys) are playing the Pipemakers' Youth Team. Refreshments will be on sale; they will, we are told, be some- thing out of the ordinary - and all profits will go to charity.
• The Swiss Patisserie in Cinque Ports Street will be closed for three weeks from Monday 7 January, reopening on Monday, 28th.
TVS were about in the town again last week, this time filming in preparation for a new series of "Country Ways" to be shown next autumn.
• Planning: apart from the two Anglia applications (GAZETTE no. 111), only one for Rye - from British Telecom for change of use for the old phone exchange in Eagle Road, to light industrial use.
• A police press release about their cycle safety campaign shows that they are still concerned at the state of many cydes checked at roadsides and in play- grounds - especially the lights. Parents and indeed adult cyclists - please note.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, and published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye (Rye 222303). News items for inclusion are always welcome - deadline Monday afternoon, Tuesday 9 am for emergencies. The GAZETTE costs 25p weekly, and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points Wednesday (but not the next two); some spare copies of the current issue are able at Squirrels, 9-13 Cinque Ports Street, and back numbers from Cyprus Place. Copyright Mary Owen 1984.