Really good news from British Rail for both commuters and occasional London day- trippers! When the summer timetable takes effect in May, the problems about our evening trains from Ashford look like being resolved.
The 17.43 from Ashford to Hastings will continue to run. But instead of the next one being the 18.43, always late away because of waiting for other connections, there will be an 18.16 (through to Bexhill) to connect with the fast train from London. The dilatory 18.43 vanishes, and is replaced by a 19.06, the extra 20- odd minutes giving plenty of time for all the later connections to arrive at Ashford. It will still get to Rye at 19.30 - which has all too often been the time the present 18.43 arrives, carrying some passengers who reached Ashford soon after 18.00.
The next train after the 19.06 becomes the 20.02 (nicely timed for the 18.55 down) followed as at present by the 21.02 and the 22.02. The morning trains from Rye to Ashford remain the same, and we have the draft lists for morning and evening services from Ashford to London and vice versa; if anyone would like to consult them they are welcome, but the list is too elaborate to set out here.
We repeat that none of this happens until May, but it is something to look forward to - and how nice to know that BR does take notice of local complaints, eventually!
The RAF Association and in particular its Rye, Battle and Bexhill branches are not pleased with Rother Council.
Each year in mid-September (to coincide with the Battle of Britain commemoration) the Association holds its Wings Appeal nationally - and indeed internationally, since it has 61 branches abroad. The money raised (L700-plus from the Rye Branch in 1984, nearly half of this from the street collection) goes towards the upkeep of two homes for ex-RAF personnel, as well as pensions and other help for those from the Service who are in difficulty - it is, in fact, the equivalent of the Poppy Appeal for the British Legion. Like the Legion, the local RAFA branches had flag-days during Wings Week for years (for at least twenty years as far as the Rye branch is concerned). Now all three branches have been told by Rother that this year their flag-day gets the chop.
Street collections are the preserve of Rother's Staff and General Purposes Committee. Nothing had appeared in the minutes, so we rang Rother. It seems that all applications are considered by a sub-committee of S & GP, and that this sub-committee has the power to carry out its decisions immediately instead of referring them first to the full committee (which meets on 6 March). Hence, after the sub-committee's recent meeting, the letter to the RAFA.
We were told that one factor taken into account, when an organisation is dropped from the list, may well be that it has had a collection for many years. But when the NSPCC applied for the first time for a flag-day last year to mark its Centenary Appeal, it was also refused. What, we wonder, are the criteria on which the sub-committee makes its decisions?
Certainly the implications of this particular decision are extremely worrying, and not only to the RAFA. If Wings Week is vulnerable, so presumably is Poppy Day. And what about regular local events such as, for instance, Tuesday's Pancake Race - or Bonfire Night?
Perhaps it might be possible for this decision to be reconsidered by the full Committee at its 6 March meeting?
2.
Rye's grand old lady, Mrs. Edith Peek, died on Friday (8th), four days after her 101st birthday; she had been in hospital since a fall at her Fishmarket Road home earlier in the winter. Mrs. Peek was born in Essex and met her husband Leslie when she came to Rye Harbour to help her aunt at the Inkerman Arms; they were married in 1908 in Winchelsea Church, and she lived in the Rye area ever since. Her husband died 40 years ago and her son, also Leslie, lives in London, but her grandson Robert came back as a lad to live with her in Rye and she has been known as "Granny Peek" for as long as many people can remember. Talking to the GAZETTE for her hundredth birthday, Mrs. Peek made good use of her excellent memory and almost perfect hearing, and Robert tells us that she retained her faculties to the end of her life, greatly enjoying her 101st birthday celebrations at St. Helen's last week. We were all very proud of our centenarian, and are sorry she has left us; the funeral will be at Playden Church on Friday (15th) at 11, followed by burial beside her husband in Rye Cemetery.
Mr. Jim Lancaster, of Rye Harbour, died very suddenly and peacefully at his Tram Road home on Saturday. He was 64. He had worked at Rye Solvents in Harbour Road, the firm with which he came to Rye some 20 years ago. Mr. Lancaster leaves a widow and one son. The funeral will take place at Hastings Crematorium on Monday (18th) at 10.30.
£176 has gone into the Rye Racers' bank account after Saturday's auction sale of the Chad Coleman caricatures at the Bedford Arms. The Racers are most grateful to Mick and Mary of the (ueen's Head, and to Gerry and Jackie of the Bedford Arms, for making possible this very successful evening, and to Joan Parkes who ran the raffle. But the star of the evening was undoubtedly Colin Stutely of Vidler & Co who managed to get over from Hastings despite the weather, and who conducted the auction with his usual professional expertise. Even Colin, however, failed to sell eight of the pictures, which are still open to offer via Gus Gale.
At the ATC's prizegiving at Thomas Peacocke Upper School on Friday, much apprecia-tion was expressed for the help received by the Squadron from parents and supporters. Both Ray Fooks, chairman of the Civilian Committee, and Squadron Commander Chris Bell - and indeed Wing Commander Blakeborough who had come to present the awards ¬paid tribute to the adults behind the Squadron (the only school squadron in Sussex). But they would like to see more parents of present cadets among the supporters as well as those who had backed them for many years. £1,000 had been raised to buy materials for repairs to the range, which is now back in use. Flt Lt Bell thankea the staff and senior cadets for their support, and also the chairman and the secretary (Jean Kemp) of the committee. He said that during the year 18 cadets had had the chance to fly Chipmunks at Brize Norton, 10 flew gliders, and the Squadron had eight shooting days on various ranges; they had done well in shooting contests, aircraft recognition tests and athletics, and had of course had regular Monday and Friday training throughout the year.
Certificates were awarded as follows: (1st Class Cadet) Rachel Menzies-Sacher, Jason Kind, Lynda Brown, Jane Groome; (Leading Cadet) Daniel Ivimy, Nicola James, Toni Lee, Mark Fairhall, Geoffrey Groves, Ruth Scammell; (Senior Cadet) Beth McDonald, Geoffrey Groves, Mark Fairhall, Angela Marshall; (Staff Cadet) Beth McDonald, Frank Roscoe, Simon Snashall. Rae Bark received a Certificate of Appoint¬ment as a civilian instructor.
From a table covered with shining trophies the John Larkin Cup went to Maurice Sargeant, the Headmaster's Cup to Simon Hunt, the Peter Mitchell Cup to Beth McDonald, the Parents' Cup to Stephen James, the Junior Cadet Cup (for the best senior cadet) to Beth McDonald, the French Autumn Shield to Stephen James, the Bell Aggregate Cup to Edwin Donald, the Bell Trophy to Andrew Starling, the Gibb Cup to Geoffrey Groves, the Fit Lt Thompson Cup to Graham Vincent, the Endeavour Shield to Simon Snashall, and a cup with a Latin name which we failed to catch went to Andrew Starling. The presentations were followed by refreshments and an opportunity to ee some of the work done by the Squadron during the year.
3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 13.2.1985
Despite the fact that most of the town's pavements and some of its roads were covered in thick ice on Monday, police and fire brigade said that, touch wood, traffic accidents had so far been only minor bumps and slithers not needing to be officially reported. Both the recent calls for the Fire Brigade were to chimney fires. We would like to think that the RESH casualty department was equally relaxed, but if the Hastings pavements were anything like ours we doubt it!
A cautious prowl round the top of the town - positively terrifying going down Traders Passage - to see what conditions were like on Monday morning did produce one pleasant surprise. Recently arrived on the Watchbell Street lookout are two seats, one given by the Mayor in memory of his father Kenneth Breeds and the other by the Mayoress in memory of her grandmother Mrs. Amy Leggett. Quite apart from their convenience as seats, they solve the problem of drivers failing to notice the mini-bollards round the lookout. No-one could possibly have any excuse for backing into the Mayoral seats - indeed, the penalty would probably be a clout from the Town Sergeant with one of the big maces!
Out of all Rye's tea-shops just one has been chosen for inclusion in the 1985 Egon Ronay "Just a Bite" guide: Claude and Janet Auberson's Swiss Patisserie at 50 Cinque Ports Street. The Guide refers to "this agreeable little Swiss-owned patisserie and tea-room a popular place with locals and visitors ... colourful display of home-baked delights". Janet has no idea who the original inspector was; the first they heard was when they received a form asking them to confirm that information about prices, etc., was accurate - and even then they weren't sure whether the patisserie would be included until the guide actually appeared. (There are two entries for Winchelsea, none for Battle, and only three for Hastings of which two are in the Old Town; so it is clearly choosy.)
It has been a good week for the Aubersons; following planning permission for change of use to offices for their old shop at 6 Cinque Ports Street, they have now exchanged contracts on its sale.
Rye Harbour village, according to the 1985 Electoral Register, has an adult population of 240. It also has a Rye Harbour Lifeboat Supporters group, and in the past year that group has raised over £900 'towards the cost of the new lifeboat house.
A cheque handed over in July put £500 into the main building fund; and they have collected just over £kOO more, which will provide a radio-telephone - its most e.eTensive and vital piece of equipment - when the time comes.
We asked Mrs. Barbara Morren-Wilkins how they had done it? Apart from one big event in the summer which produced over £200, it has all been in smallish sums, the Proceeds of - for instance - a dog show, and of coffee evenings which are both popular and lucrative at the Harbour where many people are at work during the day.
Rye Harbour has always been a close - not to say closed, in the old days - community with a considerable involvement in lifeboat affairs; but it also has its own WI, its own Social Club, and plenty of its people are active supporters of the Nature Reserve as well. Certainly not a sleepy little village, but one deserving most respectful congratulations on this astonishing figure of almost £4 per head from its entire adult population!
We understand that the builders are not yet quite finished at the lifeboat house, and after that the crew are making themselves responsible for the fitting-out inside; but Lifeboat Secretary John Barnard tells us it will be operative by the end of March when the present lifeboat goes back into service, though the full opening will take place much later in the year. The Appeal is still some thousands of pounds short of its target, and Colin Marsh (Harbourmaster's House, Camber) will be most grateful for further donations from individuals or organisations.
4.
4 On Tuesday, 13 May, in a garden off Rope Walk, there was a charity event. Local amateur talent delighted the audience with piano duets, songs and recitations, and Mr. John Butler of Hastings showed his holiday slides of Belgium and Holland. There was a refreshment stall, of course, and though nothing is said about a raffle there was probably one of those too. We do hope it stayed fine, but if not the attractions were to be transferred to Conduit Hill. We are sorry it has not been possible to ascertain the amount of money raised.
A bit late, aren't we? Surely the proper time to report this would have been May?
In fact the proper time would have been May 1902, when the event was arranged "in aid of a debt on the YMCA Rooms". The garden was that of the late Councillor Bowen (who died in 1900), and was lent by kind permission of Messrs. Ellis Bros. The chair was taken by W.T. Smith Esq., (who had an auctioneer's and valuer's business in Station Approach and lived in Market Street). Mr. Butler really did show his holiday slides - but by the magic of "oxy hydrogen lime light" at dusk. Admission was 6d (children half-price), and the wet-weather venue was not then known as the Community Centre but as the Congregational Church Assembly Room.
We are much indebted to Mrs. Meldrum of Ferry Road for the loan of the handbill advertising this Promenade Concert, which was found by the builders working in Ellwoods in Market Road where it had slipped down behind something more than 80 years ago. Of course there is no way of comparing standards, but the type of entertainment offered has not changed a bit: think about Rye Players' popular variety evenings, or the slide shows given to local groups each winter...
Although none of our readers is very likely to remember the concert, the performers may well have continued to entertain for years, so we give their names: Miss Godden, Miss Hull, Miss Marie Haydon, Miss Parkin, Miss B. Standen, Mr. W. Peplow, Miss Easley, Mr. Ashenden and Mr. Duckering - and Mr. Long, who rather unexpectedly performed a Selection on the Fairy Bells! "The Choir" (unspecified) also sang.
We had been puzzling over Councillor Bowen's garden until a chance conversation with someone who now lives in it answered our question: it was, of course, where Eagle Road is now, and the present houses were built by Ellis Bros in 1903, so this may well have been the last occasion on which the land was used as a garden. Councillor Bowen had owned the Eagle Brewery and lived in Eagle Square. His sons and daughter moved to Magdala House in Ferry Road (still undemolished this week despite the pre-Christmas scaffolding). As for the YMCA Rooms, they were in the High Street and were open from 6.30 am to 9.30 pm, the subscription being one penny weekly - no wonder there was a debt on them...
• A very much more ambitious entertainment took place at the Monastery twelve years later, on Tuesday (presumably even then early closing day), 9 June 1914. Billed as a Garden Fete and Sale of Work, it was opened at 2.30 by Mrs. Freeman of Greyfriars, who was thanked by Mr. Walter Dawes and Mr. Frank Jarrett. There were eight stalls, and the "packing and parcels office and messenger bureau will be superintended by the Boy Scouts". There was an exhibition of Indian curios in a tent, arranged by Mr. James (could this be Henry James?), a"cocoa-nut saloon" under the management of Mr. Tom Golden, and an invitation to guess the weight of the Vicar (the Rev. Arthur Plumptre Howes). At 3.30 there was a Grand Afternoon Concert upstairs in the Monastery, given by the Magpie Vocal Quartette. Teas were served between 4.15 and 6, and were followed by a dramatic entertainment, "Pipkin's Rustic Retreat". This was "arranged" by Mr. Thomas Bushby, and the names of the cast will be familiar to many readers: Mr. H.E. Franks, Mr. Guy Allen, Messrs. Chas. and Jas. Gasson, Mr. N.I.P. Dunster, Miss Clara Allen, Miss Winnie Masters and Miss Mildred Road. After this there was a Programme of Dances from >9 until midnight: two-steps, quadrilles, lancers, veleta, valse and a final cotillon, "Fairy Dream".
The programme cost 2d, but it was very good value and thoughtfully designed. All the local businesses advertised, each with a short verse relevant to the trade pursued (probably written by one of the committee rather than by the individua shopkeepers). For instance... (continued...)
5.
Old gents and young, as well we ken
Are very much beholden
To the large stock, for boys and men
Of Clothier, Frank Golden
A nice fresh sole, a tender eel
From Martin's you will find
Will make a vegetarian
Completely change his mind.
Frank Jarrett suppliers
All a Housekeeper buys
In Bacon, Provisions and Cheese
If you want to know more
You must go to his store
And he'll serve you with just what you please!
McEntee has bought Colebrooke's "Beer"
You'll find him in the Strand.
This beer McEntee's bought will cheer
Though of the Temperance brand.
Who'll build a tiny cot for me
In Rye or Romney by the sea?
Ellis Brothers!
Who'll lay the drains, connect the mains,
And roof my cot against the rains?
Ellis Brothers!
When Nature takes back what she gave
Who'll lay me in my cosy grave?
Ellis Brothers!
And buildings yield to "calm decay"
Who, then, will clear my cot away?
Why - Ellis Grandsons!
(There are over fifty like that!)
This event was organised to pay off a loan of £430 from Lloyds Bank used to buy the ground to the north of the Monastery, which then had "at the south-west corner a small house for the caretaker, at the south-east a picturesque thatched summer house, and the central part, laid down in grass, forms a good tennis ground".
(All this is now the Cinque PortsPottery's yard and car-park.) On that June day just before WWl, for a total of about 25p in various admission charges, patrons were continuously entertained from 2.30 until midnight; indeed, those were the days!
• We have good news for ladies who have, for months not to say years, been inconvenienced by the apparently closed "Ladies" at Rye Station. It seems that the loo has not actually been closed, but merely kept locked because of vandalism; the key was always available from the ticket office on request.
We discovered this when a reader complained to us about the situation, and British Rail at Ashford revealed all. In fact, there was work needing to be done to the floor and cistern, and the btilders were working on it last week; by the time we printed, said BR, it should be finished. And it was; a delighted correspondent g us on Saturday to say that there were actually ladies waiting decorously in the ladies' waiting-room and that the ioo was not only working but accessible.
As for the key (if it is normally to be kept locked) BR agreed that a notice recording its availability would be helpful, and one is to be put on the door forthwith.
• The same invaluable correspondent mentioned that there were no lights in the new Station Approach phone boxes, and since they are tucked away out of range of the nearest street lamp it was very difficult for people wishing to phone after dark.
The boxes were installed early in October, and British Telecom told us that they had been waiting ever since for Seeboard to connect up the wiring! First Seeboard said they would do it by 28 November (a good six weeks after the boxes were moved anyway, and well into the dark-evenings time); then by 9 January; but still no lights "and even now there was no firm date" said British Telecom sadly on Thursday.
We rang Seeboard at Eastbourne, who said that the problem had been due to a great deal of sickness among its staff both before and after Christmas, plus a lot of faults needing urgent attention. However, the lights were definitely to be con¬nected on Monday, they said - and indeed, Seeboard staff were working there on Monday morning, so by the time you read this the boxes should be lit at last.
6.
We have now been able to see a copy of Councillor Menhinick's sub-committee proposals to the Town Council about parking. (See GAZETTE no. 116.)
The sub-committee had as its terms of reference "to make an examination into the possibility of the reduction of street parking in Rye to improve the environment and to make the town more pleasant for the ratepayers of the town". Its conclusion was "that piecemeal measures would be both inadequate and self-defeating, therefor Draconian action. was required to meet the case". (We looked up "Draconian"; i means "harsh" or - less probably, we hope, in this context - "relating to the code of laws of Draco, a 7th century BC Athenian statesman, which prescribed death for almost every offence"!)
As well as the recommendation about banning daytime street parking within the boundaries of the old town walls, there are four more: that the town car parks, both existing and future, be landscaped; that all existing road traffic signs be scrapped and those considered necessary outside the town wall boundary be replaced with a uniform and planned design concept; that the Strand area be developed to attract tourists (with shops, landscaping, etc.); and that ESCC be consulted urgently to implement the foregoing on the basis of its published "Rye Central Area Plan and Conservation Area".
A working paper attached to the report refers to the ugliness of parked cars, vane and car parks. It seeks to attract "a more discerning and affluent type of visitor" (but Paul McCartney shops here now, and by all accounts you can't get much more affluent than he is!). It aims at "increasing the convenience of the local shopper" (though it is not clear how, if it means that people from the villages have to carry their shopping down to the far side of the railway). It says that the traffic wardens should work at weekends; that present road signs in the town are confusing; and that the present haphazard parking restrictions are likely to lose trade to the town.
ESCC's "Rye Central Area Plan" was published in the early 1970s, and rejected by the Borough Council of the time. It happens to give the result of a 1970 parking survey within the Citadel area, where there were on average 130 vehicles parked, with a maximum of 150. If, as the sub-committee now says, "space for car parking in Rye is close to saturation point", lihz the proposal to eliminate perhaps 100 of these parking spaces (assuming that the remainder would be occupied by cars owned by residents)? And, incidentally, are residents' cars better-looking than those of non-residents? - because if not, what improvement to the look of the streets would residents-only parking confer?
The report urges that the matter should be taken to County level. In fact there is nowhere else it could go, since ESCC Highways Department is responsible for all road signs and street parking. Off-street parking is the responsibility of Rother, which - as we have recorded in recent issues - is trying its hardest to provide extra car parks on the land beside the railway.
As for feedback from our original story, one councillor 'tells us that details were already leaking out - in which case it probably was better (as with the bypass proposals) that they should be made thoroughly public rather than a matter of rumour and counter-rumour. One reader who would love to see the streets free of parked cars (and has told us so before in connection with the Church Square rest¬rictions) says that not all car owners are crippled with arthritis; most of them do have legs like the rest of us, they just don't like using them - and they don't like paying for car parking if they can find it for nothing. We eass on her view.
A shopkeeper with experience of trading in another (larger) town which "went pedes¬trian" was more optimistic than we were about special delivery arrangements. He said that suppliers there did do as they were asked and delivered before 10 am. He also suggested what has been talked of in Rye before, a delivery warehouse on the edge of the town where goods could be left by suppliers and taken round to their owners in a van each morning first thing; or, alternatively, that drivers should be made to leave their lorries in a given place and deliver by trolley - though we doubt if this would work here, if only because of the hill!
7.
• David Arscott of Radio Sussex tells us with some amusement about the arrangements which the local radio station is making to set up a studio in Rye - in effect, a small interview room with a rather special phone line to the main eastern-area studios recently orened in Eastbourne. It will be tucked away in a corner of the Town Hall which the police vacated quite some time ago in favour of more convenient quarters; it will, of course, be soundproofed; and in consequence anyone talking to Radio Sussex from Rye will be doing so from - wait for it - a padded cell!
• John Clark, of Kings Avenue, referring to last week's bypass comment from a Church Square reader, says that "they would have known what noise was if they had been there in 1942/3/4, with a bofors gun in the Gun Garden and on West Watch lookout, machine-guns on all the flat roofs, and the 4.7 ack-ack guns just over the Harbour Road. The doodlebugs weren't quiet either!"
• Once the Local History Group has recorded all the WWI memories still extant, it could perhaps turn its attention to WW2; the Rye of those days became so utterly different from the town as it was in the Thirties and as we know it now - suddenly ceasing to be a historic backwater and turning back, after some six hundred years, into a front-line defence position.
The Group's next meeting, incidentally, will be at the Library on 21 February at 7 when Peter Smith of The Strand will talk about the art of indexing.
• As we reported last week, Anglia got their planning permission for Millers; and we hear now from the Regional .:anager.that they are as pleased as Rye is that the problem is solved. The Society's office is expected to move up the road in the middle of this year, probably during June; they do not expect to close for busi¬ness at all, but hope to carry out the move during a weekend - presumably almost literally, since the one-way High Street means that vehicles going from no. 88 to no. 92 have to drive right round by Cinque Ports Street!
Peter-Salt, Anglia's Estates Manager, adds that the affair was not such "a small matter" for the Society as we said last week; but anyway, large or small, it is a happy ending.
• Sue McGrath's winter adult education series at the FE Centre resumed last week (they decided, wisely, not to hold January meetings). There were four sessions of the late mediaeval history course still to come after Christmas, and the first has of course already been held; the second is tonight; and the other two are on 27 February and 6 March (after the half-term break). Subjects still to be covered are "Mediaeval man and the Church" and "The changing role of the mediaeval woman". Af"--r Easter, Mrs. McGrath is planning a series of evening excursions to late mediaeval buildings (manors, churches, etc.) in the area.
Pre-Christmas students are reminded that the course is now continuing; new members are welcome to come to the last few classes, paying only for those they attend.
• Rye and District branch of Mencap has enlisted another marathon runner, Robert Carter of Guestling, who has a son at Hill House School and who is running in aid of the branch in the Seven Sisters Marathon, Eastbourne, on Saturday 23 February. Vickie Piper will be carrying around a sponsor form in her handbag - but for any¬one who fails to encounter her there will also be one at Squirrels in Cinque Ports Street. The money raised will go to the branch's 1985 project - a minibus, no less (there's ambition for you!).
The branch's playscheme opens at Hill House School during half-term week, and the committee would be glad of any volunteers to help with the children: 9.30 to 12.30 on Monday (18th), Wednesday or Friday. Either phone Mrs. Piper in advance or just turn up. Even if you can only offer an hour or two, she says, they'd still be delighted to see you.
Full marks plus bonus points to Rye Post Office, who last week delivered to Joan Parkes in Bridge Place a letter posted the previous evening in South Devon. It was addressed to "Mrs. Joan Burke, Rye, Sussex" - and Joan has been Joan Parkes now for 12 years and has moved house four times during that period!
Blood transfusion service, Baptist Hall, 2 to 4, 5 to 7.45 (but before 6.30 if possible, they say)
St. John Nursing Cadets, Grand Prior Presentation and Enrolment, CC, 7.30 (any ex-cadets or others interested will be most welcome)
Museum Association, "Theatrical Influences on European Ceramics" (Kate Dayson), FEC, 7.30 (GAZETTE no. 117)
Rye Town Council Bequests Committee party for old age pensioners, CC, 3.30 to 6.30
Half-term week
Rye Town Council special meeting, TH, 6
Pancake Race, High Street, 3.30 (see below)
Thrift Shop, Red Cross Centre (handing-in only), 10.30 to 12.30 Neighbourhood Watch meeting, CC, 7.30 (despite our best efforts we have no more information than just this - sorry!)
• The Community Centre Association holds its annual Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday (19th). There are some half-dozen races, in a temporarily closed middle section of the High Street, starting at 3.30. At about 4,racers and watchers move down to the Community Centre for the presentation of prizes, when refreshments (including pancakes) will be available. If the weather is too bad for outdoor racing, the whole event takes place in the Community Centre.
• The five-month-old black and white kitten who lives at Winchelsea Road (next to the sluice) is missing; he disappeared last Wednesday night, and his owners are very sad. He has a yellow collar with a bell on it, and answers to the name of Max. If anyone has found him straying and taken him in, or even just seen him around, please phone.
• Our report last week on the Weslakes air-strip was inadvertently misleading. It seems that although the firm does not intend to use the proposed strip for testing engines on the ground, there is no such reassurance about testing in the air, and we misunderstood Brian Lovell on this point, which was made quite clear by David Cade, the project agent, to the News. Sorry.
• The current planning list includes an application for an extension to a house in South Undercliff, and a request to-replace an existing wrought-iron side gate at The Old Hospital in Mermaid Street by a solid wooden door.
• The League of Friends of Greyfriars holds its second AGM at the Winchelsea horn on Monday (18th) at 7.30 - all are welcome, and offers to serve on the committee would be much appreciated.
• Gordon Stanbridge of the RAF Association is thinking of running a coach trip to the RAF Museum at Hendon on a Saturday towards the end of April. So that he can assess the likely demand, he would be glad to hear now from anyone who might be interested in going.
• The Old Forge Restaurant in Wish Street has now reopened after the Bayntuns' holiday - another skiing trip, but mercifully without the various traumas tha they suffered last time. The only snag was that there wasn't, in France, as much snow on the lower slopes as skiers would have liked; it was, says Jennie, ironic that the plane home was delayed owing to snow at Gatwick!
• BR's latest press release was too late for last week's paper, so Sunday's engin¬eering works had to go unheralded; but it seems that this regular weekend fixture is starting up again, so if you are travelling by train on a Sunday - check first!
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 on Wednesday; some spare copies are available from Squirrels, 9-13 Cinque Ports< Street, and back numbers from Cyprus Place. (Copyright Mary Owen 1985).