Last Tuesday morning three youths with a chain-saw, admitted to be in the employ of Rother Council, lopped off a large part of the big cherry-tree opposite Friars of the Sack which has for many years been one of the April glories of thevtop of the town. Its snowy blossom, trailed against and through the straggly yew-bush beside it, is eagerly awaited each spring, photographed by visitors and admired by all. The Church Square resident who phoned us, and who had remonstrated in vain with the "surly and uncouth" chain-saw gang, was in tears.
The one thing that everyone knows about gardening is that you don't cut branches off a tree when the sap is rising. This tree was a mass of swelling buds, its sap thoroughly aroused. The branches removed were all healthy; one was part of the four main stems, the others were all some 4" across. Two were nowhere near the yew, but grew from the other side of the tree towards the war memorial.
Back in the winter Canon Maundrell asked Colin Hudson to do something about the untidy yew: not on any account to lay a finger on the cherry tree (which had been Mr. Hudson's first reaction) but to trim back the yew and wire the branches together to keep it in shape. Last month the matter was mentioned again, once more with the proviso that the cherry was not to be interfered with, only the yew.
It is unfortunate that the team's supervisor was elsewhere in the town on Tuesday while the work was taking place, since he might have been wise enough to order a stay of execution until he had checked with Canon Maundrell. The order to lop was given by Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Hudson's deputy; Mr. Hudson himself has been off sick for a week, but Mr. Roebuck assures us that he was quite clear from the instructions left for him that it was the cherry which was to be the victim.
Somewhere, something went very wrong; it would seem sensible that any future work carried out by Mr. Hudson's staff in the churchyard should only be with Canon Maundrell's permission in writing.
If it is any comfort, readers may like to know that Audrey Bartlett rescued a number of the budding branches for the Flower Guild to use in St. Mary's in due course.
The recent flu epidemic and its hangover of coughs and colds has suddenly made more shoppers aware of a problem which has in fact existed in the town for several years. Of our two chemists, Horrells always shuts for lunch, Boots stays open; but it is not possible to buy more than 25 aspirin or a bottle of Benylin in the lunch hour (let alone collect a prescription handed in earlier) because Boots' pharmacist - not George Shackleton, who is their dispensary has His own lunch then. Serious medicine can't be sold without him.
This makes things very difficult for people working in offices or shops, tied to a lunch-hour and often to a bus time as well. The sale of quite a number of non-prescription medicines is restricted in this way; the salesgirl is supposed to ask the pharmacist, every time, for permission to sell them to the waiting customer. If he is at lunch, she can't.
Boots' head office in Nottingham told us that their pharmacist can't take his lunch-hour from 12 to 1 (the logical solution as the town sees it) because that is the shop's busy time. Perhaps Horrells could alter their lunch-time closing, she suggested.
Perhaps they could? If so, they would earn an enormous amount of goodwill and gratitude from the town's working population (as well as visitors) who could all get their prescriptions, medicines and doubtless other things there between 1 and 2. How about it, Mr. Walker - just for the summer, as an experiment, or even next winter? We'd give you a lovely write-up...!
2.
Mrs. Sarah Jane Martin, who died at the weekend in a Hastings nursing home, would have been 103 in June. The widow of Mr. Jack Martin who died in 1964, she was born an Axell, one of 11 children of a Rye trawler skipper. She is survived by three of her five children and three generations of grandchildren, and was related as aunt or great-aunt to many Rye families; her son Philip is Rye's sea-angling champion. We reported in 1983 on Mrs. Martin's splendid one-hundredth birthday party. The funeral will take place at Playden Church tomorrow (Thursday) at 10.30.
The funeral of Mrs. Mary Milner, widow. of Dr. Guy Milner and formerly of Church Square, will take place at St. Mary's tomorrow (Thursday) at 2.
Our report of the death at Greyfriars on 29 March of Mrs. Harriet Fellows of New Road has apparently led to some confusion; we are glad to say that Mrs. Grace Fellows, formerly of Cooper Road, is still living at Greyfriars in her normal state of health.
The parade which would have preceded the St. George's Day service in St. Mary's on Sunday was cancelled owing to the extremely wet morning, but the church was comfortably full nonetheless with representatives of many organisations in the town. The standards of the British Legion and Women's British Legion, the Scouts and the Cubs, were placed beside the altar during the service; the bigger Scouts were at a patrol-leaders' camp, so the colour-parties for both groups were not very old - nor, indeed, was the Brownie who helped so competently with the collection. The Mayor, the Town Clerk and nine of the 16 councillors processed into church ahead' of the choir - who bowed respectfully to then before taking their own seats. The first lesson was read by a Ranger, Joanne Breeds, the second by her mother the Mayoress; preacher was the Rev. Mike Havill. In the course of the service Cubs and Scouts reaffirmed their Promises. Charles Proctor chose as a most appropriate closing voluntary Walton's joyous Crown Imperial music.
After the service, the Mayor invited his guests in the Town Hall to raise their glasses in the Loyal Toast. They raised them again in tribute to the Mayor himself, since it was Roger Breeds's last social occasion at which he would be wearing his chain of office; the Mayoring takes place on Monday, 5 May. (And where were the six missing councillors, we enquired? Three were ill, one never—, attends on such occasions, and the other two had family commitments; really truly, no-one had just forgotten!)
Scaffolding will soon be going up at St. Mary's so that the stonework can be repointed; the architect and builders will take the opportunity to have a closer look at the condition of the building's exterior generally. The water main is also to be rationalised: at present, for some obscure reason, it runs up into the belfry: All this was mentioned at the St. Mary's Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the Town Hall last Tuesday, when parishioners re-elected Bob Bowler and Ed Gibson as churchwardens; Joyce Clark, Simon Earl, Edward Hickmott, Rachel Sarrieddine and John Smith were elected to the PCC. Treasurer Chris Dayson presented a very satisfactory financial statement, in which the Len Stocks bequest played a useful part. Helpers would be welcome for the Sunday School, the bell-ringers and the Flower Guild.
There are 148 names on the church's electoral roll (as against some 3,500 on the town's); 14 weddings took place there in 1985 - and over 19,000 people signed the visitors' book, the report said. Certificates for long service as choristers were presented to Dennis Breeds (60 years) and Geoffrey Bateman (30 years), and an inscribed plate went to Joan Taylerson in gratitude for her years of service as Head Sacristan. Thanks were also expressed by various people to various other people who do so much for the church, and there was a hearty round of applause for Canon Maundrell at end of the meeting.
3 THE RYE GAZETTE, 23 April 1986
Most people will know that the Shops Bill which would have led to changes in the Sunday trading law was defeated in the House of Commons last week. Hen Warren voted for the Bill, which would then have been taken to a special committee so that evidence cold be considered. He had received about 700 letters ar 3,000 petition signatures; almost all the petitioners were in favour of Sunda7: trading and about 60% of the letter-writers.
"I regret the lost opportunity to clear away silly anomalies in the present he says. "I am studying what problems this will cause for Hastings and Rye. Without doubt the Councils will now be required to crack down hard on illegal Sunday trading. We are left with a real mess from the past... What changes the Committee of the House would have recommended we will never know. But the challenge is now on fm. the Churches to fill their pews with people who will not be shopping on Sundays."
Rye shopkeepers are waiting, with some apprehension, to see what happens next.
At a recent press conference called by British Rail to discuss the May timetable changes, business manager Cedric Nott told the Sussex Express that he was very hopeful for the future of the Hastings-Ashford line; he would like to get it electrified - which is what a lot of other people have been saying in the GAZETTE for some time, and the more support the better. He is also reported az promising cleaner trains on the line "and said Rye people would also benefit from improved railway services to and from Ashford".
Very nice too. He didn't mention that as from 12 May the fast 19.55 and 20.55 down trains from Charing Cross have been scrapped. Trains will leave Ashford for Hastings at 21.06 and 22.06, four minutes later than now. But passengers for them will now have to leave London 25 minutes earlier than under the present timings, at 19.30 or 20.30, and even allowing for a "slow" taking longer this still means a 25-minute wait at Ashford for the Rye connection. Clifford Foster tells us that last time the main-line times were appreciably altered, our connections were altered to fit; this time, it looks as if they just haven't bothered. "Improved railway services", Mr. Nott?
After our report of his view of a southerly bypass, Ken Warren asks us "to make it clear to your readers that when public consultation starts a number of routes will be put forward for comment ... we will have a straightforward public consultation to establish local choice of a route, or indeed of any bypass being thought to be required at all ... I have the Minister's assurance that the line of the Winchelsea bypass will not preclude any of the routes proposed for Rye."
As you say, Mr. Warren. We have all, of course, had the Minister's assurance, etc., time and time again; the trouble is that no-one here believes it:
Yesterday a motorcade was due to go down Harbour Road in the course of a visit by Lord Vinson, chairman of the Development Commission, "to see for himself just what has been achieved in the area through the injection of Government financial aid into the Rye area".
It is as well that he was also to open the new workshops at what used to be Udimore School, and to visit Winchelsea Beach village hall - because all that he would actually see in Harbour Road which was in any way associated with the RDA was the totally inaccessible footbridge sitting in detached splendour beside the road (at least, it was still totally inaccessible on Monday morning). The Hatleys tenants will, doubtless, have been happy to tell him about the doors which still don't fit, the dump which ought to be landscaping, and the quite shattering rates bill which has just come in - almost £1,000 to Pother, plus a further L200 to the SWA, for one unit with one WC and a small hand-basin: This is certainly not going to encourage other small industries to set up round here, whatever ESCC publicity may say about 500 new jobs in Harbour Road.
The appearance of Bannister's Corner has been greatly enhanced by the work which Roy Edmunds has been doing to the Ferry Road Galleries, a sparkling white setting for his modern and reproduction furniture - and also by the DIY labours of the occupants of the middle cottage in the same terrace. (The owners of the intervening cottage are said to live in Hastings - perhaps next time they come to Rye they will be inspired to follow suit...?)
The Ferryman restaurant on the other side of Mr. Edmunds' shop has recently reopened after a change of ownership. Jan and Vincent Penny, who come from Lenham in Kent, tell us that it will usually be open from 11 to 6.
Smugglers' Rest is the new name for the restaurant in The Mint which used to be called Tuckers, and Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys also expect to have it open regularly now - from 12 to 3 for light lunches and a la carte, and from 7 to 10 for dinner, every day except (at present, anyway) Sunday.
Whatever the weather for the rest of Rye Festival Week (30 August to 6 September) Rye will be sure of Instant Sunshine on the Friday, when the popular group makes its third appearance, by overwhelming public demand. As always the Festival opens and closes with concerts in St. Mary's - the Caroline Dearnley Trio on the first Saturday evening, the City of London Sinfonia on the last; the Wednesday recital at Playden Church will be bya lute and guitar duo, Robert Spencer and Dorothy Linell. As usual Ryesingers will be performing at the Festival Service on the Sunday morning. Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen enliven Tuesday evening at TPS; the Eastbourne Silver Band plays in the Gun Garden on Sunday afternoon; and right at the beginning, on the first Saturday afternoon, the historic TPS Wurlitzer gets in on the Festival fringe with Nigel Spooner at the console. Hokum Hotshots provide the Thursday folk spot, with Myeyes Myeyes on Sunday.
The non-musical (yes, there are some of us) are also catered for, with two films, poetry readings by Wendy Cope and Craig Raine, Michael Pennington appearing as Chekhov, and a busker on the Town Hall steps on the final Saturday. There will also be a programme of special children's events during the week.
Rye Hospital patients and Mencap minibus passengers will be kept warm in the winter (and the summer too, if the weather goes on like this!) with colourful blankets specially knitted for them by Rye Scouts. The sponsored knit-in which the Rye troop undertook - taught by their "Skip" Frank Dowdeswell and suggested by his wife Zeta - produced the astonishing total of somewhere over 700 knitted squares or nearly-squares (no-one was being too pernicketty about right-angles). We are not saying that the boys didn't have a bit of help from their families, but it was a Scout effort, and raised £268 in sponsorship for the troop's transport fund. It also produced five blankets and the makings of at least two more, with several knitters keen to keep right on going.
The 14 Scouts wanted the blankets to be used by local people, and on Thursday evening at the Scout Hut Lynda Pembleton of Rye Hospital and Vickie Piper of Mencap were there to be presented with their cpiforting armfuls. Miss Pemble- ton said how very pleased her patients would be to learn where the pretty blankets came from, and how cheering it was to find young people prepared to help in such a practical way. Mrs. Piper will be using the Mencap blankets for the minibus - "it is lovely to have something to wrap the children up in when they go to sleep on the way home" she said.
Specially commended was William Kirkham, who had personally knitted 105 squares, and Adam Harkins who brought in 87. Assistant Scout Leader John West's BR contacts had been particularly generous over sponsorship, handing over £105!
The Wool Shop, as well as finding the wool for further blanket squares, is collecting odd bits and pieces of wool for the knitters at Greyfriars, who are always glad to be kept busy. Contributions for either project will be welcome - any sort of wool can be worked in somehow.
5.
Viola Bayley of West Street keeps pretty quiet about the fact that she is a prolific and successful author. She writes novels for young people, which are extremely popular in libraries and schools - adventure stories which led to one reviewer describing her as "a sort of Mary Stewart for young readers".
When, some years ago, Mrs. Bayley had published two dozen books, she thought she would stop there. But she has recently spent three winters in South Africa, and it is no coincidence that her 25th book "Shadows on the Cape" (Dent, £6.95) is set in that troubled country. "Shadows" is an excellent and exciting story, full of dark mystery and suspense and with a spectacular and satisfying climax which any young teenager or indeed not-too-sophisticated adult will enjoy. But it is more than that. There is no "message" in an obtrusive sense, but Mrs. Bayley has subtly incorporated into her narrative a feeling of the background of life in modern South Africa - even more topical now, perhaps, than when the book first came out last autumn. She has, she told us, tried to be fair - and is; but grieves that for the English-language edition, which is also on sale in South Africa, the publishers made her take out anything that the South African censors could possibly object to as "politically corruptingvto the young". It seems difficult to imagine that Mrs. Bayley would write anything politically corrupting to anyone; and anyway her full text is preserved in the German edition, where the views of the South African censors are irrelevant.
"Shadows on the Cape" would make a welcome present for any young reader; for one with links with South Africa it would be really valuable. (But throw away the ghastly dust-jacket; it is enough to put anyone off what lies inside, and even the publishers were apologetic!)
Several people have been kind enough to get in touch with us to explain who the Recorder of Rye was; one of them had known the patriarchal F.W. Beney whose obituary notice prompted last week's query.
Leopold Vidler's History of Rye tells us that until 1835 the quarter Sessions of the Peace were held in Rye by the Mayor and Jurats. The Reform legislation meant that in 1837 the first Recorder was appointed to act as Judge. The Recorder was a barrister who did the job part-time, and all Recorders up to 1931 are listed by Vidler.
He also lists the Clerks of the Peace, the administrators of the quarter Sessions; they were always local solicitors and the names are very familiar. The first was Thomas Proctor, and his successors were Edwin Dawes, George Slade Butler, William Dawes, Cuthbert Hayles, Donald Jones and Maurice Jones (the father and grandfather of Sarah Jones, herself a partner nowadays in William Dawes & Co).
Maurice Jones was the last Clerk. The Rye quarter Sessions were abolished in 1951, to the great inconvenience of all those who now have to go over to Lewes for anything outside the jurisdiction of the Magistrates. The Rye Sessions, says John Smith (who used to refund the jury's expenses as part of his job) were always held on a Saturday.
Ivo Fowle, who joined William Dawes & Co in 1967 not long before Maurice Jones died, says that Rye was a very busy quarter Sessions with a full calendar right up to the time of its abolition. He too makes the point about the inconvenience of the present arrangements at Lewes, and says "I suppose this is one of the first examples of the post-war trend which has taken away from Rye responsibility for its'own affairs and placed them in the hands of people miles away from the town who lack local knowledge and, some would say, interest."
There are still Recorders at some of the Crown Courts which, in 1971, finally replaced the old structure of quarter Sessions and Court of Assize.
The last Recorder of Rye was Sir Melford Stevenson, who now lives in Winchelsea; John Smith tells us that Sir Melford is very proud of this small distinction in his extremely distinguished legal career.
There have been so many complaints that "the planning people ought to do something about" the current proliferation of gift shops in the town, that it may be as well to set out the position. If a property is already a shop, and it changes hands to become a shop selling something different, no permission is necessary (unless the new shop will be selling food). P1Prring becomes involved if the new or prospective owner wants to make a change to the fabric of the building (or to the colour of the paint, if it is in the Conservation Area). Planning is also involved if there is a change of use - from shop to cafe, cafe to office, private house to shop (readers will have noticed planning applications of this kind from time to time). However much a particular change of use is resented in the town, it is not always possible for .other to find planning (as opposed to social) grounds for refusal; if it hadn't been for the tremendous public outcry against the closure of Longs, Anglia might well have been esconced there now. This is why there is pressure from the Town Council for Rother to bring in a shopping policy for Rye, as they have for Bexhill; it won't help with the endless gift shops, but it could keep out the building societies and other offices. In fact, a report on this comes before Rother's planning committee this week; we can't go into details here because the agenda is not public until the morning of the meeting, but anyone can study the report in full from tomorrow onwards at the Council Offices.
This week's planning list shows two Rye applications, a front porch for 43 Cooper Road and a 2-storey extension to 113 Military Road.
Both the Rye Art Gallery exhibitions changed this week. At the Easton Rooms, David Hibbert and Roland Jarvis show their work; both have small sketches of nudes, but their larger pictures are very different. Mr. Jarvis shows some striking cliff-top views and clearly has an unusual approach to scenery; Mr. Hibbert's work is more difficult to understand for the uninitiated.
At the Ockman's Lane gallery, "A Cavalier in Heart" - a loan exhibition from the Guildhall - includes a number of watercolours by Sir John Gilbert (1817-93) and several large oil paintings. Gilbert was a popular and distinguished painter, and did a great deal of book and newspaper illustration - he produced 829 drawings for the Routledge edition of Shakespeare, and is said to have provided some 30,000 illustrations during his working life! The paintings on view include some of Sussex - and don't miss the view of Worcester with the enchanting little train in the middle distance.
A steady stream of visitors to the Upper School Hall on Saturday rewarded Mrs. Le Roux of the PTA and her stalwart supporters who produced such a magnificent display of engineering models - some with steam up and one even giving rides: Thanks go to the East Sussex and New Romney Engineering Clubs, Robertsbridge Aviation Society and Geoff Hunt of Fairlight; the RH & D Railway kindly sent two free tickets as a prize, though its layout is too big to transport.
Society members also acted as judges for the rather poorly-supported competitive classes - though everyone admired the two beautiful ship models entered by Mr. E.P. Pettitt of King's Avenue. It is hoped-to have another show in 1987.
Most of the modeller-stewards were middle-aged, but one who could still remember his TPS schooldays was Chris Coxon, minding the A.T.0 display but also showing his own work. Chris casts model soldiers and accessories, in beautiful and intricate detail. He turns out his armies in kit form, after spending a great deal of time on each original figure from which the mould is made; so far he has designed five models, historical and modern. Until now he has also assembled and painted the figures - he finds, rather to his surprise, .that they sell better like this than in the much cheaper DIY kit form - but he is now arranging for someone else to take over this side of the work so that he can devote his own time to casting, and to the research for new models to add to the range.
• Saturday's jumble sale at the Community Centre is intended as a starter to raise up to £800 needed to provide the smooth-surface path running beside Devonport House from Cinque Ports Street to the Centre. Originally proposed for wheelchair users, it will also be convenient for walkers who find the cobbles uneasy to the feet, and people with pushchairs and trolleys. It is hoped that there will be support, both for Ringo Chapman's jumble sale and for the project in general, from the various organisations which exist to help elderly and disabled people locally - any donations would be welcome, and just £50 from each of the eight or ten groups which spring to mind would be a big help towards the total cost. If you have jumble, it can be left at the Centre on Saturday morning (though not with the coffee morning which is being held there in aid of Community Centre funds) - they start sorting at 11. If you can't get it there yourself, collection can probably be arranged - phone Ringo in the evening.
• Two new vehicles were to be seen on Rye streets last week. The new County Rider 30-seater midibus arrived sooner than expected, after the initial delay and was obviously badly needed, since it was full on Tuesday! But as soon as the permit comes through to allow 17 standing passengers, there should be no problem. It is built on a Dennis-Lancet chassis specially to the requirements of the County Rider service, and is the first of its kind; indeed, at the week-end the minibus was back while the new one went off to a Show. It has a wheel- chair lift, and a slight problem with the step height will soon be sorted out.
• Rye's other newcomer-on-wheels is the little yellow sweeper-beetle, the Scarab Minor; this arrived on Wednesday and was soon busying itself around the town. For those who have only seen it from a distance, we would point out that it does have a ground-level brush (indeed, two) as well as the noticeable pair six inches off the ground in front which are doubtless for some special purpose.
• Congratulations to Matthew Wilkinson of Udimore Road, who has just been awarded a place in the County Under-13 Cricket squad, after attending Nets and Trials at Hove. Other players who were given awards at Rye CC's annual dinner - when the main guest speaker was Sussex CCC Captain John Barclay - were Neil Cloute (Fullerton Cup, for the most promising young cricketer), Ian Harris, Peter Thomson and Alan Stevenson. With such promising young players to add to the experienced older ones, Rye CC looks forward to an enjoyable and successful season. The William Ellis Cup for service to the Club went to Roy Bourne, of Bourne & Son Ltd. The Club always welcomes new players, umpires, scorers -- and supporters; contact Mike Thomas, Peasmarsh.
• Thomas Peacocke is one of seven East Sussex schools, four of them secondary, taking part in a three-year "Art in Schools" project which will study throughout the country the best ways of co-ordinating the teaching of art, music and drama. 40 counties applied to take part; ESCC was one of those chosen because of its already good record, and Ray Fooks tells us that this was also the reason for TPS's inclusion. Chris Rose and Margaret Marshall are the staff members acting as liaison. There will be nothing to show in the school timetable for the moment, but the Head hopes that eventually the project may lead to extra resources for this part of the curriculum.
• Richard Waters and his coaster Carrick - one of the oldest, he reckons, still in business, and not so much a "rust-bucket" as an old lady who has to be given an occasional helping hand - provided material for a fascinating study of the coaster trade on BBCZ last week. The 5-man crew, who never know from one day to another what their next cargo will be but who do know that the loss of a day's working can be serious, certainly seemed to enjoy the life.
• The Midland tells us that one of a batch of cheques for £6.90 which we recently paid into the GAZETTE account was in fact for £6 only. Prove it, we said. The marvels of modern technology, unfortunately, mean that they can't! So we have to take their word for it; and if it turns out to be your cheque (only your bank statement will know), please can we have our 90p? Aren't computers wonderful…
Rye Ratepayers Association AGM, Town Hall, 7
Coffee morning for Community Centre funds, CC, 10 Greyfriars League of Friends "nearly new" sale, with raffle and cake stall, FEC, 10.30
Jumble sale for the footpath fund (see page 7), CC, 2
WRVS Lunch Club, CC, 12.30
Local History Group (Dr. John 'Wyman of Kent University on "Posted in the Past"), Library, 7.30
• Congratulations to Bert and Hazel King of Mason Road, who are celebrating today their Ruby Wedding; Mrs. King was born a Bannister, and the couple were married in St. Mary's 40 years ago today (it happened to be Easter Saturday). Their four daughters - Mrs. Jennifer Crisford, Mrs. Marilyn Waters, Mrs. Mandy Martin, and Lorraine King with a wedding coming up in June - their six grand-daughters, one grandson and one great-grandson wish Mr. and Mrs. King every happiness - and so say all of us!
• Richard and Monica Oliver of Lea Avenue would like to thank everyone who sent cards and good wishes while Mr. Oliver was in hospital. He is now home again and doing nicely. The Olivers are particularly grateful to Mr. Gregory and the staff of the Mermaid, but the amount of support and kindness shown throughout the town has been overwhelming and a great morale-booster.
• A delighted Playgroup Committee reports that the coffee morning on Saturday brought in £185 for new equipment - special thanks to the generous donors of cakes (the stall raised £56) and the fifty raffle prizes (£72).
• We noticed two queen's Birthday tributes in the town's shop windows on Monday: Rose-Anne's red-white-and-blue display, and a family affair at Rye Tiles, where the special plate designed by Wally Cole was the background for a smart parade of model soldiers lent and arranged by his grandson Josh.
• Oh dear - it is of course a de-humidifier which works all winter at the Museum to protect the exhibits from damp. A humidifier (p. 6 last week) is the last thing they need!
• British Rail announces a Grand Gala Day this Sunday on the newly electrified Hastings to Tonbridge line - which will be fed by an hourly (Sunday) service on our line. There are all sorts of attractions at Hastings and elsewhere; details, presumably, from all stations in the area. On Bank Holiday Monday (5 May) there is a Sunday service, and on our line this means trains only every two hours (the new timetable starts on 12 May, when they go hourly on Sundays for the summer).
• Rye Town Council wasn't able to help Rother over a recent enquiry about private wells in operation in the area. We are sure Rother would like to know, all the same; does anyone have a private well still in use?
• Securely tied bundles of newspaper for Playden Church's collection may be left at St. Mary's (just inside the door near the war memorial), for subsequent removal by a public-spirited member of the congregation, we discovered; very useful if you have plenty of newspaper and no car.
• Subscribers who pass on their GAZETTE and then want to look up something in a back number are reminded that the Library has a free copy - available to the public, but kept at the desk for its own safety; just ask.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye, TN31 7DR (:0797 222303), and printed by Cinque Ports Stationers of Rye. News items for inclusion are always welcome deadline Monday afternoon (Tuesday 9 am at latest and only for real emergencies). The GAZETTE costs 30p weekly and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday. A few spare copies are available (but not on Thursdays) from Squirrels, 9-13 Cinque Ports Street, and back numbers from Cyprus Place. (Copyright Mary Owen 1986)