Twenty rafts went into the water at Strand Quay on Sunday afternoon - and, remarkably, all but two eventually crossed the finishing line at the Harbour. The winners, Rye Young Farmers Club, looked good from the start and departed round the bend in Rock Channel at a very convincing speed (the actual course took them 24 minutes). Rye Harbour Social Club came a surprising second; the balloon-decked raft looked so pretty that we assumed it was not designed for speed, and indeed it also won the Best Raft prize. Third were Hooker's Boys (in lager-ad T-shirts). The entry from the Standard was loud with music and bird-scarers, and was playing for laughs - it was judged the Most Original Raft. The Fancy Dress prize went to the hunchbacked mediaeval crew from the William the Conqueror at Rye Harbour. "Rye Baptist Church PLC - public flotation" was the apt legend at the masthead of Soul-Saver - and she certainly deserved the Youth Cup. The Wooden Spoon for the last to finish went to the Globe (the ancient Romans) - to the disappointment of the (perfectly genuine) Police and Customs raft, who had intended to win that themselves!
It was not always easy to identify the origins of a particular raft. Boots made their ownership obvious, Don Bentley was at the helm of Freight Express's desert island, the Hotel & Caterers crew (whose craft arrived at the Quay on its own wheels) were in chefs' outfits, Frenchman's Beach wore frilly paper skirts, the Saltings had a beach umbrella to keep the sun off its oarspersons - and the Sports Centre entry, perhaps overweighted by its impressive prow and figurehead, had to beach rather suddenly soon after launching. "No Worries" (apparently crewed by four pregnant lads!) and the Rye Marsh entry (green cloaks) both failed to finish. There was also an Ali Baba outfit, some piratical latecomers, a tin multi-hull with the Secretary of Rye Festival among the crew - and a rather tiresome group who took so long messing about on the slipway that they had to beg a tow to the start from the pilot launch, which was acting as transport for Miss Rye. Also on duty were the lifeboat - the first time many of us had seen the new one close up - and the Harbour launch, bearing not only the Harbourmaster's family but also the Mayor and her husband.
Proceedings at the Harbour end were very decorous, after pub hours had been cut drastically following trouble last year. Hall Aggregates kindly lent a field to provide extra parking space, and members of Hastings Lions Club came over to give their Rye colleagues a hand with the organisation. This was the first year that Lions had been involved with the actual race; the total money raised is not yet known - much of it will go to the NSPCC - but certainly the event gave a lot of pleasure to the large crowds watching, and also to those taking part, happy to make fools of themselves in a good cause.
On 23 August the Observer carried a most helpful article by its architectural correspondent Stephen Gardiner about Rye's problems with the proposed A259 route, illustrated by a splendid view of Strand Quay - "typical of the tranquil beauty of Rye now threatened by the proposed bypass which will bisect the town". This is the sort of national coverage we need, and Rye will be very grateful to Mr. Gardiner.
Ken Warren met Peter Bottomley at the end of July, and had a frank and useful talk with him. The Minister, Mr. Warren told us, is fully aware of the importance of this issue, and will himself be making the final decision; the DoT staff are unlikely to finish sorting out the correspondence before the end of this month, when Mr. Warren expects to see the Minister again for an update.
We shall report on the Action Group's traffic survey when the figures have been analysed. The coffee morning on Friday raised £62, including donations.
2.
Mr. Bernard Waters, of New Winchelsea Road and Winter's Dairies, died suddenly and very unexpectedly in St. Helen's Hospital on 18 August, aged 70. He was born in Brede, and always thought of himself proudly as a country boy; his father had started a dairy there in 1904, but on leaving Rye Grammar School Bernard was apprenticed as a tailor in Hastings. However, when war came he joined the 51st Royal Tank Regiment (Leeds), and served in North Africa and Italy; after it was over he joined his father in the Brede dairy business, extended it to Rye, and eventually took over Winter's Dairies which was then in Cinque Ports Street. He and Jeffery (nee Foord) were married in 1949, and two of their four sons eventually joined him in the business. Bernard always took a full part in the life of the community; as a boy he was a server at Brede Church under Fr. Frewer, and a member of the Brede Little Theatre; his acting talents were employed again many years later when he regularly took the part of Father Christmas for the Chamber of Trade's December celebrations. Few who were there will forget the sight of him in scarlet robes and false beard, conducting carols for choir and audience on the steps of the Town Hall. More seriously, he had been a Town Councillor (and was still on the Town Hall Road Safety Committee at the time of his death), a keen member and former chairman of the Rye Chamber of Trade, and also active in his professional capacity as a member of the National Dairymen's Association and past chairman of the Association's south-eastern region. He was President of the Movie Society, and gave loyal support to his wife's activities in this and the Rye Players; he was also a valued member of the Local History Group. He enjoyed travelling, particularly in Italy where he could practise the language learnt there in the war years, but a memorable 1985 trip took him to a Royal Tank Regiment reunion in Germany, which Jeffery recorded on film with Bernard's commentary - and with music heard again at the funeral at St. Mary's last Monday. But perhaps more than anything else Bernard will be remembered for his quiet kindnesses to a great many people over the years. Rye is diminished by his death.
Mrs. Nellie Ditcher died peacefully in a nursing home in Bognor Regis on 19 August. A long-term resident of New Road, she gave up her home when her husband Stuart died in June 1986; she had been an invalid for the past eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Ditcher had celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1985.
Mr. Bill Carey died very suddenly at his home in Udimore Road early last Wednesday morning (26 August); the funeral has taken place.
The Rev. Noel Perry-Gore died peacefully at his home in Military Road on Sunday; he was 79. An Oxford graduate (St. Edmund Hall), he studied for the ministry at Westcott House, and in 1938 became curate-in-charge of a daughter parish in Sheffield. He was there throughout the war, and was largely responsible for the building of a new church. In 1947 he became vicar of St. John's Wood in London, and remained there as a parish priest until he retired in 1972, despite various promotions offered him. He was, Stephen Ingham says, one of the great parish priests of this century, and a great trainer of priests; among his curates he numbered the present Dean of St. Paul's, the Bishop of Ely, the Bishop of Buckingham, the Bishop of St. Andrews, Sunkeld and Dunblane, and the Archdeacon of Canterbury - while as Rural Dean of Marylebone, he had in his care many of the great London churches. When he retired, Mr. and Mrs. Perry-Gore came to live permanently in Rye, where they had had a house for many years. Here he was able to give more time to painting, which had been his relaxation and pleasure during his working life; he had exhibited work in London, and two years ago published "A Christmas Sermon" - with a very brief text, and his own illustrations interpreted as woodcuts by Simon Brett. A grandfather, Mr. Perry-Gore is survived by his widow and two daughters - Mrs. Anne Short of Point Hill and her sister Felicity who lives in America. The funeral takes place at Playden Church on Monday (7th) at noon, followed by burial in the churchyard; the preacher will be the Dean of St. Paul's.
- 3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 2 September 1987
On Saturday afternoon ten days ago a charming group stood outside the south porch of St. Mary's: three minuscule bridesmaids in white broderie dresses with pink sashes, ballet slippers and flower baskets were clustered round their grandmother, waiting for the arrival of their bride. Victoria, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Denis Breeds of Udimore Road, was married to Paul Hurd of Bournemouth, and the service was conducted jointly by Canon Maundrell and Victoria's newly-ordained brother Christopher. Victoria wore a simple Twenties-style white lace dress, calf-length with a scalloped hem, and a wreath of white rosebuds; her bouquet was of pink and white roses. The bride's mother was in a black-and-white silk dress with poppy-red hat and accessories. The little bridesmaids were Victoria's nieces, Christopher's daughter Anna and Rosalind's daughters Hannah and Rachel Bryan. The reception was at the Hope Anchor, with seven of the eight Breeds children present (Julian phoned from Australia); next day they all went over to East Grinstead to hear Christopher preach. The planned honeymoon in Spain had to be cancelled at short notice - and on the way back to Bournemouth, where the couple will be living, they had a Chinese meal and Victoria contracted food poisoning from it! However, she has now recovered and starts a new job with British Telecom in Bournemouth next week; Paul works in Poole.
That afternoon's second wedding was between Tina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Care of Udimore Road, and Bill Davey of Camber - both ex-TPS pupils, for whom the school hall must have held memories during the reception there. Tina's dress was charmingly demure, a white brocade crinoline dress with a train, high neck, long full sleeves and a big bow at the back; her billowing tulle veil covered her face in the traditional manner as she arrived at the church. Her sister Donna was her chief bridesmaid, in pink; the two younger bridesmaids, in yellow, were William's sisters June and Karen - and Tina's bouquet was of pink and yellow flowers mixed. A fourth bridesmaid functioned part-time: Alice Cooke, not quite 2, is the little girl whom Tina looks after, and although she was doubtful about taking part in the ceremony she justified her white satin dress by posing for the photographs afterwards. Mrs. Care was in a shell-pink suit, with navy accessories. The guard of honour, complete with stout-looking bats held high, was from Beckley Stoolball Club of which Tina is a member. The honeymoon in Spain has been postponed for a couple of weeks so that Tina can celebrate her 21st birthday with her family and friends. The couple will be living in Camber.
Sharon Oliver, escorted by her father, arrived at St. Mary's for her wedding to Christopher Fitzsimmons on Saturday last week in an open carriage drawn by a sturdy white horse (who attracted much attention from visitors as the carriage waited outside the Town Hall during the service). Sharon, the daughter of Janet and Allen Oliver of Cyprus Place, wore a white tulle crinoline with puff sleeves, lace mittens and a shoulder-length veil held in place by a tiara of tiny flowers and pearls. Her three bridesmaids - Tracey Fitzsimmons, Anna Savagar and Hayley-Anne Paddock - were in dresses made by the bride, with little pink hearts on a white background; Sharon's bouquet was also heart-shaped, while the bridesmaids carried pink flower balls. The reception was at the Community Centre, and the bride's mother had done the catering and made and iced the cake - and still managed to look elegant in pale apricot silk and a white feathered hat. The honeymoon will be spent in Yugoslavia, and Mr. and Mrs. Fitzsimmons will live in Deal - Christopher works as an import-export clerk in Dover Docks, and Sharon (who has been in the Rye office of solicitors Rootes & Alliott) hopes to find a secretarial job in Dover or Deal once she has got the house to her liking.
Two other recent weddings will be of interest to Rye people, though neither took place here. Barry Fuller, formerly on the staff of Thomas Peacocke School, was married to Janet Glazier of Guestling on 15 August, with a reception at Leasam House (catering by Derek Baker); and Carol (nee Marchant) and Chris Howard, both formerly of Rye, were married in Hastings on 10 August.
4.
Meeting Paul Kennard in the town last week, we took the opportunity to catch up with Mascotte's movements since she left Strand Quay earlier this summer. She is now in Gosport, but is about to sail for Villamoura in Portugal, where she will spend the winter; we shan't see her back in Rye for some time, since Paul plans to charter her in the Mediterranean next spring. Since leaving Rye, Mascotte has sailed some 3,000 miles, visiting south-coast and south-west ports; a private charter took her to the Channel Islands, and she came second in the Round-the-Island race (Isle of Wight) Old Gaffers class. She will be leaving England from Falmouth (having taken on board provisions and the ship's cat) within the next ten days if the weather is right, crewed by Paul and his brother-in-law Stephen Arkley. Mrs. Kennard will join them after Christmas, when the sale of the Rope Walk fish-shop has been completed (it is hoped that it will continue as a fish-shop, still run by people with their own boat).
A high point in Mascotte's summer was her return to Newport in Wales. She was built there in 1904 and worked as a pilot cutter in the Bristol Channel until 1927. Paul had managed to contact a Newport resident, Tom Cox, whose great- grandfather had commissioned her; Mr. Cox, a fifth-generation Channel pilot, joined Paul as she sailed home, and it was quite an emotional moment for them both. They had good coverage from the local media, and Paul now has a promotional video (VHS) which he will gladly lend anyone who would like to see the boat in all her glory - particularly anyone thinking about a charter, of course. He can be contacted for a further week or so, until he sails, via Mrs. Kennard on Rye 223994, or call at the Rope Walk shop (not Mondays).
Jean Greenhalf at Rye Library has been asked to prepare a brief history of it for a visit by ESCC's Library and Records Committee in the autumn. She has the early minute-book of the local Management Committee, but the minutes secretary was not writing for posterity and a good deal is not actually said.
The building which houses the Library was built in the 1870s, on the site of the recently-incinerated Red Lion Inn, as an infant school; the older girls were taught in what is now the FE Centre next door, while the older boys went to Mermaid Street (now the Boys Club). Except for children who went on to the Grammar School (which moved down to The Grove from the High Street in 1908, when it first took girls), this arrangement continued until not long before WW2. Then the County Council erected first the New Road school (the Secondary Modern, which took both boys and girls) and then the Ferry Road primary school to which all the under-12s went (Tilling Green was not built until after the war, with the rest of the estate). Rye "went comprehensive" in 1968.
So the Lion Street premises were apparently empty from 1938 or so, when the Infants moved to Ferry Road. The Library was not opened until June 1949 - and Jean would be glad to know who actually performed the ceremony, perhaps the Mayor? There were 5,800 books, of which just under half were fiction and only 650 were for children; the minutes give a clear impression that children were not really welcome, and under-9s weren't allowed in at all. (How surprised the local committee, chaired by Mary Warren, would have been to see a number of 3-and 4-year-olds there one Tuesday last month, enjoying a teddy-bear reading-Party arranged by Hastings Library staff!)
Two questions arise. First, what went on in the Lion Street buildings in the ten years before 1949? Secondly, was there any public-library provision in the town at all before that year, and if so what? Boots and Deacons both had lending libraries for those who could pay, and Laurence Perugini ran a free one for children; but was there anything free for adults, or any way of ordering specialist books? Mrs. Greenhalf would be very pleased to know.
An exhibition at the reading-room commemorates the centenary of the birth of novelist Sheila Kaye-Smith (died 1956), with a list of her works, some of the books, articles about her, and a number of photographs - including one over which the Sheila Kaye-Smith Society secretary Brian Graebe would be glad of help from older local people. Information about the Society from the Library desk.
5.
The Tuesday Painters Club's Annual Exhibition at the FE Centre is, as ever, a pleasure to visit. The Club has a very large membership drawn from a wide area, and this is reflected in the many different types of pictures on show: some semi-abstract, some so detailed that one might be looking at the flower itself - a large number of landscapes showing local and holiday scenes, portraits and figure studies in various styles of work, still-lifer and flower paintings, records of scenes past, humorous animal studies (pigs and cats seem to be fashionable this year)... It would be invidious to mention some names and not others when there are so many talented artists represented, but we make an exception for Sir Brian Batsford's water-colour of the land lying at the foot of Cadborough Cliff. Poignantly, he calls it "The route of the A259?", and he painted it from Henry James's study in Lamb House. We did admire one solution to the problem of framing a large picture: a bird's-eye view of a village was painted on cloth - and then mounted like a roller-blinds The exhibition continues until Saturday, from 10 to 6 daily; Saturday is also the last day of the Rye Society of Artists' exhibition at the Boys Club in Mermaid Street.
At present closed for refurbishment and restocking, the St. Michael's Hospice Shop in Wish Street will reopen on Monday, 14 September - when it will have a phone number, Rye 224732. The stock will include a useful range of new table and household linen supplied by Clements of St. Leonards and sold at Clements' prices. Joy Mockett has tried to ensure that the stock will not duplicate what is already available in Rye, but will make it available again the traditional range of goods which used to be on sale at Miss Mills's in Ferry Road - things like mattress covers, pillow ticking and butter muslin, which are not easy to obtain locally now. The shop will also, of course, continue to sell ladies' wear and bric-a-brac.
The opening hours are being extended (and could be extended further with a few more helpers - Rye 223477). The shop will be open from 10 to 1 on Mondays and Saturdays, from 10 to 4 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and only closed all day on Tuesdays - though Mrs. Mockett suggests that people coming into the town specially, or those with goods to donate, should try to call in the morning since occasionally the afternoon opening has to be cancelled. She adds that the helpers are always glad of clean paper bags and plastic carriers for re-use. And Christmas cards (a range from original paintings by the Duchess of Norfolk) will be available for those who like to get organised early!
The Rye Art Gallery's permanent collection of pictures and sculpture now amounts to nearly 300 works, very few of which can be on show in the Stormont Studio at any one time. Mary Stormont's bequest, which came to the Trust in the early 1960s, included not only the gallery's premises in Ockman's Lane but also a hundred works of art by herself and her husband and other artists mainly connected with Rye. Since then the Trustees have inherited, been given or bought a further 190 works, some by artists well-known in international circles.
Now the Trust has produced a catalogue of the entire collection - with financial help from South East Arts and from Dick and the late Phoebe Merricks; Lawrence Edwards designed the catalogue and oversaw its production, while Ralph Wood did much of the original work when he was chairman of the Trust.
Members of the Friends of Rye Art Gallery can obtain their copies of the catalogue by calling at the gallery or sending an A5 s.a.e. (13p stamp will do). The Trustees hope that not only will the catalogue be a useful work of reference but will also bring members and their friends into the gallery - where items not currently on show can be seen by prior arrangement. Enquiries from other galleries wishing to borrow something should be made to the Manager, Eric Money.
Mary Stormont died on 11 October 1962, coming up to 25 years ago. The date falls on a Sunday this year; would it be appropriate for FRAG to hold some sort of commemoration - even if it is just laying a wreath on her grave, conveniently sited close to the path in the cemetery?
There were two firsts down at Lochin Marine last Monday morning: the first of the new slipway, and the first launch of the big Tyne lifeboat for which was built. The 47ft hull had arrived in Rock Channel by lorry one Sunday morning last October (GAZETTE no. 197) - built by a Derbyshire firm the RNLI had sent her to Lochin for fitting-out. Now she was splendidly painted, her superstructure in orange, her hull in the traditional RNLI blue and red, with a vast expanse of grey anti-fouling beneath the waterline; but most of what had been done to her here during the past ten months or so was not visible from the outside, though just as vital to her smooth operating and the comfort of her crew and (sometimes) passengers inside.
The slipway, into Rock Channel just before it meets the Rother, had been built in record time, because Lochin had finished the Tyne ahead of schedule. The first Brede-class lifeboats had gone into the water at Strand Quay,and later ones at Alsfords Wharf - but there would have been real problems getting this big beauty out to the Harbour by road. Frank Nichols is very appreciative of the co-operation of Rother's planning officer, Mr. Robinson, for smoothing the way for the planning application - and also to George Roberts and his Southern Water staff for their technical assistance and enthusiastic co-operation over he construction of the slipway.
We didn't see the Tyne emerge from the workshop through the new roof-high sliding doors which lead to the slip; when we got there, she was high up on a cradle on the concrete slope, waiting while last checks were made, the steel runners received their final cans of oil, the holding ropes were coiled away - and finally one hammer-blow to the stout chain bolted into the concrete set her free to slide, quite quietly, backwards into the river. No cheers„ no champagne - but perhaps a few fingers uncrossed when it was over? Mr.Nichols told us that they had made drawings of the boat and drawings of the slipway - but there had been no trial run, and he was obviously delighted tat their calculations had been so accurate, their workmanship so exact.
The firm's own Lochin 33 was on hand, and the two boats gently maneuvred in the river until they faced downstream, lashed together. Then, propelled by the smaller boat's engine, they began a stately progress round the corner into the main river, bound for Alsfords where the Tyne was due for her self-righting trials later in the week. Carl Bagwell in the Harbour launch stood by to make sure all was well, only zooming off ahead once the two boats were safely on their way.
The launch was watched with satisfaction by RNLI representatives and many of the Lochin staff, plus a few of the neighbours and one or two lucky youngsters whose fathers had worked on the boat. The children may have expected something more spectacular - after all, there was no mighty splash, nothing till off, no-one fell in - but for the grown-ups it was an extremely satisfactory occasion, to be repeated in a few months' time when the second Tyne will be ready to follow her sister to sea.
PS. An enthralled spectator at the trials on Friday tells us that they went like a dream: the Tyne was reluctant to capsize ate., but when one of Alsfords' cranes insisted, she went over and camera in one smooth movement, with absolutely no water in the wrong places It the end.
Welcome home to Matthew Wilkinson of Udimore Road, back after a 17-day tour of Barbados with the Sussex-Schools U.14 cricket team. Matthew - 14, and about to start his fourth year at Thomas Peacocke - played in four games out of the six, and took nine wickets and had a batting average of 30. His parents went too; the group stayed in self-catering apartments, very comfortable, and diversions were arranged for them in between matches - it was a wonderful trip, says Mrs. Wilkinson, as well as being successful in terms of cricket. She is most grateful to Rye Rotarians and the Cadborough Jubilee Social Club, both of whom generously sponsored the Sussex team as a whole.
7.
• A speedboat, worrying bathers at Camber by going in too close to the shore on Saturday afternoon, got a horrid shock when Sussex Police's helicopter suddenly appeared above it! The boat was escorted into the Harbour; two men were interviewed by police, and reported for offences relating to the use of boats in inshore waters.
This helicopter is a prized new possession, and reckons to get anywhere in the County in fifteen minutes. It is particularly useful for overhead searches, but on Sunday it was summoned to Fairlight, where a coastguard display was misinterpreted by someone as an accident. However, the journey wasn't wasted, since the crew spotted a stolen motorbike which had been chucked over the cliff and was invisible except from the air. On Friday the helicopter had put down briefly on the field beside the Sports Centre, dropping off a visitor from HQ for Rye Police Station.
• Planning: the last two lists include an application from the Trustees of the Rye Harbour Mission Hall for its use as a single dwelling; for a carport in front of the existing garage at 12 Cadborough Cliff; for two iron balustrades to the front steps of 4 East Street; for a "switchroom building" in one corner of the electricity substation at the top of Rye Hill; and for permission to use Unit 6 at Hatleys, together with some land, for wholesale and retail sales of fruit and veg with parking for two lorries (this is from an Appledore man). Barclays Bank, bedevilled by regular lorry damage to their two elegant porches at Longer House in the High Street, are putting in plans for a slightly altered design; the porches start a little higher up the wall, and stick out less over the pavement, but retain the traditional curly supports to the tiny roof.
• Rye is featured at some length in a Sunday Express colour-supplement, "The Best of Britain", as part of a suggested tour "Among the Coastal Marshes". We even get a pretty picture of the Fishmarket with the town behind it. But to suggest that "a detour can be made from the main tour route to Camber Castle" seems a bit unfair; they don't mention that you then walk for a mile over rough ground - only to find the place shut anyway!
• Old Ryers in particular will enjoy a visit to the Strand Quay Cafe, where the walls are now ornamented by nine well-enlarged and appropriately-framed photographs of the area as it was before WW1. They include one showing the old gas works, and the cottages where the cafe is now; and there is a most attractive view of the Harbour, looking upstream towards the town and showing the lighthouse and RX33 of the day in full sail putting out to sea. Make a cup of tea your excuse to spend time looking at them!
• This week's back-page diary includes free events, and a couple of alterations, during the first four days of Rye Festival. There are, too, four art exhibitions, also free. Ralph Steadman's work is well-known (in a lighter moment he did the titles for "Yes Minister") and will be on show at the Easton Rooms, overflowing into the Stormont Studio across the courtyard; upstairs in the Easton Rooms Tony Bennett shows his idiosyncratic ceramics, apparently very popular in America. Back in the Ockman Lane gallery is an Arts Council touring exhibition on "Built Up Areas: Urban Landscapes" which includes work by Bawden, Lowry and John Nash. Finally, at the Old Vicarage in Church Square Ernest Thompson is showing the work of Gerald Tucker, who exhibits with the Royal Society of Marine Artists but has recently been specialising in flower paintings; he too sells in America, where he is known, confusingly, as Robert Tucker.
• What appears to be an unfortunate clash of events on the last night of the Festival (12 September) is not as bad as it looks. The final concert in St. Mary's begins at 7.45 and is likely to last about two hours; the FRAG Festival Party in the Stormont Studio is billed to begin at 8.30. However, Eric Money assures us that the cabaret entertainment, including a performance of "Sweeney Agonistes" (TS Eliot),will not begin until concertgoers have had time to get there - earlier partygoers will be entertained in a less formal manner. Early or late, entrance is £2 at the door.
Thursday, 3rd Term begins
Folk and blues night (Isaac Guillory), Studio, 8 - entrance £2.50 at door
Friday, 4th Vidler & Co's monthly auction sale, 10
Connoisseurs' evening, Rye Museum, 7 to 8.30 - members free, others £1.50, includes a glass of wine
Meeting to discuss plans for the new Rye Arts Centre, Studio, 7.30.for 8
Saturday, 5th Arthritis & Rheumatism Council flag-day
Start of Rye Festival Week (see leaflets for ticket events)
Rye Festival Service (with Ryesingers), St. Mary's, 10.30
Hooe Village Band Concert, Gun Garden, 2.45
Mark Edwards Trio, Ypres, 8
Monday, 7th Eric Money and Loose Change, Ypres, 8
Tuesday, 8th NSPCC coffee morning, 32 Church Square, 10.30
Wednesday, 9th Charles Proctor plays Bach, St. Mary's, 1
Graham Clarke talks on his "History of England" series, TH -6 (not in Festival leaflet, admission £2.50)
Jazz evening (The World's Greatest Dixie Band with Terry Lightfoot and Helen Gould, not Lonnie Donegan as in leaflet - £4 and £3.50) - Upper School Hall, 8
• Congratulations to Karen (nee Beeching) and Chris Potter of Hastings on the b.rth of their son Greg on 19 August - a first grandchild for a delighted Pamela and John Beeching of Lea Avenue.
• Anne Wood will be talking about Rye Festival on Radio Sussex (258, medium wave only) between 8.30 and 9 am tomorrow.
• Rye Police would be glad to hear from anyone who could offer accommodation with full board to a woman police officer due to be posted here at the end of September (she will, of course, be working shifts). Please call at the Police Station or ring Rye 222112 as soon as possible if you are interested.
• Conservation Society members and their guests are eligible for free invitations to the Civic Trust's 30th anniversary celebration on 3 October. The Trust is staging an exhibition "Building a Better Britain" at the Business Design Centre in London. Details from Peter Howlett.
• People who have been looking thoughtfully at anything in Artique recently had better make up their minds quick; the Lion Street shop, with its packed shelves of second-hand books and other intriguing items, will close for the last time on Wednesday, 30 September - Mrs. Connolly tells us that she and her husband have decided to retire.
• Congratulations to Christina Gray, of Church Square, whose picture "Horse Resting" was chosen as best in show by public vote at the Battle Arts Group exhibition in Langton Hall at Battle.
• Rye WI and their guests from Woodchurch WI enjoyed an amusing talk at their August meeting, on the work of a travel courier. Mrs. Cobbold was the winner of the Denman College bursary.
• The local branch of the Arthritis & Rheumatism Council are very pleased to say that they now have a new secretary: Mrs. Evelyn Fothergill, of Aldie House, Saltbarn Lane, Military Road.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7DR (0797 222303), and printed by Cinque Ports Stationers of Rye. Deadline is Monday afternoon for each Wednesday's delivery, and the paper costs subscribers 30p (40p from 30 September). (Copyright Mary Owen 1987)