Rye was positively awash with coffee on Saturday, shopping baskets overflowed with cakes and Christmas decorations and a great deal of money changed hands for charity in the course of the morning. First to the George Hotel, where the ballroom looked beautiful under the skilled hands of the Winchelsea and District Floral Group; as well as the competitions for members, the room and even the outside entrance pillars were seasonably decorated. Flower arrangers were particularly grateful for the stalls selling accessories for their hobby, and the event raised £215 for Club funds.
Also in the High Street, the Women's British Legion Christmas Fayre raised £160 for Section funds plus a further £107 taken at the Disabled Men's Industries stall. Two prizes in their raffle remain unclaimed, and Mrs. Joan Camier would be glad to hear from the holders of mauve ticket no. 84 and green ticket no. 43. (Secretary Mrs. Betty Spencer reports that the Section will not hold a December meeting, but there will be a Sunday Luncheon Party on 16 January for members and their (lady) friends - names to Mrs. Camier, Rye 2289, as soon as possible please.)
Down Conduit Hill to the St. John Nursing Cadets sale, with a particularly good range of Christmas decorations. St. John's felt a little neglected on such a busy morning so they posted a succession of attractive cadets at the Centre entrance to act as sirens and lure in the customers - this worked so well that the morning raised £120 for the cadets' funds.
Back up to the top of the town, where Playden Church members were holding a busy Christmas Market in the FE Centre - the crowd of willing buyers produced £165 for church purposes.
Perhaps the most unusual event was the coffee morning held at St. Anthony's in Church Square. Here Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gibson had nobly given over their beautiful house to the committee, headed by Rachel Sarrieddine and Geraldine Bromley, which was out to raise funds for Brother Jonathan's Holiday Home for Children, the Additional Curates Society, and the Bexhill hospice. As well as refreshments, the attractions included some extremely professional Christmas decorations of the type normally only sold in smart London shops, a stall of delicious preserves, and a display of the superb patchwork quilts and other work made over the past year by Rachel's sewing group. Upstairs was an exhibition of dolls' houses: Rachel's own which began as rather elaborate family photograph album and “jus' growed" into the most delectable 3D collage; one lent by Sandra Paine, made by her brother David Osborne and furnished by her with enormous affection and imagination - plus three others not yet open to visitors; and a group of three belonging to Mary Owen, chosen to show differences of scale in the furnishings and including brief notes on the inhabitants. This event, backed by a very great deal of hard work and planning, hit the jackpot with total profits of over £500 - £210 being from the work of the sewing group.
Grand total for the morning, getting on for £1,300!
In addition, we hear that a coffee morning at Udimore for the Church raised £284; and Greyfriars' sale in the afternoon at Winchelsea brought in around £420. Warden Mrs. Shirley Smith is particularly anxious to thank all those in Rye who were so very generous with gifts, raffle prizes, etc. - businesses as well as private individuals. Greyfriars has recently launched a League of Friends, and we hope in the New Year to have a report on the League's progress so far, and what it would like people to do for the home.
Times may be hard, and Christmas almost upon us; but obviously our good causes do not lack for supporters.
Up at Leasam, Jean and Bertie Bull were presented with their first lambs (twins, a good beginning) last Wednesday.
2.
Mr. Arthur Wood, of Iden, died suddenly at his home on 28 November. Many Rye people who never even knew his name will miss him, since he was a familiar sight in the town spending his leisure time watching the traffic go by in Cinque Ports Street - a big man, with the heart of a child despite his 73 years, and always with a wide smile for a friend. As a lad he had worked at the smithy beside the Landgate, and later he tended many gardens in the Iden and Playden area. He was unmarried. Cremation takes place at Hastings today.
After turning on the Christmas lights on Saturday, Father Christmas is due to pay a second visit to Rye actually on the morning of 25 December. With the help of the members of Rye Fire Brigade he will be delivering Christmas parcels round the town and an area bounded by Rye Foreign, Playden, East Guldeford, Rye Harbour, Winchelsea (including the Beach) and Udimore. (Brede people are asked to note that Broad Oak firemen are this year setting up their own scheme and will be glad of support.)
The round starts from the Fire Station at 8 a.m. on Christmas Day, and involves three vans plus Michael Bryant's donkey and trap. Parcels will be accepted from Monday, 20th, up to mid-day on Christmas Eve, either at the Fire Station or the Tilling Green newsagent's shop; the delivery fee of 25p goes to firemen's charities, and with three milkmen in the Rye Brigade there should be no problems about who lives where!
Station Officer Michael Bourn says that 1982 has been a fairly quiet year for the 16-man Brigade; they dealt with the year's 113th fire on Sunday in pouring rain when a caravan caught fire at Rye Bay Caravan Park. However, they have been busy in other ways; in the East Sussex Drill Competition for retained firemen they won the one-man dress drill and came second in the four-man portable pump drill. They have raised around £900 during the year so far for the Firemen's Benevolent Fund - last year's Father Christmas round, the Open Day in the summer and the recent car treasure hunt all helped towards this. It was only fitting that Lydd Fire Station should have won the treasure hunt; Rye won Lydd's six-a-side darts shield, as well as the East Sussex doubles competition. The Brigade are very sorry to have lost Dave Manktelow, who has had to resign for health reasons. Michael Bourn is grateful to the many people in the town who have supported the Brigade over the year.
Rye Movie Society entertained their friends to a guest evening on Friday at the FE Centre. A most interesting selection of films was shown, some of it undoubtedly archive material of the future. Jeffery Waters's "Beachcomber", a study of the picker-up of unconsidered trifles at Jury's Gap, preceded a club film "The Trojan Case" - a neat title for an awful-warning story about the unwisdom of letting the neighbours' children know where you keep your door-key. Peter Spencer's romantic "Song of Autumn", filmed around his Iden farm, was followed by a record of the opening day of the bowling club, narrated by Mrs. Joan Yates. "Nearer God's Heart..." took the audience through some Church Square gardens, filmed at an open day this summer by Mrs. Waters and Bert Osborne. Jo Kirkham gave the commentary to "Beating the Bounds", another club film of a memorable day in 1982, and an even more splendid occasion was recorded when the members filmed the queen Mother's visit to Devonport House. Guests were welcomed by Chairman Mrs. Joan Gamier, and thanks were expressed on their behalf by the Mayor, both for a very pleasant evening and for the delicious refreshments provided in the interval.
We were asked not to say until they got back, but the "mental restoration" given by Tony and Pauline Meyer as the reason for closing the Decorator's Warehouse last month was in fact taking place in Hawaii! ICI (Dulux) look after their dealers, and a recent display competition divided the British Isles into five areas (ours covered the whole of Southern England plus Wales) - the Decorator's Warehouse was among the 15 winners each awarded two £2,000 holidays in the Kahala Hilton on Oahu, one of the Hawaiian islands. So the Meyers sunbathed on Waikiki beach and were taken (the winners went as a group) to exotic night spots and elegant restaurants - plus snorkelling, catamaran trips, barbecues; the programme was curtailed by the arrival of a hurricane (at one point the Meyers were flying over it in a small plane) which caused 230m damage to a neighbouring island and had their own on standby-alert. But they came to no harm - indeed, Pauline says, the wind was nothing like what we are used to here sometimes; you couldn't, she adds scornfully, even lean back on it!
The Hotel and Catering Association is complaining bitterly and with reason about the lack of support it gets from the South East England Tourist Board - which is, after all, a government organisation staffed from taxpayers' money. Groups of travel writers and agents are often brought to Rye, but the Association is never told in advance so that it could take advantage of these visits. There has not even been any response from the Board town offer of free accommodation in the town for such parties! Association Chairman Jerry Card says that Rother's tourism department is not a lot of help either; the Association has in fact had most support from the tourism people at Eastbourne, who have co-operated with members over three recent visits from groups of travel agents.
The Association's 1983 booklet is just out (they have saved £800 over last year's production costs); it is produced in a handy form, is available from members or from the Council Office, and might well be useful to Rye people with unexpected visitors as well as to those from away. The Association has over sixty members, and the list includes accommodation in Stone, Battle and Bodiam as well as Rye and its surrounding villages. In many cases prices are helpfully given.
When Rother introduced its new "yellow sack" system for trade refuse, the scheme was so unpopular that local businessmen banded together to set up a private collection service. Cooper & Bowen's twice-weekly collections work out at about half the cost of the Rother scheme in many cases, and the firm is always willing to pick up from private houses anything not within the scope of the normal dustmen's round (Rye 3836 or 2927).
People having difficulty in buying just slightly out-of-the-ordinary haberdashery items in the town may sometimes forget that J.E. Mills, the Ferry Road drapers, keep a wide range in stock. Although Woolworths have most of the usual necessities and Penny Royal offer a full selection of needlework requirements - and dressmakers will already know of the Thursday market '''trimmings'' man” - none of that is any help to someone wanting thin black hat elastic on a Friday.
Hotels don't often have Open Days, but the Saltings is so proud of its recently refurbished Commodore's Suite that on Tuesday, 14 December it is inviting visitors to come and admire. The suite is intended for public and private functions - the management mentions, weddings, exhibition, conferences and banquets, though we doubt whether there are really a lot of banquets in Rye - and Rod and Ann Jenkins and Ian Gilder will be pleased to see anyone interested between 12 and 3, or from 6 to 9. No need to book; just come and look.
Bob Press at the Oasis Club has a new venture on Monday nights, aimed at a rather more sophisticated clientele than his regular disco dancers. He has installed kitchen facilities and a cocktail bar, and is offering a three-course dinner with dancing from 8 to 1 (last orders for drinks up to 11.30) for under £6. He promises quieter music and absolutely no flashing lights, and can cope with up to 50 diners - suitable, maybe for an office party? Developments upstairs at the Oasis have lain dormant for some time, but Bob hopes to open his new Granary Club on the first floor in time for the summer season; he intends it to be a family-type club with snooker tables, a bar and a children's room. He has had more than forty enquiries for stalls in the projected covered market on the top floor, selling an interestingly wide range of goods, and if all goes well he hopes that the market will also be open in time for the summer trade.
Recently a house-agent's advertisement offered for sale a building in the centre of the town clearly identifiable as the surgery of one of our local doctors. We would like to have reported on this, but medical ethics are apparently so delicate that it might have been construed as advertising on the part of the doctor concerned! However, last week's Sussex Express contained a public advertisement of a planning application to use as a doctor's surgery the ground floor of 11 High St. (the house now for sale next door to the Midland Bank). The planning list is, as always, available to anyone who cares to ask at the Ferry Road office; the application is no. RR82 2060; and the name of the applicant is freely given. So we are playing safe and not telling you who is thinking of moving - just how to find out, if you care to.
A pleasant ceremony at Hill House Hospital recently marked the opening of the new Icklesham Ward. In fact, no major building work was involved, and the common idea of a ward is far from the truth. Icklesham Ward has been subtracted from the old Camber Ward, and it is now a complex of small, pleasant rooms, intended for nine residents to live in a home environment, with their own dining room, activity and day rooms as well as bedroom and toilet accommodation. They do, of course, leave this base for school, occupational therapy, swimming and so forth; but it is their home with their own things around them, and very attractive it is too.
The official ribbon-cutting was performed by a member of the Hill House housekeeping staff, Mrs. Mollie Fuller of Brookland, who was winner of the competition to name the new ward; she chose Icklesham because that village has given the hospital a quite outstanding amount of support. She was introduced by Mrs. Joan Yates, a member of the Hastings Health Authority - who paid a tribute, warmly applauded by those present, to the staff of the hospital for their imagination, perseverance and sensitivity which contribute to the very caring attitude found at Hill House. She said that they are grateful to all the villages for their support of the hospital - but Icklesham has certainly been "extra special".
Among the company was Sir Charles Jones, President of the League of Friends, and representatives of the Hastings Health Authority. The hospital's Administrator, Mr. P.K. Millington, told us that the policy is to provide as far as possible a home-like atmosphere for the residents. Although numbers have fallen in the past few years they try not to close wards entirely but rather to space out the beds, etc., to provide better accommodation for the 75 or so residents.
Talking to Mrs. Martin, one of the hospital's SEN staff, revealed the existence of something we had never heard of before: a sign language called Makaton which is specially designed for mentally handicapped patients. Based on the older finger-spelling scheme, but less elaborate and incorporating gestures, it gives those who have never been able to communicate in a generally accepted way the chance to make some meaning clear at last. Even producing five or six "words" is a triumph for someone with no speech at all. There are nine grades in the Makaton course, and Mrs. Martin is still teaching mostly the first three, with help from the speech therapy team; but since tuition can even be given to mentally handicapped two-year-olds, she hopes that as younger patients become proficient at the basic levels she will be able to take them further as time goes on.
Hill House School - attached to the hospital but run by the Education and not the Health Authority - announces with much pleasure that its Christmas Draw will be made on 16 December at 2.15 by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rye. The school's adventure playground is coming along nicely; the next project is a slide - a suitable one may well cost around £1,600, but a recent gift of £500 from Hastings and Bexhill Mentally Handicapped Association will certainly help.
A most successful party was held at Skinners Garage on Friday evening, with takings of over £200 for RNLI funds. Branch Secretary Mrs. Joan Parkes is extremely grateful to the management of Skinners, who provided not only the premises but also all the wine, to Mrs. Sheelagh Fox of their staff who organised the evening, and to the other staff members who were invaluable in setting out and clearing up afterwards. Star guest was the inshore lifeboat currently on trial at the Harbour, brought along by a proud crew; this particular boat, D508 Mk IV, was given by Mr. and Mrs. Pirson of Hastings in memory of their son Chris, drowned trying to rescue another boy in 1980. The Harbour crew would very much like to be allowed to keep it, but will not know until next summer; a boat like this costs around £9,000. The Station also needs a new lifeboat house, with room for the land-rover as well as the boat, and a galley, rest-room, office and toilets and showers. The Lestocqs' home doubles for this at present, and it is a little disconcerting for Mary to be rung at work and told there is a policeman in the bath! (The Station could use a supply of thick clothing - sweaters and trousers - for people picked up by the boat, who are at present sent home somewhat embarrassingly wrapped in a blanket; offers to Rye 2595.)
5.
Chief Inspector Dyson has a Christmas message for his Rye and district flock: "By all means make this a Christmas to remember - just make sure the memories are happy ones!" He points out that it is often only police officers, hospital staff and close members of the victims' families who see the full effects of drinking and driving, and Sussex Police will as usual be conducting a campaign against the disastrous combination this Christmas.
For the past two weeks the press book at the police station, usually almost empty as regards Rye itself, has recorded a series of small thefts in the area, so obviously another Christmas message might run "Watch out, there's a thief about!" Early on Saturday morning vandals damaged two gate-pillars along Ferry Road, and also stole the emergency phones from the level crossing; British Rail had replacements in within a few hours, and this matter is in the hands of BR police.
Rye Majorettes' Christmas Show at the Community Centre on Friday was, as usual, very much enjoyed by the audience of families and friends. Produced by Rosemary Wilkinson, who runs the group with help from Val Lovecy, the 24 girls did their thing to music provided by Ringo, compered by Sid whose granddaughter was one of the performers; five of the mums did their thing too, amid general hilarity. Awards for the year were presented by Jo Kirkham: the Attendance Shield went jointly to Heather Gill and Amanda Wood, Sally Mitchell won the Effort Cup, and an award for outstanding ability went to Majorettes leader Sharon Oliver. There were more presentations to come, this time from the Majorettes: Humphrey Lestocq gratefully received £50 for the lifeboat; a really strong wooden doll's house was produced for the Pre-School Playgroup; and Badger Gate common room now has a clock identical to the one presented earlier this year to Devonport House.
The audience was happy to take Mrs. Wilkinson's word for the Majorettes' final gift - stepping stones delivered the previous day to Hill House School's adventure playground. The proceeds from the evening will go to the Community Centre.
We would like to congratulate the Majorettes on a very successful season, which has given pleasure to many people both in and outside the town.
Congratulations, too, to Benedict Lovell of New England Lane, who has just been invited to bring his flute along and join the Hastings Youth Orchestra. Also to Gary Bourn of Udimore Road, who has been selected for the East Sussex under-19 football squad; Gary was reserve at Brighton on Sunday, and plays in goal for the team's Easter tour to Skegness.
Rye Community Centre has had a busy year, not only with hirings (more than 40 different types of function were held there) but also with fund-raising, mainly for repair work to the outer walls. Chairman Mrs. Kathy Varley, in her annual report, expresses her gratitude to the YOP workers who have been a big help with various maintenance jobs; the Centre has also received help both in cash and in kind from many local people and groups. They now have 50 jigsaw puzzles and wonder if there is a keen "puzzler" who would care to set up a puzzle library? Other wants range from a spare pair of taps to a new surface for the car park. They would be very interested to hear from anyone with an upright piano in good condition which is no longer required - Mr. Newick of Chandlers is advising them over this. Mrs. Varley expresses in her report the thanks of the Centre to the Management Committee, the Hon. Treasurer, Architect and Legal Adviser, and to caretaker Mr. Cogger, cleaner Mrs. Barden, and secretary/warden Mrs. Maureen Sherwood who has just completed her first year in the job. The Committee, which meets on the second Monday of each month, is largely composed of representatives of the groups which use the Centre; they would be glad to co-opt any individuals who are interested in helping.
From what we hear, some of our older residents took very full advantage of BR's £3-a-day November travel offer. Miss Sheila Draffin visited the far north of Scotland twice, spending several days travelling about on each occasion, and saved well over £100 on the month's journeyings. One un-named stalwart is rumoured to have gone to Stratford-on-Avon and back in the day! We would love to report on any other marathon journeys made by local people under this scheme.
Rye Museum Association's Christmas party at the Town Hall on Thursday was much enjoyed by members and their guests, as well as raising over £100 for Museum funds from the raffle and stall.
6.
Thursday, 9th Sale of Christmas gifts, Red Cross Centre, 10
Late night shopping, High Street, 5.30 to 8 (GAZETTE no.12)
Rye Festival AGM, Town Hall, 8
Rye Players, Peppers, 8
‘Cinderella’ (Lower School pantomime), TP Upper School 7.30 some seats still available through Lower School office
Friday, 10th "Cinderella", Upper School, 7.30 (seats available, see above)
Rye Players, Peppers, 8
Freda Gardham School Christmas entertainment, New Road, 7.30 Natural History Soc. "Romney Marsh", Mr. and Mrs. Burt, FEC 7.30 Papa Joe's film: "Mommie Dearest", Pizzeria, 9
Saturday 10th. Rye Playgroup Christmas Fair, FEC, 2
Christmas lights switched on, George Hotel, 3
Monday 11th Winchelsea Floral Group AGM and party, George Hotel, 7.30
Freda Gardham School Christmas entertainment, New Road, 7.30
Tuesday 12th Thomas Peacocke Lower School Carol Service, Ferry Road, 7
Wednesday 13th Red Cross Thrift Shop (receiving only), 10.30 to 12.30
The GAZETTE will continue to keep the Rye Town Diary for 1983 beside the phone at Rye 2303; however, it has proved rather difficult to keep the wall-chart up to date recently because of access problems at the Community Centre. If anyone with a window in the High Street or Cinque Ports Street, and open during normal business hours, would have room for the diary (the board is roughly 33" wide by 24" high) we would love to hear from them. But please keep us up to date with bookings anyway - quite apart from anything else it is an enormous help in planning the GAZETTE's coverage of events, as well as to Mrs. Poole for the Express.
A reminder that the TSB in the High Street is once again collecting tins of food for distribution to local elderly people through the Rye Red Cross. Manager Les Skinner's decorated shopping trolley in the outer office is always gaping for more, even if he can hardly get into his room at the back for tins!
The Council Office in Ferry Road will close at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and reopen on Tuesday, 4 January.
We were not entirely serious in our reference last week to the emergency dental clinic, but for anyone really desperate the number is Newhaven 5959.
A present for someone who has everything? We missed, first time around at the Easton Rooms Christmas show, Peter Farrow's tiny silver boxes topped with the most delicately crafted flowers, leaves and insects - tucked away in a corner, but well worth a special visit.
Papa Joe (Jerry Card) would like to point out that, contrary to popular belief, seats at his Friday-night film shows are very often available for people not dining at the Pizzeria, though diners get priority; bookings 7 to 9, Rye 2533.
It seems unbelievably mean, but someone stole the Brownies' new standard from their winning Bonfire Night float. We suspect a visiting Bonfire Society, but if anyone does know where the flag is, please could Mrs. Brann at Spar in Cinque Ports Street have it back? (Our bomb hasn't come back yet, either.)
The last WI Market until March will be held on 17 December, and the last Craft Market (FEC) till April takes place on Saturday morning, 18th.
"The Child Born at the Plough" is at Brede Church on Friday and Saturday at 7.30. The Editor wonders if anyone has a spare seat in their car, preferably for Friday?
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. It is published by Mrs. Mary Owen at 94 Udimore Road, Rye (Rye 2303), who is always glad to receive news items for inclusion. The GAZETTE costs 20p a week and is normally delivered to subscribers on Wednesday; there will be no issue on 29 December.
Photocopied by Sussex Secretarial Services, 11 Claremont, Hastings (942 2633)