About 100 people turned up at the Community Centre on Friday afternoon for the Annual General Meeting of Rye WI Market - which must make it the best-attended AGM of the year so far. The Chairman, Miss Dean, welcomed members and referred with regret to four deaths among their ranks during the year. Mrs. Bennett, as Secretary, dealt with last year's minutes, and Mrs. Cramp gave her Controller's report on the 1982 season, thanking all the Committee and the producers and in particular her assistant controller Mrs. Ingham. She felt that a Christmas card sent to her by a member referring to the "happy hours spent at the Market" summed up the season. Presenting the Treasurer's report, Mrs. Holmes said that sales had increased over the previous year by £1630, by no means all accounted for by higher prices; sales the previous year totalled £7667 and £6955 was paid out to producers. After a short talk by a representative from County HQ, the voting for the new Committee was announced, and the following officers were later appointed: Miss Dean as Chairman, Mrs. Taylor as Vice Chairman, Mrs. Bennett as Secretary, Mrs. Holmes as Treasurer and Mrs. Cramp as Controller.
After the business of the meeting, members settled down to enjoy a talk and demonstration from Mrs. Burleigh of the Potato Marketing Board, who produced some yummy dishes using, naturally enough, potatoes - sometimes in their own right and sometimes, as in an avocado dip and (believe it or not) in cake icing, to stretch more expensive ingredients. Lucky raffle winners took home the end-products.
Mrs. Bennett very kindly looked up for us the minutes of the first Market AGM, containing a report on the 1972 season. The Chairman was Mrs. Yates, with Mrs. Kinsella and Mrs. Stapley as Secretary and Treasurer, and Mrs. Smith. as a Controller, sales totalled £1097, with £1002 distributed to producers. The hire of the Centre was then £39 for the season!
When, several years ago now, Thomas Peacocke PTA found the money for an elaborate stage lighting system and control board, they were lucky also to find the makings of a very successful "stage crew" at the school. Michael Le Fevre, Martin Kemp and their team revelled in the opportunity to use the new equipment and worked marvels with the lighting and sound effects for subsequent school productions. Michael was first stagestruck when he was at primary school and Richard Williams, then in the Vlth form, took him backstage after a TPS play; by the time Michael himself was in the Vlth form he was beginning to hope that this was where his future could lie. He spent some time as an electrician at the national Youth Theatre, and by the time he left TPS he had acquired a good deal of experience in stage crew work - experience now handed on to the present Lower Vlth, where David Webb heads the team.
It was obviously this experience and enthusiasm that have now got Michael a place as a trainee technical assistant with the BBC. Starting at their training centre at Evesham and then moving to the Television Centre in London, he naturally has hopes of a BBC job at the end of it. His first interviewer suggested that he could usefully improve his knowledge of television procedures; Michael is very grateful to Mr. Maurice Ellwood, who gave up "a very long evening" to passing on his own expert knowledge, obviously with good results.
Joanna Le Fevre says that so many parents - including herself - complain bitterly about the transport problems, unsocial hours and skimped homework incurred when pupils get themselves involved in out-of-school activities; it is nice to think that come job time these efforts may not have been entirely wasted.
John Jempson & Son are looking for a computer operator for a Burroughs machine, at a starting salary of £5000 p.a. for a 40-hour Monday-to-Friday week. Previous computer experience is not essential, but applicants must be able to type and should have a knowledge of sales and bought ledger procedures - and should of course be numerate. Apply to the firm at Slades Yard, Rock Channel - Rye 222052 2.
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(We do apologise for a mis-typing last week in connection with the death of Mr. Gerald Reed. We hope the rest of the paragraph made the sense quite clear.)
The funeral of Mrs. Amy Leggett, of Tower Street, will take place on Monday, 7 March, at 11.0 at Hastings Crematorium. Our next issue will include a full obituary notice.
Mrs. Rose Tomlin, who lived for many years in Udimore Road, died at Healey House, St. Leonards, on Thursday. Mrs. Tomlin, who was 86, was a Welshwoman, though her late husband Charlie came from Sussex. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tomlin were employed at Lamb House by E.F. Benson, and Mr. Tomlin (with his dog) was the model for the shepherd in the Benson window in St. Mary's. Mrs. Tomlin, who was a keen member of the WI and the WI Market, was a Methodist, and the cremation at Hastings on Friday (4th) at 11.0 will be preceded by a Methodist service.
Mr. Bill Dixon, of Winchelsea Beach, who died on 23 February aged 80, will be remembered by local motorists as the petrol pump attendant for very many years at Bryans Garage. He leaves a widow. Despite his age, he only retired a couple of years ago and, to quote someone who had worked with him, "he never really got old".
Mr. Sydney Wells, who collapsed and died suddenly in Rye on 22 February, was 64. Mr. Wells, who leaves a widow, lived in Cooper Road. He used to work at Farnborough Engineering and will be much missed by his friends and former workmates there.
Mr. James Pearson, of Military Road, died last week aged 76.
Mr. Henry Page, of Ferry Road, died suddenly in hospital on Saturday, 26th, aged 74. A milk roundsman for 21 years until his retirement, Mr. Page was a Ryer and had lived here all his life; Mrs. Page herself came to Rye as a very small child, and they have a son and daughter. Cremation takes place at Hastings on Tuesday, 8th, at 3 pm.
We are now able to publish a fuller obituary for Mr. Frank Caister of Rye Harbour, from information which reached us too late for last week's paper. Mr. Caister, a quiet retiring man with a keen interest in vegetable gardening, spent his whole life at Rye Harbour and maintained that his mother's family were among the first settlers in the village. He trained under his father as a shipwright and carpenter, and during the war was sent to Looe in Cornwall to work on naval vessels. In his younger days he was a member of Rye Harbour Church choir, and worked on the extension to the church; he was also a member of the launching party which sent out the "Mary Stanford" on her last mission. He leaves a son and three grandchildren; Mrs. Caister, formerly Jessie Saunders also of the Harbour, died in 1967.
Mr. Will Dunlop tells us that the Old Boys' Football and Mixed Hockey matches v. Thomas Peacocke School are fixed for Monday, 21 March, at the School Field at 2.15. Hockey players are asked to contact Mr. Stan Jones at the school (Rye 222545), and footballers' should get in touch with Mr. Dunlop at Lunsford Farm, Pett (3004). There is, he adds, usually a mini-reunion of players and supporters in the bar of the George Hotel on the evening of the games.
Looking ahead, the Recent Leavers Dinner is fixed for Friday, 25 March, and the Annual Reunion is on Friday, 8 April, at the Mermaid. We shall have more information nearer the time about both these events, and also the Bedford Reunion to take place in Bedford next year; in the meantime, please remind any old scholar with whom you are in contact to note down these dates.
At the Annual Dinner of the Rye and District Movie Society, held at Playdcn Oasts on Saturday, it was announced that one of the Society's films showing the 1969 Bonfire Night celebrations was to go to Canada to be shown to the Montreal Movie Makers; Brian Hatter, formerly of Rye and now a member of the Montreal society, has suggested twinning the two groups for the exchange of films and ideas. Diners watched the Society's film of the opening of Devonport House, and the Upton Trophy was won by Jeffery Waters and Bert Osborne for "Nearer God's Heart...", their delightful film of Rye's gardens.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 1.3.83 - page 3
Rye seems to have been rather successful at last week's planning meeting, with no applications refused and only one deferred (at this stage we are only given information from the draft committee minutes, so it is not infallible). The question of building on the land between 26 and 28 Fishmarket Road was deferred. Approval subject to various conditions went to alterations to 4 Hucksteps Row; the Ice Box for its door and blind, but not for painting the wall; an extension at the back of 52 The Mint - the Archaeological Officer to be notified because of the proximity of the town wall; and the roofing-in of the yard behind the Copper Kettle. Mr. A. McConnell has permission to use the railway arches on the Military Road side of the line for storage and workshop, for his own use and for three years only. Mr. and Mrs. Tarrant have permission to open a fish-and-chip shop at Strand Quay subject to various conditions including the approval of the highway authority. Ian Addy has permission for his fuel storage tank and has undertaken to remove cars from land opposite the end of St. Margaret's Terrace.
In this week's planning list there is a request to use Seafarers, Rye Harbour Road, for the storage and wholesale and retail sale of fresh and frozen food; and the Old Vicarage in East Street wants to use part of its premises as a vegetarian restaurant.
The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship is an organisation not only for retired Civil servants but also for their wives, widows or of course widowers. The East Sussex Branch recently decided to form a Rye and District Group, and some 24 members living in the area have now met to set up the group, with Mr. William Webb of Ashenden Avenue as the ad hoc Chairman. On Tuesday, 8 March, there will be a coffee morning upstairs at the Community Centre from 10.30 to 12, when it is hoped that all those eligible will come along to meet and discuss future plans. Anyone unable to come but wanting to join should contact Mr. Webb at Rye 223816.
A series of small thefts, but the police like them mentioned in case anyone can help if the goods are offered for sale: 8 bottles of sparkling wine taken from the 'Scout Hut between 6 and 15 February; a sheepskin coat taken from the Ferry Road car park on the night of the 18th, and another from the Oasis cloakroom the same evening; the 24th a Marconi CB radio transmitter and microphone missing from a car near Cyprus Place; and sometime between the afternoon of the 20th and midday on the 22nd, someone removed a wheel from an Allegro car in the Market car park and replaced it with a buckled one.
Despite the postponement of the Lower School Speech and Dance Competitions for a fortnight, the competitors took it in their stride and standards were high. All the finalists in the Speech Competition were awarded prizes by the Rotary Club; the first three teams were Fergus Brannigan and Mark O'Dowd (1st year) on "The Red Baron", Becket McGrath and Owen Goodhead (1st year) on "British Bombing of the Third Reich", and Mark Curry and Kim Wan (2nd year) on ''Esperanto". In the Dance Competition, the House Cup was won by Meryon, and the Dance Cup by Lucy Scrutton and Sarah Taylor for their very skilful interpretation of “Voice and Echo” - prizes also went to Tracey Jenner and Susan Hare. Once again, Rotary sponsored both events very generously.
We are glad to report that, as well as the Library photocopier, there are now two offices in Rye which will do photocopying for outside customers as long as it can be fitted in with their regular office work. Le Fevre, Wood and Royle, 77 The Mint, will undertake this for occasional small jobs; and the Ferry Road council offices now have a machine that will do A3 photocopies (an unfolded Gazette is A3) and of course smaller sizes too, though it is no good asking them to pirate the GAZETTE because they won't! Incidentally, there is no copyright on GAZETTE material - anyone who wants to copy a particular piece is most welcome; one of our articles is in use as a teaching aid at a Kent school!
Admirers of C.S. Lewis's children's book "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" will be glad to know that the (cartoon) film is being shown at the Baptist Church on Saturday evening at 7.30 - admission free, but there will be a retiring collection.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 2.3.83 - page 4
We are much indebted to Mr. Arthur Woodgate, Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Bates for clarifying the story of "the shifting Post Office" (GAZETTE no.23). It seems clear that the Post Office, which had been at 11 Market Street since perhaps the later 1870s, moved down to the High Street in or soon after 1893 - not to the then non-existent Post Office building which is now Liptons, but to no.91 (Graham's) which was built in that year. The Postmaster was still Thomas Bushby, and as well as no.91 he occupied no.90, and his insurance business advertisement shows both numbers.
This is confirmed by the Jenkinson family at Graham's. Under the stairs in their shop is a strong room with a heavy metal door (we wouldn't of course mention this, except that it cannot now be locked anyway). This would presumably have been the Post Office safe. They had suspected that nos.90 and 91 were once the same property, since there is only a partition wall between the two shops, and the upper floors were obviously once connected (and now are again). No.90 was, however, built in 1880.
So it seems quite clear that the Post Office moved from Market Street to 91 High Street in 1893 or 4, and then across the road to its new building in 1902. (Mrs. Kirkham points out that Mayoring Day was then 9 November, and since this was the date of the official opening, and since the Mayor was named as Councillor Skinner, the ceremony must have taken place after a doubtless very convivial lunch at the George, because until noon the Mayor was still Frank Jarrett!)
When the Bushbys moved to the new Post Office in 1902, no.91 became a shoe-shop, owned by Golden Bros. By 1918 it was occupied by Tom Golden, boot and shoe dealer; he also had an outfitters at 109 High Street (later Rivers, now Touchstone), while Frank of course had the drapery business at 86 High Street. The shoe-shop later passed to Bob Sims, and later still became Lindridges music shop - could this have been connected with the Misses Lindridge who had the Post Office before Thomas Bushby? In 1954 Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins opened the shop for the sale of gifts and toys (it was named Graham's after Mr. Hopkins); ten years later the Jenkinson’s took over, also selling toys upstairs for a while (the staircase put in for this purpose was later used for Vidlers’ new auction rooms). When the Jenkinson’s leased the upper floors of no.90, which had been unused for many years, a builder poking down a ceiling was nearly killed when a great lump of concrete fell out of it - incredibly, he identified it as a bit of the old cinema blown up into the High Street by the blast!
As to where the Post Office was before it ever went up to Market Street, Mr. Fletcher tells us that his father used to say it was at 2 East Street and then moved to 101 High Street. This would represent real folk memory, since 101 High Street has been an off-licence of one kind or another for very many years: Style & Winch, and before them Chapmans, and before them again Frymans; while 2 East Street was once Ashby’s the butchers, and then a dairy. It would be interesting to have any comments on Mr. Fletcher's suggestion?
Mr. Woodgate is also able to help over Rye's early telephone history. In 1904 "the Telephone was opened at Rye Post Office on December 9th and there is communication to all parts of the United Kingdom. The hours are from 7 am till 9 pm weekdays, and from 8 till 10 am Sundays"; and Deacons gave their own phone number as Rye 8 on the front of their 1905 Almanac.
The Almanac for 1926 gives a full list of phone numbers for Rye and the villages, but in the Kelly’s Directory for 1918 some numbers appear against the "commercial" entries though not the "private residents". No. 1 is not identified but was probably the Post Office itself. No. 2 was Hatters, fishmongers, at 12 Landgate (now part of the Freezer Centre), and no. 3 Ashby's, butchers.
At some point, perhaps in 1946 when the Eagle Road exchange was opened, all the numbers were converted to four figures by tacking on combinations of 0/1/2/3 in front, and it is interesting to see how many of the original 1918 numbers still survive under this disguise. Ashby's is now 223303. Ellis's (now Ironmongers Extraordinary) was once just 10, the George Hotel 14, Dr. Button (Dr. Akhtar) 26, Vennals (Victoria Wine) 30, Adams 36, the Dormy House 38 and Geering & Collyer 55. All retain these numbers, with prefixes, still.
(Our next look backwards will probably be towards the Collegiate School and Sussex House, and any information about either will be gratefully received. The "Recycling" list will definitely appear with next week's GAZETTE.)
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When the GAZETTE started, we were advised to take out libel insurance, and though readers will know by now that we are really not that sort of paper, we did so through Bridgland Insurance Brokers of Udimore. Talking recently to Mr. Bridgland about (we are happy to say!) an entirely different matter, he told us that at the moment they are busy dealing with clients wishing to switch their mortgages to an endowment basis with the imminent advent of the new tax relief arrangements. Many people are confused about the matter, particularly as they are receiving so many varied offers to sell them the appropriate policy - but which one? As Registered Insurance Brokers, Bridgland deal with most of the market and not just one or two insurance companies, so they are in the best position to advise - and by law their advice must be truly impartial with the client's interest in mind. If you would like to talk to them about it, without charge, you are welcome to phone Brede 882698 during office hours (9.30 to 1, 2 to 5.30), Monday to Friday.
Shopping around in a different sense, Rye shoppers are now offered two new ranges of frozen food from sources in the British Isles about as far apart as it is possible to get The Landgate Freezer Centre has now started selling locally-grown produce - grown in Beckley, to be exact: the range at present includes rhubarb, sprouts and mushrooms, but Mr. Vicarey will increase it as the season advances. Mr. Ciccone at Spar has gone rather further afield; his speciality range (supplied by a new firm at Fairlight) offers pink-fleshed trout from the Isle of Bute, and Cornish mackerel tong other oak-smoked delicacies, together with smoked salmon and local pheasants.
Shopping around in a very small way indeed, we mention for the benefit of our fellow dolls house enthusiasts that two more shops in the town are now selling mini-furniture. Adams have, of course, for years sold a very good selection, with the dolls to go with it, in a standard commercial range at pocket-money prices. Now the Centre, in Market Road, is offering a small range of very inexpensive wooden items including a grand piano and a dining table and chairs, plus a brass bed and tiny sets of wine-bottles and tinned food; these are the right scale for the smaller, modern dolls house. For several months Penny Royal has been selling some very beautiful collector's pieces, not at all cheap but extremely desirable, made by a craftsmen in the area; and we hear that they will soon have a second range, rather more commercially priced. What we need now is someone who will make the houses to go with the furniture.
At the beginning of May, local elections will be upon us - not, this year, for the County Council, but for both Rother District Council and Rye Town Council at the same time.
During April, therefore, a good deal of space in the GAZETTE will go to brief accounts of the candidates in each election - what they do, where they live, their families, previous local government or other relevant experience, special interests - anything they think electors would like to know about them. we shall be inviting the candidates to send us these accounts themselves, to avoid any suspicion of editorial prejudice. What we would like is facts, rather than opinions; this is not an opportunity for canvassing, but a chance for readers to learn something of the background of those asking for their votes. (It does still seem to be the case that in local elections, round here anyway, we vote for the person rather than the party.) Candidates are asked to let us have about 200 Words on this basis, if they wish, and the pieces will appear in the order in which we have received them, in the course of the three April issues. We would also be glad to hear from Councillors who are not standing again, so that we may express appreciation of their services to the town.
We are most grateful to those who have already renewed their subscriptions for the quarter starting on 13 April, taking very early advantage of the £2.75 offer to those who pay by the end of March £3 thereafter. Receipts will be attached to the 13 April issue. When a cheque covers March plus the next quarter, the receipt for the March £1 will be issued at once, with the rest as above.
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Thursday 4th Careers Convention, Thomas Peacock School, 6 – 9
Friday 4th, Women’s World Day of Prayer. Miss Kaye Diggle, St. Anthony’s
Papa Joe's film: "Emmanuelle", Pizzeria, 9
Saturday 5th 50:50 Auction, Thomas Peacocke School, The Grove, 2 (and see below)
2.30 – Film – Baptists Church - see foot of page 3
Sunday 6th Rye and District Guides, Thinking Day event, Community Centre 2.30
Tuesday 8th BRCS coffee morning and bring-and-buy, Red Cross Centre, 10 to 12.30
Civil Service Retirement Fellowship coffee morning, Community Centre,
10.30 to 12 (see page 3)
St. Mary's Tuesday Club, Rectory, 7.30 - Mrs. Barbara Lloyd on her recent visit to Kenya, with some of her sketches
Friends of Rye Art Gallery AGM, Town Hall, 8
Wednesday 9th WRVS AGM, FEC, 3
WI Party (postponed from February), FEC, 7 (see below)
• Rye WI announce that owing to the illness of the March speaker, the party which should have taken place in February will now be held at the March meeting; please pass the word around. Members are asked to bring the same items that they would have brought last month. The bring-and-buy stall for the Pennies for Friendship Fund will take place at this meeting, as previously announced.
• The Launderette has just heard that the builder can't now start until Monday, 7th, so the two large washers and the driers will be in use after all for the rest of this week. Please don't phone to check reopening date until Monday 14th.
• We are delighted to report that Simmons Restaurant is reopening, after major works to deal with dry rot in the floor, on Friday, 11 March. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons welcome guests to dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30 to 10, and to lunch on Sunday from 12 to 2. Book on Rye 222026.
• A colour TV and a quantity of old photographic material and glass plates are among the latest entries in the TPS auction on Saturday. Goods can be delivered on Friday evening between 6 and 8, or Saturday morning between 8.30 and 11. Viewing will be from 1 to 2, when the sale begins.
• The Ice Box in Cinque Ports Street has now reopened after the winter break (but it remains shut on Mondays).
After the business of the Museum Association AGM at the Town Hall on Thursday, 10 March, at 7.30, members will get a reward; Mr. Bagley has offered to show "the hundred best slides" from the collection of pictures he has taken over the last 25 years. With his wide range of interests, this should be quite something. New members are welcome - subscription £2.
• Wildlife in Rye - a couple walking down The Mint late on Thursday night saw a fox eating scraps out of a bag on the pavement. Is this unusual, or have other people encountered foxes in the middle of the town?
• The new clerical assistant at the Town Hall - Mrs. Lesley Scammell, of Winchelsea Beach has already started work; mornings only at first while she learns the job, but we may expect the office to be open in the afternoons after Easter.
20 houses in Cooper Road were without water for two days last week owing to a burst water main; as far as we know, this was Rye's only strike casualty?
• At the Chamber of Trade's recent AGM, Mr. Maurice Blackman, of Landgate, was re-elected Chairman, with Mr. Roy Barnes of the Merrythought as Vice-Chairman; Mrs. Amy Breeds continues as Secretary.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office. It is published by Mrs. Mary Owen at 94 Udimore Road, Rye (Rye 222303), who is always glad to have news items for inclusion - normal deadline Monday afternoon, emergencies first thing Tuesday morning. The GAZETTE costs 20p a week until the end of March (25p from 13 April) and is normally delivered to pick-up points. and subscribers on Wednesday.
Photocopied by Sussex Secretarial Services, 11 Claremont, Hastings (0424 422633).