Rye's ghosts must have had a very poor opinion of Election Day in the town, when only the sound of rival loudspeaker cars gave any indication that something special was going on. The Hastings Returning Officer did, as he promised, post the results at the Town Hall as well as at the Council Offices, and for the record they were as follows (from a turnout of 68.9%):
Conservative (Ken Warren) 25,626 (53%)
Liberal (David Amies) 14,646 (30%)
Labour (Nigel Knowles) 7,304 (15%)
Independent (Gordon McNally) 503 (1%)
In addition, 21 papers were rejected because they bore votes for more than one candidate, 14 because the voter could be identified, and 24 because the voter's intention was not clear - which is not bad, out of over 48,000 voting papers!
Bexhill and Battle had a 72.8% turnout, and the percentages (in the same order of party) were 67%, 23%, 8% and 1%. It seems odd that the turnout was lower in our constituency than in Bexhill, which must have felt itself to be an even safer Conservative seat (we reckoned it to be in the top ten of the big-majority constituencies). Was there some apathy in Hastings? Or in Rye? We wish we could give the percentage figures for just the Rye polling stations, but apparently these are not issued separately.
At his election meeting, Ken Warren told us he intended to hold regular surgeries in Rye; we shall be very glad to give advance notice of these in due course.
(Looking through Vidler's History of Rye for a really lurid account of some earlier election, we found mention of "a somewhat scandalous little newspaper called the Rye Gazette" founded in 1826 by the Rye Independent Association to boost the case for electoral reform!)
Three weeks ago we wrote about the excellent company report which the Rye Young Enterprise group based at Thomas Peacocke School had produced at the end of their firm's nine-month lifespan. This report was entered, along with others from all over Sussex, in a competition run by South East Forum, an organisation aiming to build contacts between schools and industry; the final assessments were delivered at Eastbourne on Thursday. Julie Hare, Julie Moug and Louise Hickman, who had been Chairman, Secretary and Accountant of the Rye group for part of its existence, went over to hear the verdict, though Marc Chapman and Tracy Kirkham regretfully stayed home to revise for exams the next day.
The Rye VIth-formers were delighted to hear that they had won. They were even more delighted to hear their report described by the Chairman of the County Council Further Education Sub-Committee as "one of the finest reports I have seen for years - better than many from real companies", and by the SE Regional Director of the scheme as the best he had seen - just that. It is to be made available to other Young Enterprise groups as a model, and is of course being entered in the scheme's national contest - though this does not concern the South East Forum competition, whose trophy is to be presented at the school on 18 July.
The school, especially Mr. Hunt and the other Vlth Form staff, have good reason to be very proud of this year's group, and Mr. Fooks asks us to say how grateful all concerned are for the tremendous co-operation between town and school throughout the project, particularly for the help given by the Advisers from Rotary but also to the other people in the area who have helped the young company to this success.
2.
George Shackleton, who is on the Rother Committee dealing with the Sunday trading issue, tells us that of the 950 questionnaires sent out by the Technical Services Department only 421 were returned at all. This means that there is no question of the two-thirds majority which would be required to bring in the Order for the whole of Rother District, and the matter is therefore to be dropped. The position, then, remains exactly as before: Rye still has its own Order dating back to 1939 which covers most of the same ground as the proposed Rother one, and no-one else at all - presumably? - has any right to trade on any Sunday, holiday season or not!
Rye Wholefoods of Winchelsea Road are celebrating their first birthday (tomorrow) by issuing a summer price-list enormously enlarged from the earlier versions and making mouthwatering reading. It contains about 300 items, including more than 40 herbs and spices, and ten different varieties of the increasingly popular "snack mixes" - probably every bit as fattening as Mars Bars but easier on the conscience! They also offer bulk-buy savings, and now sell fresh goats' milk and goats'-milk yoghurt - plus, already, this year's honey from local bees.
Sympathies to Mr. and Mrs. Wills, of Serendipity - and in theory of Doodle as well, but, alas, their shopfitter didn't follow instructions and when the counter fitment arrived on Friday, not only would it not go in the door but even taking out the window to admit it didn't help, there wasn't room inside! With the surplus 18" removed, it is expected back in time for the shop to open, they do hope, at the end of this week.
Some readers expressed surprise recently when we said that the Goods Yard supermarket was still "on the boil". We now gather that there will be visible evidence of the truth of this very soon indeed, and we hope to have more to report next week.
A part-time job, two or three days a week, £2 an hour or £2.50 at weekends (and by no means every weekend, since the job is shared between four people)? No previous experience needed for interesting and useful work in the centre of Rye, indoors and with plenty of opportunity for meeting people? No selling, no need for a car - and very flexible working hours, to be arranged with the other three people concerned?
What is this peach of a job but that of an operator for the Rye Town Model! Go and see the Town Clerk or ring him on Rye 223902 (mornings) if you are interested - or leave a message at the Town Hall.
Another job, ideal for someone with school-age children, is on offer at Leasam House starting in September. They will be needing a laundress to cope with the domestic (machine)washing - not bed-linen - for the pupils; she (or he?) will be responsible for washing, ironing and mending, but with help, and the job is scheduled for 39 hours a week, term-time only, Enquiries to the Housemaster, Mr. Wright (Rye 222296).
At the end of May we reported on the possibility of a day centre in Rye. The CVS working group has now been promised half the £1,000 it needs for equipment to set up the Centre. The final home for it has not yet been decided, but in any case, they hope to open for up to 25 handicapped and elderly people on Wednesday, 21 September, from 10 to 4.30. The group has already had offers of help with day-to-day running, but they are still looking for someone to take on the overall administration; anyone who would like information about this might like to get in touch with Mrs. Monica Oliver at 77 Lea Avenue (Rye 222331).
There will be a meeting on Wednesday, 7 September, at 11 am in the Baptist Hall, with an open invitation for all those who are willing to help with the project in any way, whether it be transport, meals, fund-raising or simply actual care of the Centre's members. This date is slap in the middle of Rye Festival Week, so it would be as well to note it down now if you are likely to be going.
Another date to book is the Rye CVS meeting on 23 June at the Town Hall, when the Day Centre project will be under discussion. Speakers will be Mrs. Barton on the WRVS, Mrs. Haines on Rye Library, Miss J. Ciccone on Holiday School, and Inspector Judge on what is described as "Community Watchdog!" - and very timely too, in view of several recent incidents in the town.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 15.6.83 - page 3
News is coming in as we go to press of a serious fire which has caused considerable damage to Playden Oasts, the hotel and restaurant just outside Rye. The building, converted some years ago from oast-houses, is said to be still alight at tea-time, with five fire-engines in attendance (and talk of another being involved in an accident on its way to the scene). At least it seems clear that there were no casualties at the hotel. Playden Forge and The Hooks are said to be undamaged, though the Playden Oasts family have lost many of their possessions and of course their summer bookings. Naturally there is no official information available yet, but we shall have a fuller report next week.
On 7 May the Hastings Hang-Gliding Club organised a sponsored fly-in to raise money for a laser gun for King's College Hospital, London, in support of an appeal from a Hastings man who had been successfully treated for cancer with this equipment in America. They invited members of other Southern clubs to join in, and the task was to fly for precisely five minutes and then land on a marked spot on the East Cliff at Hastings. On Sunday the Rev. John Pyke was able to thank his own sponsors for a welcome total of £54 (his attempt rated 93 out of a possible 100 points), and he reported that the total amount raised by the 40 fliers who took part will certainly be over £1,000 and perhaps nearer £1200.
Another unusual sponsor bid, at a literally much more down-to-earth level, is being made by the 1st Rye Brownies. On half-term Thursday twelve Brownies plus Brown Owl Mrs. Daliea White and Tawny Owl Mrs. Heather Howard collected 40 bags of litter and rubbish in the middle of the town; the girls then had a go at the Salts last Thursday evening, and tomorrow will make a start on Tilling Green. They intend to make up their total of bags to sixty, to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee; and Mrs. White says that thanks to sponsorship from Rye traders as well as parents and friends they expect to end up with well over £60 in sponsor money. Footnote: was it coincidence or a result of the Brownies' good example that the whole of the Salts area looked so very neat, trim and attractive from Hilder's Cliff on Monday morning?
A St. Leonards man is offering, a reward of £100 for the recovery of the communion plate stolen from Winchelsea Church last week. The chalice, paten and the box for the bread were taken - on Thursday afternoon, the one day when there is no evensong from a cupboard with an awkward lock, tucked well away in the vestry and certainly not accessible to a casual thief. The silver is worth £600. Mr. Beeching, of Trocadero Hotel, who has offered the reward, is at present on holiday, but any information in connection with it can be given to the Rector, the Rev. Geoffrey Scott (Rye 226254); it will of course be treated in the strictest confidence.
The sudden disappearance of the entrance archway to the Pipemakers Arms from Strand Quay is simply the result of old age and not a difference of opinion with a lorry. Mr. Walker tells us that it was becoming increasingly unsafe and beginning to lean towards the timber yard, and the brewery decided that the best thing was to take it down - there are no plans at present for replacing it. The archway was not, we think, very old by Rye standards, but its absence makes a surprising difference to the look of the corner.
Rye Bonfire Society could have done with better weather for the coffee morning at the Ypres Castle pub garden on Saturday, but still they were £36 better off at the end. This time last year the Society had a bank balance rather nearer £5 than the £500 or so which reposes there at present, saving up for the 19 November fireworks - and the GAZETTE would like to congratulate the present Secretary Joan Parkes on this remarkable improvement in its affairs.
The vendors (rather than a potential buyer) of Paygate Cottage beside the Udimore Road bridge are applying for permission to demolish it with a view to rebuilding.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 15.6.83 - page 4.
Arrangements are now nearly complete for the merger of the two Thomas Peacocke School boarding houses into one mixed house at Leasam, with 64 pupils. Mr. Dick Wright, the present Leasam Housemaster, will be in charge, with Miss Julia Thomas and Mr. Michael White as assistant House staff. Mrs. Stewart will be the Matron, with Miss Bowden and Mrs. Foster as her assistants. Mr. Piper continues as caretaker.
Every effort is being made to help people obtain jobs, but there will have to be some redundancies. Hitherto much of the administration of the two boarding houses has been done from Lewes, but it will now be in the hands of a local management committee, headed by Mr. John Smith as Chairman with Mr. Jim Simpson as Vice-Chairman, and including Mrs. Anne Wood, Mrs. Anne Mair, Mrs. Roxburgh and Mr. Lutman.
Mr. Fooks is very pleased that so many of the parents with children already in the two boarding houses have been happy to leave them at the school under the new system. He points out that last May there seemed very little prospect of the school being left with any boarding accommodation at all, and it is due to the efforts of the School Governors in convincing the County Education Committee of the continuing need that the new Leasam House will be opening for boys and girls in September.
Parents and friends were very adequately refreshed at the 1st Rye (Peacocke) Cub Scout Pack's open evening on 7 June. First item on the agenda was the dispensation of tea by the Cubs to the visitors, who had to sign a form testifying to the quality of the brew, which was in fact excellent (would anyone have had the effrontery to tick either of the other columns if it had not been?). All this was in connection with National Tea-Making Week, apparently - but any excuse for a cuppa!
After this, the serious business, when District Commissioner Roy Hall invested eight new Cubs, heard them recite the Law and the Promise, and handed over the scarf, woggle and an interesting collection of insignia designed to keep Mum's needle busy for some time. The Cubs invested were Miles Bourne, Adam Harkin, David Bignall, Alan Hickmott, Wayne Field, Shaun Roche, Jeremy Gray and Matthew Wall. Then Group Scout Leader Peter Dee presented various proficiency badges and gave Christopher Johnson, Matthew Buss and Glen Mallen their Bronze Arrows; Anthony Gray received a Gold Arrow and demonstrated rescuing someone from a smoke-filled room as part of his Rescue Badge work.
After the presentations came another round of refreshments (coffee and squash this time), and a chance to look at some of the work which Cubs had done towards the Hobbies Badge, plus a very fine assortment of model lighthouses "commissioned" over the holidays by Akela Pat Hatter, who runs the pack with help from her daughter Sue and son David. Mrs. Hatter was proud to announce at the meeting that the Cubs had raised £77 for their funds during Bob-a-Job week this year.
Further to our report on 1 June about the delay in the cobbled-streets parking restrictions, we now hear that the meeting in Rye between the County Engineer's staff and D.O.T. officials was very satisfactory. The objection was only to the type of sign proposed, and new ones are now being designed which will, Lewes hopes, overcome this. Once they have D.O.T. approval, everything can go ahead. (This was, we thought, the position last summer, but it does now seem that something will really happen soon. Keep your fingers crossed.)
John Smith gives us an interesting footnote to our recent account of Town Council fashions. The robes themselves were presented to the Council in 1927 when Leopold Vidler was Mayor - the Aldermen's by Mrs. J.L. Deacon and the Councillors' by Mr. J.E. Mitchell. Until the war members provided their own hats – either bought new or passed on from a friend who had ceased to be on the Council. The men wore the standard "fore-and-aft" hat; but in 1925 Mrs. E.M. Hacking and Miss A.M. Roffey were elected to the Council as its first lady members, soon followed by others. They decided, with reason, that the tricorn shape was more becoming; and this is why both shapes are now in use today. The robes, repaired and re-repaired, are now well over 50 years old, and it seems probable that most of the hats are too!
5.
Congratulations to Kate and Francis Ford on the birth of Mary Gloria (8lbs 10ozs), sister for Lily and second grand-daughter for the Editor; with a proper respect for the GAZETTE's deadline she appeared at mid-day on Monday!
Congratulations, too, to Sally Eade, now of Cranbrook but until recently of Rye and a much-appreciated performer in both Thomas Peacocke School and Rye Players productions, as well as a soloist with Ryesingers. Sally has won a place at the Guildhall School of Music in the Barbican for a four-year Performer's Course in singing and piano; she hopes to go on to opera. It is the first time for many years that a Thomas Peacocke pupil (Sally took her As last year) has gained a place at this top college for musicians, and the good wishes of all Sally's friends and admirers in Rye will go with her to London in September.
The Rye veterinary practice welcomed at the beginning of June a new veterinary surgeon, replacing Michael Lockerbie who has moved with his family to a practice on the Isle of Wight. Nicholas Mills, 29, has come from Kent, and is at present living in Beckley; his wife Victoria is the Curator of Hastings Museum.
Chris Royle, of Playden, who recently acted as translator for his father at the Le Crotoy dinner (see last week) is fluent in Spanish too; his entry was among the top 30 out of 500 in a recent competition run by the Hispanic Society for schools all over Great Britain. Chris is busy with A-levels at the moment - but if anyone wants something translated when he is home for the holidays...?
We hear from the Easton Rooms that Tina Cole has sold some 30 paintings from her current exhibition there (GAZETTE no. 36) which ends this week - quite an achievement in these hard times!
Lottery addicts will already have noticed that the new four-game Rye Town Lottery tickets are now on sale, price 25p a time; apart from commission on sales, all the profits go for the benefit of the town, and the top prize of £1,000 (see GAZETTE no.31) will be drawn for on 9 December. The Council is looking for a part-time organiser for the lottery, though "organiser" is perhaps an over-statement since John Baker says that the job really only involves, contacting outlets, delivering fresh supplies of tickets and collecting the cash for the previous lot - the fundamental organisation is done from the Town Hall. Pay is on a commission basis, and we understand that with present deliveries it amounts to about £200 for the duration of the current round of the lottery.
We asked the Town Clerk for a list of the existing outlets for tickets. It does seem that non-drinkers are not catered for as extensively as they might be, in the town at any rate, and we hope that the new organiser will be able to redress the balance so that casual impulse-buy shoppers can also be tempted. At present the tickets can be bought at the Cadborough Stores, the Pet Shop, the Freezer Centre, one of the Tilling Green shops, the Ice Box, the Video Centre, and Thunders; also at the Bedford Arms, Durrant House, the Mermaid Inn, the Union Inn, the Old Bell, the Queen's Head, the Ypres Castle, the Ferry Boat and the Crown Inn, as well as from various outlets in the villages. We will be very pleased, of course, to publicise any new purchasing points for this valuable scheme.
Readers may well wonder why the GAZETTE sometimes prints news such as the election results which are of course common knowledge in the town already. However, we know, from the very welcome letters which the Editor receives, that the paper increasingly reaches people who no longer live here but through our columns can keep in touch with Rye affairs, and it is for their benefit that we include the obvious. There is also that other reader: the man or woman who will - perhaps in fifty years' time, perhaps a hundred - wish to write a new history of the town, to follow on from Leopold Vidler's invaluable work which in effect ended in 1930; and we like to think that he or she will find in the GAZETTE what they will no longer be able to extract from the regular local papers.
6.
Thursday, 16th Red Cross Thrift Shop, High Street, 10.30 to 4 (and Friday, Saturday) Film: "Padre Pio", Methodist Church, 7.30 (see below)
Friday, 17th ATC Open Evening, Upper School, 7
Saturday, 18th NSPCC Summer Fair, FEC, 10.30 to 3.30
Rye Harmonic Society concert, St. Mary's, 7.30 (see GAZETTE no.37)
• St. Anthony's Church presents, tomorrow at the Methodist Church at 7.30, a film on the life of "Padre Pio - a man of God of our time". Padre Pio, an Italian friar who died in 1968, was an outstandingly holy man who carried the marks of the Crucifixion for the last fifty years of his life. Everyone is most welcome to attend; there will be refreshments, and a collection for expenses.
• The RNLI is holding a house-to-house collection during the week beginning 4 July, with a flag day on the 9th. Offers of help with either will be welcomed by Mrs. Joan Parkes, 5 Bridge Place (Rye 222717).
• On 8 June a silver Austin Metro MG saloon was found parked near Monkbretton Bridge by the entrance to the swimming-pool track. The police are anxious to trace the owner, who lives in Wales, as it is possible that harm has befallen him - a search has been made of the river and the surrounding area without any result. Anyone who can throw any light on the matter should please get in touch with Rye police at once (Rye 222112).
• Roger Pickett at Vidlers tells us that buyers from all over the south came to Rye on Saturday for the firm's annual Boat Auction. There was a good trade for the interesting assortment of chandlery laid out in the Cattle Market, as well as for outboard motors, though the demand for actual boats was slower.
• Two forthcoming lectures which will appeal to those interested in homeopathy - on Thursday, 30 June, at 7.30 at the Community Centre there is a talk by Peter John Hudson, registered homeopath and natural medicine practitioner, on "Reversing the ageing process by natural medicine". And on Saturday, 16 July, at the George Hotel at 3, Dr. K. Priestman is giving "An Introduction to Homeopathy" under the auspices of the South East Friends of Homeopathy.
• Long notice department: Mrs. Phil Ellis tells us that the Cancer Relief Fete at Monypenny, Pett - originally in the diary for 24 July - will now be on Saturday 17 July instead. If you have one of our recent events lists displayed on a noticeboard somewhere, could you very kindly alter this date?
• Tickets are now on sale for Rye Dance Centre's first show, "Showbiz", at the Community Centre at 7.30 on Friday and Saturday, 15 and 16 July. Tickets cost £1 (75p for OAPs and children) booked in advance from Mrs. Sherwood during the Community Centre's usual opening hours on Tuesdays and Fridays; if you leave it until the night, and pay at the door, they will be an extra 25p.
• For an unusual outing, what about Dungeness Power Station? It is now open on Wednesday afternoons from June to September, with tours at 2 and 3 pm. (Children under 14 are not admitted.) Tickets are available free from Seeboard showrooms.
• A raffle winner at Rye WI's June meeting went home with a 3-ft long stick of rhubarb - jam tomorrow, perhaps? Members were fascinated by a demonstration on the making of peg dolls, and also heard a report on the AGM. A coffee morning at the Red Cross Centre is planned for 24 June, and a jumble sale at Camber in August.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office. It is published by Mrs. Mary Owen at 94 Udimore Road, Rye (222303), and news items for inclusion are always most welcome - deadline is Monday afternoon, or 9 am Tuesday for emergencies. The GAZETTE costs 25p weekly and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday morning.
Photocopied by Sussex Secretarial Services, 10 Cambridge Road, Hastings (0424 422633).