For once - perhaps because it was the right date - neither wind nor rain marred the Remembrance Sunday parade service at St. Mary's. People were remarking on the excellent turn-out; all the local organisations, military and civil, seemed to be represented, and WW1 veterans marched not far ahead of three very small Brownies whose parents would not have been born at the end of WW2. Preacher was Bishop Stanley Betts, a former Bishop of Maidstone and the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative with Her Majesty's Forces. The bugler was unable to get here, but was replaced by a very professional recording relayed across the churchyard; General Sir Charles Jones spoke the traditional words, and all the local clergy were present at the War Memorial.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Mayor and Town Council, the Royal British Legion and its Women's Section, the RAF Association, the Sea Cadets, the ATC, the Police and the Fire Brigade, the St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Red Cross, WRVS, Rotary, --IZound Table and Lions, the Chamber of Trade, Thomas Peacocke School, the Scouts and Guides, the Bonfire Society and the British Legion Club. There was also the big laurel wreath from the High Street bearing poppies from many private individ¬uals, and some personal tributes of wreaths, flowers and poppy crosses.
And yet - what is the future for this annual "in memoriam"? Inevitably, each year the Service organisations lose a few members; in twenty years' time, even those who served in WW2 will be in short supply for parades. It is not easy to get across to the younger generation the feeling of patriotism and comradeship which bound together the fighting men. and women of the two World Wars. The block of empty seats immediately below the pulpit was not intended as a symbol; but in the hearts of some of those present, the pews housed not only those who never returned from the war but also those who did return and in the fullness of time departed again. In November 2004, will Rye still be commemorating those whose names are listed on the War Memorial, above the poppy wreaths? (For people who wondered, as we did, why the Sea Cadets paraded no standard, the answer is not that they forgot to bring it! Despite the smart turnout of 18 cadets, the unit is not big enough to be allowed its own standard; it needs more like 40 cadets and (says John Royle astonishingly) an armed escort. Clearly the RAF is less demanding; neither sex wore shoulder- holsters in the ATC's colour-party...)
Birthday greetings to the Day Centre, which last week celebrated its first anniversary with a special lunch. Meeting every Wednesday at the Baptist Hall, the Centre has built up its membership from just half-a-dozen a year ago to around 20 now, and organiser Barbara Wild feels that this is probably near their limit for a single session - older people, she points out, not only like plenty of room to move about but find a big gathering rather confusing. Members come in from the villages as well as from the town itself, arriving at about 10 and going home after a home-cooked lunch and a cuppa at 2-ish; as well as the meal and the general friendly atmosphere, there are things to do as part of a group, and both members and helpers enjoy their day very much. One or two members are in their late sixties - a few are over 90; but Mrs. Wild says that most of them are in their eighties. Counting in the drivers, the cooking team, the two craft leaders and the general helpers, there are about a dozen people who come each week to ensure the success of the Centre; Mrs. Wild could do with a few more, particularly drivers, but it does have to be a regular coemitment within reason as otherwise the rotas become so complicated. The Centre is also always glad to be given armchairs of the high-seat, high-back type which older people find most comfortable. If you can help in either respect, please ring Mrs. Wild at Camber.
2.
Mrs. E.M. Bower, formerly of Wish Ward, died in a St. Leonard's nursing home after a short illness; the funeral took place at St. Mary's last week. Mrs. Bower, who with her late husband had been a prep-school teacher until she was 70, came to Rye when she was widowed in 1971, to be near her daughter Biddy Cole. Then 74, she took an active part in the life of the town. She was on the committee of the WI and served at the cake-stall at the Wi Market; she worked for both the WRVS and the Red Cross, helped with the St. Mary's bookstall and enjoyed the Toc H whist drives. She was the WI's representative on the very first Rye Festival committee, and after a year persuaded Biddy to take her place - with what results, we all know. Increasing deafness in her eighties meant that she had to abandon her outside activities, and she gave up her Rye home a couple of years ago. Mrs. Bower leaves a son and two daughters, and five grandchildren.
Miss Valerie Hatter died very suddenly 1 at week in Eastbourne, where she was a school matron. Miss Hatter, who was in her 40s, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hatter of Marley Road; her father died earlier this year, and the family's many friends in the town are very sad for her mother and sister Barbara. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
This week is weighty with anniversaries. 15 November - tomorrow - saw not only the loss of the "Mary Stanford" in 1928, but seven years earlier a much happier occasion. On 15 November 1921, according to the 1922 Deacon's Almanac, HRH Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, arrived to open the district's memorial to those who died in WWI - the Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital. The town was in a state of high excitement, and waiting to present a bouquet to the Princess when she stepped off the train was young Molly Ashenden (now Mrs. Vic Moore), whose father had been killed in the war.
The local committee had been set up in January 1919. The building was designed by the very distinguished architect Sir Reginald Blomfield, RA, who lived on Point Hill (and had designed most of that too) - legend has it that he did the plans for free on condition that he was allowed to put a bell on top, something he had always wanted to do! The builders were Messrs. W E Breeds & Sons, and Alderman Burnham acted as Clerk of the Works. The first Matron was Miss L. Davies, a lady "of great experience from a leading London hospital" whom some readers will doubtless remember.
£24,864 was raised to build and equip the hospital - two wards of twelve beds and (then) two private rooms. Much of the money was raised by public subscription and local events. But a total of £3,000 came from Lady McIlwraith of Winchelsea, whose portrait hangs in the entrance hall; Mr. and Mrs. McGowan of Winchelsea gave £1,000, as did Mr. and Mrs. Noakes of Peasmarsh in memory of their son. Local farmers raised £500 to endow a cot. The superb site, with its view over the town to the sea, was given by Miss Curteis of Playden.
Before the new hospital opened, people from Rye and all the villages round had to go for treatment to Hastings - where the present RESH in Cambridge Road was not yet built, and the hospital stood on the site of the White Rock Pavilion. Talking recently to Mr. Hedger of Cooper Road, we realised just what this could mean. When he was a little lad and the family lived in Peasmarsh, his brother fell out of a tree and broke his arm. Their father harnessed up the dung-cart and drove the child to Rye Station; they went over to Hastings in the train and then walked to White Rock to have the fracture set (it was never quite right afterwards, added Mr. Hedger - and perhaps it is hardly surprising). Later, when the family had >moved to Stone, the two boys were to have their tonsils out. With their mother they walked into Rye, went over in the train, walked to the White Rock, had the operation and stayed in hospital for a matter of a few hours - and then went home again the same way! And we are sure that other people of Mr. Hedger's generation could tell similar stories. What, we wonder, happened to someone who broke not an arm but a leg - or a back?
- 3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 14.11.1984
A pot of lemon curd made in Playden went to Clarence House last week as a tea-time treat for the J-,ueen Mother. Mayoress Amy Breeds was one of a group from Rye going up to an exhibition of needlework at St. James's Palace, almost next door, and she remembered an earlier occasion when as her mother's Mayoress she had given the Queen Mother a jar of locally-made jam. Mrs. Breeds is a member of Playden WI, where Mrs. Nellie Whitnall's lemon curd is famous. So she wrote beforehand, asking whether such a gift would be acceptable and - thinking about security precautions - saying when she would be coming. Sure enough, they were expecting her, she was welcomed past the sentry and given a glass of sherry by the Queen Mother's private secretary Sir Martin Gilliatt. This was on Wednesday; when we heard the story on Thursday, thank-you letters from Clarence House had already reached both the Mayoress and Mrs. Whitnall in Cooper Road - surely an example to us all!
Freeman Hardy Willis is due to reopen on 23 November, and the shop-front is now clear of its yellow hoarding. Several people have remarked that, seen from street level, the new fascia seems to cut off the bottom of the first-floor windows; we took up this point with Rother's planning department, who assure us that the line exactly as it was in the old shop. The hardwood mouldings of the new facade are a great improvement on the original British Shoe Corporation proposals for bronzed aluminium frames, which were flung out by Rother with enthusiastic backing from Rye Town Council. It is sad that the pretty mosaic doorstep has gone, bu the off-centre entrance has been retained (with double doors) and also the side door. The general effect is very pleasant - but it does seem a pity that BSC has seen fit to lower the tone with pink plastic door-knobs: surely they could have run to wooden ones to match the rest of the work?
Friends of Rye Art Gallery celebrated a happy event on Saturday morning. The gallery's Christmas Exhibition is a selection from its permanent collection of pictures and sculpture, and the star exhibit is the portrait of Rye's own poet, Patric Dickinson of Church Square, painted by John Ward RA. (We wrote about this much earlier in the summer, when it was exhibited in the Royal Academy). This is not a commissioned portrait, but one painted by Mr. Ward after he had completed a drawing which now hangs temporarily beside the larger picture (and which belongs to the Dickinson family). Speaking at the private view on Saturday, John Ward explained what it was about the poet's face which made him want to paint it; but won't go into this for fear of embarrassing the sitter! Sidney Horniblow, chairman of the gallery's Trustees, said that the gallery had been able to add the portrait to its permanent collection with the help of a grant from the Friends of Rye Art Gallery and another from the National Art Collections Fund; John Ward's own generosity was also very much appreciated. This is the first time that the gallery has had a grant from the NACF - which is not, clearly, devoted only to "rescuing" million-pound masterpieces from the maw of the Getty Museum but does help small galleries as well. Margaret Casson had taken the opportunity to assemble, in the showcases, examples of Patric Dickinson's books of poetry, trans¬lations and anthoologies - there was even an early draft of a poem about the painting of the portrait.
The two other 1984 acquisitions for the permanent collection were also on view: Jacob Epstein's "Head of a Child", presented by Mrs. Margaret Mackechnie earlier this year, and "Channel Crossing" by Mick Rooney. Unenthusiastic views were expressed by some people when this was purchased by the Friends, but it seems only fair to point out - by courtesy of Kitty French - that since the purchase was made Mick Rooney has had two major exhibitions in prime London galleries and has been the recipient of a Gubelkian Award. He lives in Hastings and has shown regularly at the Easton Rooms in recent years.
The Easton Rooms' own Christmas Exhibition, always a pleasure to visit, opens on 24 November.
The Charity Benefit Night for the Save The Children Fund's Ethiopia Appeal at the George on Thursday raised over £500 from ticket sales, raffle and donations; and the Gassons were quite overwhelmed to receive, in addition to this, a cheque for £200 from Playden Parochial Church Council. With a few more "bits and pieces" expected, says Martyn, the final cheque will be around C740, and somewhere about 140 people enjoyed an evening of mainly jazz and blues music (they lost count!).
Vidler & Co's special evening sales are never large, but they are very select - and there will have been some extremely pleased sellers as well as buyers after last Friday's sale, when the top price was over £1,000 for a beautiful little Victorian rosewood davenport desk. Other Victorian pieces also fetched good prices: a walnut cabinet went for £960, a Wellington chest for £820, a rosewood table for C440 and a music stand for £380. £700 was paid for an Edwardian mahogany partners desk, and two pieces of antique oak also sold well, a bureau for £540 and a gate-leg table for £440. Some lucky lady will perhaps get a very special Christmas present: a crescent brooch in gold set with 15 diamonds (£820).
Congratulations to two Rye 10-year-olds, Timothy Saunders of Marley Road and Sara Crisford of Cooper Road, who by an astonishing coincidence were joint first-prize winners in a colouring competition run by the Tenterden-based Kent and East Sussex Railway - astonishing, because there were some 2,000 entries from schools all over the country. Timothy and Sara went on the Tenterden railway last summer with the rest of their year at Freda Gardham School, and were given the chance to enter the competition; last week they went on the railway again, this time with their parents, to meet the other five prizewinners over a buffet lunch eaten on the train - a very special treat. Prizes were Woolwich savings account books with £12 in for starters, and they were presented by "Henry's Cat", a character well known to younger television viewers.
Congratulations, too, to Ernest and Ruth Thompson of The Old Vicarage in Church Square, whose guest house is a winner - a winner, this time, of one of the British Tourist Authority's coveted plaques for being a "commended establishment". Mr. and Mrs. Thompson join proprietors in Scotland, Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Wales, Devonshire, Surrey and Hampshire in the latest list of 11 hotels, guest houses and restaurants to be added to the 350 or so already chosen "because they offer out¬standing welcome, excellent food and service and good value for money" says the ETA's press release.
Planning: this week's list shows the supermarket application (see GAZETTE no. 106) and a related one from Ellis Bros for change of use of Crown Fields from car park to builders' yard. There is also a change-of-use application for 15-17 Cinque Ports Street, at present the Hamilton Galleries gift shop and art gallery; it is proposed to use the whole building as offices for a firm of solicitors.
Two footnotes to one of last week's front-page stories. First, we were very glad to hear from Canon Maundrell that Bishop Peter has made a complete and swift recovery from his attack of flu; and secondly, we do apologise to Playden church choir, fifteen of whose members swelled the ranks of the St. Mary's choir at the licensing of their new Team Vicar (and we never knew).
Crime: nothing in Rye itself to speak of, but burglaries in several of the villages, and a real cops-and-robbers story based on Rye Harbour, Winchelsea and Pett which we can't report because it is now sub judice, alas!
Not having heard anything for some time about the Cinque Ports Majorettes, or Manorettes as they were known more recently, we rang Mrs. Southerden of Tillingham Avenue to ask whether her daughter Lynda Taylor still ran them. The answer is no; after four years' work with the group, Mrs. Taylor gave up the job a couple of months ago - and she would like to take this opportunity of thanking all her girls and their parents for the support and enthusiasm they showed over that period. If the group is still going, we would be very glad to say so; perhaps the present organiser could get in touch with the Editor?
5.
Two years ago, in its report on the 1982 lifeboat nemorial service, the GAZETTE asked "Who was Mary Stanford?". We had some feedback, though not much; but it included a puzzling reference to another "Mary Stanford" lifeboat at Ballycotton in Eire.
Sheila Draffin, of West Street, has a sister living near Ballycotton, as well as friends in the fishing community there, and she offered to investigate on behalf of the GAZETTE. We also made enquiries from the RNLI, and are most grateful to Miss Draffin and to Mrs. Griffiths at Poole for their help with this account.
There were, it seems, three "Mary Stanford" lifeboats.
Mr. John Frederick Stanford of Regent's Park died in 1880 or 1881, leaving money to the RNLI to endow a lifeboat to be named after his mother. This was stationed at Rye "to take the place of the former boat stationed near the Camber Coastguard Station not far from the entrance to the harbour". The first "Mary Stanford" was 34 foot long and rowed ten oars double-banked, says "The Lifeboat" reporting the launching ceremony on 8 September 1881. "After proceeding in procession through the town of Rye, the boat was taken to the Strand, where a large concourse had assembled, numbering some four or five thousand people. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor of Rye (Mr. Henry Burra), General Kerr (Mr. Stanford's cousin and executor), Mr. F A Inderwick MP, and the District Inspector of Life-Boats ... the Rev. T D Gladstone offered up a prayer for the success of the boat
Mrs. Kerr performed the naming ceremony." (Could this, we wonder, be the boat shown in an unidentified slide in Laurie Band's recent show?) Anyway, she went out 11 times in the next ten years, saving 35 lives, and was replaced in due course by "Edward and Lucile" (launched only twice before the station was closed in 1901).
It seems likely that the reason for the Camber station's closure was the arrival in 1900 at what was then called the Winchelsea station of a much larger boat - costing £831 as against under £400 - the "John William Dudley". Her replacement we all know about: the second "Mary Stanford", whose loss will be commemorated at Rye Harbour Church on Sunday afternoon. She came to the Harbour in 1916, having cost just over £2,000 to build; she was launched 16 times, saved 10 lives, and capsized with the loss of all 17 crew members on 15 November 1928.
After this disaster the Stanford family wished to give the RNLI a replacement boat. In 1929 Ballycotton, a small fishing port on the south coast of Ireland, was due for a new boat (its sixth), and RNLI officials went over to talk to the crew. Miss Draffin's friend, whose late husband had been a member of the Ballycotton crew for very many years, recalls that the RNLI representatives spoke to each crew member individually to ask if he minded having a boat with the same name as the one which had only recently brought tragedy to Rye Harbour. Without exception all the crewmen agreed that the name should be carried on. It would, they said, be a tribute to the Rye Harbour boat and its crew, who had been defeated only by the elements.
So, in 1930 at Ballycotton, the third "Mary Stanford" went into service. She cost well over £9,000, and had a most satisfactory career over the next thirty years. She was launched 83 times, saver. 101 lives, and in 1936 made a particularly dramatic rescue of eight men from the Daunt Rock lightship. In 1959 she was replaced by the present Ballycotton boat, the "Ethel Mary"; "Mary Stanford" became a standby boat, and was later sold for use as a pilot boat at Shannon.
It is hardly surprising that after more than a hundred years the RNLI has no details of the original Stanford legacy. But it is perfectly reasonable to assume that if John Stanford died in 1880, his mother could have been born in the late 1700s; indeed, if they were a long-lived family 1984 could even mark the bicentenary of her birth. It does seem odd that after possibly two hundred years we still remember the name of this lady, but nothing else about her; so just once more, and with a very faint hope of an answer, we ask "Who was Mary Stanford?"
6.
Two very surprised people came away from Thursday's Red Cross AGM with more than they bargained for: Certificates of Commendation from the British Red Cross Society, presented by the Branch Deputy President Mrs. Beer. Kathleen and Stewart Thurston took over the management of the Red Cross Thrift Shop 2i years ago, after it had been closed for several months; joining the Red Cross specifically to run the shop, they brought fresh ideas and since May 1982 have raised over £9,200 for the Society's funds. As we reported at the end of September, Mr. and Mrs. Thurston are giving up shopkeeping at the end of this year, and are hoping to bring their total up to £10,000 with the December sale; they themselves made the delightful toys which were on sale last month and will be again in November and December, and it seems reasonable to expect that they will surpass their target. The applause which greeted the presentation of the certificates bore witness to the Centre members' gratitude for all that hard work; it may be only three or four days a month that the shop is open to the public, but two weeks out of every four are spent preparing for it! The new manager will be Mrs. Maria Judge, who has been one of the shop's helpers since 1972, and who joined the Red Cross in Belgium as a ten-year-old cadet. There are vacancies for more helpers, and anyone with half a day to spare during the third weekend in each month would be welcomed.
The Treasurer's report for 1983, presented by Nick Martin, showed a very satisfac¬tory financial position, even allowing for new equipment purchased for the Centre. Centre Organiser Hilary Bolton gave her view of the year, and then Mary Rylands of the Red Cross Beauty Care Service spoke about the work of the volunteers who help patients both in hospital and in their homes with beauty care generally and with cosmetic camouflage of blemishes such as birthmarks or scars. (Hugh Brooking showed amazing restraint as he wrestled with a refractory slide-projector while Mrs. Rylands spoke!) The raffle raised over 240 for famine relief. There are still plenty of Red Cross pocket diaries for sale (Z1.20) and a few Christmas cards - both available from the Centre during normal opening hours. And Mrs. Bolton points out, incidentally, that the Red Cross is the only Rye organisation of its kind which actually owns its premises - and is therefore responsible for rates and maintenance as well as the more obvious expenses - so they really needed the good results which were reported to the AGM.
Running a newspaper single-handed does present problems. If an event calls for a report, then the Editor is there to cover it, and not back at home to answer the phone; if she is back and on the phone, then she can't answer the door! We do apologise to those who have difficulty contacting the paper. The best time to phone is on a Sunday, or on other days between 8.30 and 10 am or between 5 and 7 pm - at other times, if there is no reply, please try again later. If callers whose ring is not answered will put a scrap of paper through the letter-box with their name and phone/address, we will be in touch.
We also repeat what we said last winter about deliveries. If owing to some domestic disaster it is not possible to print the GAZETTE on a particular Wednesday, we would hope to notify the pick-up points, and subscriptions will be extended as appropriate. If the paper is printed but normal distribution is impossible, we would try to get the individually-delivered copies to the nearest pick-up point >for collection (as well as the normal picked-up copies, of course). So, if your GAZETTE doesn't appear one week, try as follows:
Cadborough Stores (everyone beyond Ashenden Avenue/Badger Gate)
Hazel's (usual collection only)
Squirrels (the rest of TJdimore and Ferry Roads, the Wish and Strand areas and Cinque Ports Street as far as the foot of Market Road)
Freezer Centre (the rest of Cinque Ports Street and all the Landgate area)
Penny Royal (High Street, Mint and Market Road
Tuck Shoppe (everyone uphill from the High Street)
George Hotel bar (usual collection only) ... but we do hope it won't happen.
7.
Friday week, 23rd, sees what sounds like a very good night out indeed. Thomas Peacocke PTA nave enlisted help from local shops catering for all age-groups to set up a Fashion Extravaganza in the school hall - the first time Rye has had a fashion show for several years. Shops involved are Bennetts for menswear, Roseanne for the ladies, Debenhama' Just In department for teenage fashion and Quarter Bell for the younger generation. Sea Cruisers' contribution is nautically obvious. James Kimber are making themselves responsible for hairdressing and make-up, and are also providing a cabaret spot. The two dozen or so models - men, women and children - are not being allowed to get away with just a twirl and a smirk at the end of the catwalk; we hear that TPS dance teacher Margaret Marshall has had them handed over to her, which means that the presentation will be something quite out of the ordinary. The entertainment includes a singer, and the compere is Nick Hurst, a professional actor who lives in Peasmarsh and has given much pleasure in Rye with his children's show at the Community Centre.
Tickets are obtainable from the Rye shops taking part, and from Penny Royal and the Eastbourne Mutual Building Society. They cost £2 (to include a glass of wine) or £1 for (teetotal) children. Although the hall is a large one, the show will be occupying quite a lot of room and seating will be in a circle round UgaA edge - so we would recommend early booking to be quite sure of a place. The show begins at 7.30.
• When Lois Benton and David Gaunt weet over to Hastings to see the St. John's Players production of "Godspell", they were so impressed that they persuaded the company to bring the musical to Rye. They managed to find a Saturday evening when the Town Diary is otherwise blank - 24 November. Upper School Hall will be all lit up (for the second night running, see above). at 7.30, and tickets will be on sale at the door (fl, or 50p for members of the school).
Mr. Gaunt tells us that "Godspell" was rather overshadowed by "Jesus Christ Super¬star" when both appeared in the 1960s, but it is an attractive musical interpretation of the life of Christ as told by St. Matthew, and has the enthusiastic approval of church-people. This production is by Janice Reeve - her first shot at directing a musical - and if Mr. Gaunt and Miss Benton, with a series of successful TPS musicals behind them, say it is good, then it is good. The transfer was arranged too late to get it into Fixtures, so it would be kind if readers could put word round among their friends: we repeat, Saturday, 24th, at 7.30, and tickets a very good buy at only £1.
Finding that not just one but two private events were likely to draw away regular supporters from the Hospital Auction booked for 8 December, the League of Friends of Rye Memorial Hospital has decided to cancel it. This still leaves an extremely busy week, with a dozen events packed into the last four days.
The NSPCC has a Christmas coffee morning at the George Hotel on Wednesday, 5 December; the following day sees a coffee morning for the Friends of Rye Art Gallery in a Church Square cellar, and on the Saturday morning (8th) the League of Friends of Hill House have their big Christmas Bazaar in the Town Hall. Thomas Peacocke Lower School presents its Christmas entertainment on the Thursday and Friday. There are invitation-only evening parties on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Museum Association, Movie Society and National Trust). The Saturday (still the 8th) also sees the Craft Market, shifted from its usual end-of-the-month date, and Father Christmas's arrival at Rye Station at 4 to be carried through the streets to turn on the Christmas lights. All this in addition to the regular events: the Monday Club, the Hearing Circle, the Christian Lunch Club and a FRAG talk (John Doyle, ARWS). Phew! Might we suggest that readers fill in their diaries in good time? After the 17th (TPS Upper School carol service) everything public goes quiet - as far as the Town Diary knows - until term begins on 7 January.
Coffee morning for Christian Lunch Club, Red Cross, 10.30
Coffee morning for St. Michael's Hospice Appeal, 151 Pottingfield Road (The Link end) by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Nettle 10.30 to 12
"A Tomb with a View" (TPS staff play), Upper School hall, 7.30 - also Friday and Saturday (see GAZETTE no. 106)
Rye Museum Association talk, "Some Aspects of Sussex Churches" (Ralph Wood), FEC, 7.30 - non-members welcome
British Legion (Women's Section) Christmas Fair, CC, 11 to 1
Catholic Church Christmas Fair, FEC, 2.30
RYE BONFIRE NIGHT (GAZETTE no. 106)
Lifeboat Memorial Service, Rye Harbour Church (see page 5) Monday Club, Clinic, 2
Thrift Shop (receiving only), Red Cross HQ, 10.30 to 12.30
TPS Parents Evening (third year), Upper School, 6.30
Discussion on the proposed Covenant for Unity, St. Mary's, 7.30
• Congratulations to Steve and Viv Williams of Iden on the birth of their son David (who arrived on Monday and weighed 7 lbs 1 oz), a brother for Stephanie and a second grandson and fourth grandchild for Pat and Charles Williams of Pottingfield Road.
• The Poppy Appeal house-to-house and street collection last week raised 21,800. This, from Rye itself and Winchelsea, Winchelsea Beach, Playden, Iden, East Guldeford and Rye Harbour, is 2170 up on last year, much to the surprise of the Legion who had expected a drop in view of the Ethiopia appeals. The St. Mary's Sunday morning collection raised another £181.
• The RNLI coffee morning on Saturday at the FE Centre raised a most gratifying £411 for the Lifeboat House Appeal. Joan Parkes is most grateful to all who came to help, or to buy, and apologises for the confusion about the time.
• Sand from the Sahara (or mud from Morocco, depending which weather forecaster you patronise) left its traces in the town on Friday night as it did all over the south-east; condolences to those who had just washed their cars or their windows, but think how much worse it must be in Morocco (or, of course, the Sahara)!
• Welcome home to Mrs. Helen Goodwin of North Salts after a stay in Rye Hospital.
• In view of the competition in two directions just down the road, the SDP local branch was delighted to have raised £72 at Saturday's coffee morning in Hucksteps Row. We met one Ryer who was making her first trip down the little alley since - as a small girl - she was forbidden to go there because it was such a rough neighbourhood!
• Anyone going to Folkestone by train on Sunday should beware: engineering work on the line between Ashford and Folkestone West means buses and altered timings. (The same applies to the Hastings-Tonbridge line, but this seems to be regular practice at the moment.)
• We have been asked whether anyone in the centre of the town now collects silver foil, either for Guide Dogs for the Blind or for some other cause. Any offers?
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, and published
by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye (Rye 222303). News items for inclusion are always welcome - deadline Monday afternoon, Tuesday 9 am for emergencies. The GAZETTE costs 25p weekly, and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday; some spare copies of the current issue are available at Squirrels, 9-13 Cinque Ports Street, and back numbers can be obtained from Cyprus Place. (Copyright Mary Owen 1984)
STOP PRESS - a few seats on a coach to London - Cadborough Jubilee Social Club on Saturday, leaving Rope Walk 8.30, leaving London 6.30, 22.50 return. Ring at once.