SUBSCRIPTIONS: If there is no mark by your name and you normally pay by cash or cheque, you still owe us £4.80 in cash please (by the end of this week if possible); change for a fiver will be attached to your receipt.
If you normally pay by standing order and have not sent us cash instead for this final quarter, your copy will be marked SO - we can't be certain who is leaving their standing order running until we get notification from the bank, but that should be well before the next issue on 13 April, so don't worry.
If you have already paid, your copy will as usual be ticked by your name.
The prettiest (and chilliest!) sight in Rye on Saturday was on the Gungarden steps soon after noon, when a Playden wedding paused for photographs on the way down to the Ypres Inn for the reception. The bridegroom was Ian, second son of Stanley and Bridget Shepherd of Rope Walk; his bride was Karen, daughter of Beryl Pope of New Road. Karen's dress was of cream silk, lavishly trimmed with lace at neck and elbow and with tiers of lace at the hem; her waist-length veil as also edged with lace ruching and was held in place with a pearl tiara, and ...he carried a spray of pink and cream flowers. She was attended by two child bridesmaids, her cousins Sarah and Lisa Pope from Hastings, who wore white ballet-length dresses with lace underskirts and lavender sashes; they carried posies of mixed flowers. The bridegroom's mother wore grey with a feathered hat, and the bride's mother was in black and white. Ian's sister Susan made both the unusual twin-heart wedding cake and the decorated-egg ornament which crowned it. The honeymoon is being spent in Cyprus, and the couple have a house in Hastings. Karen - who was one of the stars of our St. John Nursing Cadets - works for TSB in Bexhill, but Ian is often away at sea in the course of his job with Horizon, an exploration company.
Last week we mentioned briefly a burglary at Upper School; details of this are now in the press book - over £2,000-worth of computer and video equipment was stolen on 13/14 March, with a further £750-worth from Lower School the same weekend. However, "as a result of police enquiries, a number of people were arrested on 17 March. Property has been recovered, and they have been charged with a number of burglaries and will appear before Rye Magistrates on 13 April." 1 fact about £2,000-worth of goods have been retrieved, but the police are still -oping to recover four Toshiba video-recorders, all marked clearly with the letters TP (using security paint, impossible to remove without trace). If any- one knows the whereabouts of any of these, or has been offered one for sale, Rye police (Rye 222112) would be very pleased to hear about it.
Good news, too, for Winchelsea School, who had £1,000-worth of similar equipment stolen at the beginning of the month. "As a result of a member of the public taking the number of a vehicle parked in the vicinity of the school on 3 March, some property has been recovered and a person has been charged with burglary and will appear before Rye Magistrates on 20 April" says the press book - with considerable satisfaction, we would imagine.
There have been a number of other burglaries locally. Owners of Clairol foot-spas should be particularly watchful; one of these was stolen from Deadman's Lane between 7 and 9 March (admittedly a quantity of jewellery went too). £800-worth of flares, smoke canisters and other equipment were stolen from Sandrock Marine on the night of 8/9 March; cash and jewellery were taken from a house on Rye Hill between 11 and 13 March; Playden WI Hall recently lost its big wooden school-type clock (with the face marked Masters, and valued at £200); and Playden School (now under refurbishment, with the pupils at Freda Gardham for the duration) has had its bell stolen from the bracket in the yard. If anyone has removed this legitimately, will they please mention it to the police!
2.
(have your diary handy)
A fortnight ago we previewed half-a-dozen out-of-the-ordinary events coming up before we resume publication on 13 April. (See Three Weeks' Events, back page.) We now look at some events during the rest of April and early May.
The AGM of Rye Ratepayers Association, on Friday evening, 15 April, will be of particular interest, since the speaker will be Rother's treasurer, Albert Willis, talking about the new Community Charge (see pages 4/5 for an amateur assessment). The meeting takes place at the Town Hall, and the committee will be putting out plenty of chairs.
On the same evening, the Camera Club presents "Windows on the World - human nature in poetry and pictures" (Robin Roberts) at the FE Centre at 7.30; £1.50 admission charge includes refreshments.
The following day (Saturday, 16th) there is a one-day school on fabric-printing and -painting at the FE Centre (details from Ann Swaine at the Centre); and the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve hold their Spring Walk, leaving the car park at 10.
We mentioned last week the Folk and Blues Night on 22 April, at the Community Centre under the auspices of FRAG (advance booking, C4); the same evening, Thomas Peacocke PTA are to hold another of their successful Fun Quizzes at Upper School (this is instead of the Model Exhibition).
On Saturday, 23rd, Winchelsea Singers perform Rossini's Petite Messe Solonnelle at St. Mary's at 7.30 (entrance £1 by programme). The Town Council takes a formal part in the St. George's Day service at St. Mary's on Sunday, 24th - and Women's British Legion members will be selling roses for St. George's Day buttonholes on the 23rd in the Town Hall courtyard from 10.30 - with a raffle and cake-stall, but not coffee this year.
Landgate WI has a coffee morning, with stalls, at the Red Cross at 10.30 on Thursday, 28th; the same day the NSPCC has its Annual Meeting at the FE Centre at 3, and the Chamber of Trade hosts a wine-and-cheese party in connection with its "Trees for Rye" scheme - cheques will be presented by those organisations and individuals who wish to give trees to be planted in the Rye area (cost about £20), and it will also be a pleasant social event, in the Town Hall at 7.30.
On Friday, 29 April, the Labour Party has secured a top-notch speaker in the Town Hall at 8; the national chairman of CND was due to speak at Hastings that evening, but a clash of dates meant that Rye had the opportunity to invite (ex-Monsignor) Bruce Kent here instead. They are leaving the choice of subject to him, but confidently expect a large audience from the surrounding area as we?-as from Rye itself.
The Mayoring is not taking place on the May Day Bank Holiday (2 May) but at the end of the month; but there is an event planned for 2 May, at Leasam House in connection with the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. More later.
Finally, the Community Health Council is meeting in Rye in the spring for a change - on Tuesday, 10 May, at the Town Hall at 2.30. They hope to have a speaker on the proposed redevelopment at Hill House, which will be of considerable local interest - here again, details nearer the time.
C80 was raised for the Red Cross Hurricane Appeal from the event at the FE Centre on Wednesday - making a total of over E300 going to Sussex HQ from the Rye centre. Robin Brown of Seeboard at Eastbourne gave the commentary on a really fascinating set of slides, followed by a video; both were made by Seeboard staff, and showed a tiny part of what their engineers had to contend with as a result of the storm. He had some astonishing facts at his fingertips; if you get the chance to hear him elsewhere, don't miss it. Jeffery Waters then showed us film of Sheffield Park in its 1986 autumn glory, followed by the Queen Mother's visit to the Sports Centre last summer and a brief look at storm damage in Rye. Altogether a most instructive and enjoyable evening, as well as helping Sussex Red Cross.
- 3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 23 March 1988
Since our next issue will be considerably out-of-date as far as the results of tomorrow's planning meeting is concerned, we thought readers might like to knew now which applications are coming up and what the Planning Officer's reports say (his recommendations, of course, are not always endorsed by the committee). Unusually, he is reporting verbally on four out of the eight applications which concern Rye. Of the others, he recommends refusal for two (Seeboard's illuminated fascia and projecting sign, and David Sharp's extended opening hours for his care); two others (SWA's moorings between Pollard's Wharf and Monkbretton Bridge, and a change of use in Rock Channel from warehouse to pottery) have his qualified approval.
His verbal reports will be made on the HHA's proposal to demolish the Hill House lodge and replace it with two houses for mentally handicapped patients; on the change of use for the Mariners Hotel; on the latest position about the application (still not finally approved) for a house in Fishmarket Road at the bottom of 112 High Street's garden; and about Bournes' plans to move most of their business out to Harbour Road.
This last application is one which we missed on the original planning list (it comes under Icklesham, but that's no excuse:). The plans are for an industrial site opposite Long Products, and show a large warehouse (454 x 40m, 83m high) with a double-pitched roof clad in brown plastic-coated steel, and walls of the same material with brick, in yellow/brown; a workshop adjoins one end (18 x 25m).
There is also a separate two-storey office block with a flat roof (134 x 6m). The site allows considerable space for parking; the "in" access is at the Rye end and the "out" at the end towards the Harbour, with the office block beside it. The plans as submitted make no mention of taking in part of the SSSI; but the Planning Officer's report reveals that the proposed site extends into this, since it includes land to the rear of the old railway embankment - not part of the area granted outline planning permission in September 1985 for the erection of light industrial nursery units. The written report does not include any comment from the Nature Conservancy people about this, but they are looking into it; doubtless Mr. Robinson's verbal report may refer to their view.
This application is presumably linked loosely with the one about change-of-use to a pottery in Rock Channel. The building at which the pottery is looking is not, as we had assumed, one of the new units, but part of the Bournes' complex - at the end nearest Shipyard Lane. Although the Planning Officer recommends approval, he is still far from happy about some aspects of this site under the present management; in February last year the committee considered an enforce-.ent report about landscaping and soakaway construction, and it seems that road widening is also required. Negotiations are proceeding, and the Town Council will be glad to know that its views are being taken into account.
Although no-one is yet doing anything about building new Council houses in Rye, there is a good deal of discussion behind the scenes; Rother was talking at one point about shared ownership for first-time buyers, but George Shackleton tells us that rather fell by the wayside, since most of the prospective sharers couldn't find properties locally for which they could afford to pay even half, so high are house prices round here. There is now the possibility of bringing in a Housing Association, and Rother are looking at all their bits and pieces of land in the area to see what might or might not be suitable for building.
There is also the matter of maintaining the houses they have got. The Housing Committee recently declined an invitation from local tenants to see for themselves what a poor state some Rye houses were in. But George Shackleton brought the request up again at full Council, and pointed out that as landlords of some 4,000 properties, Housing Committee members really ought to be aware of their condition from personal inspection. After the meeting he discussed the point with Mr.Powell, and the Housing Committee is now likely to consider, as a matter of policy, making several visits a year to different Council estates in the District, to familiarise all members with the problems in all areas. In fairness, they really should start with Rye!
4.
A recent report from Bother's treasurer to the Policy & Resources committee sets out the latest information about the Community Charge which will replace the present rating system in two years' time.
Everyone will pay this except the severely mentally handicapped, people living in hospitals, residential homes or HM prisons, those under 19 and still at school, diplomats (foreign ones, presumably) and visiting servicemen (ditto?). Students are regarded as living at their term-time addresses, and only pay 20% of the full charge during term-time (but Mr. Willis says it is not clear what happens in the vacations). There will be a rebate system for those on low incomes. Owners of "second homes" and empty houses will still have to pay in respect of them, but we don't understand the system described.
Before the start of each financial year, Rother will set the standard community charge as it now does the rates, with varying parish precepts (as now) payable only by those living in each parish. The administration of the system would be impossible without computers (and Bother will also need additional staff); the treasurer has been enquiring into computer services which would be able to cope with the new systems for Community Charge and Non-Domestic Rates, along with existing direct debits, housing benefits, payroll, creditors, accountancy and rates. None of the software houses can provide a system which will deal with all this, and Mr. Willis recommends that the Council's own Computer Section should develop a computer system for the Community Charge and National Non-Domestic Rate which can be linked in with its existing one.
George Shackleton has lent us some papers about the effect of the Community Charge at local level. The average number of occupants per house in Rother District is 1.8 - adult occupants, we assume On this basis, on an average rate bill of £475 per household, the average rates paid per adult work out at £256 (ie. just over half the rate bill). The community charge figure which has been suggested by the DoE for Rother is £251; of this, £75 goes towards a "safety net" which will be phased out over four years (which should mean that in 1994 people will only have to pay £176 - though we doubt if that is what it will mean!)
For many single-person households, the new system will be an improvement; but the rates last year on a very small cottage with no garden in Wish Ward were C183, so not everyone living on their own will find themselves better off. However, given an average domestic rate of £475 as against a personal community charge of £251, the arithmetic is obvious: people living alone in an "average" house save £224 a year, but two adults sharing would be worse off by £27, and three adults sharing would end up with £278 less spending money.
Let us invent a larger family, and study its finances - not allowing at all for inflationary increases but simply following the basic principle of the community charge. In 1986, Mum and Dad and their four children (all still at school) are living in an "average" house. They pay £475 a year in rates. In 1987, Mum's father comes to live with them - making it rather a squash! - and they still pay £475. In 1988 the eldest child leaves school and goes to work in the town, continuing to live at home - still £475. In 1989 the second child is also at work and living at home - still £475. But in 1990 the rates are replaced by the community charge: the household consists of five adults, and the bill nearly triples, to £1,250! (For the purposes of this exercise, we are leaving out the odd £l.) Then Dad has a nice little win on the pools, and they all move into a much bigger house up the road; the old rates on that would have been three times as much as on their original home, but the five adults are still paying £1,250. The following year, Grandad goes into a home: four adults, £1,000. Within two years, this has fallen to £500, as both the older children marry and leave home; but then it rises again to £750 when the third child leaves school. Ten years later, Mum is living all on her own in the big house, and paying only the single-person charge (doubtless rather more than £250 by then, of course); but the garden is too much for her, and she settles for a nice little flat where she will pay exactly the same charge as when she was in the big house.
(continued…)
5.
(continued)
It is a system which will take some getting used to. It could just possibly mean, round here, that older people will have less need to move into small houses to dodge a big rates bill - and perhaps those small houses will be more likely to be available to younger buyers whose finances wouldn't stretch to anything larger anyway?
We haven't attempted to touch on the Non-Domestic Rate, or on water rates (which until now have been linked to rateable values); and we may well have misinterpreted some aspects of Mr. Willis's report. But this article is simply a taster for what Mr. Willis will be telling the Ratepayers Association on 15 April; if you want to know more, put the date in your diary now. (Joys to Come, page 2.)
The Rye Nursing Cadet Division of St. John Ambulance now have two more proud holders of Grand Prior certificates. Nadine Mitchell and Kirsty Piggott, both 15, were presented with their awards by the Commander for Sussex, Mr. Shippam, who came over specially from Chichester; to win it, each had gained twelve different badges in a very wide range of skills.
The Attendance Cup went jointly to five cadets, all of whom had attended every meeting: Nadine, Kirsty, Rachael Thomas, Helen Robus and Joanne Weeks; Nadine also won the trophy for the cadet making most progress, and the Badger Attendance Cup went to Helen Blattman. Sally Mitchell was presented with her First Aid at Work certificate (usually only taken by adult St. John members) and eight other cadets also won certificates in various subjects. Eight Badgers (the new junior section) were presented with their first badges, and thirteen new cadets were enrolled into the Division after passing the new Action Pack exam.
After the ceremony, parents and friends looked at displays set out by the cadets, and enjoyed refreshments served by the girls.
Young Nick Houslander of Ferry Cottage, the son of John and Margaret (Seawitch Marine) has been putting the family marine-engineering experience to good use on the other side of the world. He went out to Australia in November as a member of the crew of "Sir Thomas Sopwith", taking part in the Tall Ships race from Tasmania to Sydney; the race meant seven days' sailing, mostly beating into a Force 5/7 in a heavy swell, and his ship came a respectable 67th out of 161 competitors. He saw in the New Year sailing across Melbourne Bay in pitch darkness, driving warm rain and wind, drinking champagne; and also had a chance to sail in "Young Endeavour", the ship being given to the Australians as a 200th birthday present. But his personal big moment came before the race, when "Sir Thomas Sopwith" was sailing in company with another boat, "Destiny" from Sydney to Melbourne. "Destiny's" engine, which had been running to charge her batteries, suddenly cut out: why? Nick had claimed experience with diesel engines, and now triumphantly put this to the test; transferred across to "Destiny" in a small inflatable through shark-infested waters and gathering darkness, he identified the fault and fixed up a temporary but effective repair - and has now been offered a job on board by the grateful owner: However, Nick has ambitious plans to see a good deal of the Southern Hemisphere by various means over the coming year: "I may be home for Christmas" he says.
Last Thursday the town welcomed the Rev. Edward Johnston, Rector of Christ Church, Rye, NY. Mr. Johnston was only making a brief day-trip from London this time; it was his first visit here, and it was quite clear to him that he would have to come again and bring his wife! After lunch at the Rectory, he braved the terrors of the church tower, took a brisk walk round the Conservation Area, was lucky enough to find the maces on view aO a school party left the Town Hall - and paused in St. Mary's to study the black paving-slab under the Tower, suitably inscribed, which he told us was given by John Ellis Knowles of his parish in 1952. Doubtless there was a ceremony of some kind when it was set in place; would anyone like to tell us just what?
6.
A superb fund-raising effort was mounted jointly by the Royal British Legion Club and the Standard Inn recently, in aid of MSS sufferers. Over £1,000 was raised by two teams of eight players, who held a 24-hour snooker and pool marathon from 11.30 pm on 12 March to 11.30 pm on the 13th. Play started at the Legion Club's snooker table; by 11.30 am on the following day (Sunday) players were ready at the Standard's pool table to take over from the exhausted Legion contingent. Each team played 55 frames - and we are assured that the result was
not fixed, but was a perfectly genuine drawl When all the sponsorship money is in, there will be a formal presentation to MSS.
The WRVS Annual Meeting is always a low-key affair, but there is still the opportunity for thanks to be maid to all those who run the different sides of WRVS work in the area. Last Wednesday at the FE Centre, Mrs. Barton mentioned the hospital shops at Rye and Greyfriars, the Luncheon Club, the hospital transport, books for the troops - and Meals on Wheels, not forgetting the 9,600 postcards she had sent out to drivers and mates over the years: Jean Heywood from County HQ referred to several aspects of WRVS work and also to the Golden Jubilee celebrations (the WVS was founded in May 1938 by Lady Reading and four of her friends). There is to be a window display in Freight-Express to mark this, and two trees are to be planted on the Salts. The Mayor, on behalf of the town, thanked the WRVS members for all the good work they do.
RNLI supporters turned out in force, 82 of them, at the George on Friday, to attend the Branch's second annual fund-raising dinner - an event which is obviously going to become part of the town's social calendar. John Pearmain and his staff did their guests proud; and entertainment with a maritime flavour was provided by Tony Thompson and his guitar. Branch chairman Roger Breeds greeted the Chairman of Rother and Mrs. Pulford and the other guests, and also welcomed Dick Pearce of the Wipers as new Branch secretary (his wife Babs is in charge of RNLI souvenirs). Then there was a surprise presentation. Joan Parkes's 15 years as Branch secretary had not gone unnoticed, and she was given a handsome pottery plate, specially made by David Sharp with a lifeboat in the middle and suitable lettering round the edge; and a silver brooch with the RNLI flag, inscribed on the back by its maker Peter Farrow of Needles Passage. (It is not every small town that can provide its own potter and its own silversmith to make its thank-you presents - Peter is also making some ex-Mayoral badges for the Town Council.) Thanking the Branch, Joan said "It is not me but all the people who have helped me when I have gone and wheedled..." ("Bullied!" came from an anonymous but obviously ungrudging victim somewhere in the room.) The dinner raised £270 for Branch funds.
After what Samuel Jeake wrote about the winter of 1845/6 (GAZETTE no. 258) and the snowfall on 19 March which followed months of unusually mild weather, we felt it would be tempting Providence until after that date to quote what someone said to us recently: "Whatever happened to winter?" What indeed? Wet it has undoubtedly been, and chilly; but snow-shovels and bags of salt laid in by apprehensive householders before Christmas are still unsullied at the back of the shed. Perhaps the most unusual "sign of spring" was at the end of last month, when a couple sat drinking their morning coffee at the little table outside Cobbles tea-room! (Cobbles is now open for business again, mornings and most afternoons - under the same management and therefore with the same absolutely delicious home-made cake.)
Finally, there is a certain feeling in the town that this is not the best time for the Gas Board to be digging up the road at the foot of the cliff. They are at work in South Undercliff and in Fishmarket Road - at present, at the end away from the slippage (though their trench continually fills up with water). But assuming the two sets of works are to meet, people are wondering what might happen when the diggers start drilling outside the vulnerable terrace at the Foundry end? Mr. Bird at Rother was away at the end of last week, and had not been able to inspect the site when we spoke to him on Monday; we hope there won't be a story to report, particularly as it would be someone else's scoop if it happened during the next fortnight…
7.
• Congratulations to Barbara (nee Wilkinson) and John Parker, of New Road, whose son Ryan Barry was born on their wedding anniversary, 12 March - a brother for Gavin. Congratulations, too, to Carol (nee Piggott, of Peasmarsh) and Andrew Wilkinson of The Close, whose daughter Kelly Ann was born on 16 March and is a sister for Luke. The sisters-in-law just missed each other in hospital, but it was a busy week for proud grandparents Rosemary and Barry Wilkinson, of Pottingfield Road - who now have three grandsons and two grand-daughters to cosset.
• The coffee morning for FE Centre funds on Saturday raised £301 - Ann Swains is delighted, and grateful to all supporters. The jumble sale at Lower School raised around 0120 for PTA funds, and all the usable clothes left over will be put to good use, locally or in Mozambique.
• New secretary at the Community Centre will be Mrs. Dawn Avery, who moved to Rye with her family recently from Tonbridge. She takes over from Yvonne Metcalf at the beginning of April, and will be in the office for the first time on the 6th. The present office hours are to be altered, and it will be open on Mondays from 5 to 7, Wednesdays from 2 to 5, and Fridays from 11 to 2 (so those who tend to save up their business with the secretary until they come to the WI Market will have to think again).
• Good luck to Bennetts, who have just opened a Battle branch - situated in Abbey Court, with John Pope in charge, and of course selling high quality menswear just as the Rye shop in the High Street does.
• Frank Palmer's talk and slides on Rye past and present were much appreciated by Landgate WI last week, and provoked reminiscences from the older members. "Familiar streets took on different perspectives when compared with views of eighty or a hundred years ago" says secretary Mrs. Butcher. Two new members were welcomed. Next month's meeting will have a colour consultant discussing colours and seasons in fashion (programme change).
• Everyone will be glad to know that Councillor Ringo Chapman got the all-clear last week from his specialist, to go back on his dustcart on Monday.
• Rye Harbour lifeboat was called out at the weekend to help a yacht (Rye-based "Bukra") aground a mile east of Jury's Gap; Dungeness lifeboat had attended, but needed the Rye boat to cope in the shallow water. No damage, no casualties, Mary Lestocq tells us.
• Which reminds us - the amazing baby photograph in Mary's studio window in Market Road is not a very small infant and an XXOS egg! It is a trick shot involving a lavish expenditure of film, and elaborate preparation; but the result is stunning, and we can safely predict it will win yet another award for Mary. The baby is Stephanie Robus of Rye Harbour, and Mary calls the picture "Newly Hatched" - for obvious reasons.
• The Church Mission Hall at Rye Harbour, with outline planning permission for conversion into a dwelling, sold for £45,000 at West Mailing last Monday. The money belongs to the Trustees, and Canon Maundrell tells us it will be invested, with the income going to benefit Rye Harbour Church - what a windfall for this tiny parish!
• A local guest-house was amused to have Yorkshire visitors with a very suitable car number - E 2568 LIN!
• Last week we wrote about three Rye runners in the Hastings Half-Marathon; but we have since been told that there were quite a few more. If they would like to drop us a line some time in the next fortnight, saying what cause they were running for and how much they raised (and, if they like, what their times were) we will be glad to publish a full and final list on 13 April. It is quite a good way of saying thank-you to your sponsors.
• Finally, condolences to the Golden Fleece in Lion Street; someone threw a brick through their window late on 15 March, causing £200-worth of damage.
Red Cross Easter coffee morning (for Activenture, to send two local children on this scheme again), Red Cross, 10.30
Natural History Society AGM, FEC, 7.30
FRAG AGM, followed by a short entertainment by the FRAG Players, Stormont Studio, 8
Catholic Church jumble sale, CC, 2 WI Group Crafts Show, FEC, afternoon
Joint act of worship and blessing of palms, St. Mary's churchyard, 10.30
WRVS Lunch Club, CC, 12.30
WI Market (instead of Good Friday), CC, 10
Vidler & Co's monthly auction sale, 10
FRHNR work party (bring lunch, boots, strong gloves and binoculars) - all helpers welcome, meet Harbour car park at 10 United Service, followed by Procession of Witness (preacher, Father David), St. Mary's, 10.30
Catholic Church sale (stalls include home cooking and nearly-new clothes), with coffee and teas, Red Cross, all day from 10
Easter Sunday services at usual times as far as we know
Scouts and Cubs Attic Sale, Scout Hut, from 10 - stall bookings on Rye 223257 CO in advance, £6 on the day
Disco for Playgroup Building Fund (tickets C2 including buffet), Oasis, 8 to 12
Hearing Circle coffee morning, Red Cross, 10.30
CSRF coffee morning, FEC, 11
A259 Action Group "Evening of Nostalgia" - movies and slides,
hot buffet (tickets 02.50), FEC, 7.30
Old Scholars Association Easter Reunion, Mermaid, evening, with brief AGM at 7.30
Camera Club, AGM and knock-out competition, FEC, 7.30
St. Mary's Annual Church Meeting, TH, 7.30
Rye WI: Party time, FEC, 2.12
• Because we shan't be printing again until almost too late, we mention in advance the new exhibition at the Easton Rooms: "Springtime", a mixed show featuring watercolours by Graham Painter, opens on Saturday (until 18 April). Pictures by John Ryan - Captain Pugwash and other creations - will be on show at the Stormont Studio from 9 April to 8 May; plenty of time to write about this later.
• Easter trains: usual services on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; a Sunday service on Easter Monday - and also on Good Friday, though BR's Waterloo press release had left this out, and we hung on for hours while they discussed it, and then sounded so doubtful that we finally checked with Hastings to be sure. This is probably the wisest course anyway if you intend to go any distance by train over Easter (Hastings 429325).
• The rest of the usual back-page material appears on page 7 this week.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7DR (0797 222303), and printed through Cinque Ports Stationers of Rye. Spare copies (45p) from Young Ideas, 7 Cinque Ports Street; next issue, 13 April. (Copyright Mary Owen 1988)