Just published is a small book which will give great pleasure to people interested in the old days in Rye. "Let's Be Men, Let's Be Ryers" is edited from letters written by the late Cecil Rhodes, a proud member of the Rye working community in the years before and after WW1. Mr. Rhodes's nephew Peter Ewart - who was a pupil at Rye Grammar School in its final days - corresponded regularly with his uncle, then living away from Rye, about local and family history. Mr. Rhodes wrote with enormous verve and gusto about his boyhood memories, and Mr. Ewart originally intended to publish a selection from his letters for family circulation; but then he wondered whether these reminiscences would be of interest to other people who were familiar with the Rye of his uncle's youth.
Cecil Rhodes, who died last October aged 76, was brought up in a rough, tough Rye far removed from Edwardian elegancies. His extensive family moved about the town, but their main base was in Landgate, where he and his mates - he lists them with their nicknames - went to the Mermaid Street school under Mr. Sprigg Walker (whom he much respected), scrambled for the Mayoral pennies, caddied at the Golf Club, and picked out the rubbish from cauldrons of boiled shrimps for tuppence a time. They paid their fourpences at the Electric Palace - sometimes gained by selling the tobacco which the tramps cached under stones before seeking a night's lodging at the Workhouse at the top of the hill. They baited the shopkeepers, even their own relatives, and on one memorable night tied together all the doorknockers in "Brass-knocker Row". Cecil's father had been a soldier and enlisted again at the outbreak of WW1; he was a bit too fond of the beer, but not as fond as an earlier Rhodes who lay dead drunk on a Landgate Square floor all night, and in the morning was dead indeed, choked by the cockroaches attracted by his long beer-soaked beard!
The Rye of Cecil's youth was a fishing and farming community, but Cecil became a bricklayer - his very first job was on the new Rye Hospital, and he worked later on the New Road school and the police station. Eventually he moved away from the Rye he so much loved, never to return except for brief visits; but his memories remained vivid and lively. Mr. Ewart (his address is in the front of the book) will be very pleased to hear from anyone with information or comment to add, particularly if he might be allowed to copy (and of course return) photographs.
The Martello Bookshop has already had to ask for further supplies of "Let's Be Men...” which went on sale on Saturday; the book is also available from Adams. It costs £2.95 and we feel quite sure it will be very much enjoyed by anyone who can remember, or is interested in, Rye in the early years of the century.
People who don't normally watch television on Sunday mornings might like to make a brief exception at 11.45 this week. This is the new time for a series of short interviews put out by TVS under the title PO Box 13; each interview is backed up during the following week by half-a-dozen "public service announcements". More than a year ago the local branch of the National Childbirth Trust applied to be included, and last week Jenny Hadfield, of The Grove, was invited down to Southampton to record an interview for the series. There was a dummy run, and one way and another Jenny is not perfectly sure just what will come over; but she thinks she was being interviewed as a breast-feeding counsellor. This unusual occupation is the result of a serious training (not, she says, just one mother who has breast-fed help in another who thinks she can't), and although Jenny is not invited to speak at the ante-natal clinic she is allowed to hand round her cards so that mothers can get in touch with her after the birth if they want to. The result is that phone calls from desperate new mums can come at any time, and Jenny is always prepared to leave her husband Francis to mind her own three children while she rushes to the rescue.
We can all be sure that Jenny will give a great performance on Sunday morning, so do try and remember to switch on.
2.
The funeral of Mr. Frank Caister, of Tram Road, Rye Harbour, took place on Tuesday. Mr. Caister, who was 80, had worked as a carpenter for Mr. Sherwood and later for Messrs. Hinds. He was a member of the congregation of Rye Harbour church. A widower, he leaves one son.
Mrs. Winifred Bayliss, of Pottingfield Road, died recently on a visit to her daughter. She will be missed by the Monday Club, of which she was a member.
Mrs. Gerald Reed died in Hastings last week. He and his family used to live in Rye and were well known to many of our older residents.
Mr. Bernard Hook, of Cooper Road, died on 16 February aged 74. Mr. Hook, who left no immediate family, had lived in the Rye area most of his life, apart from wartime service with the Royal Marines; he had worked at Rother Ironworks, and at West's Garage on the Camber Road and, after the war at Hall's at Rye Harbour. He was a member of the Royal British Legion. Cremation takes place at Hastings at 11.30 tomorrow, Thursday.
We referred some time ago to the series of social comedies which E.F. Benson wrote in Rye in the twenties and thirties - most of them set in a Rye very thinly disguised as "Tilling" and with a cast of characters led by the imposing Miss Mapp and her rival the formidable Lucia. The books claim devoted admirers not only in Rye, and now Miss Fay Hodges of Deal has proposed, through an advertisement in The Spectator, setting up The Tilling Society as a small informal group for Lucia-lovers to get in touch with each other. She suggests an annual subscription of £2 to cover postage and photocopying costs, and perhaps an annual lunch, preferably in Rye so that members could get together among the familiar scenes of the books. We hope to arrange a quite informal meeting in Rye in the spring, probably on a day when Lamb House, central to the stories, is open to the public. Anyone interested in joining should get in touch with Miss Hodges at Nettlebed, 6 Tudor House, Birdwood Avenue, Deal, Kent. (Anyone wondering what on earth we are on about should consult the Library, or Martello Bookshop who stock the Lucia books.)
Thomas Peacocke School PTA expects a wide variety of goods for the 50:50 Auction at The Grove on Saturday afternoon of next week, 5 March. Antiques, yes; furniture, yes; curtains, yes, and quite probably carpets as well; boots, and a bicycle; and many mothers have taken the opportunity of half-term to persuade their young to part with outgrown toys and books, so parents of younger children may expect especially good bargains. There is, of course, no catalogue, since the organisers won't know exactly what they are getting until the sellers bring their offerings on Friday evening or Saturday morning; but there is likely to be an interesting range of things at all prices. Viewing takes place from 1.0 on Saturday until 2.0, when Mrs. Pauline Chalk, FSVA, will raise her gavel for the first item. Entry forms are still available from the school.
Rye Racers have every intention of providing a full sit-down meal for the 165 guests at their Community Centre party on Sunday. Invitations have gone to all who asked for them, people of retirement age in the Rye area and their husbands or wives. It is thought that the Community Centre has never had to expand to quite this extent before, but doubtless Rye Racers will manage it somehow; those who watched this summer's fund-raising Silly Race will know they are capable of almost anything! Entertainment will be from the Brownies, the Rye Players and Tony Rome, and it is hoped to have Mrs. Dorothy Woods at the piano. This year's party is the seventh arranged by the enterprising gang.
Neil Weatherall of Social Services is sorry to report that instead of opening at Easter, the Rye Patch Office will probably not open until the later part of the summer. However, Rye people who need to see a social worker can phone or write to Social Services at Bexhill (12/14 Buckhurst Road - 0424 218498) to make an appointment in Rye, rather than the client having to go over to Bexhill.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 23.2.83 - page 3
On the Monday night of the first snow Mrs. Soan, of Poppyfields, Playden, needed treatment at Rye Hospital after a fall. Her husband managed to get the car up to the top of the hill, but then got stuck across the Leasam Lane turning. As he wondered if he dared leave it to escort Mrs. Soan into the hospital, a car came down Leasam Lane, and four boys and a girl got out. One of the boys helped Mr. Soan get his wife into the hospital while the others guarded his car, and then they all helped him push it into the car park and drove off towards Rye. The Soans are so grateful to these young people, and would very much like to thank them, but of course have no idea, despite their best enquiries, who they were. If this report should reach the carload of good Samaritans, it brings very sincere thanks with it.
Every month those involved in many different aspects of caring for other people in Rye meet at the Clinic for the social services "lunch". This means, nowadays, eating one's own sandwiches plus the cheapest-ever cup of coffee, courtesy of the WRVS; but it is a very useful opportunity for the exchange of ideas and information, for the putting out of feelers, and sometimes for a visiting speaker. Recently school dentist Richard Mockett, replacing the District Dental Officer, talked about getting one's teeth seen to "on the State".
The Community Dental Service at present treats all children at state schools, expectant and nursing mothers, and the handicapped in institutions - not children at private schools, and not handicapped people living at home. It does not treat old people, even in institutions, who at present have to be taken to the dentist just like anyone else. (The Rye Clinic has a caravan which visits outlying primary schools where it would be difficult for the children to come into Rye for treatment, but Mr. Mockett says that there is also a second caravan, unused for three years because of a shortage of staff. It seems a pity that this could not somehow be brought into service for the various old people's homes in the area?) However, this is not at present the job of the Community Dental Service anyway. It might be, one day, because the amount of treatment required is dropping - due partly to the falling birth-rate, but also, says Mr. Mockett, to better education in dental hygiene and to the increasing use of fluoride toothpaste and tablets. He feels, as do most dentists and doctors, that the anti-fluoride lobby is scaremongering and if fluoride were added to the water, we should see a 60% decrease in tooth decay.
Mr. Mockett went on to speak about arrangements under the ordinary National Health Service. In some areas NHS treatment has been difficult to come by, but since the charges went up things have been easier. Routine extractions under general anaesthetic are carried out at the Clinic, but extensive dental surgery is mostly done East Grinstead, or occasionally St. Helen's. Orthodontics - the science of straightening teeth - means an initial visit to a specialist at Eastbourne or Ashford, followed by local treatment except in very tricky cases.
Mr. Mockett deplores the attitude that "once your teeth are gone there is no need to bother!" He said that the mouth changes shape over the years, and dentures need renewing every five to ten years - badly-fitting ones can damage the mouth - and older people should still have regular check-ups since a dentist may be able to spot early signs of trouble elsewhere. Treatment at home, however, is very difficult in these days of elaborate equipment, though some dentists may still undertake it.
NHS dental treatment is free for those who are under 19 and in full-time education; between 16 and 18 and have left school (though they have to pay for dentures); women expecting a baby or with a child under a year old; and people on supplementary benefit or with a low income - it is always worth asking. NHS check-ups are free for everyone. An average NHS visit, which might involve a filling or two and a scale-and-polish, would cost £13; dentures are from £20 to £35. Major works could cost up to £90. Although this sounds a lot, it is in fact something of a "loss leader'', as the technician's work alone absorbs a great deal of the cost.
The GAZETTE would just like to add that in our view, Rye is extremely fortunate in the quality of dental care offered both by our general dental practitioners and by the Community Dental Service. There are many other places a lot less lucky.
THE RYE GAZETTE, 23.2.83 - page 4
Rye's new phone exchange housed not only some very expensive equipment but also a lot of British Telecom top brass en Friday morning, when the Mayor of Rye declared it officially open. Other guests included the Chairman of Rother District Council, and the Mayor of Winchelsea and the Chairman of Camber Parish Council both of whose exchanges are now defunct. After a welcome from General Manager Mr. Brian Smart, Councillor Simpson said that Rye, despite its antiquity, welcomed modern technology, already much used in our business community.
However, part of that business community seemed less than keen on the new-service - Long Products, whose export-busy Harbour Road business needs constant contact with its overseas customers, has met more snags than they care for since the new exchange went into use on Wednesday morning. And there are plenty of stories in the town from people whose friends outside Rye have had difficulty in getting in touch with them. The trouble seems to lie primarily not with the actual equipment in Rye but with the recorded message put out from Hastings, through which all non-local Rye calls are now routed. We must all hope that these problems will sort themselves out soon, for everyone's sake.
It would be interesting to know when exactly Rye first went on the phone (apparently well before the 1918 date we-suggested last week). Anyway, in 1946 Rye, Winchelsea and Camber all got new exchanges, between them catering for about 400 lines. The same area now has 3000 lines, and the new exchange could cope with nearly 1000 more. Shared lines are on the way out - what used to be a worth-while saving is now so small as not to compensate for the inconvenience; sometimes a new development such as the cinema site in an area already packed with subscribers can present problems, but the green boxes dotted about the town are designed to help here by re-routing lines from less congested areas.
The exchange itself, built by William Ellis of Etchingham (£245,000), with STC equipment plus its own emergency power plant (£700,784) and another £42,000-worth of direct British Telecom labour, is expected to last us for at least ten years. The next development would be a "digital" exchange with no moving parts at all. As it is, this one is remarkably silent the loudest noise was a ringing phone left unanswered during the Mayor's speech. In charge, on his own, will be Mr. Dennis Kemp of New Road, who has for some time now been seconded from his normal job to learn the complexities of the new system as it was being installed. His conducted tour was a marvel to the non-technically minded. This is a TXE exchange, the largest in the Tunbridge Wells area, with others at Brede, Robertsbridge and Ninfield and one more planned for Guestling to absorb the Pett and Icklesham exchanges. The wiring looks appallingly complex, but in fact has been much simplified by the use of fibre optics and printed circuits; and the various banks of equipment are connected by cables which snake around overhead on a grid for ease of access. Much of the equipment is duplicated, so that faults can be dealt with while the caller is automatically re-routed. We were shown the special arrangements for those who only want to receive calls without making them (useful for rented houses) or the other way round (in some way connected with burglar alarms). We also saw the metering arrangements, with a separate little box for each number on which the units are notched up much like a car's mileage recorder and the total photographed when bill-time comes round; and the box-of-tricks for checking a line's usage for a complaining customer. Mr. Francis, of British Telecom's installation staff, showed us the back-up power system - a diesel generator with a storage tank holding three months' supply of fuel (the tank is the structure beside the exchange, which is not in fact a nuclear bunker as rumour had it!), plus a huge bank of batteries which would run the exchange for 24 hours if the generator should fail.
A cheerful touch in the rather muted colour-scheme was the display of modern phones available to subscribers. These are always on view at Brighton, Tunbridge Wells and Canterbury, but were paying a flying visit to Rye; guests were much taken with a self-contained intercom (for, say, a granny flat) at under £30 outright, while a neat variation on the standard phone was the Sceptre 100 which includes a clock and timer for calls as well as press-button dialling and a 10-number memory. Also on show were four museum pieces, including one of the original "candlestick" phones now once again in production for traditionalists.
5.
Last week's report about dog's messes produced an indignant letter saying that "once again all the dog owners of this town are accused of letting their dogs foul the pavements when it is only a few who are to blame"; the writer feels that not enough attention is paid to the general litter problem in the town, particularly at the top of Rope Walk.
The difference is, of course, that whereas both are objectionable to the eye, there is also a health hazard in dog's mess - particularly when tracked into a house where there are small children playing on the floor. We are also a little puzzled at the writer's assertion that "only a few" dog owners are to blame; how does she know, in view of the undoubtedly large number of such deposits left in the town? And if she is right, surely there is a really good chance that a very few prosecutions might solve the problem.
On the same theme but a lighter note, Mrs. Hutchings of East Street sends us some extracts from "A Glance at Rye's Old Documents". In the 1500s the Corporation had worse things than dog's messes to worry about. They fined a Watchbell Street man sixpence for "a dunghill before his garden path", and Thomas Watts had to pay twelve pence for "leaving open his sewer and suffering dunghills and privies to lay in his close in great annoyance to the passers-by"; even worse was a householder, presumably in The Mint, who had "a hole through the Town Wall through which he putteth his privy to the annoyance of the dwellers in the Wish". ("Annoyance" must have been a rather stronger word in the sixteenth century!)
Mrs. Hutchings also wonders what happened to the bylaw which made everyone responsible for cleaning the pavement outside their own property; perhaps one of our Town Councillors can enlighten us?
Monthly subscribers are reminded that this is the last February issue; those who wish to receive the five March issues should arrange for £1 to reach the Editor before 2 March.
We would like to make it quite clear that GAZETTE pick-up points are not expected to take in money or messages for the Editor; it is quite sufficiently kind of them to house copies for collection without being troubled further. There have been problems recently with subscription's left without proper identification; this can create difficulty for the Editor and possibly embarrassment for the subscriber. Please make sure that all subscriptions arrive at 94 Udimore Road or 5 Bridge Place in a sealed envelope containing the subscriber's name and-pick-up point or delivery address, and that they are for the exact amount required. Monthly payments have caused such complications that as from the first April issue we shall ask for all subscriptions to be paid quarterly in advance, except where special arrangements are made directly with the Editor by individual readers.
The last issue for the current quarter will appear on 30 March. There will be no issue on 6 April (staff holidays).
We are giving long notice that for the quarter beginning on 13 April, the GAZETTE will cost 25p per issue. This rise seems justifiable since the original 20p costing allowed for a four-page paper only, so for the past six months the two extra pages have in effect been free; there is also the possibility of a rise in photocopying costs in the near future. The next quarterly subscription will therefore be £3 for 12 issues, but to ease the blow we are (probably for the last time, since it works out expensive) offering the first issue free to all those really early birds whose £2.75 cheques (to THE RYE GAZETTE, please) or cash reach 94 Udimore Road before the Easter weekend. Those who prefer not to pay until April will owe us £3.
We do appreciate that in view of the increased cost, some of our present readers may decide to give up the paper; but we hope that they will be able to share a subscription with a friend, or anyway read the Library copy which is available on request at the desk. It would save awkwardness over April-deliveries if those who don't intend to continue would kindly let us know by letter or phone.
A further brief reminder about all this will appear in the 30 March issue - but if you want to take advantage of the cut-price subscription rate, you will then have to move very fast indeed.
6.
Friday, 25th Lower School Speech and Dance Competitions (from 11th), 1.30
WI Market AGM, Community Centre, 2
Natural History Society: The work of the Sussex Trust for
Nature Conservation, FEC, 7.30
Papa Joe's film: "An American Werewolf in London",
Pizzeria, 9
Saturday, 26th National Trust: "Romney Marsh Churches" by Barry
Funnell, CC 2.30
Sunday, 27th Rye Racers' party, Community Centre, 5
Monday, 28th WRVS lunch club, CC
Rye Museum Association: "Buildings in their Social Setting" David Martin, FEC, 7.30
• Congratulations to Simon and Angela Jupp of Winchelsea, who have provided Simon's proud parents in Ashenden Avenue with their first grandchild: Lisa, born on 13 February (6 lbs. 11 ozs.) in the Buchanan, and now back home with her family.
• Congratulations too to Martin Woolnough and Shiree Owen, both of Rye, who were married in St. Mary's last week. Shiree's mother in Australia was unable to come to England for the wedding, but she wrote a special prayer which was used during the service to link Shiree's family with the ceremony.
• Mary Summerfield at the Tower Launderette is sorry to announce that owing to major structural work the launderette will not open on Thursday, 3 March, for an indefinite period (possibly about ten days). She suggests that after 10 March customers should ring Rye 222157 to find out how things are. The launderette will, however, be open on Tuesday, 1 March, as well as Wednesday, 2nd.
• Bottle banks: it appears that the contractor has not yet produced the notices indicating which of a pair of bins is for plain glass and which for coloured. Until he does, says Rother, we can just put our bottles in either.
• Echoing the Thrift Shop's eye-catching wedding windows last week, the George Hotel holds a Bridal Fair on Thursday, 24th, from 11 to 4.30. Among local exhibitors will be Olivers (jewellers), Maison Fleur, Adams of Rye, Long's Bakery, Rye Travel, James Kimber, the Swiss Patisserie, Serendipity, Graham's (china and glass), the Tuck Shop, Hamiltons (fabrics), and Rye Fabrics and Fashions.
• On Sunday, 6 March, parents and friends of all Guides, Brownies and Rangers in Rye and district are invited to the Community Centre at 2.30. To celebrate Thinking Day, members of the Guide Movement are getting together to present an entertainment followed by light refreshments and a campfire.
• Tickets for Thomas Peacocke School's production of "Hotel Paradiso", the Edwardian farce, will be on sale at the school (Upper School main entrance) daily between12.30 and 1.0, price £l for adults and 60p for children and OAPs. Performances are on Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 March; tickets available from Monday, 28th.
• Rye's new traffic warden, replacing Mrs. Dee Hilton who has decided to train as a nurse, will be Mrs. Lena van Puyenbroek, who was one of the few Rye applicants among the 20 or so candidates for the job.
• Planning: Davies Garage is applying to use land at 43 Winchelsea Road for storage of cars awaiting repairs; and Mr. Gray wants to reposition his shop window at The Centre in Market Road.
Next week's "Recycle your rubbish" list will have several homes for spectacles. However, we don't know of anyone who now collects used postage stamps for a good cause - can anyone help here? We will gladly add to the list any other "collections" which have started since it was originally compiled in October.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. It is published by Mrs. Mary Owen at 94 Udimore Road, Rye (Rye 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 and is normally delivered to pick-up points and subscribers on Wednesday.
Photocopied by Sussex Secretarial Services, 11 Claremont, Hastings (0424 422633).