THE RYE GAZETTE

Issue no. 162 22 January 1986

Signing their names at St. Mary's

Geoffrey Bateman, verger of our parish church, has been keeping an eye on the St. Mary's Visitors Book for 23 years, and once again he has produced an exhaustive list of twelve months' signatures sorted according to nationality.

West Germans, 1682 of them, head the list, followed by 1276 Americans. 561 camefrom Canada, 519 from Holland and 531 from France. 484 Italians signed their names, 473 Australians, 170 Belgians, 152 Spaniards, 163 New Zealanders, 142 Swissand 107 Irish. 72 came from South Africa and the same number from Norway, witha surprising 65 from Finland but apparently none at all from Sweden. The 43 Japanese visitors may reflect Brighton's burgeoning trade in honeymoons from thatcountry; but could this account for 29 from Thailand? Brazil, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Mexico, Poland, India, Turkey and Yugoslavia all sent us between 10 and 15 visitors; but even after that there are a further 40 countries each represented oy less than ten signatures, including those of eight Chinese and 6 Russians.

The single visitor from Zaire put a 40-makuta piece in the Restoration Fund box; it was, says Geoffrey, solemnly forwarded to a coin collector.

Top driver

It is some time ago now that we congratulated one of Rye's unlikeliest lorry-drivers on her HGV certificate: ex-piano-tuner Robertine Nabarro, of Antiques of Tomorrow in Tower Street. Since then, Mrs. Fabarro has been driving lorries all over the Continent, and at the beginning of December she went on an intensive course in Taunton, where she stayed in a holiday chalet by the sea, one of only five women in a course for some 60 drivers. She has just had the result of the RSA examination for which the course was in preparation - and is now the proud holder of the Certificate of Professional Competence for National and International Road Transport Management, known in transport circles as the CPC. Again – and more so - congratulations! (The only problem Mrs. Nabarro has not yet mastered is sea-sickness, so she at least will benefit from a Channel Tunnel.)

Checking on the children

Hastings Health Authority is improving the system of medical examinations for school children.

Until now, there has been only one examination for all children, on school entry at the age of 5; subsequent examinations (fourth year at primary school, and second and fourth years at secondary school) have been given to selected children only. From now on, all five-year-olds will receive a 15-minute examination (until now it has been 10 minutes), and there will be further 10-minute examinations for all pupils in their first and fourth years at secondary school. Other existing services and arrangements for extra examinations will remain unchanged.

There are also plans for giving girls their rubella immunisation in their last year at primary school; Kent already does this, and their "uptake rates" have been very much improved. At present these jabs are given here in Lower School; the uptake rate is 82% in the HHA, but they are aiming for a 95/7% rate. Rubella (german measles) is of course not serious it itself but can have disastrous consequences if a mother contracts it in the early stages of pregnancy; hence the need to immunise all girls before they are 14.

An unexpected Health Authority safeguard was revealed when we raised a suspicious eyebrow at a man on the roof of the Clinic recently. He turned out to be testing the temperature of the water-tank (something to do with the heating); if the water is too warm, he adds chlorine to eliminate any possibility of legionnaire's disease in Ferry Road!

2.

The GAZETTE regrets to announce...

Mr. Idwal Williams, whose death we reported last week, was born in the Rhondda Valley in 1919. He met his wife Catherine when she was evacuated with Mrs. Hacking and her two small grandsons to the wilds of Wales, where he was stationed in the army; they were married in St. Mary's in 1944 (the first night of the doodle-bugs) and after the war came to settle in Rye. Mrs. Williams is the daughter of Arthur Paine of Jempsons, and for 15 years her husband worked for the firm as a long-distance lorry-driver; he gave this up to see more of his growing family, and for a further 18 years was one of our local bus drivers. He finally retired in 1984 from his last job, as a messenger at Dungeness Power Station; but he had only one year of retirement, walking his dog from Dairy Cottage and seeing that all the sheep were the right way up, before his sudden death during a Christmas visit to Wales. He is survived by his widow, two sons, two daughters, a grandson and four grand-daughters.

Photographs needed, please

Local-history enthusiasts will look forward to an exhibition which Michael Alford hopes to arrange in the Lifeboat House for a couple of days during the summer - a follow-up to the one he staged so successfully at Rye Harbour Church two years ago. It will include pictures, postcards, etc., of Rye Harbour and the surrounding area, and he is particularly anxious to have a view of the old Rye lifeboat house which was on the Camber foreshore (where the western car park is now).

This lifeboat station was closed in 1901, after what was known as the Winchelsea station acquired a much larger boat, the John William Dudley - predecessor of the second Mary Stanford, wrecked in 1928. If anyone should have a picture of this original Camber lifeboat house and would be willing to lend it or have it copied for the exhibition, please phone Mr. Alford.

A similar request, but on a different subject, comes from Frank Rook, now living in St. Leonards. He is being persuaded to write a history of the Rye gas works, which was his family business before nationalisation and of which he was manager afterwards. He would be most grateful for the loan of photographs or other documents relating to the gasworks, either originals or copies; they can be left with his son Francis at Cinque Ports Stationers, at the foot of Needles Passage, and will be faithfully returned. An account of this kind, from such a source, would be a valuable addition to Rye's more recent historical records - we trust Francis not to let his father duck out of it!

You feel better so you look better

When we first noticed that a branch of the Tao Clinic was opening at James Kimber in the High Street, we dismissed it as doubtless offering unsuitable London-type treatment for Rye's familiar country faces. Not a bit of it! The manageress is no scornful career-girl from the big city, but Geni (short for Genevieve) Abrams of Point Hill - 20, ex-Thomas Peacocke, ex-Hastings College, who went on to train with the Tao Clinic at its Sloane Street salon with the deliberate intention of returning to Rye as soon as possible. "I missed Rye," she told us, "I missed my family and my friends, and I was determined to come home again."

Geni's salon is under the auspices of Kimbers; bookings can be made at their reception desk, and their customers get a discount. But Geni's clients are treated in complete privacy, in two rooms at the back, and she is very pleased to welcome anyone, whoever her (or possibly his?) hairdresser may be. At present things are still slack after Christmas, and bookings are often not necessary; just call in.

The Tao Clinic treatments are not simply "facials", though Geni will happily devote her skills to making a client look beautiful for a special occasion. But she can do more than that; therapy treatments of various kinds (there is a price list in the front of the shop) can make the skin feel better, which of course makes its wearer happier and more confident too - either from the neck up or, for those really prepared to pamper themselves, all over.

Welcome back, Geni - and may we all have a beautiful future!

- 3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 22 January 1986

The Post Office: getting the bits and pieces back

A nice new list of times for last posting, etc., is now displayed outside the Post Office, at the back of the window next to the door. The other side of the doorway, a good stout ring provides anchorage for dogs - it was specially made, we were told, because Rye's dogs had such a reputation for exuberance One strip of pavement is still unfinished; someone suggested that, now the old window-sill has gone, this would be a good place for one of Rotary's useful seats? Inside, there is still no access to the scales from the public side of the counter, so that people just wanting to check the weight of a packet have to join the queue; it was promised that this amenity would be restored before the builders finally departed.

Cliff Bloomfield of Leasam Lane is much amused by the little arched window at the corner of the building. As he says, such windows, with their heavy lintels, are a feature of Victorian railway architecture (those at the Rope Walk crossing are all arched), and he remembers that the railway cottage which used to occupy the post-office site did indeed have a window just like that. Did the architect know this, he wonders, or was it a happy accident? And has anyone got a photograph of the corner as it used to be? (If so, perhaps the Post Office might consider displaying a blown-up copy in the main office, much as Anglia has done in its new premises.)

Slimmer by September

Colin Marsh, our rotund Harbourmaster, has decided to twist his own arm, so to speak, and force himself to lose weight by doing so in aid of the RNLI; every cream bun - or whatever the naval equivalent is - could mean a loss for the life-boats! He aims to lose at least two stone by September, from a starting weight (yes, we have his permission to say) of 19 stone. Sponsorship by those backing his will-power can go to him direct - or if sponsors prefer to remain anonymous they can contact RNLI secretary Joan Parkes, who promises not to tell.

Why a Town Diary?

One dull day in February 1982 a group of Rye people, all secretaries of local organisations, got together over a cup of coffee to see if it would be possible to improve the booking arrangements for events in the town. We made a list of all potential holders of jumble sales, etc., in Rye, and to the surprise of everyone it added up to 80 different groups.

Since then nine of those groups have either folded completely or anyway ceased to take an active part in the town's events. But we have gained the Women's Section of the British Legion and also Mencap, both nowadays very active, and also the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Action Research for the Crippled Child. Doubtless, too, there are others which were already flourishing in 1982 but were left off the original list. They don't, of course, all hold jumble sales every year - doubtless the FE and Community Centres wish they did! But let it not be said that there is nothing to do in Rye...

Anyone who wants to consult our list is very welcome. The Council Offices and Library both have printed lists of their own, with contact addresses - the trouble with this is that any printed list promptly becomes out of date, particularly as regards the groups which automatically change their officers every year. The GAZETTE keeps a card-index, which is easier to alter; the Editor would be extremely grateful if secretaries would notify her of changes, so that she doesn't bother the wrong person when pursuing news stories herself or telling someone else where to ask.

Overleaf you will find two pages of forthcoming events already booked into the Town Diary. This is not intended as a definitive list, but as a guide to Secretaries making up their diaries in the course of the next few weeks, when many of those 80 groups have committee meetings coming up. It is in everyone's interest if clashes can be avoided. Regular monthly meetings are not included in this advance list unless they are specifically open to the public. The Red Cross Thrift Shop runs for four days from the third Wednesday of each month; Vidler & Co's auction sale is held on each first Friday, with viewing the previous afternoon.

Please notify the Editor (Rye 222303) of new bookings as soon as they are firmly made - or consult her on available dates in advance.

4.

THE YEAR'S EVENTS

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

APOLOGIES TO ANYONE WHOM WE HAVE LEFT OUT: THERE WILL BE A TOPPING-UP LIST APPEARING IN ABOUT A MONTH'S TIME, DEPENDING ON AVAILABLE SPACE.

6.

Joys to come

• The NSPCC jumble sale on 1 February (FEC, 2) is the first for some time, so addicts should make sure that they are free on the afternoon of Saturday week, since there is bound to be plenty of scope for bargain-hunters and in an excellent cause. Since there is no Lower School sale this year, Anne Wood wonders what to do with the left-overs (always a problem for organisers); is there a sale in one of the villages which would like them, or does anyone know of a commercial "clearer" nowadays?

• That same Saturday evening sees a clash of events. At the Community Centre at 7.30, the Sussex Trust for Nature Conservancy has a talk by Francesca and John Inskip on the Galapagos Islands. Simultaneously - or rather, starting at 8 -the George Hotel hosts a Blues and Folk Evening in aid of the Rye Famine Appeal. This is the second concert for the Famine Appeal - the first, in November 1984, raised well over £500 plus a generous donation from Playden PCC. Once again there will be a bar, and a grand raffle, and musicians include Roger Hubbard, Louis Turpin, Martyn Watson and Ten Fat Sag-Players (though we understand this last is not to be interpreted too literally!). Entrance costs £2.

• The plans for the Model Exhibition to be staged by TPS PTA at Upper School on 8 February are beginning to take shape. Pupils at the school took home, attached to the Christmas newsletter, details of the competitive classes for under-18s, but adults will also have work on show. Mrs. Le Roux of Pett (Hastings 812052) who is organising the exhibition, has heard from the New Romney Model Engineering Club and the Robertsbridge Aviation Club that they will both be bringing static displays; the ATC were also intending to provide an exhibit, but she is not sure what the position is now that five of its members are to some degree incapacitated, though she still hopes something will turn up from the Squadron. Maintrack Models of Queens Road, Hastings, will have a trade stand.

Mrs. Le Roux would be glad to hear from any other adult modellers who would be willing to provide a table-top display. She feels that an opportunity to study the work of skilled and experienced model-makers would be helpful to younger students of this fascinating and endlessly varied art; but she is keen, too, that young modellers shall not be deterred from showing their own work by the fear that adults will outclass them - the competitive classes are for under-18s only, and everyone has to start somewhere. Freda Gardham pupils are also welcome to bring along models they have made. Classes allow for models made from kits, and even creative Lego-builders should bring their work along.

Entries should be in place by 11 on the Saturday morning; the show is open all the afternoon, and there is a small admission fee - with an even smaller entry fee for competitors. It sounds a most enjoyable entertainment; do come!

WI news

Rye WI members much enjoyed Colin Page's illustrated talk on the wonderful nature trail from Rye Harbour to Fairlight Cliffs. The Christmas Dinner is at the Hope Anchor on Friday, and the next meeting, on 12 February, is Party Night.

Landgate WI now has a craft leader, Mrs. Helen Gray, appointed at the January meeting when the County Craft Collection was displayed by Mrs. Smith; a meeting of interested members today will chose the crafts to be studied initially. There are plans for a June outing, and a picnic and games afternoon on the Salts in August for members' young children. The next meeting, on 19 February, will have a demonstration of pastry cookery.

No proper crossings

Mrs. Cope of Ferry Road has now heard from the Assistant County Engineer in reply to her November letter about pedestrian crossings at the supermarket site. (Readers will recall that the three marked on the plans turned out, on enquiry, to be merely lowered curbs, with no further markings of any kind.) The answer from Lewes will not create confidence among pedestrians. County will not even think about a survey until "a pattern of use is established"; one can then be carried out, but the writer concludes that under D o T criteria it would be unlikely to establish the need for a crossinc. The matter rests.

7.

Troubles

The press book shows a theft from Sea Cruisers on the night of 11/12 January a blue Yamaha 8hp outboard motor, 1980 vintage and worth £550, together with a 24-gallon petrol tank and fuel lines.

There were two road accidents in East Guldeford on Sunday morning - it seems possible that the gale across the marsh may have taken a hand? A visitor from Jersey failed to negotiate a bend, travelled across a field and came to rest in a hedge; his Fiat 124 was a write-off, but although he was taken to RESH his injuries were not thought to be serious. Later, drivers from Lydd and Beckley were involved in a collision and also taken to RESH with minor injuries.

The firemen are still kept busy, mostly with chimney fires; despite the rain at the weekend they didn't have to pump anybody out. On the whole, Sunday's gale let the town off lightly; a walk round in the afternoon revealed the occasional tile or slate on the ground, but nothing very serious.

On the air/screen

Both TVS and BBC radio came to Rye last week. TVS were interested in the neat business swop (GAZETTE no. 159) which has seen Marc and Jane Terry installed in the Standard Inn, while its ex-landlord Roy Edmunds has taken over their furniture A-hop at Banisters Corner. The item hadn't appeared by Monday, but doubtless it 111 soon. What did appear on Monday was an interview on BBC4's "Today" programme when Colin Marsh and Jack Fletcher were asked about the Harbour's history and prospects. It isn't often that Rye gets ten minutes of national air-time, even if it does go out at 8.15 am! They promised to let Colin know when it would be broadcast, and didn't; if anyone should have it on tape, please ring.

Sussex's odd corners

People sitting huddled in armchairs these bleak afternoons, thinking wistfully of sunny summer outings, should make sure that they have handy two books published by Radio Sussex: "Hidden Sussex" and its sequel "People of Hidden Sussex". Both are written by Warden Swinfen, a regular Sussex broadcaster, and the station's East Sussex producer David Arscott, and share the same format: stout paperbacks with glossy coloured covers and line drawings by John Whiting, price £3.95 each.

"Hidden Sussex" contains curious, striking and little-known features in a sweep of nearly 400 Sussex villages - where can you find a railway tunnel designed like a mediaeval castle, asks the blurb? When did a group of clergymen down tools at the church door? The authors have listed their villages alphabetically, with a subject index at the back, and have done an enormous amount of research, driving .thousands of miles and originally investigating every single village in our very large county. A sketch map shows approximately where each one lies, so a leisurely motoring trip could be planned in advance.

"People of Hidden Sussex" is the logical sequel: odd people appear naturally out of odd places. Our only complaint about this one is that there are so many unfinished stories: who had the job of burying the putrid Goodwood moose? What happened to Thomas a Becket's murderer, dragged from sanctuary at Beckley? - something of a nerve, anyway, to seek sanctuary after killing the archbishops When did the Lord of the Manor of Woolbeding cease to have to carry "a bow without string and a bolt without feathers" in front of the King whenever his Majesty chose to travel from Sussex to Hampshire that way - or maybe he still might have to? The two final entries are for Yapton: a deal over the bar of the local pub at the turn of the century, when a thatcher sold his wife, children and furniture to the local ratcatcher for 7s 6d and a quart of beer; and the occasion when the Bognor fire-engine rushed to the village, and one of the horses collapsed and died. "Well I'm danged" said her owner to the sympathetic crowd, "I've never known her do that before!"

These books are particularly suitable for five-minute dippers - it doesn't matter if you lose your place, you can always find another one equally enthralling. Rye is not represented at all; but then, we are hardly "hidden" Sussex, are we?

Bulletin board

The week’s events

Natural History Society, "The Natural History of Western Australia" (Clifford Dean), FEC, 7.30

Golden Sound Roadshow disco (first session), CC, 7.30

Chamber of Trade Annual Dinner, George Hotel WRVS Lunch Club, CC, 12.30

• Congratulations to Mrs. Lottie Allen of 34 Pottingfield Road, who will be celebrating her 90th birthday on Saturday; Mrs. Allen, a founder member of the Monday Club, regularly attends its meetings and its summer outings.

• Congratulations, too, to Mr. Arthur Paine, formerly of Jempsons and now of Shipyard Lane, who celebrated his 85th birthday yesterday.

• We are very pleased to report that Mr. Martin Hall of Ellis Bros has been elected President for the next two years of the Hastings, Eastbourne and Rother Association of the Building Employers Confederation. It was only a year ago that the Hastings and Rother Association merged with the Eastbourne one, so Mr. Hall is the second-ever President of this large group, representing building firms over a large area and with around 100 members - a well-earned tribute to Mr. Hall himself as well as to a long-established Rye family firm.

• Rye Sea Cadets have produced a remarkable talent for 5-a-side football; neither of their teams lost a single match in the local round of the current inter-unit competition (and "local" means as far away as Brighton), and both seniors and juniors therefore go to Portsmouth for the next round on 8/9 February; we wish them the very best of luck.

• All Dr. Vidler's friends will be happy for him that the roof of Friars of the Sack is once again stout against the weather, with the scaffolding departed.

• Planning: one application for Rye in the current list, to remove a conservatory and erect a utility room for a Military Road house.

• Pett Playgroup is in need of a supervisor, preferably with qualifications and experience, from 9 to 12 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. For further in- formation, phone Mrs. Gould at Winchelsea.

• John Bryant of Camber made a New Year resolution to do something for the young people of Rye, and he is starting at the Community Centre on Friday evening. His Golden Sound Roadshow will be there - and if there is sufficient interest, will appear fortnightly, with a special extra show on St. Valentine's Day. He promises disco-lovers a really good show (but it's no good not bothering to go along on Friday and then complaining if it folds!)

• Reassurance for anyone taken aback by an application advertised in last week's Sussex Express, for a licence to sell alcohol at Peasmarsh Place. Oh no, we thought - another restaurant? But not at all; we are assured that Peasmarsh Place continues just as before, offering residential accommodation to older people. The change would simply mean that those living there could have a glass of wine with meals, or offer liquid refreshment to their guests.

• Now that the GAZETTE photocopying is done commercially - and, we are quite sure readers will agree, much more competently! - the Editor no longer needs her big Nashua 1240 photocopier. Is there anyone with a desk-top copier which is proving inadequate for their needs who would like to do a straight swop? Nashua paper (5 rears each of A3 and A4) thrown in at half cost price.

Ring Rye 222303 if you are interested in a deal.

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 (and we do now have to keep to this, please note). The GAZETTE now costs 30p weekly and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday. A few spare copies are available from Squirrels, 9-13 Cinque Ports Street, and back numbers from Cyprus Place. (Copyright Mary Owen 1986)