SUBSCRIPTIONS for the new quarter or half-year are now payable, and should reach us by 4 April. Details were given last week, and appear again on page 7.
The Editor will be busy with her grand-daughters over the holiday weekend, and will be obliged if people will not put cash through the Cyprus Place letterbox then, as something could easily slip through unrecorded: before 26 March or after 1 April, please.
The first wedding of the spring took place at St. Mary's on Saturday, in brilliant sunshine (and a rather chilly wind whipping round the south door!). Raymond Kelly of Military Road was married to Rosemary Sagar of Peasmarsh; Raymond's brother Paul was best man, Paul's fiancee Susan Pankhurst of Kings Avenue was chief bridesmaid, and Rosemary's other attendant was her small niece Samantha. The wedding party was a symphony in pink and grey, the men in grey morning suits and pink ties, the bridesmaids looking delightful in pink dresses made - as was th e beautiful wedding-dress - by the bride's mother, who was also responsible for the flowers. The reception was held at the Cock Inn at Peasmarsh; the honey- moon is being spent in Portsmouth, where Rosemary has relatives, and the couple will be living in The Grove - convenient for Raymond, who is a self-employed painter and decorator, and for Rosemary's job at Saltcote Place.
Ken Warren, MP, was the guest speaker at last week's Conservative Association AGM. A report of the meeting appeared in Friday's Sussex Express, and local people have been puzzled at his apparent announcement that ESCC was putting £40,000 towards improvements at Thomas Peacocke School. Lewes, when we asked about this, were puzzled too; so we spoke to Mr. Warren. It seems that a nought went missing somewhere along the line of communication; the figure Mr. Warren actually gave was 2400,000. This is a cautious under-estimate based on the sum which appeared in the 1986/7 Estimates (GAZETTE nos. 160 and 163), with 250,000 being spent in that year and a further £400,000-plus lined up as part of the same improvement package in 1987/8/9.
But, we asked Mr. Warren, was this still going ahead? We had asked Lewes this too (and they are letting us have the ESCC answer next week). Mr. Warren pointed out that since the rate was fixed, the Government had agreed to hand over to ESCC £7.3m - in answer to protests from him and other country MPs about the unfair emphasis on inner-city financing (he doesn't like fighting his party, but felt he had to abstain on the recent rates vote). Lewes, when we asked them, had said that this was revenue money and wouldn't affect capital expenditure; but Ken Warren, with long experience of local government, told us that this is just a quibble - money is money, and he confidently expects the school work to be carried out.
Sitting open-mouthed on Strand Quay, waiting for old tin cans, is the bottle-bank's little sister - the can bank, which appeared in Rye just before Christmas (GAZETTE no. 160). Mrs. Palmer of Rother's Battle staff tells us that it has only needed emptying once since then - in three months.
We would therefore remind readers of this latest conservation effort, which benefits everyone - less rubbish to be dumped in the countryside, plus a small donation to Glynde Gap School for each tonne collected in the bin. Only very dedicated conservationists will wash out the really sticky tins; but some need no more than a quick rinse, and will be very welcome on Strand Quay when you take along your bottles and jars. Mrs. Palmer adds that the Bexhill can bank is doing quite well, so Rye has a challenge!
2.
On Saturday the Rye Harbour lifeboat goes back on station - not the new one which is expected later in the summer, but our regular inflatable, the type we have had for 20 years. But there is a new Honorary Lifeboat Secretary, because John Barnard is moving house and will not be living near enough to the Harbour to continue in this demanding job.
The new Lifeboat Secretary is Richard Tollett, who lives at the Harbour and has been a member of the crew almost since the arrival of the first boat. He has been helmsman for ten years, and was radio operator for six years before that; now he is leaving the crew to take over the Secretary's job, where his experience will be invaluable.
The stone memorial to the "Mary Stanford" crew in Rye Harbour churchyard has for years been getting more and more pitted and lichen-encrusted, and its condition has been an embarrassment to Lifeboat people generally. Finally RNLI HQ agreed to do something about it, and after enquiries through the Building Centre in London and then the Church Commissioners, the committee has been put in touch with a firm who will not only do a thorough clean-up but also leave behind a five-year supply of anti-lichen fluid. Mary Lestocq had hoped for a once-and-forever job, but this is not yet possible; maybe, she says, by the time the fluid runs out it will be!
Last Wednesday there seemed to be a sailor round every corner in Rye - and they all looked so young! This was the party from HMS Illustrious, who were later shared out among the various Cinque Ports towns after lunch and a visit to the Rye Model. Our own group, and those due to go to Tenterden and Winchelsea, were entertained to a reception in the Town Hall; Tenterden then went on their way, but the Rye and Winchelsea contingents went down to Rock Channel to visit the Sea Cadets, who had rearranged their regular meeting to fit in.
Commander William Bowman and his two ratings stayed at Little Orchard overnight, and next day went on two tours - one of the town, with Ed Gibson, and then one of the river with Colin Marsh. This was followed by lunch at the Conqueror - a rather hasty lunch, because both the Harbourmaster and his deputy were busy with shipping business in the middle of the day; the Royal Naval contingent, tagging along, were fascinated to see how the other half lived! They went on to Margate for the Mayor's Ball there on Thursday evening - also attended, of course, by our Mayor and Mayoress.
Two phone calls to the GAZETTE on Saturday brought good news for the town: Sheila Barton and James Menhinick, both ringing up to say "I'm back!" Mrs. Barton has spent six weeks in the Sussex Clinic, and Councillor Menhinick seven weeks mostly in intensive care in RESH. Both are impressed and grateful for the quality of the care they received; but both are very happy to be home.
Until early last month, Mrs. Barton had not been in hospital since 1926. She was overwhelmed by the cards, flowers and plants she received. She is under firm instructions to take life easy, but she will be in the chair at the WRVS AGM at the Saltings this afternoon - when doubtless she will thank her members for the way they kept things going during her absence, even through the worst flu epidemic Rye has known for years.
James Menhinick went into RESH seven weeks ago and was finally handed back to Betty on Monday. He may now be a lesser man (we won't pay how much less!), but what he has not lost is his interest in Council business, and he certainly expects to be back in his chair at the Town Hall for the next Planning Committee meeting. Before his illness, he instigated some very interesting developments in the way Council business is administered, and we look forward to reporting on this soon.
Another well-known Rye resident now home from hospital is Miss Ella Harvey, of Henley Close. She has been far from well, undergoing a major operation, but she is now on the mend - and talking about resuming her piano teaching!
3 THE RYE GAZETTE, 19 March 1986
There is never really any need for the GAZETTE to recommend a visit to the WI Group Crafts Show at the FE Centre on Saturday afternoon; most people already know the exemplary standards demanded by the judges on these occasions. The entries themselves have been selected from the work submitted within the individual Institutes making up the group, so Saturday's winners really will be the creme de la creme of local talent - and readers will be aware that some of this talent has a reputation which is far from being just local. For anyone who works with her hands, an hour spent at the FEC on Saturday will be sheer delight; for anyone who doesn't, it will be sheer envy.
An extra attraction this year is a sales table, not for the craft items (which the proud makers naturally want to keep) but for WI-Market-type goods, cooked food and so forth - an attempt to recoup some of the expenses of putting on the show.
Doors open to the public at 2.30 (we should perhaps make it clear that gentlemen are also welcome); prizegiving will be at 4.30, but clearing-up starts very promptly and we would advise visitors to be there before 4 if possible.
Rumours - hopes - that Camber Castle might reopen this summer, perhaps at weekends only, are unfounded. Enquiries to English Heritage - the department of the D o E which owns the Castle - reveal that the work of consolidation is proving more complicated than expected, particularly with two bad winters since the excavations were finished. Obviously English Heritage can't risk a visitor being felled by a loose lump of masonry! So it is, alas, quite clear that the gate will remain firmly shut this summer.
• The D o E has dismissed the appeal for permission to build two bungalows at Saltcote Place. Tuckers Restaurant has lodged an appeal to be allowed to put up an illuminated hanging sign in The Mint, which Bother had refused. Another appeal against a Bother decision has been lodged by the Hacking family, who want to demolish the row of cottages at Cadborough Farm and erect four detached houses instead, at the top of the cul-de-sac off Cadborough Cliff. The Town Council has expressed concern, particularly about the demolition - and so has County Historical Officer Norman Hutchings, not so much for the sake of the building as such but because it forms a group with the rest of the farm buildings which is valuable to the town. The Council has written to Rother, with a copy of Mr. Hutchings's letter, and Rother has forwarded the whole correspondence to the D o E which is esponsible for listing buildings. (It is also, of course, the body which hears the planning appeals.)
• The current planning list shows a new application for conversion of the Saltcote stables into flats; for a toilet in the Swan Cottage tea-garden; for alterations to 48 Fishmarket Road; and for the demolition of The Paddock in Harbour Road in favour of a new bungalow there.
• A builder's ladder was propped against the facade of the Old Grammar School last week, and the intrepid man at the top was busy removing the blackberry bushes and replacing loosened tiles there. The only visible herbage now is the odd patch of toadflax, not exactly a great risk to the 350-year-old building! Thank you, Mr. Bennett.
Two local young people came off their mopeds recently, in separate accidents which did not involve any other vehicles. Jane Blackman, of Udimore Road, skidded on a patch of loose gravel at the far end of Harbour Road and was taken to casualty with damaged knees and elbows and a sprained wrist; she was allowed home, and hopes to get back to work later this week. Ian Lamb of Beckley ran his moped into one of the wooden posts on the Rye Foundry corner when he skidded on a patch of oil; he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.
4.
It is now ten years since the late John Corbett started the Lower School Speech Competition, held each March between teams of three first- or second-year pupils speaking on a subject of their choice. This year there were more than 20 teams, whittled down to five on Friday when the finals took place in Lower School Hall.
Robert Pearson, assisted by Brett Looker and Richard Hough (2.3) spoke on skiing - at least, that was the title, but in fact he went into considerable detail about the equipment required and said very little about what it was required for. From 2.6, Debbie Fryer, Eliza Philippidis and Kirsty Piggott had an oddly-titled speech "One Reed, one Bow, one Breath" which turned out to be an exposition on playing the clarinet, cello and flute; their helper from the audience, whom we had assumed to be a "plant", became suddenly convincing when she couldn't make the flute work! A cheerful, self-assured and amusing team of boys from 1.4 (Grant Hodgson, David Gill and Chris Parsons) lightened the afternoon with a dissertation on long-line fishing; they had a pleasant piece of business with a poster, and voiced that complaint so familiar to beach-bent parents "The tide tables only tell you when the tide is in!" The afternoon turned serious again when another first-year team (Sara Crisford, Clare Blunden and Jane Cuthbert from 1.7) outlined the story of the 1911 race for the Pole which Amundsen won and Scott so tragically lost; Sara had chosen it after reading about the recent expedition in Scott's steps, and she told the story with accuracy and feeling. Finally Chris Skinner, Adam Beales and Matthew Wilkinson from 2.6 reported on "How to spot a perfect hippy" (hippies being, to their generation, about as historic as flappers to your reporter!).
Messrs. Bowsher, Hughes and Sinden were the judges from Rotary, and on their instructions Dr. Jeelani, this year's chairman, presented first prize to the musical girls, second prize to the fishing boys, and generous consolation prizes to the other finalists, placed equal third.
The 1.7 girls, who must have been close contenders for second prize, were in an odd way compensated for not winning when two of them, Sara and Clare, were joint recipients of the Dance Cup for progress in dance throughout the year. Members of the Dance Club gave a short performance while the judges were deliberating.
The French poet Pierre de Ronsard wrote some charming love poetry which still rings true today, and just after WW2 some of his poems were reprinted in a book illustrated by the French artist Henri Matisse. Matisse's lithographs - often with the poem, or part of it, set out on the same page - are now on view in the Rye Art Gallery in Ockman Lane, and make a very suitable exhibition for the time of year when traditionally a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. This is an Arts Council travelling exhibition, here until 13 April, and it includes photographs of Matisse at work and at home by Henri Cartier-Bresson. We were sorry not to see a portrait of Ronsard (perhaps there isn't one) - whose poems seem to imply a mis-spent youth of the most delectable kind, enjoyed at much the same time as Camber Castle was being built to guard Rye Bay from his countrymen...
The exhibition "Different Views" at the Easton Rooms, which also opened on Saturday, gives space to a number of artists, both home-grown and from foreign parts. On these occasions the blurbs stuck up on the wall, and presumably supplied by the artists, make wonderful reading:. "an attempt to record the idiosyncratic while universalising the experience" was one of this exhibition's gems. But most of the work on show isn't like that at all, and there is a lot to enjoy without having to worry about being universalised. New to the gallery is Heather McCartney, of Peasmarsh, ex-Thomas Peacocke School, who has a couple of very competent drawings; also new, at the other end of the age-range, is Bob Kenyon, whose meticulous oil portraits of churches are quite unlike anything seen in the gallery for some time. Wally Cole, Margaret Barnard and Ken Townsend are among the local "regulars" - Ken shows a beautifully worked piece of wood from the rare wild service tree, flowing naturally into the lines of a human torso.
5.
• Rye Town Model opens on Monday (24th) for the long summer season:- seven days a week, with the first show at 10.30 and the last at 4.50, and the doors closed for lunch from 1 to 2. (They will also be closed from 16 - 18 April for decorating work which couldn't be done until the lease was signed.) Maurice Ellwood heads the team of operators; Pat Greenhough of Peasmarsh is again helping one day a week, and there are two new faces - June Northern, wife of our police inspector, and Francis Barrett of Fair Meadow. Barbara Fearon and Irene Palmer have both retired after long stints with the Model, but either might still be found there for an occasional emergency session.
• In fact the doors open today for privileged parties from Tilling Green, Freda Gardham and Thomas Peacocke schools; the Council has offered free admission in order to give the new operators the experience of putting on the show to a full house. Ted Harland has been explaining the system to Mrs. Northern and Mr. Barrett earlier this week. We wish the whole team a very successful season.
• Rye Museum opens on Thursday, 27 March, for the season; its "minders" are Alma Fabes, Ruth Ingham, Maurice Amendt and Ed Gibson. Doors open at 10.30 and close at 5.30 (also closed for lunch, 1 to 2.15); on Sundays, opening time is 11.30. Last admissions are half-an-hour before closing time. The admission price rises This year to 75p, 50p for students and old age pensioners, 25p for under-16s, and there are special rates for parties.
• Market shoppers on Maundy Thursday will find two other diversions which they may not have been expecting. The WI Market is being held on Thursday that week instead of on Good Friday, at the Community Centre at 10 as usual. In the High Street, also from 10, Stewart and Kathleen Thurston are holding an Easter Coffee Morning at Dolphin House, the Red Cross HQ, to raise money to send a young person on a BRCS Activenture holiday. There will, of course, be coffee, with or without a hot cross bun and a slice of Easter cake; and on sale will be further supplies of hot cross buns, simnel cakes, decorated Easter eggs, etc., plus biscuits and flower posies.
• On Good Friday (28 March) from 10 to 5 there is something of quite unusual interest at the George Hotel. Organised in aid of Scout funds (20p entrance, children free), the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain's local branch is staging a display of cigarette cards and postcards. The postcards, mainly lent by local collectors, are of local scenes, plus a group of WW1 "silks". But the cigarette cards (which include the tea-cards of the 1950s and 1960s as well as much older exhibits) are perhaps the main feature of the show.
The exhibits are worth - well, we won't say, but a lot of money; and although the Scouts are acting as stewards, there will also be adult collectors present who are offering a free valuation service for any cards which people like to bring along. Frank Dowdeswell, himself a cartophile as well as leader of the Rye Scouts, tells us that people who have the tea-cards of their childhood still tucked away somewhere may be quite surprised at their value: for instance, the first Wild Flowers series is catalogued at about 240: As for pre-war cigarette cards - if you have some, bring them along and prepare to be astonished. And even if you haven't a single card of your own, the exhibition will still be fascinating, and a very welcome addition to the town's Easter attractions as well as (they hope) a fund-raiser for the Scout minibus.
Good Friday also sees a work party down at the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Always an enjoyable if chilly day, this is likely to mean island-building, weeding and litter collection - bring boots, spades and garden forks, and meet in the Harbour car part at 10.
• The only Easter Monday event we know about in Rye is a coffee morning for Cancer Relief, at the Red Cross, from 10. Later that week, it seems worth mentioning tl-le Old Scholars Association annual reunion at the Mermaid, from 7.30 on Friday, 4 April. This year's event is particularly aimed at 1974/76 leavers, so if you have a son or daughter in the right age-group, perhaps you could persuade them down for the weekend?
6.
Bernard Shaw's own interpretation of the Pygmalion legend was revived at Thomas Peacocke School last week - to the surprise of those members of the audience who, brainwashed by the joys of "My Fair Lady" or the romantic Leslie Howard charm of the 1937 film, were expecting Eliza to go back to Higgins in the end. But Shaw's Eliza was made of stronger stuff; she had worked very hard for her education and had every intention of using it to provide for the man whom she fancied, as well as for herself. There must be plenty of women nowadays who do just that - more than there were in the 1960s, let alone in 1937, and a great many more than in 1912 when Shaw first studied the possibilities for an enterprising girl with a good idea and the means to carry it out.
An enterprising girl of just that kind is Leila Jamieson, a Leasam House boarder in her Lower VIth year and the director of this year's school play. She may not be the school's first-ever pupil producer, but she is certainly the first for many years. (The school play is normally produced by a member of staff, with a great deal of other staff support both back- and front-of-the-house.) Leila headed a strong team, but not a very large one; many of the cast shouldered a second responsibility off-stage as well.
We are delighted to say that the Saturday-night house was a very full one, and there is not expected to be any financial loss on the production.
Wisely, Leila cast the leading parts from those with whom she had acted herself in last year's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Jo Simpkins has matured as an actress since she was Miss Adelaide in the 1984 "Guys and Dolls", and a boisterous Bottom last year; as Eliza she matured as a woman too, and one felt confident that she would do well. Her splendid voice (both her voices!) carried clearly to the back of the hall. Lawrence Winkworth was an admirable Higgins - the lazy carefree academic, keen to prove a point but not prepared to face the consequences; he was thoroughly tiresome and not a bit lovable, and Eliza was well out of him. Andrew Toole was a little young to produce the kindly middle-aged charm of the original Pickering; this particular Pickering, one felt, just might have been worth Eliza's interest? Matthew Briggs was lovely as Freddie - by no means a complete silly ass, he had definite possibilities as back-up for a young woman with a rise in her. As his mother and sister (Epsom and Earls Court) Hannah Courtney-Bennett and Vicky Hunt were a useful test-bed for a burgeoning aristocrat, and their opening scene in the rain was particularly enjoyable. Julia Smith was the long-suffering housekeeper, Simon Nelson the language expert; and as Mrs. Higgins Tania Hanover was convincingly middle-aged, though it was laryngitis rather than artifice which gave her such a good grave] voice. Finally, among the leading parts, Doolittle - Mark Curry, who somehow managed this very demanding part as well as being the production's business manager, was good as the irrepressible scrounger but even better under the lash of middle-class morality, doomed to matrimony and the American lecture circuit.
We were assured by a member of the first-night audience (we went on Friday) that the costumes were undoubtedly hired. They were undoubtedly not, but the belief indicates the high standard achieved by Andrea Moon, who designed and made most of them herself, with help from Paula Baker and Mandy Hatfield. Eliza's scarlet outfit and white-and-silver ball-gown were particular triumphs, but everyone looked right (except, Andrea, that Edwardian ladies always wore hats to pay afternoon calls!). As for the scenery, the Covent Garden set was particularly successful, and Alice Scrutton's glimpse through the drawing-room windows was entrancing; the study could have done with a few pictures on the walls, but probably Higgins couldn't be bothered. Sensible use was made of the area in front of the curtains to allow for scene-shifting behind, and the dancers managed remarkably well in the narrow space. Darren McCarthy as stage manager was helped by Neil Crouch and the school's stage crew.
No staff names at all appeared on the programme except that of Mr. Fooks s!whose encouragement and faith in our ability has made the whole show possible". He must be the proudest Headmaster in Sussex this week.
7.
• Last time we wrote about Thomas Peacocke School pupil Julie Hare, it was as the joint managing director of the school's Young Enterprise business team which did so well in 1982/3. Hastings-based Julie is now a second-year student at the South Bank Polytechnic, and people watching the ITV Weekend World programme on Sunday will have seen her as the embodiment of the new wave of young share-buyers, keeping an eye on the cash paid to her by the firm sponsoring her Poly course.
• Freda Gardham School, well-known for nurturing young poets, has had two recent successes: Helena Swaine, of Camber, gained first prize in the junior section of the poetry competition held in connection with Hastings No Smoking Day, for her poem "Smoke Sea"; and Edward Thomas, of Udimore, has had an award from the School Poetry Association for his poem "Bee" which will in due course appear in the Association's booklet. Both children are in the third year at Freda Gardham.
* Ernie Stevens of Kings Avenue was on Radio Sussex's Lunchdate on Monday, talking about the years of public service which have earned him a place among the queen's Maundy recipients on Thursday week. On the same programme was Commander William Bowman, snatched by Radio Sussex for a quick recorded conversation from the Rye studio in the course of the Illustrious visit; he has promised to keep the programme posted about the ship's round-the-world trip which starts early next month.
The GAZETTE's boundary stretches a little this week to welcome the first-fruits of the RDA in the Rye area:: the three 400 sq.ft workshop units which are being converted from the old school at Udimore are nearly finished now, and on Friday Rother advertised for tenants. Because they are starter units, the leases are on a monthly basis (L125 a month inclusive) so no-one need be scared of committing themselves too far ahead. The units will be ready for occupation by mid-April, and there is likely to be an official opening ceremony towards the end of the month. We look forward, after that, to saying who the tenants are and what they do; everyone hopes that they will be local people, since this is the whole idea of the development. Prospective tenants who didn't see the ad should contact Mr. Abbs, ext. 230, Hastings 216321 (Bexhill Town Hall) as soon as possible.
A few readers still seem confused about the new subscription arrangements.
If you are about to send us either cash or a cheque for exactly £7, please don't: This special rate applies only to those paying by standing order, who have instructed their banks (using the form supplied last week) to make regular payments into our account twice a year - they need take no other action at all from now on (and it is turning out to be a popular way of paying).
All other subscribers pay according to the number of issues in the coming period. From 9 April until 24 September (sorry we misprinted the latter date last week) there will be 23 issues, so the half-yearly subscription is £6.90, and we shall be glad to receive this in cash or cheque form (cheques payable to THE RYE GAZETTE, please). Those who prefer to pay quarterly should let us have £3.60 for the 12 issues to 25 June, and we would like to receive this smaller sum in cash rather than by cheque if possible, to save on bank charges. Arrangements for free copies continue as usual (throw away or pass on your standing-order form).
Please make sure that any cash delivered to Cyprus Place carries your name, your delivery address, and the amount (£6.90 or £3.60) - and see the top of page one for timing.
After Easter, spare copies of the GAZETTE will not be on sale at Squirrels on Thursdays. Casual buyers must call on Wednesday or take their chance on Friday. Subscribers for whom Squirrels is the regular pick-up point can continue to collect on Thursday if another day is not possible; but it is a busy day in the shop, and Veronica would appreciate it if they too could call on Wednesday or Friday if they can arrange it.
Thrift Shop, Red Cross, 10.30 to 4 (and Friday, Saturday)
Friday, 21st John Fowler, Area Organiser for Christian Aid, speaking, with slides, on "Sharing Christian Aid", Methodist Church, 7.30
Saturday, 22nd Thomas Peacocke Upper School, 10
WI Group Crafts Show, FEC, 2.30 (see page 3)
Leasam and Saltcote Reunion, Leasam House, from 7
Monday, 24th WRVS Lunch Club, 12.30
Wednesday, 26th Rye Cricket & Football Social Club AGM, Pavilion, 7.30 (see below)
• Congratulations to Dr. Nicholas Bartlett, who has just gained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Leicester. Nick, who is the son of Audrey Bartlett of East Street, lives in Axbridge, where he is on the staff of British Cellophane.
• Welcome to Devonport House's newest resident, Mrs. Holmes, who comes to Rye from St. Leonards. We are sorry to hear that one of the House's founder residents, Miss Hilda Field, is now in Ward 1 of RESH following a recent major operation.
• Mrs. Edwards, of Cadborough Cliff, would like to thank all her friends for their support and sympathy over the death of her husband John; £265 has been given to Cancer Relief in his memory.
• Congratulations to Simmons Restaurant in The Mint, the Old Vicarage in Church Square, and the Mermaid Inn, which together constitute the Rye entry in the 1986 British Tourist Authority Commended Guide to country hotels, guest-houses and restaurants.
• The committee of Rye Cricket & Football Social Club, the group which is responsible for the management of the pavilion on the Salts, looks forward to a good attendance of members there at the AGM today week. What they would really like to see is plenty of people prepared to put their names forward for election to the committee!
• George Cumming, who is running in the 26-mile London Marathon on 20 April on behalf of MSS, has sponsor forms available at his office at 3 Market Road, or at Squirrels in Cinque Ports Street or with Mrs. Elworthy at 22 Ferry Road. Sponsors can sign up there or take home a spare form for their friends (forms should be returned to 3 Market Road as soon as possible after the race).
• Has anyone two armchairs, suitable for a heavily-built man, which they might give to Mencap? Collection can be arranged. Ring Vickie Piper.
• Tickets are now on sale at Squirrels, or from Mrs. Piper, for the Mencap Spring Draw, which has a top prize of £100, second prize a black-and-white portable television, and numerous other goodies. The draw-will be made by the Mayor and Mayoress on 11 April at Thomas Peacocke School.
• The Tower Launderette will be closed all day on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, but open from 8 am to 6 pm on Saturday, 29th.
• Finally, just room to remind people not to telephone the Editor on a Tuesday morning unless it is extremely urgent, please.
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye, TN31 7DR (0797 222303), and printed by Cinque Ports Stationers of Rye. News items for inclusion are always welcome – deadline Monday afternoon (Tuesday 9 am at latest and only for real emergencies). The GAZETTE costs 30p weekly and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday, when a few spare copies are also available from Squirrels, 9-13 Cinque Ports Street. Back numbers from Cyprus Place. (Copyright Mary Owen 1986)