Tomorrow week, 7 May, sees the biggest election Rye has ever had.
Electors are being asked to vote, first, for three out of six candidates for Rother Council. Under the direction of the 45 Councillors, 23 of whom represent "country" wards and 22 Bexhill, Bother's staff play an enormous part in Rye's administration. They are responsible for planning, street cleaning and rubbish collection and public health generally, car parks, the Sports Centre and the care of our playing-fields and other open spaces, the maintenance of the cemetery at the top of the hill as well as the churchyard and various small areas of garden in the town, and the well-being of the Landgate Arch, Town Wall and Ypres Tower. Rother also produces and distributes tourist publicity material for Rye, and provides the Tourist Information Office. Last but not least, it is landlord for the very large number of council-houses in the town (quoted as being over 40% of Rye's housing stock, a remarkably high proportion thanks to the foresight of the old Borough Council). Our Bother Councillors really matter to Rye; see GAZETTE no. 121 for the list of candidates.
(Rother is not responsible for schools, roads - including snow clearing as well as general maintenance - transport, street lighting and certain overall planning strategies: all these are the concern of East Sussex County Council, for which there is no election this year.)
Until 1974 nothing stood between ESCC and the Rye Borough Council, which between them covered everything that Bother now does. With the birth of Bother, the Town (Parish) Council's role became primarily an advisory one; it is consulted by ESCC, Bother and other bodies on matters which affect the town - notably on planning applications, and on one-off projects such as the new street lighting. But the Council doesn't just sit there and wait to be consulted; this traffic is two-way, and the Council passes on suggestions and complaints raised by its members or indeed by Rye people generally - "We are as busy as the people of Rye want to make us" says the Town Clerk. The Council still administers the Town Hall and its staffing, and is very much the guardian of Rye's ceremonies and traditions; Councillors regard it as part of their duty to keep a careful eye on the protection of our heritage. As a private venture, the Council owns the Town Model and the Freda Gardham field; profits will ultimately go (as the Lottery profits did) towards funding projects for the benefit of the town.
The pre-1974 Borough Council had 16 members, four of them Aldermen (senior Councillors who were not re-elected each time). The last full election for the Borough Council was in 1971. Those elected continued in office as Town Council- lors until 1975, when there were 16 candidates for 16 seats, so there was no actual election. The same thing happened in 1979 and 1983, though there have been by-elections from time to time. This year there are 19 candidates for the 16 seats on the Town Council, so of course there is a full election - for the first time in 16 years...
... Which brings us back to Thursday week. Polling cards have gone out as reminders, and it is probably no great hardship for voters to remember which three candidates they have chosen for the Rother election. But 16, for the Town Council...? If you intend to vote for the full 16, we suggest you make a list beforehand (referring to GAZETTE no. 120, and remembering that Brian Champion and Brian Chapman are two separate candidates!) There is absolutely no need, however, to vote for 16 names if there are only half-a-dozen whom you really want to support. The important thing is to go along and vote, even if it is only for one person, or just two or three. What happens on 7 May will affect the town for at least the next four years; complaining afterwards will be too late. Don't - please don't - waste your votes, which are your stake in Rye's future.
2.
At the annual St. George's Day parade service, it is always particularly pleasant to see the town's children taking part in one of the town's ceremonies being trained up, as it were, to play a fuller part in ten or twenty years' time. How many of those who were on Sunday in St. Mary's in Scout or Guide uniform or wearing Sea Cadet navy or the grey of St. John will, at the turn of the century, be standing for the Council or serving the town as a member of one of the adult groups which do so much good here? Not all, of course - we can't expect to keep all our young people within Rye's sheltering walls; but if the RDA can find jobs and houses, it may be better then than now.
Anyway, Rye's youth was well represented on Sunday. Led by the Union Jack, the parade included the men and women of the British Legion, the Sea Cadets, the .$t. John Nursing Cadets, the Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies. All the Town Councillors except one were gathered on the Town Hall steps to see the parade go past, with "eyes right" for the Mayor; Gus Gale and Les Paine carried the big maces, but there was a change of personnel for the small silver ones. Chorister Angela Nettle carried one; the other was borne by Jeffrey Buss, also a member of the choir but wearing his Cub uniform for this special occasion. The service was taken by Canon Maundrell, with a sermon on saints by the Rev. Mike Havill; lessons were read by Simon Hopkins in Scout uniform, and by the Mayor in her robes, tricorn and chain. In the course of the service, the Cu,, and Scouts renewed their promises (why not the Guides and Brownies too?) During the last hymn, the various colour-parties received back their standards at the altar; at the end of the procession, Joan Gamier made sure that the Brownies didn't get left behind.
Councillors and other guests later enjoyed a glass of sherry with the Mayor in the Town Hall - the last social event for the present Council, which held its final meeting on Monday. Mrs. Oliver proposed the Loyal Toast, and then the health of the town - and Bill Simpson invited the guests to raise their glasses to the Mayor, which they did with great pleasure.
There was just one Rye application in the last two weekly lists - for a new window in the roof at 63 Military Road - but plenty were considered by Rother's Planning Committee at its meeting on Thursday. Most of those approved had conditions attached; don't start till you get the letter!
Refusals went to a proposal for four houses in Tram Road at Rye Harbour; for two houses on land at Westwick, Point Hill (and, we understand, to a verbal proposal at the meeting for just one house); and for two houses on the site of Strand Coachworks just past St. Margaret's Terrace. Two applications were deferred: from the Windmill Guest House, for change of use to an old people's home (an inspection will take place); and from the Old Brewery, for conversion into four shops and four maisonettes (there are to be further negotiations). The Old Vicarage in East Street gets permission to be a guest-house "subject to no contrary representations within the statutory period"; everything else was approved. This includes a two-bay timber store at Alsfords' wharf; various new work (also for Alsfords) at the old bus garage; a first-floor extension at Little Orchard House; alterations at Jeake's House and Quaker House in Mermaid Street to provide bed-and-breakfast accommodation in both; use of the back of the Market Hall for the sale of domestic electrical equipment; the extension to the Rye Art Gallery ("I consider the scheme to be satisfactorily designed and one which will enhance the importance of these galleries" said the Planning Officer's report); an extension at 174 Udimore Road; the incorporation of the two Sheffield Place cottages (until now inaccessible at the back of Dennis's) into the George Hotel via a bridge; permission for the sale of pictures at the Old Vicarage in Church Square; and a new conservatory at 3 Eagle House.
Only one Rye application appears in the list of those still outstanding after four months; it is for the Old Dairy Yard (now, incidentally, kept nicely swept by someone) for which a detailed scheme still has to be submitted.
3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 29 April 1987
All manner of top brass was assembled on the Lower School field on Thursday to greet the Duke of Gloucester when he descended from his handsome scarlet helicopter at the start of his brief visit to Rye Boys' Club (he is President of the National Association of Boys' Clubs): the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff (only appointed a fortnight before), the Chairman and Chief Executive of Rother, the Assistant Chief Constable (with "a strong police presence", a Royal Marines van - and the ambulance discreetly tucked away in the playground, just in case). The convoy of limousines went round by Landgate, while your reporter and the local photographers nipped round by Wish Ward on foot, and all met in Mermaid Street to see the Duke greet the Mayor and Town Clerk before he went into the old Boys School to see what the lads inside were up to. He had a knock-up at the ping- pong table and a few snooker shots, before presenting a pair of glass decanters to Dr. and Mrs. Townsend, who are leaving Rye shortly (Mrs. Townsend has been associated with the Club for more than 20 years). In turn, Club chairman Mrs. Frances Tolhurst presented the Duke with a plate designed by David Sharp. The royal party then went on by car to the next Club on the Duke's itinerary, while the helicopter stayed parked at Lower School until it finally left at 4 to pick HRH up at Crawley. Later in the day Ray Fooks and Jeanne Freeman represented Rye at a reception at Lancing College to mark the Royal visit to the county.
The Duke's father also visited the Club, a good many years ago now; we shall have a fuller historical note shortly.
... to Mr. and Mrs. Dover, until recently of Tilling Green, who were married in St. Mary's on 24 April 1937 and therefore celebrate their Golden Wedding this month. Mrs. Edith Dover, nee James, was a local girl and met her husband Jerry when he came to Rye delivering coal to Strand Quay. He was a fisherman, and served with the Merchant Navy, losing two ships (one at Dunkirk) during WW2. After the war he gave up the sea and worked for many years at Goulds at the Harbour. Sadly, Mr. Dover has been in poor health for some time, and is now in a nursing home at Crowhurst, while Mrs. Dover has a flat in Badger Gate; but the family were able to arrange a small celebration for the couple on Saturday. They have two daughters living in Rye, two sons and nine grandchildren.
... to Susan, eider daughter of Bob and Pat Deacon of Iden, who was married on Saturday to Nicholas Jordan, also of Iden. The service took place in Iden Church, where some of Nicholas's pupils from Tunbridge Wells came over specially to sing. Then three Rolls-Royces led the procession of cars bringing the guests into Rye, to a reception at the George Hotel - where the wedding-cake stood proudly in the ballroom window awaiting its bride. Susan, wearing a white ankle-length dress, was attended by her sister Verity (home from America for the occasion), another adult bridesmaid and one very small one, all wearing apricot moire silk. Pat Deacon looked superb in a plain red outfit, and there were grey morning-coats everywhere.
... finally, to the Harbour authorities on two recent events which bode well for trade in the Rother.
On Thursday, 15 April, two British coasters helped the port of Rye achieve an export record. "Angelonia" and "Hoo Willow" between them loaded 2374 tonnes of English milling wheat in a single working day at Alsfords' wharf. Rye shipbrokers Freight Express-Seacon (Rye) Ltd. arranged the shipments, destined for breadmaking in Holland, on behalf of the farmers' grain marketing co-operative Segrain of Ashford. The loading was direct from lorries and started at 7 am, with the job finished at 7.30 pm.
Some weeks ago another record was broken, when the biggest ship ever to enter the river docked at Alsfords and was turned round s fely on the top of the tide. The "Sea Rhine" brought in 1900 tones of stone; she was 236' long, 14' draught, with a 44' beam. If a ship as big as this can dock at Rye the landing of stone becomes viable economically - harbour dues and local jobs both benefit.
4.
It would have been really churlish, reporting on the splendid Sports Centre last week, to have made more than a passing reference to the water which gleamed beneath its southern face. But it is a serious matter for the residents in The Grove, who can't get onto their gardens because they now lie so wet. The playing field has always had drainage problems (RGS pupils tell us they remember skating on it in cold winters), and the contractors knew this and made every effort before they started work to divert the land-drains they could identify and connect them up to the dykes. There were not even any major problems with water on the site while work was proceeding, a spokesman for William Ellis (Etchingham) told us. They are just as grieved as everyone else about the present position, and there has just been a site meeting at which all those concerned (ESCC, Rother, the school and the contractors) were represented.
The plan is to lay new land-drains to deal with the waterlogged area "a- soon as possible". How soon, we asked? - and were depressed to be told that nothing can be done until the water has drained away sufficiently to allow the necessary machinery on to the site. (Gardeners in The Grove had better pray for fine weather for the next few weeks; if the water can't get away downwards, it may at least evaporate upwards!) Once William Ellis can get their machines into operation, the spokesman assured us that the work will remedy the problem at if we could only tell him when the ground will be dry enough to start, he could tell us when The Grove's gardeners can get their spades out and their potatoes in.
Some 40 members of Rye Ratepayers Association will have been watching their steps in a strictly literal sense lately, after enjoying Ralph Olesen's talk at the AGM about the town's streets and pavements looked at from a maintenance viewpoint. (Like journalism, highways are obviously something you never get away from once you are hooked; some of Mr. Olesen's slides were taken in Durham - where he was simply visiting his undergraduate daughter!) His photographs illustrated the random patterns of paving/setts/cobbles/tarmac which together make up the footways in the centre of the town, and the problems which arise. He spoke about the notorious - and nation-wide - one-inch "step" which makes a damaged paving-slab officially dangerous. He referred to the problems of co-ordinating the work of the various public utilities (and reminded us of the recent debacle at the foot of Market Road as an example of what can happen if someone goes it alone).
Then Mr. Olesen turned to the need for sensitive restoration of the cobbles and their adjuncts (no concrete curbs, not if he can help it, in Mermaid Street). The current work, which will cost nearly €50,000 over three years, starts with an 18" excavation, filled in with 12" of crushed stone to provide a much stronger foundation than the original clay. Then there is a base of mixed grit and cement, laid almost dry; the cobbles are set in this, one by one, with care taken to avoid creating straight lines of one size. Finally, sand and cement are brushed in between them, and carefully watered to set the cement without disturbing it. The team are still finding some cobbles set in the loam which, as we reported recently, was used to lay them as late as the 1950s.
Mr. Olesen has been with ESCC Highways since 1969, and finds himself spending a great deal of time on Rye nowadays (and a great deal of money, which inevitably has to come off other equally deserving projects); he hopes very much that, barring emergencies, the present work will remain undisturbed, by traffic or excavations, for a long time! His sympathetic understanding of the needs of the town was clearly appreciated by his audience.
Earlier, the meeting had endorsed the Annual Report, confirmed the nominations for election candidates, and re-elected the officers and committee. Thanks were expressed by the chairman, George Shackleton, to everyone concerned. There was a surprise for Mrs. Nelson-Barrett, who has been involved in the Association for 20 years and resigned the chairmanship last year: a presentation, from the committee, of a suitably inscribed Rye Pottery plate in a design of her own choosing.
5.
East Sussex County Council dealt Freda Gardham a sad blow just before the end of last term. The indoor heated learner pool, they said, needed a new liner and a new surround - work which would cost the best part of C2,000 - and unless these were supplied the 3Council would not be prepared to contribute towards the running costs. The PTA has around 300 in its contingency fund (started a couple of years ago with just this problem in view). So there will be no indoor swimming at New Road henceforward - not for the Freda Gardham children, nor for those from Beckley School and the four playgroups who used it after school hours last year.
Mr. Le Lacheur told us that County is prepared to offer a capitation fee of £9.50 for each of his 9-year-old pupils (ie. the second-years) to enable them to be taken over to Hastings simply to learn to swim. This would total some 0450, which would have to cover coach hire and entrance to the pool - if, he said, there is any available time there anyway, since Hastings schools have been caught in the same trap. (And he wonders whether in fact it is worth it, since it means giving up a whole afternoon for perhaps half-an-hour's actual swimming instruction.)
So would it be possible for Freda Gardham pupils to make more use of the large outdoor pool in the corner of the playing-field (the pool built by parents when the school was the Secondary Modern)? Mr. Le Lacheur told us that those of his pupils who are already able to swim do sometimes use the big pool - but not as a regular part of their programme, since use of the pool for FG is a grace-and-favour arrangement with TPS who have priority in school hours. The big pool is now run by the Adult Education people at Hastings, who tell us that they would be happy to have the Frede Gardham children use it if slots can be found during school hours; booking fees would, of course, have to be paid, but these are very moderate for schools, said John Moulton-Abbott from the office in Hastings. So there is still the possibility of school swimming for pupils who can already swim; it would be up to the school to contact Anne Swaine at the FE Centre about bookings.
The logical solution, for Freda Gardham non-swimmers and the surrounding village schools whose late-1960s pools are also coming to the end of their lives, would be a covered learner pool - perhaps heated with solar panels? - on the wetlands to the south of the Sports Centre. This could then be used in school hours by primary schools and non-swimmers from TPS, and after school hours by playgroups, PTAs, and also possibly by disabled people, who at present have to go over to Hastings - a journey many find too tiring. Some equipment from the Hill House pool should be available before long, if the HHA would be willing to release it. Since ESCC has got off very lightly over the Sports Centre, merely providing the site rather than sharing the building costs, is this not something that might be considered in 1988?
E. McKnight Kauffer was an American artist who specialised in posters and book illustrations - and was a war artist for the British Government during WW2 (just as Yorkshireman Geoffrey Bagley was for the Canadian Government, ditto). McKnight Kauffer worked for many well-known companies in Britain, where he arrived just before 4141 after studying in Munich and Paris - his first poster here was for London Transport in 1914, followed by many more over the years. He did posters for a number of London museums (see particularly "The Flea" but what on earth was The London Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn Street?), and towards the end of his life (1891-1954) worked on a series for American Airlines. A selection is now on view, courtesy of the John Judkyn Memorial Trust, at the Stormont Studio - a cheerful nostalgic exhibition, with some older visitors amused to be seeing the posters second time around. An innovation at the gallery is background music, proving popular with the customers (Mozart and Elgar, the day we were there). This show runs for longer than the current one at the Easton Rooms, finishing on 14 June; the Spring Show in the High Street ends on 31 May, when it will be replaced by the work of John Bratby, RA.
6.
Mrs. Betty Townsend's Folk Museum at Cherries in Playden has been a source of much pleasure to her and to countless visitors over the past fifteen years or so. Now she and Bill are moving down to Pewsey, in Wiltshire, to be nearer their three children: and what was to happen to the collection? Betty was a worried woman until she went to one of the regular meetings of Sussex Museum Curators and mentioned the problem, handing round a list of what she had to offer (free, of course) - and was promptly deluged with requests from museums all over the county!
Everything has now found a home, almost all in East Sussex. Betty - who really didn't want to move house with nine mangles and seven ploughs - is taking with her her favourite things, the makings of a cobbler's shop and a miniature dairy, to keep in a convenient 30' shed in the new garden. She swears she is not going to start again - but did we detect an apprehensive look in Bill's eye?
The rescue work Mrs. Townsend has done locally has been priceless, salvaging and restoring those necessities of country living which would otherwise have rotted away in a field or been left out for the dustmen; now people are beginning to realise that such things should be cherished, but when she started they were regarded as so much rubbish. Betty will be remembered for many activities in the town, but it seems likely that the Museum, long-term, is her finest achievement. We wish Dr. and Mrs. Townsend every happiness in their new home.
At the Town Council's final meeting on Monday there was a vote on a major issue, the membership of the Rye Promotion Group, on which we shall report more fully next week. But other, less controversial, items may also interest readers.
Street lighting: in GAZETTE no. 214 we reported that the Council recommended the third Gun Garden lamp for use right through the town except in Church Square. ESCC says, however, that for safety reasons it is essential to use the gentle amber light in the town's main traffic routes (Hilder's Cliff, High Street, The Mint and Market Road). The third lamps will be used in the rest of the Citadel area, except for Church Square which will have tungsten lights.
The Community Centre roof: using the remains of the Lottery Account and drawing from reserves, the Town Council is offering to pay one-third of the cost.
The two excellent aerial photographs of Rye displayed at the Marina exhibition have been much admired, and the Council is to purchase a copy of each, have them framed, and then hang one in the Clerk's office and one in the antechamber.
The work on the Town Hall cupola is now complete. There were additional costs of some £700, but this included work to the dormer window and at the base of the cupola. The Council is most grateful to Eric Le Fevre for the time and trouble he has given to the work - "and the Clerk wished it to be recorded that the informed advice and help received from Councillor Le Fevre had been invaluable to her in this matter".
Readers will remember the troublo there was last summer when itinerants occupied the Bonfire Salts! The itinerant season is now coming round again, and the Clerk has written to Colin Hudson asking him to make sure that his staff, and more particularly the ice-cream-van drivers, keep the gate firmly locked this summer - it was noticed that it has been left open lately.
Finally, the coal-yard site. We have heard various conflicting rumours about what was to happen to it, but the Council's Planning Committee has the definitive version - because the Marketing Manager of PD Fuels, the owners, has visited the Town Hall and later wrote asking for suggestions for the long-term use of the site. It seems that the company does not wish to sell the land, but would like to see it usefully employed. Short-term, a paying car-park is a possibility; long-term... well, has anyone any sensible suggestions for a large piece of cleared ground, slap on Strand Quay and (at present) opening onto the A259? If so, tell the Town Clerk.
7.
Recently some Rope Walk residents - or their landlords - had a horrid shock when the main water supply running along the back of the second terrace on the Eagle Road side came to grief. How it happened is no concern of ours; but it turned out that the supply pipe, once it left the pavement, was not a SWA pipe but was owned jointly by the householders - who were therefore jointly responsible for repairing it. Appealed to, Southern Water offered free connection to the main which runs along the road - but the owners still had to pay for the work done to connect their back-of-the-house plumbing to the front-of-the-house mains supply. Some householders, dissatisfied with the poor flow of the old pipe, were already connected up out front; for the others, there was some frantic digging over Easter - though Southern Water had provided, and kept full, a water-bowser in the street until everyone had a supply again.
If you see an ancient Greek running along the road somewhere between Winchelsea, Udimore and Rye one morning early next week, don't panic. He will really be George Cumming, who has decided to enliven his London Marathon run this year by entering for the fancy dress - and who wants to make sure that the outfit won't chafe, or fall off, in good time beforehand. For those watching on television, look out first for a red-and-white skull-cap complete with ancient Greek haircut, then a brown tunic, a white linen kilt, and bare legs (fancy dress for everyone stops at the ankles, and proper running shoes are de rigeur). Mr. Cumming (his number is 33N) is running for MSS, and if he wins the fancy-dress class his sponsor money is doubled by Mars. Why the ancient Greek outfit? He represents the soldier who in 490 BC ran from Marathon to Athens, 26 miles, with the news of the Persian defeat; and he carries a scroll to say so, written in Greek (with a translation on the back)!
Those wanting to sponsor Mr. Cumming can do so at Barry Rivers' shop in Cinque Ports Street, where they will get a free raffle ticket for the associated draw.
Donkey driving up at Hill House School is in need of helpers - not to drive the dear things ranch-style, but to drive the donkey-cart which gives such pleasure to the mentally-handicapped pupils. Maudie pulls the cart (one helper minds Maudie); and another helper minds Maudie's daughter Ruby, who won't be left behind. Kathleen Goldie-Smith says that if anyone could spare just one- and-a-half hours once a fortnight in term-time (Tuesday mornings, 9.50 to 11.20) she would be glad to hear from them - "children, helpers, donkeys and all would be most grateful". Even Maudie, adds Miss Goldie-Smith, is well aware of the contribution she is making with this little bit of social service!
Once again this year Round Table are running Rye Carnival (on 1 August), and as usual they will be choosing a Carnival Queen - Miss Rye 1987. The contest takes place at the Oasis on Saturday, 16 May. Competitors must live within ten miles of Rye, and be aged 16 or over. Married women are certainly not excluded - in fact they may well take their duties more seriously than a younger girl bamboozled into entering at the last minute by an excess of party spirit! Men, even in these unisex days, are excluded, though we seem to remember hearing some years ago of a competitor who was being considered quite seriously by the judges until someone thought it wise to blow his cover...
Recently Alan Deeprose was elected 1987/8 chairman of Round Table; Jim Wood is his vice-chairman, and Roger Neeves of Winchelsea is secretary.
We are very sorry indeed to report that a lad from Camber - Edward Grant, aged 18 - died in hospital after an accident at the East Guldeford level crossing early on Sunday morning. Police think that his 350cc motorbike was the only vehicle involved, but would obviously be glad to hear from any witnesses.
Thursday, 30th Multiple Sclerosis Society Branch AGM, Social Services, 7
Friday, 1st Vidler & Co's monthly auction sale, 10 (see below) Movie Society, a member's evening, FEC, 7.30
Saturday, 2nd Bowls Club coffee morning (all welcome), Pavilion, 10.30
The Travellers Theatre Group "Dearly Beloved", FEC, 7.30 (below)
Sunday, 3rd United Eastertide Celebration, St. Mary's/Methodist Church, from 12.30 (see below)
Monday, 4th Bank Holiday (yes, another!) - schools closed
Mothers Union, speaker on Alcoholics Anonymous, Upper Room, 7.30
Wednesday, 6th BRCS coffee morning and Open Day (see below), Dolphin House, 10
• For the second time in three years Rye Red Cross Centre has not been allowed a street collection (flag-day). On 7 and 8 May, Ray Festing has offered the front porch of 11 High Street, so that those who have not been house-to-housed can buy their flags there. The previous day (next Wednesday) there is an Open Day, coffee morning and bring-and-buy at the Red Cross Centre from 10 to 3; please support our local Centre in Red Cross Week.
• When we gave the opening hours of the FEC office last week, for people buying tickets for "Dearly Beloved" on Saturday (GAZETTE no. 221), we didn't know that Anne Swaine was on holiday; she is now back, and will be delighted to sell tickets for what sounds like a very pleasant show (£1.50 inc. refreshments)
• On Bank Holiday Monday next week, British Rail again offer us a winter Sunday service; after Easter, we are reluctant to complain about anything which may reduce the number of visitors in the town - but parents of weekending children should remember that the last train back to London therefore goes at 20.14.
• The Cancer Relief coffee morning at the Red Cross on Easter Monday raised 0139; the Greyfriars Ploughman's Lunch at the Community Centre on Maundy Thursday, £200; and the Scouts are grateful to the George Hotel for housing a postcard and cigarette-card exhibition on Good Friday which raised £29 for funds.
• The Council of Churches' United Eastertide Celebration on Sunday includes a shared meal in St. Mary's (12.30 for 1, bring finger-food, tea coffee and squash provided). The celebration will include the blessing and sharing of bread, and there will be time for exchanging experiences of the Lent Discussion Groups - but those who weren't members of those groups will be equally welcome. The celebration will end with the second of a series of United Healing Services in the Methodist Church at 4.
• Vidlers' sale on Friday should interest DIY builders: it includes ten small window sashes, two larger sash windows, two 8' x 4' bay-window frames, and a pair of panelled doors. There are also a number of toys, assorted garden equipment, two computers, several typewriters, a photocopier, 33 3'-square brown linen tablecloths - and 1200 1967 pennies and 2400 1966 halfpennies, all uncirculated. All this, of course, on top of the usual selection of antiques and general household goods, over 400 lots in all.
• Sandie Lazarus of Care for the Carers asks us to say that "in view of the very positive response shown to this new service" her information centre will continue throughout the summer - on 21 May, 11 and 25 June and 9 and 23 July, between 10.30 and 12.30. She will be glad to see callers at the Cinque Ports Street Council Offices, or you can ring her on Rye 222293.
• Winners in Boots' Easter colouring competition: (under-5) Alice Woolford of King's Avenue, Lucy Harvest-Clarke of Peasmarsh and Louise Pullen of Rye Harbour; (5-8) James McDonnell of Iden Lock, Caroline Bayley of Broad Oak, Zoe Paul of Denton Close. Congratulations to the six young artists!
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye, East Sussex, TN37 7DR (0797 222303), and printed by Cinque Ports Stationers of Rye. (Copyright Mary Owen 1987)