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Congratulations to Rye Cricket Club, winners of the Erreys' East Sussex League for 1987. The League has been in operation since 1972, and Erreys (a big turniture store in Heathfield) has sponsored it for the past few years; Rye has never won before, and there was something of a celebration at the pavilion on Saturday evening. The Cup has been contested (on a points basis) throughout the season by a Rye 1st XI squad whose regular players have included Mike Balcomb (captain), John Lovell (vice-captain), Roy Bourne, Martin Curd, Andy Edwards, Neville Edwards, John Marshall, Peter Mathews, Brian Best, Peter Thomson, Ian Addy, Neil Cloute, Neil Hopper and Robert Wheeler. Also very proud of them- selves are the Rye 2nd XI, runners-up in the League 2nd Division (they could well have won, said Mike Thomas sadly, if they hadn't been more than usually unlucky with rained-off matches - which of course cut down their points total). Here the squad consisted of Mike Thomas (captain), Stephen Tagg (vice-captain), Roger Tagg, Simon Bourne, Alan Stephenson, Matthew Wilkinson, Philip Bourn, Robbie Cloute, Martin Blincow, Darren Smith, Arnie Sanyal, Matthew Heskett and (playing for both squads in the course of the season) Brian Best and Ian Addy. We haven't room for the names of all those who have helped both teams in various ways; but Mr. Thomas says there must be a mention of Les and Judy Bourne of Udimore Road (parents of Simon) whose practical support throughout the season has been invaluable. Incidentally, Matthew Wilkinson's success in Barbados (GAZETTE no. 238) did not pass unnoticed by the Cricket Club - but their sponsorship cheque arrived too late for our earlier report.
The residents of South Undercliff were really pleased when it rained heavily recently - because for the first time in several years they could still walk along the pavement without getting soaked! They first noticed four years ago that the rainwater didn't seem to be running away as it should, but things got steadily worse, and complaints simply had no effect - by the time someone eventually came over to have a look, the problem had evaporated. Recently the Town Council entered a protest - and, the story goes, someone from Highways just happened to be driving along the road during a real downpour and saw for himself what was (or rather, wasn't) happening: So Highways dug up the road and found a smashed drain-pipe preceded by an amazing build-up of silt and rubbish; they cleared it, replaced the pipe, and now the rainwater runs away properly, front gardens are no longer swamped by waves from passing lorries, and grateful South Undercliff residents can get home dry-shod.
Railway buffs have been entertained all summer by the occasional appearance on our line of "the green train" - running normal services, but painted in the old SR colours, with the BR Transport Commission symbol on the side. As from last weekend it has acquired its own nameplate, too: the Mayor of Hastings named it "St. Leonards" at a ceremony at Hastings on Friday. David Woodhouse at Ashford tells us that this is part of the old rolling-stock from the Hastings-Tonbridge line, and has been repainted as a promotion exercise; there are not that many diesel lines left now, and real afficionados are delighted to have the chance to ride on one as a nostalgic outing. Railway enthusiasts might like to note in their diaries that 24 October will be special Network Day, involving our line more details nearer the time.
2.
Mr. Ponty Hall, of Rye Harbour, died at his home on 3 September after some months of failing health; he was in his 80s. The funeral has taken place. He had lived at the Harbour since 1945, and was a popular and respected member of the village and sailing communities. There is particular sympathy for his widow Connie, whose brother Lawrie Band died only a few months ago.
Mrs. Agnes Pettitt died at her home in Fishmarket Road on 10 September, after a long illness; she was the wife of Mr. George Pettitt. The funeral takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at Hastings Crematorium at 11.30
Purely by chance, last Friday, we heard about a meeting at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. Organised from the County Engineer's office and chaired by our County Councillor, this is one of a series being held in September in different parts of the county, to discuss revisions for the draft of the Public Transport Policies which become effective next month. A letter sent "to all consultees and all operators" refers to the series as "public meetings" being held "to provide a forum for comments about the current public transport provision in each district". So we asked both Rye WIs, the Red Cross and the WRVS if they were among the "consultees", and in each case the answer was no. So, for the benefit of those who would have been there if they had known, we 1...,11 do our best to report next week on the long and fairly complicated agenda; it will be interesting to see who actually is there from Rye (and whether they are regular users of public transport) to represent the town's views about "current public transport provision".
Writing last week about Station Approach, we mentioned the problem caused on the first day of term by TPS children conflicting with civilians for seats on the Camber bus. Ray Fooks tells us that this is indeed a problem. Last Thursday much the same thing happened, and 17 children - whose seats were, after all, paid for in advance - were left off the bus; fortunately one of them led the others back to school, and a staff member took them home in the school minibus, returning to scour the town for anyone else left behind (the next Camber bus doesn't leave for an hour).
This situation is likely to clear up once the last of the Pontins visitors have gone home, but it will return next summer. Would it not be possible for th Camber children to be collected from school direct? The answer to this is that there is simply not room outside the school for even one more coach at 3.30, even if the bus company could revise its timetable to suit. Mr. Fooks says there is never any excuse for bad manners or bad language, and he has had a word with the bus pupils; but his staffing position is now so tight that he has no-one still on duty at the end of the school day to go and supervise in the bus yard. A long-term solution will be reached when major rebuilding in The Grove (transferring Lower School from its present site, among other things) should be able to provide adequate coach-parking space on school land, but this is not likely to happen for at least three years. In the meantime, Camber residents might do best to go home on the earlier bus?
Still on the subject of Station Approach, what about yellow lines at the bottle-neck? Not a chance, says County - not for quite some time. It seems that the whole of the new road has just "gone under maintenance" - a one-year trial period which leads to full "adopted" status. County is anxious for the Ferry Road end to reopen so that they can assess the whole road and not just the Station Approach end; but this won't happen until the contractors no longer need to get heavy machinery onto the supermarket site. Any proposal for new yellow lines has to be advertised and objections considered before the County Highways Committee approves it; the matter is in hand, they say, but nothing is likely to happen at the bottleneck in terms of yellow paint until some time in the New Year. If anyone objects, it will take even longer. Oh dear!
3 - THE RYE GAZETTE, 16 September 1987
On 5 September, at Hampden Park near Eastbourne, Mark Osborne - son of Terry and Sally, of Military Road - and Julie Glenister were married. Sally tells us that there were nine bridesmaids, five grown girls and four children, wearing sweet-pea pinks and lilacs: Mark's sister Rachel was of course one of them, and so were local children Louise and Donna Boyden. Rachel was official hairdresser to the entire wedding-party! The bride wore a classic white crinoline dress (the bridegroom's mother had intended to wear jade, but fell for a gold outfit with navy accessories). And the honeymoon? Unbelievably, two weeks before the wedding, Mark learnt that he was once again the winner of a holiday awarded by Curry's, his employers, and he and Julie will be going to Thailand in January. As if this was not enough, one week before the wedding he was told he was being promoted, and he is now about to start as the new manager of the Hastings branch of Curry's in Queen's Road.
Saturday afternoon's wedding at the Methodist Church was between Caroline, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Fairhall of Iden, and Graham Richards of Peasmarsh. Caroline wore white lace, flounced over a crinoline underskirt, with a white spray in her hair, and carried a pink bouquet. She was attended by a friend, and by the bridegroom's small niece Karen; both bridesmaids wore deep sapphire blue dresses accented in white, with pink flower posies. (There was also a very small page, but he turned out to be part-time only!) The bride's mother was in a black suit with vivid jade-green accessories and a white hat. The rain had held off during the early part of the day, but it began to drizzle as the guests left the church - and it was at the photographer's suggestion, Mrs. Fairhall told us, that the bridal group retreated to the shelter of the wall of St. Mary's just over the way, for pictures to be taken - a truly ecumenical move which rather puzzled the members of the orchestra who had been rehearsing in St. Mary's for the evening's concert. The reception was in the Community Centre, the honeymoon is being spent in the north of England, and the couple will live in Peasmarsh; Caroline is a hairdresser in St. Leonards, and Graham works for the Wittersham shoeing smith, so they will have to go off to work in opposite directions.
The wedding at St. Anthony's at noon on Saturday, a top-hat-and-tails affair, was between two London doctors. The bride's family live in Appledore, and so this is her nearest Catholic church. Bride and bridegroom each contributed a sister as a bridesmaid, and the wedding party was led down the hill to the reception at the George Hotel by a team of Morris dancers.
There seems to be some confusion about the price for parking a car in the new railway car-park.
Back in December, Area Manager Harry Holt told us that the rate would be £1, with rail travellers getting a 50p rebate. However, everyone here was relieved to see that in fact the old rates were maintained until very recently, when the ticket machines arrived. They were accompanied by elegantly-painted boards announcing the El (50p rebate) scheme. But they had only been up a few days when a pasted-on slip gave the charge as a straight 50p with no rebate - which was still there yesterday.
The station staff say that this is to be the regular price. But David Woodhouse at Ashford says no, the El-plus-rebate figure is the right one. If so, how do you get your rebate? You have to produce your car-park ticket when you buy a rail ticket, he said. And if, to avoid a queue at the last minute, you have bought it the day before, or at Baldwins (as an increasing number of people now do), then what? Well, you have to queue just the same to get your 50p back - and then, presumably, double back to the car to put the ticket in the window, or BR Pot ITe could prosecute you for not paying! In fact, there will soon be a worse threat: BR are to bring in wheel-clamps, to be fastened to non-paying cars by the Station Manager - and only removed at his convenience, which could well mean next day (he is based at Ashford)... All good fun, for those of us who don't drive anyway - but not for drivers who tend to cut it fine for a train.
4.
• Thomas Peacocke School Michaelmas Fair this year has a fairground theme. It is to be held on Saturday afternoon, 26 September, from 2 - at Lower School in Ferry Road - and attractions will include a fortune teller, a punch-and-judy, the same bouncy castle and big slide which were so popular at the Carnival, the Jazz Taverners and the TPS Band, a pet show, the usual stalls and sideshows, and a refreshment tent. It is very much hoped that despite his recent accident, Tim Ruck and his friends from the Harbour will be able to fly his model aircraft.
There will also, for the first time, be police participation in the Fair. The Special Constables are arranging to stamp cycles with the owner's post-code - a useful way of identifying a bike if it should be stolen. So if you can bring your bike (child's or adult's) along with you, it will be well worth seeking out the police stand and letting them mark it. It will cost you nothing, and could mean you get your bike back when you otherwise might not. As far as we know, this hasn't been on offer in Rye from the police for at least five years, go make the most of it!
• The previous evening (Friday, 25th) William Mount will give a talk at the FE Centre at 7.30 (admission 50p) on the work of the Historic Gardens Trust (Sussex) entitled "Green Grows History". The Trust aims to preserve historic gardens by offering financial aid to owners, in return for allowing members to pay an annual visit. Even non-historic gardeners will obviously find this a most interesting evening.
• Rye Methodist Church celebrates its Harvest Weekend on 26 and 27 September; the church will be open from 10 to 6 on both days, and visitors will be very welcome to come in and admire the Harvest display. The Harvest Festival service is at 11 on the Sunday. (The Harvest Supper will be held in the Methodist Hall the following Tuesday, 29th - tickets £1.50 from Adams.)
• Yet another diversion takes place in St. Mary's that weekend, on Sunday evening (27th) at 6, when Rachel Sarrieddine is directing the Sunday School children (and some adult helpers) in the story of Noah. This is likely to be well worth seeing (remember the Nativity Play two years ago?), so note the slightly unusual time.
Amy Breeds was particularly interested in Arthur Woodgate's reference (page 6 last week) to the Bijou Theatre - which was attached to the original Cinque Forts Hotel. The theatre was pulled down (by her grandfather-in-law, as it happened) in 1931 to make way for the cinema.
At the turn of the century, Amy's great-grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Brookie Clark were the landlords of the Cinque Ports Hotel, and also ran the Byjoe. The two establishments had the first electricity generator in Rye, so movies could be shown; this was a great novelty, Mrs. Clark used to tell Amy, and when filmgoers demanded an encore her husband would show the films again either backwards or speeded up! Perhaps it was not surprising that the projector sometimes broke down, or the power failed, and then a restless audience demanded its money back. (Can anyone remember the name of the lady who used to play the piano there?)
There were proper theatrical performances in Cinque Ports Street, too; once Ellen Terry and Sir Henry Irving performed "She Stoops to Conquer" for four nights, and Miss Terry - who used to stay at the hotel from time to time - gave Mrs. Clark a costume she had worn in the play, pale green watered silk with a pattern of roses. Mrs. Clark rashly loaned this out one 1930s Bonfire Night and it was never the same afterwards; eventually, sad to say, it was cut up for curtains!
Mr. Woodgate's book was the first time we had seen the name of the theatre written down; all those who can actually remember it refer to it as the Byjoe. Both hotel and cinema were bombed during WW2; the Railway Inn took over the name, the Police Station took over the site, and another cinema has come and gone on the Byjoe site, which is now Regent Square.
5.
Readers will know that the GAZETTE doesn't go to concerts, but we are assured that all eight were most enjoyable and drew satisfactorily large audiences. We also missed the clown and the buskers on Saturday, and the Monday films but we met a vela satisfied customer, aged about 5, for "Charlotte's Web"!
Graham Clarke's talk on his "History of England" series was every bit as funny as his pictures. It is more than sixty years since "1066 And All That" came out; that had two authors, but Graham has written his History single-handed as well as providing the illustrations (or should it be the other way round, with the text annotating the pictures?). These, with their hilarious detail, have been on view recently in the Easton Rooms; the book is to be published next month, and signed copies will be obtainable in the town. Cartoonist Ralph Steadman, whose illustrations for "I, Leonardo" are currently on show in the Stormont Studio, was in the audience - a fact which the lecturer did not fail to notice... Everyone enjoyed themselves very much.
Thursday's film may have been timed for children, but the audience for "Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow" was 75% adult, and senior adult at that. The Rye of 25 years ago was immediately recognisable, though the Town Hall had a very different colour-scheme, and pre-excavation Camber Castle was freely open to film-makers and everyone else. The Marsh church used was Old Romney (and the Rank Organisation contributed generously to its restoration by way of thanks) - but whose was the crypt? Where was the beautiful barn interior? And which house served as the Squire's mansion? The film itself, opening with a stunning sequence of horsemen galloping across the Marsh at night, was well worth seeing again, despite the lack of sex and unreasonable violence:
The historical exhibition at the Town Hall on Friday meant a great deal of work for the arrangers, but it produced some most interesting material, and we understand that the Conservation Society and Local History Group are hoping to stage the event for two days next year. Rye people will have been particularly interested by the screens hung with views of the town, past and present, some showing very clearly just how far artistic licence can be carried! There were also photographs of the doomed buildings on the Alsfords site, the result of a long hard weekend spent there by Frank Palmer and Alan Dickinson. Local shops and authors co-operated to supply the bookstall with a range of material.
WI Market shoppers on Friday morning were somewhat surprised to find three casks of beer lined up in the Community Centre foyer! Unfortunately the contents were not on offer until much later that day, when the overheated audience for "The Fairer Sax" poured out into the cooler air for the interval. The four girls did us proud, even to a costume change for the second half of the programme (brilliant turquoise brocade before the interval, gold-sequinned bodices vith bouffant black sleeves and skirts after it), and even someone completely deaf would have had much pleasure simply from looking at them. Although none of the four could have been much more than 25, they were utterly professional, even taking in their stride the moment when someone had come armed with the wrong part; they started with Bach, blended their saxes in a madrigal, plunged several times into serious music specially composed for them, emerged to set the audience mentally fox-trotting to a Thirties tune, slipped ingeniously into a neat routine to clear the stage of chairs and music-stands, and finished with a delightful step-dance, still playing their shining golden instruments (four sizes, with the smallest girl clutching the biggest sax). We would very much like to see them again, please; there will be an opportunity to hear them (we hope to know when) on Radio Sussex, who were recording the evening's music.
There were receptions at the Town Hall on both Saturday evenings: one given by the Mayor, to welcome the Festival and wish it every success, and one by the Festival Council to thank sponsors, advertisers, and all who helped - and most particularly the Festival Organiser, Mrs. Anne Wood. Anne assures us that there will certainly be a Festival in 1988 - indeed, the dates are already fixed, from 3 to 10 September. Rye will be looking forward to it.
6.
• The Department of the Environment notified Rother's planning department yesterday that the stable building in the Old Dairy Yard is now listed Grade Two. This means that without permission from Rother it cannot be demolished, and the listing will presumably affect the current application to build what is in effect a four-storey block of flats straddling the Town Wall at that point. (See GAZETTES no. 204 and 232.)
• There are two local applications in this week's list, neither of them specifically for Rye itself: change of use is requested for Units 21/22 at the Hatleys development in Harbour Road, for a wholesale warehouse and distribution depot for Hastings Leisure; and the owner of St. Michael's Lodge, the house on the corner of Leasam Lane opposite the hospital, is applying to build a very sizeable extension which would add two bedrooms, a kitchen and a double garage. Rather surprisingly, this is listed to go through planning under the delegated procedure, which means that it is not considered by the Planning Committee at all unless there is an objection; until now, Rye delegations have only been for minor applications such as windows and front porches.
• From time to time in recent weeks complaints have reached the GAZETTE about the new housing in Rock Channel; some people just don't like the look of it, but some are convinced that the houses built do not tally with the planning permission granted.
The original outline planning permission for the whole scheme was given in 1979. The blue-roofed industrial units later received detailed permission and were built several years ago. In February 1985 the developer, with Le Fevre Wood & Hoyle as his architects, put in a detailed application (85/0175) for the housing, 15 dwellings with garages. In the GAZETTE of 20 February 1985 we reported the application, and said "John Underwood suggests that anyone nervous about this development would be reassured if they cared to call at Le Fevre Wood & Royle's Rye office and look at the drawings". Those drawings were basically approved at the March 1985 planning meeting and received final permission in October 1986; and recently we went to the architects' offices to look at them. They show exactly what is now being built, including the third storey in the roof with its dormer windows and roof-lights, the first-floor bay window on one terrace and the balcony on the other. We did wonder about the small centre terrace, which on site looks potentially habitable; but we are assured that it is in fact a block of six garages. Three go with the houses in the smaller terrace, and have a door and window opening from the garden as well as a car door the other side; the alternate three are to serve houses in the terrace yet to be built alongside the river, and they too will have normal garage doors, though at present they are being used as part of the site office. There is absolutely no question of anyone having a guest flatlet at the end of their garden:
GAZETTE policy is normally to give only brief details of planning applications, our intention being to alert those particularly concerned to go and study the plans for themselves at the Council Offices. In this case, there was also an invitation to study them in the architects' office. Anyone who didn't do either, and is now surprised at the result, isn't really in a position to complain at this stage (we hope everyone interested has been to look at the new proposals for further development of the estate into the allotments, GAZETTE no. 231).
An article about marina villages in The Times last month mentioned the Rock Channel development: "Rock Channel Quay has been designed by local architects Le Fevre Wood & Hoyle who, because of the firm's close links with the Rye Preservation Society" (sic) "drew up plans which reflected local marine influence. The scheme features local bricks, handmade hanging tiles and the traditional
timber weather-boarding. The first phase of 8 two-, three- and four-bedroom town-houses are now for sale and ready for immediate occupation at prices ranging from £115,000 to £124,000." Phase 2 (the terrace beside the river) will be ready around Christmas, and Phase 3 is planned for completion during 1988; this is the "boatel" section, filling in the land between the houses and the industrial units. Not much is said, in this obvious press release, about moorings - so it would seem that they are not included in the quoted price of the houses.
7.
• A remarkable art exhibition at present ornaments the walls of Thomas Peacocke School in the area round the main entrance: the work sent in for A-level Art by those who took the exam in June. Peter Lee and John Stewart obviously had a particularly talented group; all eight passed the exam, most with A or B grades, and as far as the Head knows all are going on to take a Foundation Course at art school. The paintings, and perhaps particularly the drawings, show not only a wide imaginative range but also a technical excellence of which the young artists and the school can be justly proud.
Walking back into the town on Monday, we were amused and impressed to see a real sign of the times, through the window of the Home Economics kitchen. The class was composed of relatively senior pupils - and about a third of them were boys!
• Vickie Piper tells us that her son Andrew had the most marvellous holiday at Hindleap Warren, near East Grinstead, as past of the Activenture holiday scheme run by the Red Cross; Andrew was sponsored by the Rye BRCS Centre. The weather was good, and the children were able to enjoy such delights as "wide games" in the woods at night, and a barn-dance. The Red Cross finds a helper for every handicapped child who takes part; Andrew's was a care assistant from a special school in Chichester, who had given up his own holiday time and who contributed enormously to the success of Andrew's week. Vickie would like local Red Cross members to know how very much their kindness was appreciated.
• From time to time we have news of Royal Ballet dancer Nicola Katrak, whose grandfather lives in Udimore Road. This week and next, Nicola forms a part of the touring company which is dancing in an enormous tent at Leeds Castle (you may have seen something about it on Coast to Coast last week). Her grandfather can't get to the performances, but if anyone from round here does go - particularly on a night when Nicola is dancing a leading role - he would be so very pleased to hear from them, and perhaps have a sight of the programme. Ring Mr. Clutterbuck if you are able to give him this pleasure.
• The Arthritis & Rheumatism Council street collection on 5 September in Rye raised £383. The new Branch Secretary, Mrs. Evelyn Fothergill, is most grateful to all who helped - and all who gave, of course.
• Multiple Sclerosis Society chairman George Cumming is testing his powers to the utmost within the next few weeks, taking on the challenge of a triple marathon and cycle ride. On 26 September he aims to run the Polytechnic Marathon in 4 hours, on 11 October the Guildford Marathon in 4 hours and 15 minutes, and on 25 October he intends to cycle to Lydd, run the Lydd half-marathon and then cycle back to Rye, all in 4 hours. If he is outside any of these times he will himself pay a penalty of £10. As before, each sponsor will receive a free dray ticket (prizes given by Rye MSS and by Barry Rivers of Cinque Ports Street, who has sponsor forms in his radio and TV shop); the draw will take place on 15 October at 8pm at Ma Beeton's, and on 25 October there will be a further £25 cash prize draw for the final event. All this is in aid of the Branch's ambu- lance/minibus, now (metaphorically speaking) just round the corner.
• TVS duly came to Rye last Tuesday and spent a couple of hours here, filming and interviewing various people about the Rye Bisection. They assured the Mayor that the piece would go out last week, probably on Friday. It didn't. Monday? Nothing. Perhaps it will have appeared by the time you read this; or perhaps it will simply be lost in the limbo of major Maidstone news... (Very busy place, Maidstone, it really needs its own TV station!)
• A couple of weekends ago the town was very full. A landlady on the outskirts had to turn away a young German visitor, and was trying to explain that he would do best to look for a bed in one of the villages. Seeing her struggling, her son-in-law (who happened to be staying there) took a hand in the conversation in fluent (and obviously native) German. The visitor looked envious: "If it is so difficult, how did you manage to get a bed?" "Oh, it was simple" came the airy reply - "I married the daughter of the house!"
Thursday, 17th Friary Gardeners (Mencap project) morning garden party, 11 High Street, 10 to 12 (side entrance to garden) Thrift Shop, Red Cross, 10 to 4 (and Friday and Saturday)
Friday, 18th Museum Association talk, "Stately Homes and Gardens" (Alma Fabes), FEC, 7.30
Saturday, 19th RAFA flag-day (display in EMBS window) - with afternoon teas
for Wings Week appeal at the Town Hall from 3 to 5
Museum Association outing to Walmer and Deal, Rope Walk, 10
Lions Charity Shop, CC, 10 to 5 (and Sunday)
Women's British Legion nearly-new sale CANCELLED
Sunday, 20th Rother District Council Civic Service, St. Mary's, 10.30 (RAFA will be participating)
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve work party (all welcome) - bring garden tools, binoculars, boots and lunch, car-park, 10
Monday, 21st Camera Club, "Your favourite slides, 1986/7", FEC, 7.30
• The town's good wishes will go to David Payne, of Eagle Road until his marriage last year, who is now bound for the Gulf with the minesweeper HMS Hurworth.
• Sunday was a very happy day for Anne and Robert Mair of Wick Farm, Udimore; two small grand-daughters were christened, and the event was celebrated by a party for all the families involved.
• Rose-Anne is one of three dress-shops taking part in a Fashion Fantasia at the Queen's Hotel in Hastings on 21 October in aid of Cancer Research and Relief. Tickets from Rosemary at the High Street shop, £2.50.
• Audrey Bartlett found a striped parasol and a brown thermos left at her house after the Action Group coffee morning on 28 August; she would be glad if the owners would collect them as soon as possible.
• Tracy Kirkham, who has her own word-processor, is available to type theses of any kind (arts or science).
• It is with considerable pride that the Rye Society of Artists announces that at its Summer Exhibition at the Boys Club, £11,300-worth of work was sold - not counting £550 raised by the sale of publications, etc. The total sum is very much the same as last year's record figure.
• A big silver cup in the window of Mary Lestocq's Studio in Market Road is paying a second visit to Rye; Mary last won it two years ago. It is awarded by the London Portrait Group for the best picture of a single subject (ie. not more than two sitters), and Mary earned it with the delightful study of two young violinists, Kevin and Jackie Sparks, from Staplehurst.
• The press book shows a rather shaming theft - the RNLI box from the Sailing Club! The box, taken some time between 27 August and 5 September, was recovered, minus its contents. Another theft was that of a Ford Sierra (A192 KKP) stolen from Love Lane on 10 September.
• Miss Louie Cotton of Ferry Road was very reluctant to allow us to wish her many happy returns of her recent 80th birthday in the GAZETTE, since she is a modest lady. But last week the Sussex Express told all, recording the parties she was given by the WI Market team (for whom she takes the money) and the WRVS (for whom she does the Meals on Wheels catering) - so now we feel at liberty to offer Miss Cotton our congratulations as well!
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office, published by Mrs. Mary Owen, 2 Cyprus Place, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7DR (0797 222303), and printed by Cinque Ports Stationers of Rye. Deadline is Monday afternoon for each Wednesday's delivery to subscribers/pick-up points; the paper will cost 40p from 30 September, when the new subscription period starts. (Copyright Mary Owen 1987)