We are grateful to readers who have already renewed their subscriptions; receipts are attached to this issue. The Editor also very much appreciates the kind remarks which accompanied many renewals.
An issue without a receipt will be the last one delivered to you unless you renew your subscription (£2.75) by next Monday (11th). But if you reckon you have paid and there is no receipt with your copy, please get in touch at once. What this paper needs is an accounts clerk!
A considerable sum of money, we are sorry to hear, was stolen from Penny Royal on Thursday morning. Stephen Denny tells us that while one of the thieves kept the assistant occupied in the main shop, the other slipped through to the private quarters at the back and took cash and cheques. There was a very similar theft in Cinque Ports Street a few weeks ago, and we hear of other cases in the town. It is thought that there is a link between these thefts, and if customers and shop staff alike can be extra vigilant it may be possible to lay hands on the thieves. (This sounds like another case for "Community Watchdog" - see last week's GAZETTE.)
Mrs. McKenzie, of Little Saltcote in Military Road, recently had "absconder" trouble - guests who departed, after three nights, without paying their bill. It is, she says, only the second time in seven years that this has hit her guest house, but she wonders how prevalent it is in the town generally? (There was a case not long ago when the "guests" stole the linen as well as not paying.) As Mrs. McKenzie says, it is sad, because it makes guest-house proprietors look thoughtfully at all visitors; the couple who cheated her were, she would have thought, very pleasant and quite above suspicion.
We are asked to remind readers that there are people who like to sit in their gardens - or even indoors with the windows open - without having to listen in to next door's radio going at full blast just over the fence at all hours. This is basically a repeat of a request put out at intervals during the summer by the BBC; but we were asked to make it by a reader from a part of the town where we would not have thought it would be necessary.
Mr. Henderson, of Pollyanna, does wish that people would not permit, let alone encourage, their dogs to mess in the little courtyard leading to his Market Road shop; it is not nice for customers, nor for him when he is continually having to clean it up. (We read that the Hastings Observer is co-operating with a local councillor over publishing photographs of people allowing their dogs to foul public places!)
The litter problem was exemplified last week when two girls, aged perhaps 13, walking back from school past Badger Gate, were amusing themselves kicking a carrier bag along the pavement. When the inevitable happened, they merely retrieved what they wanted of the contents and left the rest lying there. The child we spoke to about this was not, we feel sure, from a home where litter is normally left where it falls; she seemed genuinely surprised when we pointed out that it was not very pleasant for the Badger Gate residents to have her dirty chip-paper left outside their windows.
A reference in the papers for Rye Town Council's meeting on Monday to "a civic amenity site" had us agog - what was in store for us? A sports centre? A leisure complex? Perhaps even a swimming pool? Not a bit of it; space is being sought for a new rubbish tip!
2.
We can now confirm that the arched doors of the goods shed, removed on Saturday, are to go to good use. The Kent and East Sussex Railway, based at Tenterden, are building a new carriage shed at Tenterden Station, and will be incorporating some of the doors in it; the rest will go to their locomotive shed at Rolvenden. As for the wooden crane, they hope to use it in the carriage shed if it will go in; if not, it is destined for a railway museum near Dartford. We hope to report again when the installations are completed.
Our Rye contact for the KESR is Mr. John Miller, of Rope Walk, and David Dee of Udimore Road is also a regular worker there. Anyone interested in joining the society and working on this rescued line is welcome to get in touch with Mr. Miller (Rye 223169); David tells us that there is a bus to Tenterden (not Sundays) and back which allows for a good day's work there. Timetable enquiries should be made to Tenterden Station (05806 2943).
No-one seems keen to offer a kind home to the key-stone on the railway side of the shed which records that it was built for the South Eastern Railway in 1851. The Tenterden railway was a different line anyway; the stone is a bit big for a private enthusiast to house; it has been suggested that perhaps it could eventually be incorporated in the supermarket as a relic of the past. Maybe our own station staff might be able to salvage it for the time being, and park it in their yard until a use is found for it?
The Lower School second-year camps which we wrote about at the beginning of June took place to everyone's satisfaction. The only serious snag hit the first group, whose camp had to be postponed until the end because the ground was too wet; but after that the weather improved and there were only a couple of days when it was not good. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Edwards were there for almost the whole time, aided by six other staff members who came and went (always four there for each group of fifty children), plus one father from the PTA whose help was much appreciated, and by Jo Ciccone, to whom Mr. Edwards gives a glowing reference. (We are very sorry not to have the promised details of her holiday school scheme this week, but all will be revealed in the next issue without fail.)
No disasters, no broken legs, just a lot of very tired children - but plans are now being laid not only for a repeat next year but also to cater for this year's campers who want another go!
The parade at Rye Sea Cadet HQ on Friday evening was taken by Cdr. J. Duffett, RN, and in view of the ideal weather the unit then adjourned to Castle Water so that they could demonstrate their boat-work activities and give Cdr. Duffett the opportunity to set practical tests of skill. Back at HQ, various awards were presented. The Unit received its efficiency award for 1982, and Lt.Cdr. John Whiteman and 1st Lt. Paul Whiteman were presented with runner-up medals for classes 1 and 2 of the National Officers and Instructors Shoot. Paul Bolton won three cups: the First Lieutenant's Pot, the Bass SW tankard (for the outstanding cadet on the "Royalist" cruise, in May) and Captain Wethey's Seamanship Cup. Paul's younger brother Peter won the Captain Evans Cup for the best cadet with less than a year's service in the Unit. J. Davis won the Blacklock Sports Cup, and Andrew Manktelow the Griffin Cup for attendance. Jeremy Gray was awarded a bosun's call and chain for the highest score in .22 shooting, and Simon Barnes had a bosun's call for the second highest score. On display was a fine assortment of sporting trophies won by the Unit during the year.
On Castle Water on 17 July Rye acts as host to the Sussex District's annual regatta, which includes boating activities of all kinds. Units from as far away as Hove will be taking part.
Lt.Cdr. Whiteman tells us that the Rye Unit has a very well-equipped radio room at its Rock Channel HQ but needs an instructor so that proper use can be made of it. Anyone with radio experience who would be willing to help the Unit over this should please get in touch with Mr. Whiteman at Peasmarsh 357.
3.
Even before their Cinque Ports Street greengrocery shop was officially open, Paul and Keith Williams from New Winchelsea Road found themselves with customers! They were taking in deliveries from the wholesaler on Wednesday with one hand, and serving fruit and veg with the other, and calculating price margins as they went. Enough to put anyone off shopkeeping for life, you might think; but things have now settled down and a couple of very cheerful smiles greet customers popping in for a pound of tomatoes or one of their excellent local lettuces.
Paul and Keith must be Rye's youngest shopkeepers by a long way - Paul is 18 and Keith 16, and they have not long left school. Officially the shop is their parents'; but Paul does his own buying, and they have ambitions to go up regularly to Covent Garden after a while (Keith always wanted to drive a lorry). Their aunt Pat Williams (ex Sussex Express) has returned to Cinque Ports Street to give them a hand to begin with, but when we looked in on Monday to ask for a press release they were coping on their own with a gratifyingly long queue. The shop, in Patrick Osborne's new terrace, replaces Mills's almost next door (itself in process of turning into the Swiss Patisserie), and will be very much welcomed by people living in that part of the town.
Victor Wear has just produced another of his gourmet's guides, this time for Time Off; it deals with the area within 40 miles of Boulogne and is updated from the 1971 edition. Victor visits just over 40 establishments in various price ranges. The booklet is written in his usual inimitable style, though this one seems rather less libellous than his outrageous recent critique of eating-houses in the City of London; and it includes hints on the use of the telephone, French plumbing, driving abroad, and their funny money which seems even more complicated than ours. Whether or not you are likely to feel hungry near Boulogne, "Bon Appetit on the Opal Coast" is a very entertaining read and is on sale at the Union Inn or from the Wears at Point Hill. (The booklet is prettily produced on sky-blue paper in a deep blue cover; in our experience of the beaches near Boulogne, two-tone grey would have been more appropriate!)
Two traffic accidents on Friday morning: no-one was injured when Christopher Parsons, of Udimore Road, was in collision with a German-owned Audi between Rye Hospital and Playden Oast. The driver of a Mini, a lady from Dagenham, was taken to RESH with chest pains after her car left the road near the Salts.
The dead birds mystery: it now seems clear that they were deliberately killed by someone putting down poisoned bread, and the police are still investigating.
Vandals who broke into a shed at Camber at 2.30 a.m. on 26 June damaged 20 deck-chairs and 50 windbreaks - total value £700.
Someone really mean took money and a silver chain with an amethyst pendant from Playden Ward at Hill House Hospital.
Clearing out a cupboard at Vidlers, Colin Stutely found a 1934 Kent and Sussex Kelly's Directory which makes, as he found when he glanced through it, fascinating reading. However, Vidlers no longer required it, and it has therefore been gratefully accepted by Rye Library where anyone wanting to be reminded of life in the area fifty years ago can go and browse.
Miss Marshall would be very glad of any other old local directories which people don't want. They are a marvellous source of information, and although Kelly's don't give such detail as the later Deacons' almanacs, the ads are very entertaining on their own. The Library already has a batch of photocopies of the Rye pages from about a dozen directories dated between 1839 and 1938, which are always available or use in the reading room (ask at the desk). Hastings Library also has local directories, and publishes a handy booklet telling students what material is available where.
4.
Hearing that the proceedings of Rye Town Council were a bit of a mystery to some readers, we had a word with the Town Clerk.
Strictly speaking, the Council is nowadays a parish council on a par with Iden or Peasmarsh or whatever; but since it has a much bigger population behind it, and rather more responsibilities generally, it appoints committees to deal with different aspects of its work (see GAZETTE no.37 for who is on what). These committees meet at regular intervals, and every two months they report back to the full Council on what has happened since last time.
Rye Town Council meetings are always open to the public to attend, and Councillors are pleased to see anyone interested enough to bother. Meetings take place at 6pm in the Town Hall, and normally last about 45 minutes, since the proceedings consist mainly of approving the committee reports, unless anything controversial crops up. The Council met last Monday, and meets again on 5 September, 31 October, 9 January, 12 March and 7 May; these dates are arranged so as not to clash with Rother Council meetings.
Members of the public are also welcome to sit in on the committee meetings, except when occasional matters in Part II of the agenda are discussed in confidence. Dates are listed on the Town Hall notice-board, with a copy in the Ferry Road offices.
There is a formal agenda for each Town Council meeting, together with the committee reports to the meeting, and this is not only sent to Councillors but also posted on one of the Town Hall notice-boards (with a copy available in the Ferry Road office) about a week beforehand. Formal agendas are not issued for the committee meetings but if you want to know when a particular issue is likely to come up you can ask either the Town Clerk or one of the Councillors sitting on that committee.
One point that perhaps needs clarifying is the Council's position with regard to planning. Rother Planning Committee is bound by law to inform Rye Town Council of all planning applications which concern the town, and Rye has a statutory 14-day period in which to comment. After the 14 days are up, Rother can proceed regardless if Rye have not replied, though in practice they do their best to take account of last-minute comments. It so happens that Rother does mostly decide in favour of what Rye recommends; but this is by no means a certainty. Rye Town Council cannot give final approval to any planning application; only Rother can do this. Occasionally a decision may be delegated to the Planning Officer subject to Rye's views: for instance, planning permission was given recently to alterations at the Mill if Rye Town Council had no objection. Rye had no objection, but if they had recommended refusal the application would have gone back to Rother for reconsideration - it would not have been automatically refused. Rye Town Council's view can never be more than a recommendation, as far as actual permission is concerned - so don't start work once you hear that Rye Council approves, or you might find yourself in a lot of trouble!
An addition to Rye's range of eating-places has just opened at 5 High Street (ex Papa Joe's). The Rye Tandoori Indian Restaurant offers a long menu of exotic-sounding dishes, specialties being tandoori, biriani, curry and kebab. They are fully licensed, open seven days a week from 12 to 2.30 and 6pm to midnight, and as well as meals in the pleasant restaurant they offer take-away food. As far as we know, Rye has never before had an Indian restaurant, and we wish the proprietors every success.
A press release from the Citizens Advice Bureau refers to the greater protection given by the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (rushed through on the last day of the old Parliament). A very important aspect of the legislation is the provision of a written agreement, and the CAB staff at Rye (and elsewhere, of course) are very willing to go over such an agreement and advise caravan-dwellers on their rights. We don't think any of our readers live in caravans; but if you know anyone who does...?
5.
• Apologies for our failure last week to congratulate James Gladstone on his ordination; we are told that it was standing room only at St. Saviour's Church, Eastbourne, on 26 June when he and a number of others were ordained as priests (or deacons). Members of the Anglican parishes and other churches in Rye packed a coach and several cars to swell the congregation and wish James every blessing on his future ministry. A well-wisher described the joyful ceremony as a cross between a good wedding and a Cup Final - comparisons, as our correspondent says, that St. Paul would surely thoroughly approve! James - to be formal, the Rev. James Gladstone - is now living at Camber Vicarage (Rye 225386).
• Congratulations to the Hill House League of Friends, who made £770 at their fete on Sunday, an increase on their 1982 total; despite Wimbledon, attendance was also up by well over 100 people. It was a lovely afternoon for a fete, and Jill Cochrane from TVS was a great success, charming and friendly and selling autographed photographs for funds. League Chairman Don Bailey says that they have no particular project in hand at present, but with money at their disposal they can help out over the innumerable small things that the hospital would like and can't otherwise afford.
• Rye Art Gallery funds are £200 to the good as a result of two events last week. The jazz and blues evening in The Mint on Friday raised just under £100, and the open gardens on Saturday afternoon made £130 people visited the gardens - this was considerably down on last year, but there was the fatal clash with the Wimbledon finals which undoubtedly affected attendances. The five gardens were looking superb, all with interesting new plants or unusual treatments of familiar ones; visitors enjoyed wandering down the narrow paths and finding yet another instalment beyond what had seemed to be the final wall. Some people from over-seas were delighted at striking lucky on their visit to Rye!
• The League of Friends of Rye Memorial Hospital held their AGM at the Town Hall on Friday with outstanding efficiency - it was all over by the time your tardy reporter arrived. However, we hear that Mr. Phil Ellis decided that the time had come for him to relinquish the Chairmanship, a post he had held for many years dating from the time when it went with the Mayoralty; there was a vote of thanks to him for all his hard work, and we are glad to report that he is remaining on the Committee. Replacing Mr. Ellis as Chairman is Mrs. Ruth Lawson-Tait, who recently resigned as Secretary owing to pressure of work; the meeting also expressed its thanks to her for her fourteen years at the Secretary's desk.
A big issue now confronting the League is the question of whether or not they will be allowed to build the geriatric ward for which there is a very considerable sum of money in hand - £5,000 of it from the Round Table. This is to be discussed at a committee meeting soon, and we look forward to reporting on the position later.
• Only six local people turned up to watch the Blackheath Opera's production of "La Vie Parisienne" - the audience was larger, but the rest were members of the supporters' club. Once again there was a problem over a Wimbledon clash – and of course the Hill House Fete - but even so...! It was a most enjoyable show, supported by a 20-strong orchestra under John Fidler. There were at least 25 singers, with particularly exuberant performances by Stephen Roe and Chris Stringfellow; Nick Burgham offered a more sobering influence on the scatty proceedings, Margaret Cadney was splendidly supercilious, and Wanda Cekalo and Gill Cox contributed delightfully to the fun and games. Scenery on the tiny stage had to be very basic, but the costumes were excellent. Bryan Hichisson produced. The group do, of course, have an enthusiastic audience waiting for them back in Blackheath; but people who enjoy the Ryesingers' productions missed a treat.
• Rye and District Lions held their annual Changeover Night on Tuesday at Peppers (it was to have been at Playden Oasts, but...). Trevor Humphreys replaces Nobby Clark as President; Arthur Cons of Brede is the Secretary, and Treasurer is Gerald Carter (Hastings). Press and public relations officer is Kelvin Care, conveniently accessible at Care's Clothing in Cinque Ports Street.
• £244 was raised at the coffee morning at Norman House on Saturday in aid of the Church of England Children's Society.
6.
• Rye Museum Association members are reminded that there is to be a soiree in (it is hoped) the garden of the Museum on Friday evening, with an opportunity to look at the exhibits as well. The Committee have a licence from 6 till 8 (not 7.30 as in the newsletter), so there is plenty of opportunity for members to enjoy this pleasant social occasion.
• Vidler & Co’s special sale of fine antiques and works of art, also on Friday evening (8th), will be much appreciated by antiques enthusiasts, since it is a year since the last one. The catalogue, now available, offers an enticing assortment of furniture, silver, ceramics, pictures and objets d'art, 147 lots in all. There are no fewer than 7 long case clocks, what sounds a charming Victorian spinning-wheel with decorations in ivory (for the woman who has everything?), and a watercolour interestingly titled "Last of the Rye sailing fishing boats" by E. Leslie Badham, RBA. Viewing is from 2pm on the Friday, with the sale starting at 6, and good prices are expected.
• The boys of the Stowmarket Schools Concert Band are old friends of Rye; they are also a very travelled and professional group, with 8 LPs to their credit and appearances in eight European countries as well as on TV and radio, plus two trans-Atlantic tours. They pay us their annual visit this weekend, with a concert in the church at 7.30 on Saturday (tickets £1, or 50p at the door for senior citizens and children); there will also be a short recital outside the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon at 3.30, and they will play for the hymns in St. Mary's on Sunday morning. (10.30). Welcome back!
• On Thursday of next week (14th), Mrs. Maud Boreham of 78 Udimore Road is holding a fund-raising event in - weather permitting - her garden, at 6pm. There will be stalls and a raffle, and the money will be laid out by the Cadborough Jubilee Social Club for the benefit of local people. Last year's event provided bird-tables for Devonport House and Badger Gate, which were kept well-stocked by the residents during the winter and were much appreciated by birds and bird-watchers alike.
• Flouting tradition (these events are usually on a Sunday) Thomas Peacocke School PTA is holding a Car Boot Sale on Saturday afternoon of next week (16 July). It takes place in the Lower School playground, just over the Ferry Road level crossing; boots will open up at 2pm, though cars can arrive for setting-out from 1.30. There is no advance booking for places - first come first served, though as it is a good-sized playground there should be room for all - and the PTA are charging £3 a car. No PTA function would be complete without Pat Baker behind an urn, and this will be no exception: tea and light refreshments available.
• Next Saturday (16th) sees a fete at Greyfriars in Winchelsea, organised in aid the old people's home by its new League of Friends. There will be a performance by the Rye Majorettes, and by the Thomas Peacocke School orchestra; League Chairman Ron Dipper, ex-TPS Lower School and obviously very much enjoying his retirement, expects about 18 stalls. These will include "Gipsy Rose Lee" telling fortunes, and several side-shows run by the children of Winchelsea School next door to the home. The proceedings open at 2, and close with "taps" by the Brownies, who are also helping with teas. The money raised will go towards providing curtained cubicles in the bedrooms, to give more privacy to the residents.
• Rye Lions have now been able to get an earlier booking for their Charity Shop at the Red Cross Centre; it will now be held on 28 and 29 September and 1 October, They will be very glad of any saleable items: previous years have produced pianos, prams and a kitchen sink, as well as the more usual bric-a-brac, books and clothes.
This annual event provides a real incentive to clear out the attic, the spare bedroom, the shed; many things turn out to be more saleable than you would suppose, and one woman's junk can be another's cherished bargain. If you have trouble with transport, Lions can collect: ring Rye 223285 or Rye 223999.
The Lions are also holding a mini-fete at Rye Harbour on 29 August, the day of the Raft Race: something to do for the supporters who normally stand about chewing their fingernails while their nearest and dearest capsize half-a-mile upstream!
7.
At Rye British Legion Club on Wednesday, marathon runner Chris Ashbee of Military Road handed over a cheque for £1,000 to Maj. Morgan, National Poppy Day Appeals Secretary. This was the result of sponsorship from Rye and the surrounding districts for Chris in the London Marathon in April; and even this is not the lot, since other BL branches in the south east were sponsoring Chris though their money has not yet come in. It will be some time yet before he knows the final total received by the Poppy Day Appeal from his efforts. The County Chairman was present at the ceremony, as well as other representatives from County and South East Area level; and there is apparently a possibility that when Chris enteres next year, he will be sponsored by the Legion at national level as its representative in the race.
People have been asking what is going on at Scots Float, out along the Military Road, so we got in touch with Mr. George Roberts of the SWA and with Mr. Roy Williams who is in charge of the project at the Maidstone SWA office. The present sluice was built in 1840, using traditional materials, and it is now wearing out. The SWA are therefore replacing rather than rebuilding it, so that the old one can continue in use until the new one is ready - which should be in about eighteen months' time, at the end of 1984. The new structure, using steel and concrete, is being built about half-way between the present sluice and the beginning of Houghton Green Lane, and like the present one it will have navigation gates. The little side road which at present crosses the sluice will have to be diverted to cross the new one, since there are people with rights of way across it, and of course the lock-keeper's cottage just the other side. The whole project will cost about £2m.
Once the new sluice is working, the old one will be completely dismantled, so that the flow of the river is not interrupted; there will be stabilisation work to be done on the riverbanks, and of course endless clearing-up. The contractors are Messrs. W.A. Dawson, of Luton, who have set up a little community on the site for their workforce, as passers-by will have noticed. The enormous cranes employed on the project are noticeable from much further away (look out of the train window next time you go to Ashford) and are the ones which caused such problems getting round the corner by the Pipemakers Arms recently.
Both Mr. Roberts and Mr. Williams assure us that they are doing their best for neighbours, though they realise how difficult life is for them; if the problem isn't mud, it's likely to be dust. (It seems a pity that the former pub is now a private house, as it would obviously be doing a sensational trade just at the moment!)
This issue of the GAZETTE is the first produced entirely in the town – using our own (second-hand) photocopier. Please make allowances for an inexperienced operator: since the paper seems determined to become an eight-page weekly, we are giving in and producing it on two A3 sheets instead of having two loose "middles"; the difference in cost is only fractional and we shall not need to pass it on. Indeed, the photocopier will pay for itself before too long, simply from the use it will get in connection with the GAZETTE; and the Editor would like to make it clear that she is not intending to run a photocopying bureau. Facilities for short-run copying are available at the library (not Tuesdays) or the Council Offices (not Saturdays) - 5p a copy, and the Council Office machine does A3 size as well. For long runs, we thoroughly recommend Sussex Secretarial Services, now firmly established in their convenient new office in Cambridge Road, Hastings, between the Post Office and WH Smith. They are open 9.30 to 5.30, Monday to Friday (not always in the lunch hour, though you might be lucky) - phone Hastings 422633. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. and Mrs. Derek Morris for their patience and co-operation since the GAZETTE started in September. Indeed, they will not have seen the last of us if our own machine chooses to break down on a Tuesday!
8.
Thursday, 7th Christian Lunch Club: "A Voice for God", Gay Hyde, CC 12 (see GAZETTE no.41)
Friday, 8th Museum Association soiree (members), Museum, 6 to 8 (see p. 6)
Vidlers' evening sale, Auction Rooms, 6 (see p. 6)
Saturday, 9th Coffee morning, Hill House School, FEC, 10 to 12
ATC Open Day and Fete, TPS Upper School (The Grove), 10 to 4 Stowmarket Schools Band, St. Mary's, 7.30 (and Town Hall steps, 3.30 – see p. 6)
Sunday, 10th Attic Sale, Community Centre, 10 to 1
Strawberry Tea (RH Nature Reserve), Float Farm, Udimore, 2.30 to 6 (see >GAZETTE no.41)
Tuesday, 12th Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, Red Cross Centre, 10.30 to 12
Garden teas and stalls (East Guldeford Church), East Guldeford Old Vicarage, 2.30 to 4
Antique Collectors Club, St. John's, 7.45
Wednesday, 13th ARC coffee morning, Fair Oak, Fair Meadow, 10.30 to 12
BRCS Over-Sixties Club, Red Cross Centre, 1.45
Rye WI, "How to enjoy music", FEC, 7
•The Old Forge Restaurant regrets to announce that it will be closed on Sundays (as usual) and Mondays for the present, since the chef Peter Austin was badly hurt in a recent car accident and will be out of action for some time. Jennie Bayntun says the staff are being marvellous, but they do need a chef; does anyone know of a spare one? If so, ring Rye 223227.
• The Women's Royal British Legion raised £133 at their recent jumble sale.
• We have been asked to enquire for a service-person for sewing-machines; does anyone in the neighbourhood do this nowadays? Also, a typewriter mechanic.
• Rye was variously beflagged on Friday. The Union Jack flew on the Landgate in honour of the Princess of Wales, whose birthday it was; and adorning the Town Hall in honour of Dominion Day was the Canadian flag presented to the Mayor last summer by a group of Canadian rangers on an exchange visit.
• A new staff member starting his first job at Thomas Peacocke School in September is looking for accommodation in Rye; anyone with a room or small flat to let might like to get in touch with the school (Rye 222545).
• We reported recently that police had been searching for the owner of a car left by the swimming pool entrance, as they were anxious about his safety. The man has now been found, alive and well; he had been living rough in the Military Road area, but the thunderstorm last Friday was more than he could stand. He has now returned to Wales where he will appear in court on charges of theft.
• The Tuesday Painters Club holds its annual exhibition from 20 to 30 July at the FEC, and entry forms are now available in the town from Adams, Kurrein Gallery or Landgate Pictures. Four works may be submitted by members, two by others, and the selector is Carel Weight, CBE, RA. Handing-in day is Sunday, 17 July, from 3 to 5, or work can be delivered beforehand to Adams (see details on form).
• As statements of opinion go, we did like this ad in the Market Road Cafe which offered for sale "a fruit machine...in good condition, not working correctly".
THE RYE GAZETTE is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office. It is published by Mrs. Mary Owen at 94 Udimore Road, Rye (Rye 222303), and news items for inclusion are always welcome - deadline is Monday afternoon, or 9 am Tuesday for emergencies. The GAZETTE costs 25p weekly, and is delivered to subscribers and pick-up points on Wednesday morning.
(Copyright Mary Owen, 1983)