The latest “Rye’s Own” 1960’s film.
A flight from Rye Salts to France was made by Christine Turnbull to gain her Balloon Pilot Licence. An article in the March 1967 “Rye’s Own” records the epic events. Continue reading Christine Turnbull’s Balloon Flight from Rye
The War & Peace event at Folkestone Racecourse
The July issue has more answers to the vanishing Mayor Mystery.
Where did he go in 1940?
What happened to his wife Mary and their four children after they left Tower House?
What was the Wartime job that forced him to leave Rye and eventually give up in the mid term of the Mayoral Year. Continue reading Vanishing Mayor Mystery
The phrase “all but the kitchen sink” did not hold out when the Germans smashed Havelock Villas on the Strand for, large as life, there was the kitchen sink sitting on the top of one of the houses of “T square”. As it and the other contents of Havelock were blasted out, my dad working in his work shop, heard and saw a piece of rock drop through his roof and finish by his foot. The whole roof had to be replaced after the War. Continue reading Arthur’s War and a Bit of Peace
Four years ago I was intrigued by Arthur Woodgate’s recollection of the 1937-40 Mayor of Rye, George Marsden. The mystery surrounding where he came from and where he went in 1940 have haunted me since Arthur first told me about George Marsden’s Mayoralty so I decided I must delve deeper. Continue reading The George Marsden Affair
It is March 1938 – The winds of war are gathering and all Europe lives in fear of another conflict of arms – German troops had occupied the Rhineland in 1936, in direct conflict with their obligations under the terms of the 1918 surrender agreement. Hitler’s Army, Naval and Air strength was being built up at a rate that could only mean one thing – His aerial power was rehearsed and demonstrated in Spain in the civil war, Gurnica was flattened by bombing and the civilian population learned that wars would be total from now on with the civilian population in the front line – Winston Churchill was a voice in the wilderness – England slept on. Continue reading E F Benson Freeman of Rye
287 Lost in Shipping Disaster at Dungeness Approximately 15 years ago I was given an old Guide Book for Rye and Winchelsea which was printed at the start of the last century. Continue reading Northfleet Disaster
Rye’s first Moving Picture Theatre was situated near the bottom of Landgate on the eastern side of the road. It is difficult to imagine in these modern times of mass media, what an amazing experience it was for someone living in late Victorian or Early Edwardian times to witness moving pictures for the first time. Continue reading Cinema in Rye
The Heritage Centre Anchor is quite safe
Rye Town Clerk, Richard Farhall tells us
“The timber needed to be replaced but the Environment Agency A has a policy of not using hardwood so there was a delay while a reclaimed source could be found. Then the EA’s carpenter was off. He is back now but there are certain activities he can no longer easily do – and so volunteers are helping. A soon as I have a return date I will let everyone know”.
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Because of his upbringing Henry was thoroughly Anglo-French being able to pass as a Frenchman and as an Englishman. After being in the Army’s evacuation from France in 1940 he was recruited into the F (French ) Section of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Henry broke his leg attempting to return to France as an agent. He escaped, over the Pyrenees into Spain with Jaques Poirier, a young Frenchman. Continue reading Who was Henry Peuleve
