The Monkbretton Road Bridge

By Laurie A. Cooksey

As early as 1876, the Highways Board had discussed the suggestion of constructing a bridge across the River Rother just below the the (then) single track swing bridge of the South Eastern Railway, together with a direct road to East Guldeford just over half a mile to the east of Rye, but although several meetings took place, the plans were dropped on the grounds of being too expensive. Continue reading The Monkbretton Road Bridge

Rye’s Own Editorial August 2000

The time flies by and August is here. “Rye’s Own” seems to have re-established itself to its former popularity. Thank you for all your adverts, letters, phone calls and messages, it is nice to know our efforts are being appreciated. Continue reading Rye’s Own Editorial August 2000

Rye Top 30 of the 20th. Century

 

Number 3. Alfred Horner

Rye has been very fortunate over the years to produce a variety of fine people who have contributed to the success of this ancient town but in all its history Rye never had a finer champion than Alfred Horner.

Alfred Horner was born in Landgate in 1904 and attended Miss Selman’s private school and later the Mermaid Street School. Soon after leaving school he went to work at Mr. Schofield’s Grocery Store. Continue reading Rye Top 30 of the 20th. Century

Where Have Our Policemen Gone?

Police Station is Closed at Night

By The Editor

I am reliably informed that the total police strength in 1965 was little different than it is now. If this is the case then I have a question to put on behalf of the people of Rye. Why is our police station closed at night and weekends? It seems reasonable to suppose that if a staff of fifty or so officers that policed Rye and the immediate villages could manage round the clock patrols 24 hours a day and 365 days a year in those days it would surely be even easier to mount a similar secure system with the aid of all the modem equipment available to the 21st. century force.

I went along to the Rye Police Station to put this question, unfortunately they were closed. From what I can gather it seems there are vety few police based on Rye now, they have all gone to Hastings but, we are assured, can be rapidly deployed to Rye when required!

The fact that Rye ratepayers contribute a higher rate than almost anywhere in the country and thereby pay a larger portion of police wages per head than most cuts no ice. The new ‘Shopwatch’ system which has been introduced in conjunction with the police is working well but when you consider that all partici­pating shops have to pay £25 to get the system and about another £40 a quarter for the running costs it all seems rather unfair. Local businesses are paying twice. This unnecessary expense, caused solely by poor direction from central government and ‘bright spark’ ideas that do not work, should be offset by an equivalent reduction of shopwatch operatives business rates.

Lets have some common sense from above, comput­ers don’t make arrests. Get the men back on the beat and show the uniform. Prevention is better than cure. If there are enough uniforms on the streets there will be far less crime to investigate and record in the data banks. Observation by men is far more effective, a computer has no brain.

Last summer a lady in a wheelchair went over the side of the Strand Quay into the mud, the tide was out. For the next 30 minutes rescue services poured onto the scene. The fire service and ambulance arrived very swiftly, then came five police vehi­cles, the fire officer, the Sea Doc, the Coastguard, Lifeboat Rescue. Fortunately the lady was not badly hurt and was soon lifted to safety by the firemen. In contrast to this I witnessed a similar rescue in 1966 at the Fishmarket. The difference on that occasion was only a fire appliance and ambulance attended. The man was rescued safely and when the cost of the operation was added up it must have been minimal compared with 1999. Most of the rescue services arriving at the scene in 1999 need never have been there or could have been called off. It may be there are too many ‘modern’ facilities available and the money could be spent on manpower. It may be that the police should have followed the ways of the fire service, who seem to be much better organised when it comes to requirements at the scene of an incident. Two appliances go if the shout is fire, but if the call is chimney fire, or man stuck up a ladder, only one sets out. Police cars seem to congregate in groups at any road, fire of unusual incident. What is the reason for this?

These opinions are a general reflection of what Rye people are saying. Ask them if they are satisfied with Rye Fire Brigade and you will get an emphatic yes, but ask them if they are happy with the way this town is policed and the answer is invariably no. Its time someone got the message. Rye needs what it pays for, proper police cover day and night and a real policeman at the station to talk to as in days gone by.

“Rye’s Own” July 2000

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Adventures in Rye – Evacuation

 

To Somerset in 1940

by Winnie Hollands

It was September 1940. I was hop picking at Ashden Selmes’ Farm on the Peasmarsh Road. The Battle of Britain, raging overhead, was coming to a climax but we had no idea what the outcome would be. A German invasion seemed imminent. Continue reading Adventures in Rye – Evacuation

Your Man at the Town Hall – Frank Palmer – June 2000

Your Men at the Town Hall

Councillor Frank Palmer

Frank Palmer and his good lady Irene made their home in Rye in 1973. At that time he was employed organising Police Cadets in outdoor pursuits in North Wales and commuted from Rye for the last three years until retirement. For many years an accomplished mountaineer, he has climbed the Matterhorn and other major European Peaks and been on Snowdon 130 times, he was well suited to his Continue reading Your Man at the Town Hall – Frank Palmer – June 2000

Down Rye Way – Harry Walker – Rye’s Own May 2000

Harry Walker by The Editor

Although ex – London Cabbie Harry Walker has lived in the Town for only thirteen years he has become as well known a personality as many who have spent their entire life here.

Harry Arthur Walker was born in Lambeth on the 20th. September 1915 at the time the War in Flanders was raging at its height. Harry’s Father Henry Walker Continue reading Down Rye Way – Harry Walker – Rye’s Own May 2000

17 Brave Men

The Story of the Rye Harbour Lifeboat Disaster

The Alice of Riga

In the early hours of the morning of 15 Novem­ber 1928 a chain of events started that was to lead to the worst Lifeboat disaster in the history of the United Kingdom. Continue reading 17 Brave Men

Twentieth Century Rye

By Jim Hollands

The Edwardian Era

When Rye heralded in the 20th. century Frank Jarrett was the Mayor, as indeed he had been for the previous year and would be for 1901 but the man who was making the most impact at the time was surely the towns illustrious picture maker Mr. E. Whiteman. This great photographer produced hundreds of shots, covering nearly all the important local events of his period, leaving a permanent record in pictures of his day and time. Continue reading Twentieth Century Rye