Looking Back to 1940

Look out of your window and up at the sky. Imagine you have travelled back in time to 5 June 1940. The Dunkirk evacuation between the 24 May and 4 June was complete. Churchill later described the retreat as “A miracle of deliverance” Continue reading Looking Back to 1940

Jimper’s Jottings

Swim wade or paddle, the people of Hythe, Romney Marshes, Rye and Hastings wanted to avoid of these summer pastimes during the bad weather of December and January. The low depression in December that caused a tidal surge that almost topped the defences in many places between Folkestone and Hastings. Continue reading Jimper’s Jottings

Memories of a Great Actor

By Jim Hollands

When the film “Dunkirk” came to local cinemas’ in 1959 every seat was taken for every performance.

John Mills and Richard Attenborough starred in the War epic, but it was not just these two famous stars they had gone to see.

People from Lydd, New Romney, Hythe and Rye had gone to catch a glimpse of themselves! Continue reading Memories of a Great Actor

Editorial

Many people have asked about the artist who provided last months cover picture of Mermaid Street . Beat rice Cloake from Hythe is the artist, she has been described as a romantic in modern times who writes poems in watercolour. We could not improve on this description of one of our favourite artists. Continue reading Editorial

100k. Fun Run from Rye 2011

The Sun Shone on 118 Cyclists

On a beautiful autumn day (16 Oct) no less than 118 riders set off from the Rye Club on the Rotary Club’s 5th. Annual Fun Run.

Riders set off in groups to Town Crier Rex Swaine’s now famous line – “When I Ring my Bell – Go like Hell”.

The bell rang and off they went, to Camber, Lydd, Dymchurch, Hythe, Old Romney, Brookland, Appledore, Appledore Heath and then back to Rye via the Continue reading 100k. Fun Run from Rye 2011

The Marsh Barges

Built in Rye these Shallow Draft Vessels served the towns and villages  from Teterden to the north and Hythe to the East

While the rivers around Rye, the Rother, Brede and Tillingham, were, sufficiently wide and deep and the ordinary trading vessels small enough to navigate them to their destination without the necessity of any transhipment, there was no need of such a craft. Several factors, however, combined to change the situation in a drastic fashion. Continue reading The Marsh Barges

Royal Military Canal by Canoe

 The Epic Journey

By Jimper Sutton

I was only sixteen but bent on making my own history. My mate Chris had seen a documentary on the telly the night before of a couple that had travelled down the Amazon in a life raft. Continue reading Royal Military Canal by Canoe

Rye’s Cycling Mayor

TWO GREAT YEARS COME TO A CLOSE

Paul Osborne will go down in history as ‘Rye’s Cycling Mayor’ but he was much more than that. His casual style endeared him to the public and his practical approach to problems, through very difficult times, was emphasised by the way he got to grips with the Monkbretton Bridge works. Continue reading Rye’s Cycling Mayor

Balmoral Sails from Rye to Tower Bridge

400 Sail from the Rastrum Wharf at Rye Harbour

About 400 passengers, mostly from the Rye area, sailed from Rye Wharf at Rye Harbour on Wednesday 12 July on the Merchant Vessel Balmoral, bound for the Tower Pier. Continue reading Balmoral Sails from Rye to Tower Bridge

Versatile Mayor

OUR VERSATILE MAYOR What does the Mayor of Rye and Speaker of the Cinque Ports, Councillor Paul Osborne get up to on a Sunday morning? It is no secret that he likes to do a bit of cycling but few know of the sacrifices he makes to get back from a ride or a race in time to fulfil his public duties. Continue reading Versatile Mayor