Tag: Lady Maud Warrender

E F Benson Freeman of Rye

Benson Honoured for His Service to Rye

By Jim Hollands

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

A Room with a View

Memories of life in a Rye draper’s shop in the early 1920s

By J C Pulford

The stairs that led up to Florence Sparrow’s bedroom above a Rye draper’s shop also led to the roof. Here, ‘off-duty’ hours were often spent reading, sunbathing Continue reading A Room with a View

What’s in a Name

By Arthur Woodgate

At 6.30 am. off we went along Wish Street where we met up with a friend of my mother, a Mrs Milton. We then met up with mother’s sister, Aunt Martha (I wonder why they called me Arthur!) and a crowd of Ryers. At the bottom of Leasam Hill – we all went up the grassed hill – how they got me up there, I don’t Continue reading What’s in a Name

Earl Beatty – Freeman of Rye

By Frank Palmer

In January 1920 the First Sea Lord, Admiral Earl Beatty was admitted
to the honorary freedom of the Borough of Rye in appreciation of his
outstanding naval service during W.W.I. He succeeded Earl Jellicoe
as First Sea Lord, and was the youngest British Admiral since Nelson. Continue reading Earl Beatty – Freeman of Rye

Life & Times of Reg Weeks

“The life and Times of Reg Weeks”, who lived in Rope Walk and died on 1 March 1993 were compiled by his daughter Daphne Lewellyn of Sidmouth, Devon, from her memories of all the things he told her about his early life in Rye.

Reg Weeks was born at 2 Bridge Place, Rye, Sussex on the 1st February, 1907. His parents were married in the Registry Office on 30th November, 1901 and their first child, Elsie was born a month later. Alice was relieved that Reg was born healthy, her previous baby had been stillborn and her first child. Elsie, was now five years old. She would soon begin to take in washing again to supplement her husband Charles’ earnings as a bricklayer. Continue reading Life & Times of Reg Weeks