Needles Passage – Rye's Own Magazine

Rye at War – Part Two

Rye at War

Part Two — In The Front Line

In August and September of 1940 Ryers had a grandstand seat for the greatest air battle in history, the “Battle of Britain” that was raging in the skies overhead.

The town suffered another serious bombing attack on October 9th, 1940 when 18 50 kilo bombs were dropped, doing extensive damage.

In September the invasion threat was at its height, it seemed certain that the Germans would attempt an invasion at any minute. With the idea in mind that a man would fight harder defending his own home town the Rye company of the Home Guard was allotted the positions on the town side of the river, along the Continue reading Rye at War – Part Two

Down Rye Way – Bob Woolley

by “Elaine”

He guarded the Bank of England

Robert Woolley first saw the light of day in 1894. He was born in the Mint.

Bob, as he has always been called, first went to school at Mermaid Street then going on to the Lion Street school for the second part of his education. Before leaving school he took a job as a Hot Roll Boy delivering bread rolls around the town for Mr. Clark who had a bake-house in Needles Passage. The rolls, sold mainly for people’s breakfasts, were 1d. each or 7 for 3d. Bob Woolley also did a milk round at this time and he completed both jobs before he started school in the Continue reading Down Rye Way – Bob Woolley