Town Crier News and Gossip Pages

Rye Masons Bridge The Gap

What a great gesture it was by members of Rye Masonic Lodge to present Rye St. John Ambulance with the £13,500 needed to complete the total required to pay for their new vehicle. Continue reading Town Crier News and Gossip Pages

Amazing Day for Rye St. John

On Saturday 18 December Julie and Neville Bettley of Rye St. John Ambulance stood in open mouth amazement as Reg Walker, Charity Steward of the Rye Masonic Wellington Lodge, announced that “He who laughs last, laughs longest” and revealed a donation of £13,750 to the Ambulance Appeal.

Julie Bettley told me afterwards that they had been expecting a couple of hundred pounds and were absolutely staggered when the amount was announced. Neville told of the relief he felt that this would cover the outstanding sum required by March when the new ambulance would be delivered Continue reading Amazing Day for Rye St. John

The Sprocket Column

Adventures of the Rye & District Wheelers – Past and Present

                                 The A.G.M.

The Annual General Meeting of the Rye & District Wheelers took place at the Riverhaven Hotel on Thursday 12 February. The majority of the club’s members attended and elected officials for the coming year. Chairman Jim Hollands, Secretary Gemma Glover, Treasurer Granville Bantick, Racing Secretay Gary Booth and Club Captain Roy Fritchley.

The Chairman reported that the club had lost a valuable member in Harry Walker, who died recently. He had held the post of treasurer since the club was re-activated in 2000.

Richard Mwangi, who was a member during his six months stay in Rye has written to thank the members for the £750 raised in a 24 hour indoor cycle marathon. This had paid for his first two terms of further education and with help from friends at St. Mary’s Church he has negotiated his first year.

The members thought it might be a good idea to repeat the money raising event, with some modifications, and help Rye St. John Ambulance towards getting their new vehicle. Various ideas were discussed and eventually it was decided that a 12 hour 3-up relay on rollers, continuous live music and a 1000 balloon race would be a fun way of raising a good sum of money. Various sites will be investigated with a provisional date for the Whitsun Bank Holliday Saturday.

The Racing Secretary told of great events to come and took orders for more Rye Wheeler Racing Vests. There are up to eight racing members for the 2004 season, so team victories could be possible.

The Sunday and Tuesday runs from the Riverhaven at 9am. and 1pm. respectively are attracting more riders and prospective new members are invited to turn up for these, or phone Jim Holllands on 222420 or Gary Booth on 222701 for further details.

2003 was a good year all round for the Wheelers and with many Runs, Races and Social Events planned,2004 should even better.

From “Rye’s Own” March 2004

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The Sprocket Page

The Adventures of the Rye & District Wheelers Past and Present

          Goodbye to a Fine Gentleman of the Road

Gentleman Jim Catt, who was one of the Club’s few surviving prewar members has died.

Jim, who moved away from the town when his job as mechanic to Odell the Cycleman in Market Road came to an end with the closure of the business in the sixties. He was in his nineties and cycled, albeit on a battery assisted tricycle, until very recently. Continue reading The Sprocket Page

Editorial

As we put the first magazine of 2004 to bed the great news has just come in that Rye & Iden United have beaten St. Leonards four – one to complete a fine Christmas double. They beat Pagham by the same score on the December 20 and now stand fifth in the County League Division One table. Well done boys. Continue reading Editorial

St. John Work on to Raise Cash for New Ambulance

Perhaps it was the skeleton that put off the early trade at the Coffee morning, cake and bric a brac sale, organised by the Rye St. John Ambulance members but it did not put off young Kayleigh Ashcroft who held the skeleton’s hand to pose for the photograph along with sisters Emily and Lydia Turk. Continue reading St. John Work on to Raise Cash for New Ambulance

From Rye to Oregon

By Sylvia Hewitt (Nee’ Sperring)

First let me tell you how writing this article came about. Veronica Wall (nee Vincent) sent a copy of “Rye’s Own” to Jo, her sister in California. Jo’ who I went to school with and has been a constant friend from those days and throughout our time in America, who sent it on to me. I mailed a letter and two photos, taken in the 50s to Jim (The Editor) another school friend. He asked me to write of some memories of Rye and of my life in America. Continue reading From Rye to Oregon