His name was Jim Faithful
Grown men were known to have turned and run back to their vehicles and move them out of Rye High Street when they saw him approaching.
Shopkeepers would race out and offer him cups of tea, just to keep him off the street for a few minutes.
It was said he was more harmful to trade in Rye High Street than all the supermarket competition put together.
He was a mild mannered man with a Hitler Moustache and he smiled when he stuck tickets on an offending car. He showed no fear or favour, he even booked the Mayor on one occasion.
He discovered more lapsed tax discs than one of those new machines on the motorway.
He operated in Rye in the 1960’s and early 70’s now, 40 years since his last booking, his name and memory still sends a shiver down the spine of many that remember him.
This film is a gem, I have no idea who made it or where it came from. I discovered it in the “Rye’s Own” film archive. I can only assume that one of his ‘victims’ followed him around for a day and filmed him as he went to work.
“Rye’s Own Film Archive Released Tuesday 6 October 2015
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