Visit from Friends of Lewes

On Wednesday 12 June, we were glad to welcome eight members of the Friends of Lewes, our sister society from that town.  Some of them already knew Rye well, but for others it was a good opportunity to see the many interesting buildings and gardens of Rye on a conducted tour by members of the Society.

The group saw the town model which provides very good background information about the history and development of the town over the ages.

Visit to Folkestone and Hythe, Friday 19 April

A brisk wind and lowering skies did not make for an auspicious day out, but, yet again, a trip to places that we think we already know well proved to be interesting, informative and, most importantly, highly enjoyable.

The Grand Hotel in Folksone seemed, at first sight, like so many of the Edwardian hotels that proliferate the South Coast, resplendent in their faded grandeur but somehow conscious that their glory days are long gone. However, all was not what it seemed. After a welcoming coffee, we divided into two groups for a fascinating tour of this tardis-like hotel, with stories about such illustrious guests as  Edward V11 and Mrs Keppel , the Belgian Royal family in the First World War, Agatha Christie and Princess Margaret, not forgetting Michael Caine’s debut performance as a child actor.

Society's Annual Garden Party, Sunday 19 May 2013

The weather was very kind to us for our annual garden party this year, after a couple of years when visitors had to take shelter from the rain.  Over 50 members,  guests and visitors saw the garden at Little Orchard House in brilliant sunshine and enjoyed the cream teas and other refreshments.  The "secret" garden is situated in the middle of the Citadel area of the town, not visible from the streets outside, and was looking at its very best.