2015 AGM and Annual Lunch

The Society held its 43rd Annual General meeting at St Mary's Centre on Friday 17 April.  Some 50 members and guests attended.  Most Executive Committee members were reappointed to their posts, apart from John Pope who stood down after 12 years in the Planning Liaison role and Judith O'Connor who stood down as Secretary.   John Griffiths continues as Chairman; Julian Luckett, Chair of the Planning Committee, becomes Vice-Chairman.  David Bookless becomes Hon Secretary, Diana Hajikakou is Treasurer, Andy Stuart looks after Membership and Publicity, Wayne Jones takes over Planning Liaison,  Mike Slavin, Andrew Bamji and Rae Festing continue as committee members and Mike Stott joins the committee.

Society's AGM and Annual Lunch 2015

The Society's 43rd Annual General Meeting will be held at St Mary's Centre, Lion Street, on Friday 17 April at 11.15am, followed by our Annual Lunch at The Mermaid Inn.

The Annual Report and information about the Annual Lunch will be sent to members in late March, but meanwhile please put the date in your diary.  We hope to see you then.

Conservation Society Christmas Party 2014

There was a good turnout for the Society's Christmas Party at Rye Town Hall on Friday 5 December.  We were delighted that Amber Rudd MP was able to attend, together with the Deputy Chairman of Rother District Council, Cllr Jimmy Carroll and his wife, and Berni Fiddimore, Mayor of Rye.  The Chairmen of Winchelsea and Northiam Conservation Societies were also present.




As usual, many thanks to Rae and Jen who provided the delicious refreshments and to Kyriacos whose wine-purchasing expertise was much appreciated.  Although all those there missed the presence of our late President, Sir Donald Sinden, we much enjoyed jokes and stories told by our Chairman, John Griffiths.  We wish all our members a very happy Christmas.

Sir Donald Sinden CBE

Sir Donald was appointed President of the Conservation Society on 21 April 1995.  He was a keen supporter, taking an interest in the work of the Society but without interference.

He was a regular attendee at Society Christmas gatherings at the Town Hall and at our annual garden parties. At Christmas parties he would step forward and use his strong and distinctive voice to call the winning numbers of the raffle, and to recount some of his many jokes, some quite risqué.  He was excellent company and a ready mixer.  At our Annual Lunch at The Mermaid Inn, his company and anecdotes made for many happy and memorable occasions.

Sir Donald will be sadly missed by Rye Conservation Society.

Conservation Society officers visit Lewes

Members of the Executive and Planning Committee made a return visit to Lewes on 1 September, hosted by the Friends of Lewes, following a visit from them in May last year.

We had a very interesting tour around the town, saw possible development areas, went to the Town Hall where we were given fascinating historical background by a former Mayor, and discussed issues of mutual concern over lunch at the John Harvey tavern.  We admired various plaques which Friends of Lewes, with financial support from the Council, had had erected on interesting sites and historic buildings.

It was a most enjoyable visit and we will continue to keep in touch with Friends of Lewes as many of the problems and challenges we face are the same.  Thank you, Robert and Marcus!

Kenneth Bird, Irene and Wayne Jones, Rae Festing, Margaret Bird, Robert, Marcus and colleague from Friends of Lewes, Helen and John Griffiths, Julian Luckett

2014 Garden Party

Rye Conservation Society's annual garden party struck lucky with the weather.  On Sunday 1 June the sun shone brightly all afternoon as members of the Society, curious Ryers and visitors to the town enjoyed the walled garden of Little Orchard House in West Street, thanks to the owners, Andy and Niki Stuart.

People had travelled from far and wide to come to the party. While a couple from Lewes fairly regularly visit Rye, another from Sarawak in Malaysia were on their first visit to the town.

As well as having a rare chance to view the garden and chat together, attendees enjoyed a lavish cream tea mostly produced by Jen Tomkinson with help from Rae Festing.

"We were delighted so many people came" said John Griffiths, Chairman of Rye Conservation Society "and they were rewarded with a lovely afternoon. The garden and the 'smugglers tower' looked a picture, the tallk was convivial and the cream tea was really beyond compare! The Society would like to thank Jen for making such a superb array of cakes and scones, and to Rae for all her hard work."  

The new Vice President of the Society, Kenneth Bird, and his wife Margaret attended as well as one of the Society’s founders, a former Mayor of Rye, Geraldine Bromley.

Annual General Meeting 2014 and Awards

The Society held its 42nd AGM on Friday 25 April at St Mary's Church Centre.  Some 50 members attended. All the Executive Committee members were re-elected with John Griffiths continuing as Chairman.

Kenneth Bird was made a Vice-President, joining Robert Bromley and Paul Blomfield. Members were saddened to know that our President, Sir Donald Sinden, was in hospital and could not attend either event, and they sent their good wishes to him.



The following awards were made at the meeting:

Townscape Award

2014

for a major contribution to the townscape of Rye

by the restoration and refurbishment of Norman House, West St, Rye

Presented to Drs Andrew and Liz Bamji

Andrew and Liz Bamji receive their award from Julian Luckett, Chair of the Planning Committee

Rye Conservation Society

2014

Special award for the sympathetic re-use of an existing building

14 Tower St, Rye

Presented to The Merchant & Mills Cloth Shop

Carolyn Denham of Merchant & Mills receives her award

At the conclusion of the meeting, Kenneth Bird updated members on the launch of the on-line Rye News, and invited contributors to come forward.  Mike Eve gave members a progress report on the Lion Street development.

The meeting was followed by the Annual Lunch held at The Mermaid Inn, much enjoyed by all who attended, excellent food and wonderful service from The Mermaid, many thanks!

Society's 2014 Annual General Meeting and Annual Lunch

The Society's AGM and Annual Lunch will be held on Friday 25 April, the Annual General Meeting at St Mary's Church Centre at 11.15am, and the Annual Lunch at The Mermaid Inn.

The Annual Report 2013, the calling letter for the AGM, lunch menu and reply form will be on their way to members within the next few days.  

Winchelsea Conservation Society outing, 27 April 2014

Winchelsea Conservation Society is organising a visit to the National Trust at White Cliffes, Dover, on 27 April.   This involves your own transport, optional lunch in their restaurant at 12pm then a 1.00pm introduction and, for those who wish, a guided tour into Langdon Hole, weather permitting, and at 2.20pm a tour of the South Foreland Lighthouse opened specially for this visit.  Finally a £4 / head Cream Tea will be available at their very popular NT Tearooms.

If you would like to attend please let Winchelsea Conservation Society Secretary, Andy Pemble, know on 01797 222714. 

Stay warm this winter - Rye Conservation Society at Rye Energy Day

The Society took part in Rye Energy Day at Tilling Green Community Centre last Saturday 2 November, sponsored by Rother Environmental Group.  There was good attendance from those in the community interested in reducing their home energy consumption and costs, and presentations from organisers of community energy schemes in Lewes and Cornwall.

The  leaflet below was handed out from our stand and we hope it will give you some useful tips on keeping you and your home warm.

Society's Christmas Celebration - Friday 13 December 2013

 We look forward to seeing members for

wine and canapés at our 

Christmas Celebration

to be held on Friday 13 December 2013

from 6-8pm

 in the Council Chamber of Rye Town Hall.

Members £6, guests £8.  

Winchelsea Conservation Society meeting on 5 October

We have been asked by Winchelsea Conservation Society to let members know that they will be having a meeting on 5 October at 10.30am in the New Hall.  Rookery Field has been surveyed and Maggie Henderson (Consultant Archaeologist) is coming to talk about the interesting findings. The Conservation of the Barn and its Archaeology will also be addressed.

£2 per person on the door, tea, coffee etc after the talk/discussion. The National Trust, which owns the land, will be represented and may contribute to the discussion.

Dymchurch open weekend - 10-11 August 2013

The Society has been contacted by Margaret Walker, Secretary of Dymchurch & District Heritage Group. Dymchurch is having its first Heritage Weekend on the 10-11 August 2013. They have produced leaflets that give a heritage trail through the village, giving snippets of history about 30 different properties. The Martello Tower in the centre of the village will be open from 11-5pm both days, along with New Hall & the Gaol, also the church of St Peter & St Paul.

Everyone would be welcome to visit.  If you would like to receive a leaflet, contact Judith O'Connor on 01797 252114 and she will be glad to forward information to you.

Society visit to Rochester, 30 August 2013

The Society is organising a visit to Rochester Cathedral, a tour of the City and Restoration House on 30 August.  Information has already been mailed to all members.  A maximum of 24 people can be taken on the visit, so anyone else who is interested should contact the Hon Sec, Judith O'Connor, as soon as possible.  The cost is £33 per member and £35 for non-members.

Rochester, with its unique atmosphere and wealth of historic buildings, is a pleasure to explore on foot.  We will be following a circular tour to guide the walker to the more important sights, to learn a little of the City’s history along the way.

Many locations in the City, now marked with plaques, are mentioned in the novels of Charles Dickens, who lived in nearby Chatham as a child and came to know Rochester well. Later, as a successful author living at nearby Gad’s Hill, he often returned to see the places of his childhood.

The City of Rochester Society is an amenity and historical Society who will be guiding us on the tour. It is a registered charity and is run entirely by volunteers for the good of the City and its visitors.  It has been successfully organising tours for over 30 years and will be pleased to help organise a memorable outing. Rochester and its surroundings have much to interest the visitor and there are also a variety of restaurants, pubs and picnic areas.

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.

Winchelsea Conservation Society talk on Saturday 18 May

Winchelsea Conservation Society

invites Rye Conservation Society members to a Talk by

CHALK DOWN LIME LTD OF STAPLECROSS

ON THE USE OF TRADITIONAL & ECO MATERIALS

IN THE MAINTENANCE OF OLD BUILDINGS & HOUSES

SATURDAY 18 MAY 2013 AT 10 AM

NEW HALL, WINCHELSEA

Followed by Questions & Coffee

Society's AGM and Annual Lunch

Committee re-elected

Rye Conservation Society's Annual General Meeting took place at the Town Hall on Friday 12 April.  50 members were present and heard reports and updates from members of the Executive Committee.  John Griffiths was re-elected as Chairman, John Pope as Vice Chairman and Planning Liaison, Julian Luckett as Chair of the Planning Committee, Diana Hajikakou as Treasurer, Judith O'Connor as Secretary, Andy Stuart as Membership and Publicity Officer and Mike Slavin and Rae Festing as committee members.














After the meeting, 47 members enjoyed a very good Annual Lunch at The Mermaid Inn, attended by Sir Donald Sinden, the Society's President, and the two Vice-Presidents Robert Bromley and Paul Blomfield.

Conservation Society events during 2013

We have recently finalised the list of our events taking place during 2013 and they are as follows:

Friday 12 April  11.15am      Annual General Meeting,  Rye Town Hall

                                             Annual Lunch, The Mermaid Inn

Friday 19 April                      All day outing to Folkestone and Hythe

                                                

Sunday 19 May 2–5pm         Annual Garden Party

                                              Little Orchard House

Friday   30 August                 All day outing to Rochester

                                                

September (provisional, tbc)   Sponsored talk during Rye Arts Festival

Friday 13 December 6-8pm    Christmas Party, Rye Town Hall

Information about the AGM and Annual Lunch and the visit to Hythe has already been circulated to members.

If you would be interested in taking part in any of these events (members only, but you would be welcome to join!), please contact Judith O'Connor at ryeconservationsociety@sky.com or telephone 01797 252114.