Rye Bonfire Weekend

A good turnout of 46 members registered for this popular event, including six very welcome newcomers who had signed up for the first time, among them Virginia Bunker - who works in Kuwait and is our only member there.

On Friday evening we met up for an informal Bonfire Supper at The Hope Anchor Hotel. This is arguably the epicentre of Lone Pine Rye as Priors Holt is for Shropshire, for it stands upon the geographical site of the fictional Dolphin, which was architecturally modelled upon the much older Mermaid Hotel a short distance away. We were given exclusive use of the restaurant, which was ideal as those who had to travel a considerable distance could eat when they arrived, and the evening was enlivened by a not-too-serious pictorial quiz entitled 'Where was Penny?'

Saturday started at Rye's Heritage Centre with a showing of the audio-visual presentation featuring the town model. Most of us had seen it before, but it is a fascinating experience and well worth repeating. The day continued with 'Penny and Peter's Walk,' a tour of the town that incorporated the roundabout route taken by the girls that was so well described in Rye Royal. Our walk was even more leisurely with time to complete a treasure hunt, and a stop for coffee before climbing the church tower.

The afternoon had been set aside as free time. Some drove to Dungeness and some to Stone-in-Oxney. Others visited Rye's Book Fair that, coincidentally, was being held that day - and a few even managed to augment their collection of Saville titles. Then it was back to the town centre for the big event of the evening: procession, chairing-down, bonfire and fireworks. No words to describe it can better Saville's vivid description in Rye Royal, which although written over 40 years ago still remains remarkably accurate today.

We never found that coffee bar below a bookshop, where a pretty redhead and her boyfriend were selling bangers, but many did manage to crowd into a room above a coffee bar afterwards to enjoy mulled wine and nibbles. Not a bad substitute.

'Slinky's Walk' had been planned for Sunday - a trek from Rye to Winchelsea across the marshes on the north side of the military road - but an earlier reconnaissance found it very muddy after a week of heavy rain. So we switched to the Morton's walk out to Camber Castle, continuing on to Winchelsea from there. Just past the Strand Gate we paused at The Lookout. The earliest date spotted among years of graffiti scratched into its woodwork was 1953; despite an exhaustive search, we never did find J + P 1945!

Meeting up for lunch at The New Inn was alas, where things went pear-shaped! Unfortunately, it had changed hands only a few days previously and this had evidently created continuity problems resulting in slow service. So sadly, the last item on the programme had to be abandoned - a themed after-lunch stroll entitled 'The Smallest Town in England.' Many found Chelsea Cottage with its blue plaque though and some ventured to the site of The Old Mill before returning home.

Mr & Mrs Lighthouse on the Church Tower

Torchlight Procession

Camber Castle