Little Common Ladies Club

AFTER welcoming members to our November meeting our chairman Mrs. Pat Grayling took great pleasure in welcoming our speaker Captain C. Bagwell.

Captain Bagwell has been Master of Rye Harbour since 1986. He has had a long service career as a mariner having joined the Merchant Navy at the tender age of 15. He has worked on tankers, cruise ships and mail vessels sailing all over the world.

He joined The Medway Port Authority in 1978, with whom he worked until his promotion to Harbour Master in 1986. Working in his capacity he has many varied responsibilities.

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Rye and the surrounding area have a population of 46,000 people, which increases greatly by the influx of visitors, tourism and farming are the main occupations of the area.

He oversees the many leisure water activities. Young people from the age of seven join the sailing and water clubs in the area.

Many of Rye's visitors arrive by boat from Holland, Poland and other countries. Rye itself has about 250 cruisers moored, half of which are kept on dry land.

There is also a large fishing fleet, which goes out from Rye, Fairlight and Dungeness, the catch which consists of sole, plaice and scallops, much of which is sent to restaurants in Boulogne.

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There are 80 tenants along the harbour which brings in a substantial income, also boat yards for winter storage and maintenance.

The life boat is another major responsibility; it is an all weather boat and gets called upon for the rescue of boats and people in distress.

Boats that enter the harbour have to be escorted in by the pilot because the boats masters are not familiar with the local waters.

All in all Captain Bagwell kept us enthralled with his talk and his sense of humour.

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Our next meeting is on Wednesday, January 23 at The Little Common Community Centre at 7.45pm, when our speaker will be Mr. J. Porter, curator of the Bexhill Museum talking on "The latest developments". All visitors will be given a warm welcome.

Our December meeting is for members only when we will be enjoying our Christmas Dinner at The Cooden Beach Golf Club.