Former Rye MayorRoger remembersMapp and Lucia

Roger said: “This was in 1984/85 when I was the Mayor.

“The crew and actors invited me for breakfast one morning at The Hope Anchor where they were staying. They all signed my wife Amy’s copy of “Trouble for Lucia” - the story when Lucia becomes the Mayor of Tilling.

“Prunella Scales was Mapp and Geraldine McEwan was Lucia. The mayor making scenes were filmed around the town hall and a old spare mayoral robe was borrowed.

“The film company gave a donation to Rye Town Council, which on my suggestion with the councillors approval, was used to purchase three tri-corn hats for the lady councillors to wear at civic events.

“Then in 1994 when I was the Chairman of the Harbour of Rye Advisory Committee, I was involved in a series of TV films called The Tale of Four Ports. I spent 45 minutes promoting Rye as the port to represent Sussex.

“We also filmed in Fletchers House Tea Rooms, run at the time by Robert and Geraldine Bromley.”