Rye Clock Appeal gets off to ‘good start’

Early estimates of money raised are £1,700, with some private donations still arriving.

It will be put towards the overhaul of the working parts and hopefully the commission of a new glass case for the clock, the oldest working church turret clock in the UK, so that it can be better viewed by visitors.

The audience were delighted by tales from Sir Donald Sinden who reminisced about his past and those he had worked with.

The packed audience also heard pianist Helen Ridout beautifully performing a repertoire from Haydn, with a sonata that was written in the same year that the Quarter Boys were installed at Rye Church, to a jazzy version of bats in the belfry.

Helen accompanied young violinist Holly Gurney, a former Rye College student, now studying for ‘A’ levels at Lewes College.

Also performing was another former student of Thomas Peacocke, Rebekah Gilbert, who rounded off the evening’s music with entertaining caberet songs by Kurt Weill and old favourites by Gershwin & Cole Porter.