Ashford Carers Support Members with Ann Sutherland of Ticketyboo.

Brian Sharp Former Owner of Bygones of Wye Antique Shop

A few years back as part of the Wye Business Associations Food Festival we did a couple of guided tours featuring the village shops and businesses of times gone by.

We were recently asked by a member of Ashford Carers Support https://carers-ashford.org.uk/contact-ures/ if we would repeat our tour for carers so that they could enjoy a break and end up with a cream tea at the Tickled Trout.

This meant asking Brian Sharp (an honorary member of WBA) to come out of retirement and once again assist in a guided tour of our village.

The result being, we had good fun and met some very nice people who enjoyed their break.

Locally sourced picnic raises funds to encourage cycling between Ashford & Canterbury

On Saturday 5^th May over 80 people cycled and walked along National Cycle Route 18 from Wye, Ashford, Chilham and Canterbury to this year’s Catha’s Seat Picnic. Volunteers curated a menu for the picnic that showcased producers and purveyors operating along the cycle route. This featured food and drink kindly donated by; Wye Bakery, Wye Butchers, The King’s Head, Wye Coffee & Kitchen, Ripple Farm, Perry Court Farm, The Wooden Spoon, Wye Co-op, Woodpecker Farm and the Cheesemakers of Canterbury.

Proceeds from the picnic spread raised over £400 for the Catha’s Seat Awards Fund. The awards provide a total grant fund of £1,000 annually to encourage safety and increased use of National Cycle Route 18 between Ashford and Canterbury. Local groups, schools and individuals can apply for funding for equipment and expenses to support their projects. Those that are interested in applying for this year’s awards are encouraged to register their name and email address by 14^th May at http://cathas-seat.org/awards/

At the picnic there were inspiring presentations from the 2017 awards winners: Continue Reading »

New Flying Horse Licensee Steve Collins and Poet Robert Graham
pictured following the hanging of Robert’s poem ‘Window on Wye’

This nostalgic poem by Robert Graham, www.healinggardens.click was inspired by the fact that the stained glass
West Window in our Parish Church of St Gregory and St Martin, was blown out by an aerial landmine in 1943.
Robert’s poem reflects on a time gone by creating a window on Wye’s past but at the same time looks to the future.
As well as the poem being about yesterday, and what has gone, it is also about today and what has replaced what is ‘lost’  – i.e. the oasts are now houses, the people from abroad now come and work hard and pick our fruit not us… and yet much remains.

The poem has been illustrated by Ann Sutherland and produced by Ticketyboo http://www.ticketyboowye.org as a print packed with a hard backed envelope making it an excellent gift at £10.

A pound from each sale will be donated to Wye Scouts.

Wye picture framer Paul Callaghan http://www.intheframewye.wordpress.com was commissioned to frame a print in oak to hang in The New Flying Horse http://www.newflyinghorsewye.co.uk courtesy of the licensee Steve Collins.

Today, Wye says goodbye to Mary Hemsley Interior Design after twenty years of trading here in our village.

Mary’s talent for interiors and curtain making brought style to her shop in Bridge Street and into people’s homes. She was able to provide top of the range products and the latest fabric designs.

She was an active member of The Wye Business Association from early days. For this reason Mary is awarded honorary membership of the Association.

Mary has recently semi-retired and moved to Walmer, but will continue to operate from her studio where she will be producing bespoke curtains and blinds. She can be contacted via the following:

Mobile – 07980 148706

Email – info@mary-hemsley.co.uk

Mary looks forward to helping you with any projects in the future.

Editor: Good luck Mary and thankyou for all your support.

Pauline Hickson of Wye Bakery has sent us a copy of an email she received from blogger and author Jessie Cahalin.

Click on her link below to read her amazing creative account of her visit to Wye Bakery.

We visited your lovely bakery in the summer. I chatted with you and your daughter, and explained I would blog about the experience. Well, after all this time, here is my blog post. I am a blogger and an author so the post combines a literary reference. I hope your like it. Here is the link to the blog post: http://jessiecahalin.com/a-bread-tale-on-the-road-to-canterbury/ I have shared the post of Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jessie-Cahalin/100016975596193?fref=nf

During last night as snow continued to fall from the evening onwards, Pauline Hickson our village baker had been baking the bread for today’s trade.

After her night’s work she returned home to get some rest. Unfortunately neither Pauline or her assistant were able to get back to Wye due to the heavy snowfall.

A phone call to Martin and Sarah Wakelin who run their butcher’s shop opposite, saw a note on the bakery door directing customers for their bread over to the butchers. Anyone visiting Wakelin’s today would have been aware of the tall trolley full of lovely fresh baked bread which Martin and Sarah had offered to sell for Pauline.

Local businesses in Wye have always supported one another and todays events is just one example of how we carry on here in Wye.

Thanks to Martin and Sarah, Pauline’s trade continued but from a different shop!

Luckley House Sheltered Housing unit held their Social Club Christmas lunch yesterday.

Thirty two people sat down to a three course meal organised by the Scheme Manager Denise Libbeter and Resident Veronica Cackett.

They were helped by four volunteers and of course Jack Woodford stepped in once again to play his role of Santa. Santa even helped in the kitchen washing up!

The delicious turkey was purchased from our local butcher Wakelins in Church Street. With the personal service offered at this Wye establishment, carving the meat proved no problem. Martin Wakelin prepared the meat by taking it off the bone. It was then rolled ready for the oven. It takes a skilled butcher to do this.

Wakelin’s are currently accepting orders for Christmas. If you want a tasty Christmas joint or bird  with personal service and advice, why not give Martin and Sarah Wakelin a call: 01233 812225

                                      Entry reproduced by kind permission of Michael Gilburt

Earlier on this year The Wye Arts Association held a photographic competition which was judged by International World Wild Life photographer Steve Bloom. The subject being ‘My Wye.’

The winner of the adult section was Michael Gilburt whose compilation of pictures taken around our village depicts a whole picture of our village today, including our shops and businesses.

There was an exhibition of the entries in Wye Church where Mike was presented with the Ticketyboo cup.

Congratulations Mike for this wonderful depiction of our village!

We promised to add memories of Wye Shops and Businesses from time to time. We now publish our memories of Taylor’s Garage.

Kentish Express Advertisement July 25th 1969

Taylor’s Garage was owned by the Lepper Family from approximately the 1960’s to early 80’s  It was then sold to partners the late Brian Hern and Alan Heron. The site is currently a housing development in Bridge Street known as Twysdon Court. On the left hand side of our photograph above taken in the 80’s can be seen the corner of what is currently Mary Hemsley’s Curtain and Soft Furnishing shop. During the Lepper’s time Mary’s shop was used by the Garage as their office, reception and spare parts shop. It later became the first office for Calcutt Maclean Estate Agents now known as Foxwood Maclean (Formerly this shop had been a pub known as The Swan).

Partners Brian Hern & Alan Heron. Also in the blue Jacket is Sarah Andrews who served on the petrol pumps.

The Petrol delivery was always overseen by Brian pictured on top of the tanker whilst Alan kept a watchful eye!

Whilst remembering Tayor’s Garage it brings back memories of villagers who passed by daily on their way up from Little Chequers to the shops.

In the left hand photograph is Kathleen Cole who was then Warden of the Luckley House Sheltered Housing scheme. She lived on site with her husband in a flat provided by the Council for the Warden. Pictured with Mrs Cole is Stewart Dunk who was at one time a shepherd for Wye College. In his retirement he delivered newspapers well into his eighties for the Wye newsagents known as and owned by Geerings.

The right hand photograph shows Bob and Sybil Cheeseman. They were a familiar sight as they walked regularly past the garage. Bob in his jaunty tartan cap complete with a red bobble. He always walked about six paces behind Sybil which most villagers found entertaining. They were both staunch members of the Methodist Church and their processional walk could be seen every Sunday evening as they made their way to the Chapel.

Taylor’s Garage was a thriving business and later Brian’s son Nigel joined his Father and Alan. Sadly Brian died and both Nigel and Brian continued with the business until such times they sold the site for development. The age of the Supermarket had arrived and Petrol sales were affected.

Although Brian, Alan and Nigel did not live in Wye, they were very much part of the Community and joined in the WBA events. Alan became the first Chairman of The Wye Business Association with Nigel as his Vice Chairman.

This morning volunteers helped WBA to put up the village Christmas Lights in time for the Christmas Street Party which will be held on Friday 2nd December.

The Christmas Tree was donated and delivered by Perry Court Farm Shop http://www.perrycourt.farm/

Grateful thanks to our volunteers who gave up their Sunday morning to help WBA.

This is the twentieth year of lights for our village!

Post Christmas:

How nice it was to receive the postcard above from a grateful member of our community.

WYE BEER FESTIVAL
24th, 25th & 26th June!

Updated 10/06/2018

THE THREE AIMS OF THE WBA ARE: A) TO PROMOTE OUR BUSINESSES B) HELP PRESERVE COMMUNITY SPIRIT C) RAISE THE PROFILE OF WYE.

We hope to help achieve these aims by publishing news of both our businesses and village.

Our members offer a startling range and variety of products, skills and services. Continue Reading »