Tilling 2000, page two... 
After lunch, we walked 'Bibelot' back to King's Road to catch a bus to her train station.  Then, 'Miss Leg' and 'Q1' took a taxi (yes!) over to Lambeth Palace, hoping to join one of the tours.  This was another of the homes where Benson lived while his father was Archbishop of Canterbury.  [Lambeth Palace is usually not open to the public, but the current Archbishop made it available for tours this year, April-October 2000.]  We arrived about 4:00, missing the last tour of the day that began at 3:30.  Since we were in the neighborhood, we toured the Museum of Garden History next door. 
(1)   View from Lambeth Palace Road.
(2)   Entrance to Lambeth Palace. 
'Quaint1' accompanied 'Miss Leg' to Victoria Station for her train back to Rye.  In Ashford, there was a 50-minute wait for change of trains, and I finally arrived back in Rye after 9:00 and found the Copper Kettle closed (never did get my 'Angels on Horseback' this year).  The Mermaid Bar was open and still serving food.  Met several friendly folk here, two of whom would be attending the Tilling Society Gathering on Saturday.  We had much fun talking about Mapp and Lucia, Tilling, Rye, and Benson.  As the rest of the crowd dwindled, we remained, still talking, ignoring hints of the staff who were cleaning all around us.  We were finally ejected about 11:30, I think.   To bed after midnight again. 

SATURDAY, October 7 - rainy: Following Wish Ward, Cinque Ports Street, and Station Road, I arrived at the station quite early and found only one other Tillingite there - Geoffrey.  We had a nice chat before the others arrived and agreed to share a taxi up to the cemetery and back.  Tony Reavell, of the Tilling Society, came as 'Mr. Wyse' this year - and led a small group of hardy souls on the trek up the cliffside to the cemetery.  Our taxi driver agreed to send someone back to pick us up at a certain time.  Two cars were already there.  One of these Tillingites came as 'Mrs. Wyse' - in her furs (pictured below).   

We were greeted by the sight of a re-newed gravestone for Mr. Benson.  The other one had deteriorated awfully.  It is still in the angular tent shape, but with a nice new finish.  'Mr. Wyse' introduced us to two nearby graves and explained who the men were in Benson's time as Mayor of Rye.  This year, there was no graveside talk by the 'Padre' who was unable to attend.  After visiting the grave of Mrs. Reta Jacomb-Hood,  Benson's Mayoress, 'Mr. Wyse' introduced yet another grave we'd not visited before.  This one has the distinction of being the most fanciful or florid.  I missed the details of this one since my taxi had arrived for the trip to the George Hotel in the High Street. 
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