Friends and family are mourning the loss of a truly special and amazing lady. Sally was a force of nature, unforgettable with her bright pink hair and sparkling eyes, loud and impetuous, with a heart of gold and a brave spirit.
Sally grew up in this area, but moved to France with her family in 1990, full of the expectation of a new life. When her dreams fell apart, she soldiered on undeterred by misfortune. After returning to England, Sally opened a café in Camber in 2007, but again, her dreams were shattered, this time by the financial downturn and a prolonged fight with the East Sussex Highways Authority over her “Café Open” sign, which she eventually won, but which destroyed her income.
As ever, Sally refused to be cowed, found a flat and, once retired to Rye, she took up craft making. Totally self-taught, she made bunting, cushions and gnomes, which she sold at craft markets. The gnomes could be seen in shop windows in Rye, and they each had a tale attached to them, telling the owner to treat them well or else mischief would be made in the home.
Sally also joined the Rye Players, where her most memorable part was the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, which she played with much humour and gusto, as well as Captain Pugwash in Aladdin and many other parts.
Next she decided to become and author, and wrote two hilarious books about her life in France, A Bit of French Stick and about her café, Brace Yourselves Boys,(https://www.ryenews.org.uk/culture/sally-sets-record-straight) plus a book of poems, An Accolade to Travesty, which many have greatly enjoyed.
Sadly, Sally was recently obliged to leave her beloved flat in Rye when it was put up for sale, and once again, undeterred by this misfortune, and being unable to find a decent, affordable flat in this area, she upped sticks and moved to Wales, where she immediately settled in and made many new friends, until her life was suddenly cut short by illness.
Sally died peacefully, with her daughter Lorraine by her side, and leaves her son, Tom and granddaughters, Holly and Emily.
Sally Pattinson, November 14, 1950, to July 18, 2022
