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
I first met Sally at the rehearsals for Cinderella, that cold winter in the community hall ,no heating. she was so friendly…but unwell at the time. But still kept going not giving in.
I saw her performance in Aladdin. And her craft work was lovely too.She would always have a smile if one met around Rye.
Sally was one of those who kept going what ever happened in life.
So sorry to hear that she has died, but nice to read she had her family with her. Condolences to them all.
We only knew Sally for a very short time, when she moved to Wales. Lovely Lovely Lady. We will all miss her very much.
I have known Sally since I was 16 years old (I am now 61 years old!). She took me under her wing, and always embraced life with laughter and was a great friend, who never lost touch throughout all of life’s varying changes and moves. It was great to have her close-by until just recently disappearing from Rye to Wales. But, again, she didn’t lose touch. I am going to miss my friend xx
So sorry to hear that Sally has passed away, she was such a character and always had a funny story to tell. Condolences to her family ❤️
Sally attended the same school I boarded at, but our paths never crossed until a school page was set up and some of us gathered in Sussex, I think that might have been 2012? We became fb friends and often messaged. When she moved to Wales a few months after I moved here we got together down at Pendine for lunch. She was very much looking forward to Tom visiting so she could take him over to the island to see the puffins. Sally always seemed to take life’s punches on the chin and rose above them admirably. Full of common sense and huge compassion. I miss her even though we were “distant” friends.
I am blown away by this very sad news, belatedly read only today. I too was at school with Sally. We shared a bedroom in Ardquin and always got along well. She was a cheerful soul. We had a long gap in our friendship between leaving school and getting back in contact, thanks to FaceBook, in around 2014! Sally had a big, warm personality and was unstoppable. Her sewing was both impressive and impeccable, fresh and very creative. I am lucky have some of her bunting, which will become an even more precious treasure now that she has gone. She sounded so happy in Wales. I wanted to go and see her there. As my father used to say – Only the good die young and Sally was always young at heart. I will miss her. I visited her in Rye. She visited me in the hills behind Nice and we had such good, happy times together. Farewell dear friend. My deepest sympathy to Lorraine, Tom, Holly and Emily ❤️❤️