Heidi Foster’s day of “Great Expectations” started with local artist Richard Adams’ (unsurprisingly fully booked) workshop for budding painters, which included a surprising lesson in how to open a bottle of bubbly. It went on to playing for the crowds around the main Strand stage with the Rye Ukulele Experiment And this is her account of her day (December 12) before listening to two of the bands playing in local pubs.
“There was great anticipation that December 12 would see much improved Rye Christmas Celebrations in the High Street and around town. And what a day! Our expectations were certainly fulfilled and I would like to say thank you to the Christmas Group who worked so hard to make this a memorable Saturday event.
I met some of them later in The George and all of them said: “It was hard work but worth it. Whoever has enjoyed this day and has time on their hands in the coming year please come and help with organizing an even better one next year. We need volunteers.” If you have any offers and feedback, please email: feedback@christmasinrye.co.uk
My day started with the two hour workshop run by Richard Adams. A big thank you for giving his time which was full of laughter, learning techniques and the opportunity to emulate (even if badly) his wonderful and quirky style (right). There were eleven of us and we would like to express our appreciation to the Rye Art Gallery in the High Street for hosting this and sustaining us with mulled wine and coffee.
[Editor’s note: Richard’s images of Rye featured strongly in the Christmas in Rye publicity]
As if that was not a treat enough, David Lawson, who was one of us ‘budding artists’ , had a surprise ready. He is an expert in sabrage (removing the top from a champagne bottle with a sabre) and he performs it in this country and in France at special occasions. But this time he asked Richard to undertake the task.
The latter looked nervous, but sport that he is, he took the sabre (a light cavalry sword), followed David’s instructions, and did a great job, executing it perfectly – and we were all treated to a glass of champagne to toast David’s birthday.
[Editor’s note: The wielder of the sabre slides it along the body of the bottle, with the blunt side facing forward, to break the top of the neck away from the bottle by the force of the blow]
Apparently this comes from France and dates from the time of the Napoleonic Wars around 1800 when the army won a battle and the soldiers used to gallop along on their horses celebrating with this ceremony of sabrage.
Rushing down from the art class to the stage near the Strand Quay to join the Rye Ukulele Experiment, of which I am a band member, I found the choir “Wall of Sound” singing their hearts out while we got ready to follow their performance and I would like to thank Carey’s for allowing us to use the top room to get ready, and for putting up with disrupting their lunch clientele as we kept going in and out of the restaurant.
Here I must mention my only complaint of the day (caused by someone’s selfish parking). As the band and our voices tried heartily to entertain the freezing audience (very stoic for staying and listening) the wind was whistling around our ears as the stage was in a wind tunnel with no protection on the sides, and the generator behind us did a good job in nearly drowning us out [Editor’s note : Something that might have been sorted out if the car had not been left overnight, causing chaos Saturday morning and leaving inadequate time to sort out the stage and the generator].
The next event was chosen by my granddaughter who wanted to go and see which Christmas Tree had won in the competition at the Baptist Church in Cinque Port Street. All the charities had made a great effort and there were some wonderful displays. We felt however, though first, second and third prize were deserved, one tree was left out which should have been included – the Pottery Tree, which had very different and exquisite decorations made out of clay.
Back out in the cold I found quickly some reprieve in Rye Retreat where a gentle jazz duo played to staff and customers and further along the road in the car park (not in use that day ) families were entertaining their children on the little fairground and Bronco the Rodeo Reindeer. It was hilarious as we watched the children desperately trying to remain on its back before sliding off.
By now darkness had set in as I was making my way up to the High Street which looked wonderful with the lights and decorated shops, and people mingling in the street and not having to dodge cars.
(Was this day, I wondered, not a good example of a car free zone to encourage Rye to try, for at least one day a week, to give the street over to pedestrians between East and West Street, allowing certain times for deliveries?)
Before going home to have a rest before the evening entertainment I made one more stop at “Forget Me Not”, at the top of Lion Street and just past the Kino cinema on the corner opposite St Mary’s Church entrance, where owner Madeleine Eve and staff (pictured below) handed out hot spicy apple juice as well as presiding over the most wonderful eclectic choice of possible Christmas presents. Do go and browse or go to their website.
Out again, and wandering towards the Queens Head as a finale to the day, I just had to drop into The Standard in The Mint where musicians Phil Law and friends (above) were playing to a packed audience.
At the Queens Head in the evening it was very much the same, though we were expecting Louis Turpin to play, but he could not be there. However we were not disappointed as we enjoyed listening to Roger Hubbard and Richard Studholme (both on guitar) and drummer Bruce Allen’s blues renditions. And overall the day was a successful and amazing achievement, and these were only a few snippets of the many other gems around.
Photos: Heidi Foster, Seana Lanigan and courtesy of Rye Ukulele Experiment