Current restrictions have prevented the Rye Heritage Centre on Strand Quay from re-opening, but all is not lost, as behind the scenes things are beginning to change. As most of the visiting tourist parties were forced to cancel their visits due to the pandemic, this had a huge effect on predicted income, and this was one of the reasons the planned opening for last April did not go ahead.
In the interim however it gave an opportunity to re-plan the Heritage Centre, update it and introduce new ideas, some of which are being implemented now.
The old reception desk occupied a large section of the retail space so had to go, but this also meant the electrics connected to it had to be re-sited which is now in hand. A new reception desk was top of the agenda but with funds being extremely limited there was only one choice – find one for nothing!
Rye News ran a story highlighting the need for a new desk, which produced an offer of a donation from Heringtons solicitors. The desk was now surplus to their requirements, in storage at their offices in Bexhill and, after looking at photos of it, the centre’s trustees quickly said, “Yes please!”.
The chair of trustees, Simon Parsons, then contacted his daughter Kirsty who works as marketing manager at Bournes removals and with the help of Alice Doucy, Bournes’ customer services manager, they made arrangements to collect the desk and deliver it to the Heritage Centre, free of charge.
The heavy lifting work was carried out by Pat Healy and Pete Saunders as featured in the photograph below who were only too delighted to be able to help and now, the only thing left to do was work out how it goes back together, so watch this space.
This is a prime example of how our community can work together. Rye News put out the call for help, Heringtons solicitors kindly donated a stunning reception desk, and the team at Bournes Removals came to the rescue by collecting and delivering it as a donation – team work, cooperation and communication at its best.
Simon Parsons added the following statement an behalf of the trustees: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Heringtons Solicitors for the donation of a very smart reception desk for us to use as a welcome point and retail counter, and my thanks also go to Bournes of Rye Harbour for their generosity in not only providing transport and manpower to deliver the desk to us from Bexhill, but arranging it all with their renowned efficiency“
Image Credits: Nick Forman .
It just shows that we do still have a wonderful caring community in Rye!