Rye Town Crier Rex Swain was in fine voice as he launched the opening of the charity Christmas card shop for the 2015 season last Saturday (October 31). Dolly and Dillon, dolphins from The Oliver Curd Trust, waddled the streets with him to spread the news and clearly got the message across as the shop sold more packs of cards than on the same opening day last year.
The shop in Rye’s community centre on Conduit Hill has cards from more than 25 charities, including for the first time Help for Heroes, which supports wounded servicemen and their families. This is great news as there have been many inquiries about cards for this charity in the past.
Local charities are supported too, including The Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust, the Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial hospital and The Oliver Curd Trust.
Olly died from cancer when he was just nine and the trust was set up by his parents to offer holiday accommodation to families with very sick children. They have two mobile homes which provide the facilities that make it possible to take a break without breaking the bank.
Olly’s mum Sarah was one of the dolphins who helped to publicise the launch this year. At one stage she took Swain’s bell and gave it a good ring. Her “oyez” did lack the decibels but she and fellow dolphin, charity trustee John Barnett, had fun trying to match the town crier.
Rye’s hospital has two new designs: Richard Adams’s unique take on the town features ice skaters this year – some managing to remain upright. Another local artist, Karl Terry, has painted a snow-filled wintry scene with Rye in the background.
As well as cards the shop sells wrapping paper, Advent calendars, small gifts for children, stationery and decorative items. The sale of these helps to cover the cost of setting up and running the shops, enabling Cards for Good Causes (CfGC) to return more to the charities. There are about 300 CfGC shops across the country, from Truro to Pitlochry, and all rely on the help of volunteers.
The Rye shop has lost a couple of willing helpers this year. Richard Bower, who was well known for his volunteering at St Mary’s Church, and who died in August, was a regular, doing a three-hour shift every Friday afternoon. He’ll be sadly missed. Another has moved to Edinburgh – and is already volunteering there.
If you’re interested in helping charities this Christmas, and enjoy good company, make yourself known to the volunteers in the shop.
The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm, until December 19 in what was once the chapel at the community centre. Buy your cards here and you’re giving twice: to a friend and to a charity.