The Rye lights were all ready for Wednesday, December 1 this year to welcome in Christmas. A team lead by the deputy mayor, Councillor Andi Rivett, braved icy cold winds, pouring rain and generally very unpleasant weather for over a fortnight to get them all up and ready for everyone to enjoy.
A big thank you to all those who helped including Phil Mallen, Matt Pithie, Chris Jackson, Tim Morgan, Gary Quinnell, Johnny Walker, James Bateman the harbour master for the electrical hook-up at the Strand and Rod Chapman at Rye Wharf for the tree.
Also the lights couldn’t happen without the help of shops and residents who plug them in each night. Thanks go to Heringtons, Rye Deli, Jempson’s Café, Adams, Bennetts, Tim Redfern, Gilfrins, the Queens Head, the Bedford, the Crown and the Old Borough Arms. Also thanks must go to Rye Town Council who paid for replacement lights this year as many of the old ones had been out in inclement weather for many years and got rain-logged and wind-beaten.
Bringing some light into these dark evenings, they will welcome everyone around the town, and for the Window Wanderland on December 11 and 12.
On a personal note I am incredibly grateful to all those who donated to my sponsored head shave. Having offered to do this as part of my mayoral charity fundraising, so many residents came forward to sponsor me not to do it, that on Friday, December 3, at the Rye Wurlitzer Christmas showcase I was able to announce how much had been raised – zero pounds to shave and, if everyone honours their pledges to save my longish locks, then it adds £1,965 to the pot. My two charities are the Wurlitzer Academy, helping young people through music to gain self confidence, team working, work discipline and presentation skills, and the Rye Old Scholars Association to help young people start a new business enterprise and for the old scholars to act as mentors to them.
The Rye Calendar is still available for a few more weeks, another chance to support the charities, at Adams, the town hall, the heritage centre and St Mary’s church. With a black-tie dinner at the Mermaid on Saturday, March 26 and a scratch Messiah at St Mary’s on Saturday, April 9 for anyone to come along and sing or listen, I hope to raise at least £10,000 to help the young people of Rye make a start on their journey into adult life.
Image Credits: Rye Christmas Festival , HERStory .
Hear hear! Thank you so much to Andi and his team. They all look fabulous. Let’s hope they cling on through this turbulent winter. They are really pretty and cheer upping. Or cheering up, which ever you prefer!
Yes I second that! A great effort by Andy and his team the town looks so lovely! Also well done Rebekah for holding your nerve on the save or shave challenge and raising so much for your wonderful charities!