Last week, Hannah Moon from Rye Bonfire Society presented last year’s Rye Fawkes, Chris Emson, with a framed picture commemorating her memorable night.
Would you like to be Rye Fawkes this year? The right to be this year’s Rye Fawkes will be auctioned at the Bonfire Society’s annual sale of promises at the Mermaid Inn on Wednesday, May 26, further details to follow.
Image Credits: Steve Hutchings / Rye Bonfire Society .
I didn’t know that you can purchase the privilege to be Rye Fawkes.
I always thought that it was a privilege not something that goes to the person with the deepest pockets.
It used to take a lot of searching/pleading to get someone of note to be the Rye Fawkes. I would think , in this day and age, whilst agreeing with the sentiments of it being a privilege , no one wants to do something for nothing………………… so, doing it the way it is now done, it’s a win win situation.
There must be dozens of ordinary people in Rye going about their lives quietly who deserve the honour of being invited to light the bonfire, you don’t have to sit on the various committees or be a celebrity to warrant recognition.
Paying for a privilege just seems to go against the spirit of Rye Bonfire boys.
Why not a LOCAL shop keeper who kept us going through the lock down, I’d like to suggest Steve the butcher, a born and bred Rye man who does a Sterling job without any song and dance.
The optics of this are awful in so many ways. Let us not forget that Rye Bonfire had a hiatus of several years toward the end of the last century. If it begins to be seen as irrelevant again, don’t discount the possibility of that happening again. Allowing the various festivals to fall too much into the grip of a small number of people will have this effect: newcomers to the town, as well as lifelong residents who don’t feel included, will simply choose not to offer support and participate, and the events will fall by the wayside.
Just to clear up any confusion or misunderstanding my Mum, Chris Emson was chosen by the bonfire boys to be be Rye Fawkes and did not pay for the privilege last year, she considered it a great honour. My Brother and I are deeply proud of my Mum for all of the work that she has done and continues to do for the town.
I totally agree with you Jonathan Emson! People like Tony Edwards are obviously blissfully ignorant of all the hard work, dedication, and commitment that Chris Emson put into the Rye Food Bank over the pandemic and lockdown – and all for the benefit of those who were struggling to survive on a day to day and week to week basis. And many who were just struggling. Rye and district would be a far poorer place if not for people like Chris Emson. If lighting some anachronistic bonfire ritual is to be regarded as an honour, no matter how dubious to some, then this lady is utterly and totally deserving of such recognition.
In my defence I only replied to the article that led me to think that and the lady in question is exactly the type of person I was suggesting, if I caused any offence then I apologise which I also think would be the decent thing for the author or editing thing to do.
My knowledge of the Rye Bonfire Boys is a bit limited but I’m sure they do and have done a Sterling job for many years.
Replying to Tony Edwards.
You are absolutely correct there are plenty of people in the town that deserves the privilege to light the bonfire Chris Emson is one such person.
My original point is that it should be a privilege and a honour to be asked
Not the person with the deepest pockets who’s wealth will pay for such a privilege.
Having been a former secretary of Rye bonfire boys many years ago, it was a pleasure to welcome some big time celebrities to our town, to light the bonfire, all free of charge,and they appreciated being asked. Sadly times have changed with all the extra costs to keep the bonfire celebrations going, but I also think it’s right to ask the likes of Chris Emson,who has done so much good for the town since she has lived here, but I’m against hawking to the highest bidder,just for people’s vanity cheque.