Firstly, a very happy new year to all readers and the team of volunteers behind Rye News, I hope it is a good one for each and every one of you.
It was lovely to see so many of you at the mayoral gathering at the Buttermarket on Saturday, December 17, a big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen – Isabel Ryan, Cheryl Creaser, Rebekah, Jonathan and Graham for leading the carol singing and of course Ryebellion drummers for making a cracking start to the evening.
Just before that we had been singing for a jazz lunch at Charles Palmer Vineyard (and again on the Sunday), where a selection of their wonderful local wines were served with great food.
On the Monday, December 19 it was an honour to welcome Martin Blincow as a freeman of Rye and, as you will see from the photo, a certain mayor’s mascot dog decided to take the chair for a moment!
We met with Rother District Council to look at options for the swimming pool on Tuesday, December 20 and having all been tasked with various issues, will come together again at the end of the month, where we may know more of the government’s plans to support business.
On Thursday, December 22 we visited Rye Hospital and left chocolates with the staff as a thank you for all the work they do in this wonderful cottage hospital. We were again joined by Mrs Christmas and the incredible Isabel who helped distribute them.
Then operation bell ringing commenced! It is the busiest time of year for these volunteers but great fun. We rang for the crib service on Christmas Eve and attended along with many families in Rye to see young people taking part in the service and singing the carols. It was a lovely event. That evening we rang again for the midnight mass and I read during the service, which again was very well attended.
On Christmas morning we rang before the Sunday service. Again on new year’s eve we rang on the old year in the new, which is the most special day, I think, in the ringing year. After which we raised a glass to 2023 at the Waterworks, where we had been singing shanties a few days before.
A big thank you to all those volunteers who help out over this period, we couldn’t do everything without you, especially the food bank, for which we raised over £100 by shanty singing. Best wishes for 2023.
Image Credits: Rebekah Gilbert , Charles Palmer Vineyards .