Culture

Sir Donald Sinden who lived in Tenterden has died. John Griffiths pays tribute to the actor who for the last 19 years was president of Rye Conservation Society

Students at Rye Studio School have been heavily involved backstage in preparing for Rye Arts Festival. Their own performance kicks off with a parade. Harley Gentry, a student at the school, has been watching the preparations

Rye Harbour features an art exhibition, a caravan full of crafts and some rocking hot potatoes this weekend as the Arts Festival kicks off

High jinks, high society and hilarity at the annual dinner of the Friends of Tilling, led by Gyles Brandreth at the Mermaid - who will reappear shortly at the Rye Arts Festival on September 21, but in the Milligan Theatre this time... and after lunch.

The first performance of AP Waxkirsh's new one-man play "Spite and Smut and Tales and Lies" will take place at the historic 17th century thatched Barn Theatre, Smallhythe on Saturday September 20th at 7.00pm in the grounds of the early 16th century Smallhythe Place, home of renowned Victorian actress Ellen Terry - now owned by the National Trust. Lord Hervey (pictured) was Vice-Chamberlain at the Court of King George II and Queen Caroline.

Rye Arts Festival opens this Friday for two hectic weeks from Friday September 12th to Sunday September 28th with a free concert at the Community Centre, and some events are already sold out - or the best seats have gone. But many are still available either online from www.ryeartsfestival.co.uk or the Phillips & Stubbs' box office in Cinque Ports Street, open 9.30am to 1pm Monday - Saturday. Charlie Harkness reports on the full programme and there are further reports on our Culture page

As Scotland stands poised to vote for or against independence, a young author talks at Rye Arts Festival about Robert the Bruce, a historic figure in the fight for nationhood.

Live and breathe one man's extraordinary and dramatic journey from escape to finally returning to his homeland to witness Robert Mugabe's betrayal

An Open Studios Day is being held at the School Creative Centre along with three talks as part of art's contribution to the Rye Arts Festival. Charlie Harkness reports.

Rye Art Gallery's latest exhibition "A Celebration of Light" opens on Saturday September 6 with works by Andrew Blyth and Andy Wood PRI RBA who now live in the Rye. For admirers of watercolours the exhibition promises to be one to savour with beautiful images of land, town and sea. And both artists will be working in the gallery at various times during the exhibition.

Almost 100 paintings by Winchelsea artists were displayed at the annual Bank Holiday art exhibition to raise funds for the town's Millennium Artefacts Fund.

Brickwall Music and Arts Society completed its forty-seventh season last month with a wonderfully enjoyable concert in the Great Space at St. Ronan's School, Hawkhurst.