Culture

The filming of Mapp and Lucia in town might have inspired the grown-ups to read - or reread - the books by EF Benson, but do the town's youngsters know about the really good stories for them that are set in Rye?

Every reader in town misses the Martello Bookshop and now we shall also miss the Harveys - or the Martellos, as they were often called - who owned and ran it. They are leaving, the shop itself is still under wraps but the Martello Readers group, which they started about 17 years ago, will keep the name alive

Fans of Radio 4's "The Archers" came to The George Hotel to see Tim Bentinck - aka farmer David Archer - in his latest role as art auctioneer extraordinaire

He tried to run a respectable house, but he needed the rougher classes in there if he was to make a living. So says a publican in local author David Russell's very readable book on "The Pubs of Rye, East Sussex 1750-1950"

As if you hadn't got enough to do in the build up to Christmas, we are now asking you to enter a competition. It will test your knowledge of Rye pubs and, if you win, it could solve one of your gift dilemmas as you'll have your prize - a signed copy of "The Pubs of Rye, East Sussex, 1750-1950" - in good time. All that's left to say is, good luck!

Rye Film Club has changed its movie offering on...

Work by Jill Stott, the late artist and author...

When the BBC presented a preview of the forthcoming Mapp and Lucia series filmed in the town during the summer, the reception was unanimously enthusiastic. But while the two socialite rivals might be the principal characters, the real star is our location

Acting Up in Rye is staging the pantomime "Old Mother Hubbard" on Friday and Saturday. Here's a few verses to whet your appetite and get you in the panto mood

Jean Floyd isn’t a Ryer – but she knows it better than most. She has a detailed knowledge of the town's history and a handle on its future - as a director of the local museum and as a webmaster, too. Dee Alsey went to meet the woman who first fell in love with Rye just after marrying husband Barry in 1953

It was a night for the Beeb's glittering stars as Ryers were treated to an advance showing of the first episode of "Mapp and Lucia". The other stars were there too: prime among them our chocolate box streets and well, me, actually, writes the man loved by the director's lens, our Tony McLaughlin

Rye Bay Ensemble & Crew will be performing traditional and contemporary Christmas music - Tudor and Elizabethan songs, excerpts from Messiah and something a tad more modern - while diners enjoy a three-course meal at The Queens Head, Rye