We invited each candidate to supply up to 500 words on why they deserve your vote, optionally including a photograph and a link to an election address. We have published their submissions verbatim, no editorial changes have been made. Any errors are those of the candidate.
Rebekah Gilbert, former pupil at Thomas Peacocke & Freda Gardham schools, has been a Rye Town Councillor since 2015. She is an independent councillor not affiliated to any political party.
Rebekah helped to set up the Rye Area Business Forum, bringing a number of guest speakers to free events for local businesses, & lobbying on their behalf on subjects such as parking. She wants to develop the forum this year & continue to work with local businesses.
She has also worked with the hospitality & catering industry starting to set up an apprenticeship scheme for the town in conjunction with East Sussex Colleges. This is something she is very keen to progress & help young people into the workplace.
Administrator for the Rye Festival of the Sea, she has also helped out at the Christmas festivals & helped with the organisation of a major fund-raising event for Ferry Road Nursery’s extension, raising over £11,000 in one evening thanks to the kind generosity of supporters.
This past year she has been privileged to serve as Deputy Mayor & represent Rye at various events around the Cinque Ports & the town itself. She is a Rye bellringer & enjoys working on an allotment. She looks forward, with the town’s support, to continue working for Rye.
Rebekah works as a clinical sports massage practitioner, registered with the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine, & is a professional singer. She has performed as a soloist with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra in Australia, in Venice both in 2018, regularly appears at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, & performed the first Christmas evening broadcast on Classic FM. Rebekah is an Associate Researcher with the Department for Arts & Health at Canterbury Christchurch University, writing several peer-reviewed papers on singing & improving health.
Click here to download the supplied election address.
Image Credits: Rebekah Gilbert .