As you would expect, the closure of Rye’s pool is still uppermost in our minds and I have met with Rother Council this week to discuss it. Freedom Leisure is awaiting news from the government on possible funding arrangements for the leisure industry and we will know more in the new year.
On Monday, December 19 we welcomed Martin Blincow as an honorary freeman of Rye for his work over 40 years helping youngsters and Rye Cricket Club. He has done sterling work for the town and is a most worthy recipient of the freemanship, which is the highest honour the town council can bestow on anyone, and is a way of publicly acknowledging the hard work volunteers put in, and to say thank you to them.
Afterwards, councillors discussed a number of matters at their scheduled full town council meeting, including consideration of budgets for next year.
I held the mayor’s Christmas gathering on Saturday, December 17 in the Buttermarket. Everyone was welcome and there were chocolate gifts distributed by Mrs Christmas to little ones, and families were able to come and sing carols together, ably led by Jonathan Breeds and Rebekah, and on the piano was Graham Slack – three former pupils of Thomas Peacocke School (and another of our freemen, music teacher Lois Benton) who could have had no idea they would still be making music together over three decades later! A massive thank you to Isabel Ryan for a great deal of help with the event. I sponsored the event personally, so there was no cost to the town.
I had a very busy Friday, December 9 – firstly the Christmas event of the Rye Conservation society at the town hall. I then went on to the fantastic pantomime at the creative centre, created by Rye Players, all of whom (from props, costumes, director, actors, and everyone else) did a great job and it just goes to show how, when the community comes together, what a great job they do, well done to all. It was also the Wurlitizer’s Christmas concert that evening and, as one of Rebekah’s charities when she was mayor, she was able to pop in and listen for a while too.
The weather has not been kind to us this last week, and we thank all those in Rye who are offering warm spaces for people to go to.
I’ll be back singing shanties at the Waterworks on Wednesday, December 28 if you want to come along and join in! I am also looking forward to reading at the midnight mass service at St Mary’s on Christmas Eve, and joining the bell ringers who are so busy at this time of year – ringing again at 9am the next day!
It just remains for me to say a big happy Christmas to Rye News readers and wish you all well for 2023 – and a big thank you also to the town hall staff this year who make Rye Town Council happen.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .