Mayor making seems such a long time ago now, but it is only a month. Since then there has been activity on Rye sports centre and pool, of which there was a separate report in Rye News last week. Dialogue continues with all the stakeholders involved and there is much goodwill and helpfulness from officers at both Rother and East Sussex to make this work for our community. The project managers and our town clerk are doing a good job with all the background work involved in moving this on.
It was a pleasure to support the Bonfire Society’s auction at the Mermaid on Wednesday, May 24, and pick up a delightful picture as a result of being there. It was also great to be invited on Friday, May 26 to the Rye Harbour Sailing Club for Sailability’s boat naming service. The work that Caroline Wylson and her team does to help people enjoy sailing is wonderful. I know how much hard work they put in as volunteers to raise funds and make things happen so as to bring enjoyment to other people’s lives. The following day I threw a mayor’s party for the people, with the Ryebellion Drummers taking myself and our fabulous town crier from the town hall to the Cinque Ports Arms for musical entertainment. The event raised £350 towards a defibrillator outside the Cinque Ports.
The annual duck race for Ferry Road Nursery was back on the calendar this year and it was great to see so many people supporting this important fundraising event on Saturday, June 10 and a big thank you to all those who helped to make it happen. We are so lucky in this town that so many give up so much time as volunteers to help others – your endeavours are recognised and we are all grateful to you. Then we’ve had Sussex Day, most ably organised by our town crier again. We look forward to the national town crier championships in October. And we have welcomed Sophie Judge to Rye Town Council, following her co-option on Monday, June 19. We very much look forward to working with her and I would like to thank the other candidates, Graham Hurley, Dominic Manning and Ray Palmer for putting themselves forward for consideration.
There has been a lot of shipping in and out of Rye Harbour this month. As port controller for our excellent harbour master, James Bateman, I’ve not been able to get to a couple of events – one of which was, with other Cinque Ports mayors, to visit a Royal Navy vessel moored off Eastbourne which I was really looking forward to, but Rye and duty come first. It has meant that I’ve been able to get back into running, so it has kept me fit!
Image Credits: Rye News library .