News in brief October 25

Busy weekend at Rye vaccination centre

On Saturday October 19 there was big demand for Covid booster and winter flu jabs at the Rye vaccination centre. The mayor of Rye, Councillor Andy Stuart, dropped in to see the operation and pose with volunteers, Pam and Shirley, who had on the previous day, along with other Rye volunteers, accepted an award at the Rother Voluntary Action Annual General Meeting.

Pam and Shirley were representing the large pool of volunteers who have supported the Rye Vax Centre, its lead Clarity Chemists, and the professional vaccinators since its establishment in spring 2021. Since then, tens of thousands have attended to receive Covid vaccinations.

The operation will continue periodically in Rye for as long as NHS England approves it.

Timings can be found on Rye Vax Facebook @ryepfizer

Antisocial behaviour

Sussex Police received 9 calls about antisocial behaviour in Rye town centre on Thursday October 17. A dispersal order was put in place following complaints near the train station, sports centre and Jempson’s during the afternoon and evening. Officers patrolled the area but no arrests were made.

First floor rescue

Cinque Ports Street in Rye was closed for part of Thursday afternoon October 17 when East Sussex Fire and Rescue came to the help of a person who had become unwell on the first floor of Jempson’s Cafe. A turntable ladder was used to remove the person from a first floor window. Two fire appliances and ambulances were also at the scene.

 Poppy Appeal

Work continues on the Ore Tunnel for another week with the rail line closed to Hastings until Monday November 4. Buses replace trains between Rye and Hastings, with a shuttle service to Ashford on most days between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

In a last minute change, the rail shuttle to and from Ashford has been cancelled this Sunday October 27.

Meanwhile the overnight roadworks on the A259 continue until November 8. The road is closed in places each weekday evening 8pm – 6am between the Skinners and Kettle O’ Fish roundabouts.

Football

Rye Town FC’s game against Westfield was postponed last Saturday. This weekend they take on the Junior Club Tackleway at Rye Rugby Ground. Kick off is at 2pm on Saturday November 2.

River debris

The flood alerts at the weekend were lifted on Monday October 21 after heavy rain and the high autumn tides. Our main picture shows the flooding at Rye Harbour on Saturday and these two pieces of wood were pulled from the Rother on Friday afternoon  by Rye Harbour Master James Bateman and his team.

You can read more about what else was washed up at the weekend at Broomhill Sands here.

What’s on this weekend in Rye?

A musical about the Post Office scandal on Saturday and the Conker Fight on Sunday.

A new musical about the Horizon Post Office scandal Make Good: The Post Office Scandal is being performed at Rye Community Centre for one night only on Saturday October 26.

In what has been described as one of the most serious miscarriages of justice ever in this country, over 900 sub-postmasters were accused of stealing after the computer system used by the Post Office recorded incorrect information. Over a 20-year period, many were prosecuted, jailed, lost their business, their homes, their health and even their lives. As the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office and the recent Post Office enquiry have revealed, the full story is finally emerging.

The play, written by Jeanie O’Hare with music and lyrics by Jim Fortune, is touring the country and is based on interviews with sub-postmasters wrongly accused of fraud. It tells of the damage done to the lives of the sub-postmasters and their families and communities as they battled against the intransigence of the organisation who could not accept (or admit) that their computer system was faulty.

One sub-postmaster described the play as full of feeling. ” And that’s what we need to portray to people now, so that they can feel and understand what we felt, all the heartache that we went through. The songs bring so much to the story, they’re heartfelt and there’s humour in it too. It’s funny, it made me smile as well as being touching.”

Tickets are available at Grammar School Records or geoff@backtrackrye.com or 01797 222752.

The Conker Fight! in aid of cancer charities takes place this Sunday October 27 at the Cinque Ports. It’s a suggested £5 donation to enter, conkers and laces supplied.

More details in this Rye News story.

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Image Credits: Heidi Foster , Anthony Kimber , Sussex Police , Andy Bantock , Boot CC , Chris Lawson , Rawpixel CC , James Bateman .