It’s incredible to think Rye Heritage Centre is just five years old given how vital it has become to the town’s visitors in such a short time. Manager Simon Parsons looks back at what’s been achieved and looks ahead to the future – which also includes a new paid role.
Rye Heritage Centre CIO, a registered charity, was formed in February 2020 to ensure the Rye town model stayed on public view and to operate the Heritage Centre at Strand Quay following closure by Rye Town Council. We have just hit our five year mark (hooray!) and despite a slow start due to the pandemic, we have made great progress in improving both the sound and light show and the Heritage offering at the centre. Although we’ve received a few small grants over that time we are independently funded and have built up our financial security considerably from our humble beginnings of just £2000 in the bank from a generous donation! We’ve still some way to go to attain our goals financially so we won’t be resting on our laurels.
We have achieved so much in the last few years thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteer team and our trustees – you might say I’ve even had a hand in our success!
Following catastrophic failure of the electronic systems running the sound and light show we renewed that and the lighting with up-to-date energy saving equipment; we’ve designed, developed and delivered our smuggler’s attic; we’ve created a dedicated space for the popular old pier arcade machines; refreshed many of our permanent displays; put on several important temporary exhibitions; organised some community-wide free events and designed, developed and delivered a new sound and light show telling the story of Rye’s experience of the world war two…and lots more.
The trustees of the charity now wish to employ a part-time assistant to the manager of the centre to deal with administration work and assist in archiving, research and development of the centre content. We aim to provide a pleasant and co-operative working environment, to have an excellent working relationship with the post-holder and to be a responsible employer.
The post is available initially on a temporary contract for 6 months for 15 hours a week and the successful candidate will be expected to work some weekends and public holidays.
An application pack giving further details of the job is available by emailing rhcmanager@icloud.com, the closing date for applications is 5.00pm March 13 2025, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed the following week and applicants should be available to take up post from April 1 2025. Packs will be available from this Friday afternoon.
You can learn more about what we do by visiting us, coming to talk to us at the Rye annual town meeting on March 6 or by visiting our website at www.ryeheritage.co.uk
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Simon Parsons .