The Tudor room of the Mermaid was the venue for a party on Friday, February 7 to celebrate ten years of Rye News. Gathered together were past and present editors, sub-editors, contributors, photographers, board members, donors and supporters, along with two of the visionary founders, Kenneth Bird and Dennis Leeds-George. Also in attendance was Rye and Hastings MP, Helena Dollimore and Rye mayor, Andy Stuart.
Acting as MC was Rye town crier, Paul Goring, who announced each part of the proceedings (using his inside voice!) including a toast and speeches by Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore, Rye mayor Andy Stuart and Rye News editor, James Stewart.
Helena Dollimore spoke of the importance of the paper at this time particularly with cutbacks in local reporting in the BBC and local papers across East Sussex. “Local journalism can take on issues, such as the water outages last year, and shine a spotlight on them that can be picked up at national level. It holds us to account and gives a sense of community and pride. There are so many people with stories and experiences to share.”
The MP also thanked the Rye News volunteers during a speech in the House of Commons this week.
Speaking during business questions on Thursday February 13, Helena Dollimore told MPs about the paper’s tenth anniversary along with the Hastings Independent Press which is also celebrating ten years. “They do a huge job, updating the community on what is going on and holding people such as myself to account.” The paper was also praised by the Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell. “I join my hon. Friend in thanking Rye News and the Hastings Independent Press, on the occasion of their 10th anniversary, for all the amazing work they do.”
At the event at The Mermaid, Mayor Andy Stuart thanked the founders, editors, subs and contributors as well as the donors and said how important Rye News was to the community.
This was echoed by James Stewart in his speech thanking all involved. “The town has big stuff that we can get our teeth into and fantastic people – so interesting – and it is hugely gossipy! Rye News is also pretty unique as not many towns in the UK have a volunteer run local paper.” The paper’s success was, he said, down to all who were at the event, including Kenneth Bird and Dennis Leeds-George who “put their heart and soul into setting it up”.
He thanked the past editors: Tony and Jane Nunn, Charlie Harkness, John Minter, Chris Lawson, Nick Forman, and those who had been involved from the early days – Christopher Strangeways, Heidi Foster, Gill Roder, Seana Lanigan and Kt Bruce. He expressed his gratitude to those in the team who work hard behind the scenes: Nastasha Robinson, who produces the paper’s social media (the songs accompanying the Instagram pictures are inspired!); the chairman Peter Connock and Christopher Strangeways, comments moderator. The important contributions from donors without which the paper could not continue were recognised by the editor as was the importance of the paper’s partnership with the Rye Arts Festival, Cinque Ports Radio, the Rye Jazz Festival, the Bonfire Society, the Chamber of Commerce and Adams (for printing a selection of article in the Fixtures).
Fixed up around the room were large scale copies of the top five most read articles since the start, number one being the obituary of the artist Joan de Bethel with 59,379 views! All good talking points for the guests.
On display throughout the evening was a slideshow of photographs used in the paper over the years (put together by me, an enjoyable job to do!). It was a good way to see just how many issues and events the paper has covered. People, who stopped to watch, commented on the quality of the pictures and on the many interesting stories.
After the speeches and photographs, a delicious and generous selection of canapes, scotch eggs, sausage rolls and sandwiches were served, supplied by the wonderful Mermaid staff.
It was a very positive and happy evening, and the team went away feeling extremely proud to have been or to be involved with the paper. Here’s to many more years.
Rye News would like to thank Martin and Judith Blincow for the use of the Mermaid for the party.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Martin Bruce , Juliet Duff .
How wonderful to celebrate 10 years in this way. Well done Rye news for all you do for Rye and the community and not forgetting the Mermaid for providing what looks like a lovely party too!