No hair mayor?

After a successful quiz night at the Queens Head on Saturday, November 20 the mayor of Rye, Rebekah Gilbert, is hosting her next and most daring charity fundraiser on Saturday, December 4. She has offered to shave off her hair for her two charities, but many people have sponsored her not to. A decision on which outcome will win will be taken on the night.

If you’d like to pledge a sum of money for SAVE or SHAVE, send an email to info@vivawellbeing.com with the details.  She will make the announcement once all pledges are in on the evening of December 4.

Rebekah adds: “I’m really up for this, but many Rye residents want the barnet to stay!  I haven’t had my hair cut for the whole time I’ve been mayor so it’s the maximum length, and if the majority vote is for save then I won’t get it so much as trimmed until my term of office comes to an end next may.”

There are two mayoral charities, the first is for free music lessons with the Rye Wurlitzer Academy, which gives young people lots of self-confidence to stand up on stage and present themselves, to work with others in the team, to travel, and have great opportunities that music brings.

The other is the Rye Old Scholars Association Generation X fund – helping under 35s who have been to Thomas Peacocke / Rye College to start up a new business; they may need equipment such as chef’s knives, a lawn mower, or a laptop to help them start a new business and it will be great to help encourage entrepreneurship. In addition, it is hoped that some of the older scholars will volunteer as mentors to help younger ones get started in their enterprise.”

Rebekah has also worked with local photographer Susie Benn and designer Kirsty Doherty to create the Rye calendar for next year, available in Adams, the town hall and heritage centre.

Next year Rebekah will be hosting a black-tie dinner at the Mermaid on March 26 and a sing-a-long Handel’s Messiah in St Mary’s church for anyone to take part in or listen to, on April 9.

Image Credits: Susan Benn , HERStory .