Sought-after souvenirs

Not three mice but five hundred and thirty-seven so far this year and over seven hundred in total. Erica Britton began making church mice in 2019 as part of the Rye St Mary’s knitting group. She made one hundred in her first year and they sold really well, becoming a sought-after souvenir when people visit Rye.

Alison, verger at St Mary’s, was thrilled the other day when a tourist from Japan bought the whole basketful to take back home. She said that the mice are very popular and have travelled far and wide.

Erica is a Rye treasure. She is so kind and caring and it is no surprise that she was a private nanny for many years. She just loves to knit and enjoys the comradery of the weekly knitting group at the church. She has made mice of all colours and just recently she made green and red ones for Ryebellion drummers to wear on their hats – and even one dragon.

Annie Baker, church warden at East Guldeford and Camber, bought two church mice for her Ryebellion drummers’ hat, in normal mouse colours. “Lots of people complimented me on the two mice on the brim of my hat. When flower arranging in St Mary’s I asked about the lady who makes the mice. Ruth Hurley told me that it was Erica, and about her support for Samara’s Aid Appeal. The charity provides help to people in Syria who have nothing.

I read up on the charity and that gave me the idea to try and sell more, and to have the little red and green mice as little mascots on our hats. I posted on our Ryebellion page and everyone wanted one – some seventy-five mice, a few rats and now Scorcher the dragon have been made. The amazing Erica has single-handedly raised hundreds of pounds, and the orders are still rolling in. As Christmas approaches she is turning her needles to making snowmen. She is a remarkable unsung heroine raising money for a wonderful charity: and when you see Ryebellion hats, look for the little Erica mice.”

Image Credits: Kt bruce , Annie Baker .