Chris Hoggart becomes Mayor of Rye this Monday 4 May, with a ceremony at the Town Hall, church service at St Mary’s and the traditional throwing of hot pennies from the council chamber windows. He takes over from Andy Stuart who steps down after two years. From civic ceremonies to championing local initiatives, his time in office has reflected both the traditions of Rye and the evolving needs of local people. It’s a role that needs a strong commitment to the community as both he and Mayoress Niki have shown. Here they reflect on the past two years and look to the future.
As your two-year term as the Mayor of Rye draws to a close, what emotions are uppermost as you look back?
I feel tremendous pride, but also hugely humbled, that I had the honour to serve the town and people of Rye. Niki and I chose to live here 27 years ago as we had found it in the late ‘80s and were lucky enough to spend a few weekends with friends in some of the many hotels and B&Bs. Rye is a special place and my love of it will not diminish after I stop being mayor.
When you first stepped into the role, what did you hope to achieve and how has that evolved over time?
The role of the mayor is to be the leader of the town council. The council’s priorities are set by all members of the council with guidance from the town clerk. When my tenure began it coincided with a lot of change in the town. Our marvellous allotments were being reinstated under town control and the community asset of the leisure centre was under threat of closure. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of a committee of local citizens, the town council and town clerk, the Rye Sports Centre is now something to be proud of in the town.
I have a past supporting Shelter and have raised £500,000 for the charity over the years. I am pleased to have been involved in a small way in the setting up of a Community Land Trust that is planned to drive forward affordable and social housing. Like so many things, this will take time: but I am confident it will happen.
I am also delighted that Rye once again has a youth club. RYZ (Rye Youth Zone) is a fabulous initiative and needs the support of the whole community to continue its good works – adult volunteers to supervise work alongside the youth leaders are needed for every session.
What were the outstanding moments from your time as being mayor which stand out as being particularly memorable or meaningful?
Andy: Officially greeting Queen Camilla to Rye just a few weeks after becoming mayor was a highlight of my first year, and going to Walmer Castle to meet the King was a second-term highlight. But away from this pageantry, so much of being mayor involves meeting and helping support brilliant Ryers and supporting fantastic community initiatives. For example, I was thrilled to open the new Green Waves Festival at Tilling Green Community Centre last August and to unveil the new Tilling Green sign. Niki and I were also proud, and surprised, that we featured on the posters of the bowls club.
Niki: I have enjoyed every aspect of Andy’s two-year term. The consort has no official role but it is essential that I have been able to be on hand to ensure that the mayor is where he needs to be and has all the support needed.
Were there any events, initiatives or community projects that you feel especially proud to have supported?
I have been proud to have helped support Rye Bowls Club, which was in the doldrums but is now “on the up” as the hard-working and enthusiastic committee and team of volunteers have taken over self-management of its green and facilities, grown its membership and are building a great community asset. In addition, the two new community orchards and small plantation on Mason’s Field are fabulous projects that I have been pleased to support.
Rye is known for its strong sense of community. How have you seen that spirit in action over the past two years?
Community spirit in Rye sees a cussed “we won’t be druv” ethos, as has been marked by the successful fight to save the Rye Leisure Centre in the face of a mountain of obstacles; the team spirit of the people behind the bowls club revival; the fierce local pride of the Tilling Green Residents’ Association committee, and the wonderful people who saved the Christmas lights last year by raising funds in a matter of weeks. This just scratches the surface of so many people doing good things for their community.
Have there been individuals or groups who particularly inspired you during your tenure?
There are so many inspiring people in Rye that I cannot list them all here. For starters, there are Dan and Donna Lake, with Graham Ellis, who all work so tirelessly for the people of Tilling Green. Then there is Flora Williams, who has been such a catalyst at the bowls club, as is her son Luke who lends a helping hand at so many community events. Coach Theo at the Rugby Tots is just amazing as his infectious enthusiasm for rugby rubs off on kids from pre-school age and upwards.
And then there is you KT, who photographs and promotes so many events in and around Rye with boundless energy, and Martin who makes videos for the Showcasing Rye! YouTube Channel.
Lastly, but far from least, is my Mayoress, Niki, who in between driving the Rye Community Transport Bus, doing deliveries for Rye Foodbank, being a director of The Music Well CIC and drumming with Ryebellion, has to attend to me, putting on my chain of office, driving me to official events – from Chichester to Canterbury and Brightlingsea in Essex to Dungeness Nature Reserve. And all the time she has to remain stone cold sober whilst I live it up and get all the attention.
For those who may not fully understand it, how would you describe the role of mayor in Rye?
In addition to chairing of the town council and being in charge of its full council meetings there is the “ceremonial” aspect, both at events in Rye and around Kent and East Sussex, at which the mayor represents the town. The mayor is also automatically on the Cinque Ports Federation Committee, which is also ceremonial but which is seeking, under the new Lord Warden, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, whom I helped to install, to be more relevant to the people of the towns.
How important is the ceremonial side of the role compared to the day-to-day community engagement?
The ceremonial aspect of being mayor might appear to be all about dressing up and waving, but it is also about being an ambassador for the town and I am immensely proud of how we punch above our weight compared to the other Cinque Ports towns, with not one or even two but four ceremonial maces (none of the others has more than two) and a quirky mayor-making ceremony with our shower of hot pennies being head and shoulders above the rest. But as I have mentioned before, there are so many people in Rye doing amazing things that it is an enormous privilege to see them at work and to offer support, and this is the most important aspect of the role in my estimation.
Looking back, what do you hope your lasting contribution to Rye will be?
The role is bigger than the person, and I hope that I have taken a calm approach where the watchwords are that there is no “i” in the word team.
Do you feel the extended two-year term allowed you to achieve more than a traditional one-year mayoralty?
Certainly it is good to have two terms as during the first year you are learning the ropes. But it is also good to pass the baton on when you are still happy in the role but aren’t counting the weeks and days left desperate to leave.
What advice would you offer to the incoming mayor?
Andy: My advice is: simply be your own person and don’t be afraid to seek counsel from your fellow councillors who have a wealth of experience for you to draw on.
Niki: I know that Chris and Kathy will do an excellent job as mayor and mayoress. Andy has been diligent with succession planning and has been able to ensure that Chris has experienced some mayoral duties and has been able to meet and get to know other Cinque Port mayors. He is going to be a real asset to the town of Rye.
What have you on your bucket list now that you will have more time to enjoy things?
Andy: Take a few holidays. I would like to visit every cathedral in England, if only to confirm that Salisbury (where I was brought up and went to school) is the most beautiful. And I would like to go to each of the towns that make internationally famous dried fruit pastries – Eccles, Chorley and Banbury for starters! Lastly, I’d like to visit all the Ryes in the USA, Canada, Australia, France and Norway!
Niki: I am planning on visiting 70 countries before I am 70. I have four years to go to six more countries – I have to get my skates on.
I plan to carry on supporting the community in every way I can. I am part of the team at the Rye Arts Festival and we are busily planning this year’s programme in September.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Donna Ellis Smith .