Rye News

Twin authorities at county and district level have reduced Rye to a sad state of decline says author John Howlett. It is time, he believes, to merge these councils and give back to Rye the hands-on autonomy it once had

The efforts of those who took part in a charity walk in May were marked at an awards lunch on Monday and local charities were delighted to benefit

At an awards lunch for charity walkers Kenneth Bird was invited to give the Rotarians present a brief talk about the progress of Rye News

Students at Rye Studio School have been heavily involved backstage in preparing for Rye Arts Festival. Their own performance kicks off with a parade. Harley Gentry, a student at the school, has been watching the preparations

In an emotional journey to the World War 1 battlefields of Belgium, a party led by the president of Rye's Royal British Legion, paid its respects - 100 years since since the start of the conflict

Staff at Edinburgh Woollen Mill in the High Street are joining others in many different places on 26 September to fund-raise for cancer carer Macmillan as part of the biggest coffee morning in the world.

Rye Harbour features an art exhibition, a caravan full of crafts and some rocking hot potatoes this weekend as the Arts Festival kicks off

Rye pre-school playgroup holds its annual duck race on Saturday September 20th at noon by Ferry Road bridge. You'd be quackers to miss it!

Winchelsea's infamous public toilets are "going down the pan" through Rother District Council's neglect say residents. Structural damage caused by trees has led to the closure of most of the facilities. But Rother has no plans to fell the trees nor to repair the building, which residents say is becoming an unacceptable eyesore

Icklesham Casuals 1st team got off to a disappointing start to the season on Saturday with a 3-1 home loss to Mountfield United.

High jinks, high society and hilarity at the annual dinner of the Friends of Tilling, led by Gyles Brandreth at the Mermaid - who will reappear shortly at the Rye Arts Festival on September 21, but in the Milligan Theatre this time... and after lunch.

Boxing is coming home as Rye Town Amateur Boxing club host their second home show and the Southern Counties Senior Novice Championship finals on the same day over twelve hours. If you are boxing fan do not miss either show at Rye Sports Centre on Saturday October 4.

With players missing due to cricket, weddings and work, manager Chip Winton called upon Iden veteran Alec Tiltman to be the only sub. Between them Alec and Chip clock up a staggering 105 years as Iden Football Club played Peche Hill Select

The Queens Head is a popular venue for music and events - with two during the Rye Arts Festival. But its future is under threat as a planning application goes in, and your days of getting Brahms and Liszt listening to a ukele band may be dwindling. History may be the saving factor though. Charlie Harkness reports.

Rye Medical Centre's appeal, supported by nearly 1,000 residents, against the NHS decision that Peasmarsh cannot have a weekly GP surgery, has not been heard because the NHS does not know how to deal with it. In the meantime, possible bus cuts make a local surgery even more vital. Gill Clamp reports

After a long hard season of highs and lows, Rye Cricket Club played their final games, with the 1st and 3rd XIs losing, but the 2nd XI winning emphatically. Martin Blincow sums up

Over 230 people turned up at St Mary's Centre for the popular recycle swap shop after the summer break writes Mike Pepler, and nearly 70 per cent was taken away again - leaving around 20 per cent for sale in charity shops, 8 per cent to be recycled and only 5 per cent going to landfill.

The first performance of AP Waxkirsh's new one-man play "Spite and Smut and Tales and Lies" will take place at the historic 17th century thatched Barn Theatre, Smallhythe on Saturday September 20th at 7.00pm in the grounds of the early 16th century Smallhythe Place, home of renowned Victorian actress Ellen Terry - now owned by the National Trust. Lord Hervey (pictured) was Vice-Chamberlain at the Court of King George II and Queen Caroline.

Rye Arts Festival opens this Friday for two hectic weeks from Friday September 12th to Sunday September 28th with a free concert at the Community Centre, and some events are already sold out - or the best seats have gone. But many are still available either online from www.ryeartsfestival.co.uk or the Phillips & Stubbs' box office in Cinque Ports Street, open 9.30am to 1pm Monday - Saturday. Charlie Harkness reports on the full programme and there are further reports on our Culture page

As Scotland stands poised to vote for or against independence, a young author talks at Rye Arts Festival about Robert the Bruce, a historic figure in the fight for nationhood.