People

The Strand resembled the south of France on Sunday August 31 as Rye Maritime Festival's marvellous nautical display drew hordes of people to a fun-filled day on and off the water. With bands playing in the background, a terrific flyboard display, and all manner of goodies to eat and drink the festival was a great success. Tony McLaughlin reports on Living.

With the site in Love Lane secured, the community garden - which would be available to all Rye residents to come and "enjoy/work in/harvest" - has become a reality, and the first bed has already been marked out. Nigel Jennings reports on the progress made so far.

BBC glass expert Andy McConnell and local MP Amber Rudd formally opened our local charity ARRCC's secondhand furniture warehouse last weekend. Ray Prewer reports on the opening and on the NEWS page Kenneth Bird provides a history of ARRCC and the warehouse site.

Unexplained mysteries may have some light thrown on them by Andy Thomas at the first Rye and District u3a's (University of the Third Age) at the meeting on Monday September 15 at Rye Community Centre at 2pm, and it is a mystery what mysteries he is going to talk about.

Ex-Rye Rotary President Chris Fairman was delighted when his son Russell completed the "End2End" challenge by riding the 865 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End in seven and a half days.

The 10th flower and vegetable show on Saturday in Rye Community Centre was a gardener's delight, the Royal Horticultural Society's accredited judge Richard Sandford praised the high standard of entry that included a 43.5cm long runner bean, and "Man of the Mud" was town councillor Nigel Jennings.On the Living page Tony McLaughlin reports on the show and Nigel Jennings reports on the new Community Garden.

Around one in three children have had a serious accident or a near miss in the morning mayhem of getting ready for school . . . and spilled hot drinks top the list of dangers. Almost 10,000 under-16s were admitted to the Conquest's A&E department last year. As families prepare for the return to school Tony McLaughlin reports in our Living section on some problems highlighted by the Child Accident Prevention Trust and the top five risks.

This year's Maritime Festival will be the 10th and will take place on Sunday August 31 which is later in the year than usual due to exceptionally low tides

The Rye Partnership's rural employability project is proving a great success in supporting local people back into employment. Several recent roadshow/ recruitment events have all proved successful in recruiting staff for local businesses

Chris Coverdale , who refuses to pay Rother Council taxes which he believes are paying for an illegal war, has been given a suspended sentence at Hastings' Magistrates court providing he pays the council tax he owes. But, if Rother cash his cheque, he wants the council arrested. Tony McLaughlin reports on this campaign to "make war history".

Summer's here and on the days when the sun does shine many of us like to head to the beach at Camber. But for parents of young children the lure of a refreshing dip or lying lazily on the beach comes with the risk of the kids wandering off and getting lost among the crowds. So it's reassuring to know that Camber's summertime safety operation is in full swing

Short legs, skirts and uncontrollable laughter were the biggest drawbacks for competitors in Rye's answer to Aintree - but from all the grinning faces at the finish it was clear it simply didn't matter who won