The Rye Museum based at 3 East Street is holding Third Tuesday Action Days for the next five months, through until March 2025. I went along because I do love a nose into other people’s cupboards and have a particular fascination with artefacts.
Having negotiated the enormous step at the entrance, I came upon a warm, light and busy scene in the museum, which is based in an old bottle factory. There were about 15 of us and, having been greeted, given a cup of coffee (or tea, if preferred), were able to choose a variety of tasks for the benefit of the museum. Whether you were an existing member of the volunteer team or a newbie, everyone was kind and welcoming. We could do Christmas decoration making, clear out a cupboard or sort postcards and pennies. The whole place was a hive of activity and it really was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and do something useful! The food was delicious – home made cakes and scones, malt bread and butter for starters, produced by Jen and David Tomkinson.
Chris McGrath is keen to be involved. “I’m feeling redundant after several years caring for my wife, Susan, who died in September and I’m looking to help local societies. I’ve always been interested in history and Rye has more than its share!
“On my first morning I got involved in making a plan to present the museum’s large collection of hop tokens, where farms paid their pickers with coin shaped tokens, rather than cash. I’ve since met up with a retired hop-grower who gave me a lot of information about the picking and drying process. I’ve asked him to record his memories.
“The other matter discussed was making cut out kits of the fire engine for visiting schoolchildren to assemble. I happen to know someone who designs and makes such kits so I’m in touch with him.
“The museum has a large group of enthusiastic helpers, so it is in safe hands.”
Get out of the rain, come into the warm and enjoy a couple of hours on the third Tuesday of the month at East Street. I shall certainly be going again.
Further Third Tuesday Action Days will take place at East Street from 10:30am to 3:30pm on the third Tuesday of each month on December 17, January 21, February 18 and March 18.
Image Credits: Heather Stevenson , Juliet Duff .