As a resident of the High Street in Rye and a shop-keeper here for over 40 years I would like say a very big THANK YOU to all the owners and staff of the shops that were able to stay open throughout the past four months and looked after us so magnificently.
The Pette Shop (for all the cats, dogs and birds), Adams for morning newspapers (yes – quite a lot of us still read these), Rye Health Food Store, the Rye Deli, the Bargain Box, Sweet Williams the greengrocer, the Rye Butchers, the chemists and pharmacies Boots and Day Lewis, Costcutter at the petrol station and last but by no means least Jempson’s Supermarket.
And, although not a shop as such, I must include our wonderful post men and women and the lovely people at Nationwide providing a proper “service” unlike all the other banks who have deserted us.
In every instance the staff in all these businesses were welcoming, helpful and cheerful. I can’t thank you all enough for helping me and the people of Rye get through this difficult and sometimes frightening time.
If I’ve forgotten anyone please accept my apology and put it down to a senior moment and/or Covid mushy Brain!
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
Many thanks also to Mahdi Spice and Garden Gems at Salts Farm for making deliveries all through the pandemic and to the Salts Farm shop for staying open with rigorous precautions in place. I for one won’t forget the shops that stayed open and adapted so quickly to the new normal while losing all their usual visitor traffic–it shows how much they value their customers in the local community. I’m shopping local more than ever now because our Rye shops really showed their worth when we needed them.
I would fully endorse these comments. To have everything within walking distance was a huge advantage for us all. I would also add the Hope Anchor and the White House for their excellent take away meals, I hope that it worked out well financially for them all as they certainly deserve it.