Rye’s Christmas lights are up and look terrific – something that seemed impossible just over a month ago. Thanks to the hard work of a small team of volunteers almost £30,000 was quickly raised to pay for new lights and their installation – far exceeding the original £20,000 target.
Hanging the lights began on Monday 24 November and on Wednesday this week some of the volunteers gathered on the High Street to pay tribute to a massive community effort.
They wanted to make a special point of thanking two Ryers who kicked off the fundraising appeal with sizeable donations – Anne Phillips and Trish Bainbridge.
“We couldn’t have Rye without the lights,” said Trish. “When I heard they wouldn’t be happening I immediately got my chequebook out. Everyone has been so generous and it has all happened so quickly.”
There were cheers too for Anne Phillips, who was unable to join the celebration. At home she also raised a glass to the volunteers and sent this message. “The fact that Rye has Christmas lights is due entirely to the spirit and determination of the people of this town who have every right to feel very proud of their efforts. Rye is particularly magical at Christmas and this enables everyone to enjoy the sparkle.”
Mayor Andy Stuart toasted the volunteers and businesses who supported the appeal, as well as the people who donated. “It looks absolutely joyous,” he said. “It’s amazing what has achieved by the people of Rye.”
The scale of the fundraising success became clear with the breakdown of how the money came together – and the huge number of local businesses, residents and visitors who contributed.
£11,150 came into the appeal’s CrowdFunder online site. £12,000 was paid directly to Rye Town Council, with the council itself also contributing £4000. Over £2000 came in through cash and cheques.
More than 130 individuals donated, as did over 60 businesses. The full list is below. Click on this video for the lights along Rye High Street.
Beating the original target means money will be set aside for next year’s lights. Training volunteers to hang the lights safety is also planned. You can contact the team to get involved in 2026 at ryechristmaslights@gmail.com
Businesses who supported the campaign are being encouraged to display a poster which can be collected from Hunter Jones and Simply Rye on Market Road and Merchant & Mills House on Lion Street.
Previous plans to install the lights fell through because of changes at the charity running the Rye Christmas Festival, as well as funding and safety concerns.
The new lights use fewer sockets and replace the strings of decorations used for the past ten years. Businesses in the town who can make use of the old lights should email sophie.christmasinrye@gmail.
The winner of the Mayor’s Choice in the Christmas Window Competition will be announced at 8pm on Friday 28 November. It will take place during the Rye Chamber event in St Mary’s as part of the Christmas Tree Festival.
The public vote to choose the best window, organised by Rye News and Rye Chamber, runs until Monday 8 December. To vote for your favourite visit @newsrye on Instagram.
Huge thanks to everyone who has helped make Christmas in Rye look extra special this year.
Rye Christmas Lights Team
Fran and Vickie Huxley – Simply Rye
Michael Jones – Merchant & Mills
Doireann McMahon – local resident
Mikey Beatt – Hunter Jones
Sally Abel – local resident
Wendy Summers – Rye Bay Ebikes
Brenda Baker – local resident
Roy Abel – local resident
Rye Town Council
Mayor Andy Stuart, Councillor Sophie Thorpe, clerks Richard Farhall and Jessica Neame
Suppliers
We Hang Christmas Lights – ‘Mike the Light’
TG Electrical – Terry Wood
Notable Private Donors
Anne Philips and Trish Bainbridge
The appeal team apologise for anyone missing from the lists of business and private donors. If you would like to be added, do get in touch.
Business Donations
Adams
A4 Architecture
Apothecary Coffee House
Bargain Box
Britcher and Rivers
Byzantium Jewellery
Cafe des Fleurs
Camber Holiday Cottages
Charles Palmer Vineyards
Cobbles Tea Room
Colette
Craft Magic
Dotdotdot Comics
Duck and Dog
Eddie Franks
Ethel Loves Me
Flackley Ash Hotel
Flowers in Rye
Golden Fleece
Ground Up Coffee
Handmade Rugs
Haydens in Rye
Herald and Heart Hatters
Heringtons Solicitors
Hunter Jones
Kino
Lola and Sidney
McCully and Crane
Merchant & Mills
Marino’s Fish Bar
Morfeys
Mundus
My Olde Sweet Etecera
Old Bell
Paws ‘n’ Claws
Plaristo of Rye
Puckhaber
Reloved of Rye
Rye Bay E-bikes
Rye Chocolates
Rye Conservation Society
Rye Golf Club
Rye Health Store
Rye Hire
Rye Players
Rye Sanctuary Skin Care
Savia
Simply Rye
Simon the Pieman
Soap and Salvation
Sussex Greenways
The Fig
The George
The Green House
The Kind Table
The Mermaid Inn
The Paper Place
The Queens Head
The Salon
The Standard
The Whitehouse
Treasures of Rye
Warner Gray Estate Agent
WJ Bennett
Yoga Creative
Ypres Castle Inn
Private donations
Alex Ball
Amanda Hoffman
Angela and Vicki
Angela Lloyd
Anita Bevan
Anita Hollands
Anna Carver
Anthony
Bill andAlan
Caren Draper
Carol Kurrein
Cassie Wall
Chantal Butcher
Charlotte Axbey
Charlotte Reeve
Chris McGrath
Chrissie and Matt Nicholson
Col and Willy Everett
D. Chenery
David Johnston
Debbie Chalet
Dena Smith Ellis
Denise Nicholls
Di Moore
Doireann McMahon
Dominic Manning
Elizabeth Chuck
Emily Barron
Emma Hopkins
Ferry Road House
Fran Tyman
Gavin Devine
Gavin Divine
Georgia and Simon Benn
Georgina Woods
Gilly and Jonathan Harding
Gill and Brian Elliott
Helen and John Simonson
Helen Pierce
Hilary Morfitt
Holly Lovett
Hope Nothhelfer
Ian Bremner
Jackie and Vic Lee
Jackie Hansell
Jake and Meghan
Jane Apperly
Jane Colvin
Jola H
JoJo Hancock
John Bullock
Julie and Jon Turner
Julie Turner
Kas
Kathryn Allam
Laura and Reg
Leanne Gorin
Lee Bamsey
Lilly Mitchell
Linda
Lisa Kerry
Louise Owen
Lucy and Paul Jackson
Lucy Wiggins
Lynne Kelly
M C Erith
Madelene and Douglas Hyde
Madelene Hyde
Mark and Molly Leggo
Mark Prentice
Mark Royle
Martin Chalet
Megan Robinson
Melanie Cohen
Michele Elliott
Michael Eve
Michael Jones and Graham Hand
Moira Polley
Mr Oakley
Neven and Glenn Wassall
Niki and Andy Stuart
Owen Thompson
Paul Cowan
Paul and Rosemary Cowan
Pete Thomson
Peter Connock
Phil Gooch
Philip Newton
Rhona Spence
Rob and Claudia
Robin and Margo
Roy Abel
Ruth Gibson
Sally Bayly Duvoisin
Scott Brotherton
Sharon Devold
Sharon Manktelow
Simon and Lorraine
Simon Crumpler
Simon McGrath
Sue Crammond and Paul Tutton
Susan Crammond
Violet and Darren
Virginia Filmer-Sankey
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Sally Abel .
Phew!
Huge congratulations and thanks to everyone involved – Rye looks wonderful and can feel very proud of what has been achieved. This town is terrific at pulling the stops out.
Well done Rye and its Ryers! A brilliant team effort and a wonderful achievement for everyone who visits and who lives there.
Seeing the lights in Rye on Tuesday we both thought what an amazing show, now even more amazing to know of the huge community effort involved. Well done Rye and Ryder’s.
I would like to thank everyone for all their support and positivity regarding the lights. The whole community came together, both Rye Town Council, businesses and residents and visitors.
The fundraising Crowdfunder is still open and this will go towards next years efforts.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/6Wk04GAn?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink
The economic value created by the unpaid community and charitable efforts of Rye never fails to astound me. It’s community efforts like this that are keeping the UK going. Well done Rye. You make us all proud to be British.
The Christmas lights are looking lovely and the warm white is a good choice..many people will gain much pleasure seeing them .BUT why haven’t the lights gone up the whole of Lion street both sides as they have done in the past.. including the George side in Lion street ?
It makes Lion Street feel unfinished .
It’s wonderful to see the John Ryan Christmas nativity .. seeing it since it first was shown 1996 …