Mayoral update

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The Cinque Ports public house has been collecting for a defibrillator on the side of the building. This was initiated after a gentleman sadly collapsed on the road crossing outside on Boxing Day 2022. Staff at the pub could not access the defibrillator at the George due to the building work, and didn’t know that there was one at the train station, but did their level best to help while the ambulance arrived.

Within two weeks they had started fundraising, and on my Mayor Making in 2023 I encouraged those present to make a donation. Just by putting a collecting jar on the counter they collected enough in less than a year to purchase the machine and the box. I was happy to further help and support them in this endeavour and both are now firmly attached to the wall. Thanks to Rye DIY for providing the padlock. Together we are in the process of registering this, so that it can be used.

The locals at the pub have been amazing in collecting the quite considerable sum needed for this. And they will need to have a whip round each year to pay for the annual maintenance of the machine. None of us know what happened to the gentlemen on Boxing Day 2022. We hope the defibrillator never needs to be used, but if it does, it may save a life. We are also extremely grateful to Tracy and her colleagues at Rother Responders who have helped guide us through the purchase, and who will give training to the staff there. Thanks to a great team effort. On Monday, February 5 together with landlords Ruth and Jeremy Sperring, plus some of the regulars, we unveiled the box.

We had a full council meeting on Monday, January 29. This has already been reported in Rye News, and I know the subject of allotments will come back to the table to be further discussed in the near future. I was pleased that the public came along to speak on what is a very important matter for many in this town, and to listen to their ideas and their concerns. On another agenda item, we received an excellent presentation from both the Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat and from Rye Bay Football Club, and were able to help both with grants to further their fundraising. I wish them both success in their endeavours.

I was really pleased to see a number of residents again at this latest council meeting. I was so grateful to all those who came along to listen to the mayor-elect selection debate last December whoever they favoured, because it shows to us all in the chamber that the residents of Rye really care about the decisions we make. So please keep coming and please keep scrutinising what we do because we are there for you, not us. And of course, in a couple of year’s time, there will be elections for the town council and I very much hope people will put their names forward to get involved as a town councillor.

It seems to have taken an age to get the Christmas lights down this year. Whenever I’ve been free to do this, the weather has been against our team, or enough volunteers haven’t been free to help. Hopefully by the time you read this they should all be down and packed away from use again this December. I’d like to say a massive thank you to Oliver, Tim, Nick and all the others who have helped make the town look fabulous and boost us all at this dark time of the year. Also, a big shoutout for all those who supplied electricity to the lights. Without you all none of this would have happened.

Image Credits: Rebekah Gilbert .

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