Passionate about public service

Ahead of this week’s mayor making, Col Everett listened in as Rye’s last two mayors – Andi Rivett (AR) and Rebekah Gilbert (RG) – talked about the highlights and challenges of their tenures in office. She found them completely charming and absolutely committed to Rye and hopes you agree.

Highlights

RG: So Andi, as you come to the end of your two-year tenure as mayor of Rye, what have been the highlights for you?

AR: Well, the obvious one was the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. This was the greatest privilege of my life and something I shall never forget. As many of my fellow Cinque Port mayoral friends said, we were just in the right place at the right time in order to represent our towns. And to be made Coronation Barons of the Cinque Ports (2023) was simply exceptional. The day was amazing.

But, as great as national pomp and ceremony are, there were some equally great highlights in our wonderful town. A big part of being a councillor, not necessarily mayor, is representing townsfolk at events such as St George’s Day. We saw everyone coming together to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee, which was lovely; Hythe’s Venetian fete was another highlight, albeit in the pouring rain; being a major sponsor of the new International town crier’s competition that came to Rye last year; but actually what I’ve loved the most is seeing our community at its best when it rallies behind a good cause, like the momentum we got together to save the swimming pool. Also, the mourning of the late Queen, and the respect the town gave such a wonderful woman whose whole life was devoted to service. How about you?

RG: Well, as you, my tenure was over the worst time of Covid, it wasn’t a full term as I was the first mayor of Rye to be elected by Zoom, but in late August rather than the usual early May because of the pandemic. I think the best things were working with Dr Anthony Kimber on establishing a hub in Rye for Ukrainians fleeing war in their country, and also lobbying to get the vaccine centre in Rye, when townsfolk were struggling to get to Etchingham. Anthony is such an asset to Rye and we are lucky to have him given all the work he does. Another lovely thing was to record two videos for Remembrance Day, when Jonathan Breeds sang with us, and also VJ Day. I think Remembrance Day is the most important day of the civic year, and one that you attend come hell or high water to pay respects for all the suffering past souls went through so that we have the safe and wonderful town and country that we do today.

Frustrations

AR: And what did you find frustrating about your time in office?

RG: Not being able to get on with the things I felt passionate about, such as getting some social housing in Rye for local people – proper, old fashioned social housing that was accessible to those who needed it, not the so-called affordable housing that isn’t affordable to most. And not being able to raise more for my charities – we did get £13,500 in just nine months when people were allowed out after lockdown, but it’s a shame we couldn’t have done more to help youngsters. How about you?

AR: As we are both self-employed, we know if you want something done you just get on with it, but sometimes the pace of local government is slow, not us – Richard the town clerk does a great job, but sometimes other sectors seem slow to respond.

Achievements

RG: So, what do you think will be your legacy from your time in office, what do you feel you’ve achieved for Rye?

AR: For me, being approachable as a mayor by anyone in the community has been something I wanted to make happen. I know I’ve been a bit unorthodox by wearing the mayoral chain in one or two watering holes in Rye, but the result has been great – people come up to you and ask about things that are important to them, people who would not normally be comfortable asking an ‘official’, but making the mayoralty approachable has been a big part of my time. I love listening to – and trying to help – residents in the town. If I can’t solve something then we usually know who to pass it on to who can help. Tourists too have loved it and I think it says a lot when people go home and say ‘what a great place Rye is, we even got to speak with the mayor!’

Also being a hands-on mayor. I know I’m not great at public speaking, but I have helped put up the Christmas lights several years now and been of service around the town with some small repair jobs that I could assist with.

A really good thing is that, since the mayor elect selection at the end of last year, more people have been coming to the council chamber to hear what we say as councillors and take part in the debate. This is great for local democracy and I hope it continues.

We have some big issues to think about soon; providing public loos, grounds maintenance and so forth, so whilst there will be difficult decisions to make about how best to spend the public purse, I know there are councillors who will be supportive and look to find the best solutions for the town. How about you?

RG: Well, we didn’t get out much in lockdown, but I had three aims – the get social housing started – the ball is rolling but it ain’t quick; to make some money for local kids; and to kick start a revival with the Cinque Ports – we are getting there with a good solicitor of the Confederation who is working hard for us, a new website is nearly ready, and the 14 Cinque Port towns are working closer together to promote our areas and be a strong, collective voice for rural/coastal communities.

We’ve also worked together on the Montreuil-sur-Mer project. When we were approached to consider twinning with this delightful French town, very akin to Rye, I don’t think Rye was ready for formal twinning, but we now have three pilot projects on the go: our college is visiting there this May and their students are coming to Rye in June. Together by doing a bit of music for free, we’ve raised £1,207 to help our youngsters get to experience another culture and hopefully make new friends. We will also be going as a small cohort in September to help them celebrate 80 years since liberation in the second world war. And the Mermaid Inn is running a project where staff will do swaps with their French counterparts to learn new skills and experiences. None of this has cost the public purse a penny and the outcome should be a real plus for all those involved.

I also think working as a team has been a great help to one another and means we’ve got more done. I think we would both agree that the role of mayor is very much about putting others first, supporting people, and promoting the town. It’s certainly not me, me, me, but them, them, them.

Likes

RG: What have you liked during your time as mayor?

AR: As you know, as a shipwright you are messy most of the time, so getting dressed up is always nice. I’ve been proud to wear ‘the bling’ and the robe, and was jolly glad of it when we went to Margate in early January for the Blessing of the Sea – I suspect wearing that I was much warmer than you were!

We’ve got to meet some great people, people you would never have had an opportunity to speak with if you were not mayor, which has been fantastic. The other Cinque Port mayors were great fun to get to know and, as coronation barons, my very last event will be a first anniversary of the great coronation day dinner over in Faversham, something I think we will keep going as a tradition, because it’s great to hear what they’ve been up to and enjoy their humorous company. Were there any plus points for you during deepest, darkest lockdown?

RG: For sure. As you know, unlike you, I’m not an extrovert and much prefer being in the kitchen at parties, as the saying goes, because you are helping and working for others. My like has, like you, been the people you met on the way, but especially the backroom negotiations that are needed to get projects moving. I really enjoy start-ups, I seem to have done it all my life, and being able to carry on things, like France and the swimming pool are so rewarding because of the impact they have on others.

Towards the end of my time I was exhausted because I felt it was a huge responsibility in such unknown times, but having been in Rye since December 1978 I do care about it enormously.

AR: I agree, whilst we’ve had fun and visited some great places together, it always has to be about doing the right thing for others. But the added bonus is that we’ve both had Sophie as our mayoral mascot. Such a great little girl, she has been loved by absolutely everyone who met her and been a good working cocker spaniel, a great ice breaker, introducer and puts people at ease. Without her it wouldn’t have been such fun.

Next?

RG: So what’s next for you after May 2024?

AR: Definitely a rest, and like you, the chance to carry on some of the things we started like France. But also to carry on working with local people, and I’m so grateful for support they’ve given us. And it would be great if at the next town elections there were enough candidates for a vote, so I would encourage more people to stand as a town councillor and be a part of the decision making process. As more matters get devolved to the town from the district, there will be more to think about and get involved with.

Certainly, being chairman of the council needed the support of other councillors and I have enjoyed this teamwork, so I hope that continues. I hope we can continue on projects such as the Landgate, the pool and grounds maintenance.

RG: And what would be your message to the next mayor?

AR: The same thing you said to me: it all goes so quickly, make the most of every day.

Image Credits: Hythe Town Council , Rebekah Gilbert .