Rye & District Day Centre and Rye & District Community Transport have always had close bonds, indeed it was because of the Day Centre that the much-loved community buses came into existence. The two groups have come together once again to save the Rye Dial-a-Ride service.
Back in 1993 the Day Centre, then part of Age Concern, was struggling to bring members into its centre and approached St John Ambulance to see whether it would be possible to use their ambulance for transport. This was not feasible, but from that a group was formed to set up a community transport in Rye.
Following a lot of work, operations started in November 1994. Then part of Rye & District Council for Voluntary Service, the first work was transport for the Age Concern Day Centre in Rye. The transport for the Day Centre has carried on ever since then until, earlier this year, it was no longer possible for the Day Centre to continue operating at the Hub.
In mid-March, Rye & District Community Transport’s Dial-a-Ride bus, which had been in service for seven years, unexpectedly suffered a terminal engine failure. At this point the Rye & District Day Centre charity was being wound up and had funds available. So to our great joy the Trustees offered Rye & District Community Transport funding for a replacement Dial-a-Ride bus which was blessed and dedicated on Wednesday 22 July at the Tilling Green Community Centre where the new Wednesday Lunch Club (started by former Day Centre members led by Shirley Seabrook) meets.
The bus commemorates and celebrates the 43 years (1983 – 2026) that the Day Centre cared for, and supported, older people in our community. It is dedicated to Kate Head and Dave Pellen, who between them ran the Day Centre for nearly 30 years.
“This is a really special bus as it underlines the long connection between us and the Rye & District Day Centre,” said Pat Hughes, operations manager of Rye & District Community Transport. “Losing the Dial-a-Ride bus was dreadful and Rye & District Day Centre’s generosity in giving us its replacement means that they have ensured that our Dial-a-Ride work can continue. As the bus drives around people see just how valued the Day Centre is and thus it carries on.”
The Dial-a-Ride service is supported by the Rye, Winchelsea & District Memorial Hospital, Rye Town Council, Icklesham Parish Council and East Sussex County Council, who are all featured on the sides of the bus. This support makes it possible to run the service which is so valued for those with mobility problems, but costly to operate.
And one of the things it provides transport for (so not just for medical appointments and shopping) is Shirley’s Wednesday Lunch Clubbers.
Image Credits: Pat Hughes .