As part of our celebration of ten years of Rye News we take a look back at the first editions to see what were some of the news stories of the first year and what has or has not changed over the years.
The paper began publishing articles in February 2014, and produced around 50 in the first four months, testing and trying out the online system. Over time the number increased and today we publish around 25 a week.
On April 30 2014, Kenneth Bird (one of the founders along with Margaret Bird, Dennis Leeds-George and John Izod) announced that the paper had gone live, inviting readers and others to become involved and introducing the volunteer team.
From the start, the paper has reported on all aspects of life in and around Rye, filling a gap left by the decline in local newspapers and keeping people informed on what is going on with local news and sport, the arts and culture, businesses and community events. In early editions, writers and readers were given the opportunity to share opinions on local issues such as cuts to local bus services, the poor performance of Southern Rail, the futures of Tilling Green Community Centre and the hospital, and parking and traffic issues.
Have things changed?
At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that, in some areas at least, that not much has changed. The scourge of potholes has long been a source of frustration and an early letter to the opinion page in 2014 bemoaned the state of Deadmans Lane, which continued to cause drivers anguish until it was resurfaced last year.
Planning and development were covered in early editions with articles on the neighbourhood plan and suggested sites for housing. Rye News has kept an eye on the progress, or lack of it, of possible sites on Ferry Road, New Winchelsea Road, Tilling Green and Rock Channel over the course of the ten years.
In the February 10 2014 edition, flooding hit the headlines with damage to the sailing clubhouse and to Lime Kiln café and visitor centre at the nature reserve in December 2013. In the same issue Anthony Kimber’s article Is Rye at risk of flooding? outlined how, despite a very high tidal surge in December 2013 raising water levels, Rye’s flood defences mitigated the risks. Throughout the years Rye News has covered news stories about flooding in Tilling Green, the Strand and the surrounding marsh, has written about the extending and improving tidal defences, and how flood risk concerns affect planning decisions. (see Anthony Kimber’s most recent update).
In Neale East’s article Mr Railman a damp squib about the 2013 Rye Bonfire, he thanked Rother District Council for keeping the toilets at the bonfire site open for the evening. Today, with the toilets being offered by Rother to lease as small commercial units with limited toilet facilities, it remains to be seen what the thousands of visitors to this year’s bonfire will do if the number of toilets is reduced or they are out of action.
The uncertain future of the Landgate was a hot topic in October 2014 – the neglect of the ancient monument due to lack of funding continues to this day.
Many positive initiatives covered in early issues continue
The building of the much-loved Kino cinema, ten years old this year, was covered in early editions with Pip Al-Khafaji reporting on progress on March 20 2014.
In March 2014, Dan Lake reported on the positive difference the Tilling Green Residents’ Association was making on the local community. It was organising events and a summer fete, had set up activities for children and young people, and worked with other organisations to combat anti-social behaviour. After a period of inactivity, the TGRA is today planning many events and organising opportunities for people to get involved in their community (see the article in this issue on community orchard planting Branching out).
In its first year Rye News reported on the work of environmental groups including the Rother Environmental Group (REG) and Transition Rye with articles arguing for more action to tackle climate change and protect the environment. The vision of those who began the community garden is reported in a September 2014 article Garden for all takes shape and a visit today shows how far the garden has developed since then and what a gift to the community this vision has created.
Festivals, fetes, filming, culture and community
In June 2014 the BBC came to Rye to film the series Mapp and Lucia, EF Benson’s novel set in Tilling, recognisably based on Rye, using Lamb House and other locations around the town. Tim Redfern spoke to the producers about the experience of shooting entirely on location in his June 20 2014 article Rye stars in television jewel.
Regular and annual events that were covered in the first year of the paper continue to be reported on to this day: the swap shop; the summer garden parties of the Conservation Society and the Rye Museum; the Rye Memorial Hospital summer fete; the jazz, maritime and arts festivals; the Hastings International Piano competition; exhibitions at the Rye Art Gallery, the Rye Society of Artists and Tuesday Painters club; and the RNLI open days at Rye Harbour, among many others.
The most read articles of the last ten years
59,379 views: Joan de Bethel 1923 -2017 – a Rye artist is remembered by her daughter, Caroline Crabtree (October 1 2017)
39,785 views: Cryptic quiz by Dennis Leeds-George (April 9 2020)
28,325 views: Transparent planning decisions by John Minter (October 6 2016)
24,155 views: Delivering at work and for the RNLI by Kt Bruce (May 15 2019)
15,387 views: Aldi supermarket plan confirmed by David Worwood (November 30 2023)
15,046 views: Network Rail to close crossings? by Kenneth Bird (May 27 2016)
14,592 views: Maxine’s Elysian vision by Tony McLaughlin (April 26 2016)
13,919 views: Udimore Road garage proposal back by Ernest and Veryan Pollard (March 8 2018)
13,688 views: Out of the darkness – a masterpiece Blade Runner the final cut by Nick Taylor (April 24 2015)
And no article about the paper can leave out the one bugbear that has raised the most comments to date (and many articles): the scourge of the bikers. The article of August 20 2020 is a published letter from the Environmental Agency which asked the council to find out the town’s view on the bikes parking on Strand Quay, which prompted no less than 57 comments.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Natasha Robinson , John Minter , Rye News library , Juliet Duff .