Rye Bonfire Society’s annual Auction of Promises, on Wednesday, July 2 certainly didn’t disappoint. Everything that was promised was delivered, to a packed Tudor Room at the Mermaid Inn.
Thanks were extended to all involved, including Judith Blincow and Georgina Pinwell, proprietors of the Mermaid Inn, for hosting the event; the deputy town crier, Arabella, who opened the auction with a magnificent cry; and to Brian Gasson for the loan of the sound system.
Bidding was expertly managed by Kevin Wall from Rye Auction Galleries and a selection of the 93 lots were proudly displayed by Kevin and Malcolm Mayhew.
Excitement grew as the evening progressed with the cuddly polar bear dog snuggler vying for most popular item against the delicious chocolate bonfire cake and Rye Fawkes. Not forgetting the wonderful collection of Pugwash sketches from the John Ryan estate.
The #fundraisingfemales had advertised there being something for everyone and they were bang on!
There was art, alcohol, candles, smellies, experiences, hampers, foodie bits, clothing and accessories, cuddly toy, a ride-on mini Mini, and did I mention alcohol?
This is the Bonfire Society’s biggest fundraiser, and as they do not receive any financial assistance from local or regional councils, fundraising is the only way they manage to set Rye alight on a dark Saturday night every November.
This year’s auction raised an impressive £6,600.
The fundraising team, along with other volunteers from the Bonfire Society, were thrilled and overjoyed that all their hard work had paid off.
The Bonfire Society is so very grateful and appreciative for the continuous support from townsfolk and local businesses. You really all do #keepryebonfireburning!
Their next event will no doubt be another fabulous and fun, fundraising evening, details of which will be advertised on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Image Credits: Steve Hutchings , Barbara Astley-Morton .
The Rye Bonfire is a great event for the town and long may it continue. However, it does seem to be becoming a victim of its own success, as huge numbers of visitors are now attending, and streets near the site were totally blocked with thousands of people last year. It was impossible to move. The littering issues are well known but the streets are cleaned up. One point I’d like to make concerns the size of the bonfire. This has become at least three or four times as big as it used to be. Last year, the heat from the bonfire was so intense that spectators had to stand much further away, which spoils the bonfire as a spectacle. It was like watching a petrol station go up in flames. There is absolutely no need for the bonfire to be as large and powerful as this. The other problem with the bonfire being too large is that it takes a long time to die down and the bright illumination from the bonfire adversely affects the fireworks display (fireworks being best seen in darkness). I’d urge the Bonfire Society to address the issue of the bonfire’s size for this year.