Former Mayor of Rye, Jonathan Breeds, has returned to Rye Town Council after being elected to fill a vacant seat six months ago. A familiar and well-respected figure in the town, Jonathan brings with him a wealth of experience and a long-standing commitment to serving the local community. Having previously played a key role in council affairs, his return is provides valuable continuity as the council continues to address the opportunities and challenges facing Rye.
You have returned to Rye Town Council with considerable experience behind you. What persuaded you to stand again?
I stepped away from Rye Town council for a bit, having been a councillor and mayor, for a number of reasons. The main one was that since lockdown, like many hostelries in Rye, we were struggling to bring people back into the pub. It was perhaps harder for The Queen’s Head because it relies greatly on the local community for patronage by contrast with those in the town centre which have more tourists as customers. Our mainstay, our bread and butter, are local people. We employed a new manager, Cal Roberts, and his ideas were really being successful so I decided to come back to the pub and give it a kick-start with Cal on board and make a real success of the venture. But I missed being involved, having an input and being part of guiding Rye in the right direction. So when it was announced there would be an election for a new councillor, I put my name forward and I was successful.
How did you celebrate being mayor when you were elected?
I celebrated by having a big party down at Tilling Green with music, line dancing and food trucks. We processed down to Tilling Green after hot penny throwing and I remember that and the second afternoon when I became mayor again, with fondness. I wanted to celebrate down at Tilling Green because over 50% of the residents of our town live there, including Ferry Road, Cadborough Cliff and Udimore Road.
Away from council meetings and civic duties, what is it about Rye that you love most, and what keeps you passionate about serving the town after all these years?
What I love about Rye is my own deep personal family connection. I walk around the churchyard and can see the gravestones of my ancestors. My mother was born in town and my dad was born in Winchelsea. One of my mother’s ancestors helped to carve the mayoral chair in St Mary’s. As I walk around the town I have my own memories, having been to school and worked here, and there is always something to make you smile as you remember. I love the way that people want to get involved and help preserve our beautiful town: whether a real Ryer or a newcomer they are passionate and get involved. It is a special place.
If you could deliver one message directly to every resident of Rye, what would it be?
If you want it to be a living and breathing town then volunteer: do some writing for Rye News, get on the town council, join one of the choirs – Rye singers, the Marsh Choir, join the Rye Players, become a volunteer driver for Rye transport, help with the Community Centre, the Rye Repair Café or the Heritage Centre.
There is so much to get involved with and it will only keep happening if people support these ventures. Without all these things, as pretty as Rye is, it would lose its heart and be like so many other places. We have a swimming pool and a bowls club and they need to be used and supported. So my one message to every resident would be: if you have any spare time go out, get involved and volunteer.
What three words describe you?
One of my closest friends said warm, whimsical and erudite.
If you could have a dinner party with six well-known guests, alive or dead, who would you chose?
Well, I thought about this one quite a lot. I have a personal hero and that’s the recently deceased former US President Jimmy Carter. I thought he was a wonderful man. I think if he had had a second term of office he would have been able to set the groundworks for many things. He is the only modern US President never to declare war on a country. And because I think she is equally wonderful my second guest would be his wife, Rosalind.
Then I have another couple, Mildred and Richard Loving, who were the civil rights pioneers who got married and were arrested and told to leave Viginia as they had broken the law. Mildred was black and Richard was white and Virginia prohibited interracial marriages. They are remembered today for their fight against racial discrimination. They were trail-blazers in this field.
Chinese Empress Cixi was one of the most powerful women in Chinese history. She ruled China for nearly half a century during the late Qing Dynasty. She balanced modernisation with her very traditional values. She stopped the binding of the feet.
Cardinal Richelieu would be my final guest because he helped transform France into a major European power. Often portrayed as a villain, Alexandre Dumas helped make him one of the most famous statesmen in History.
Would they all get on?
It certainly would be a fascinating night.
What is your favourite dish to eat?
I love gravlax, a traditional Scandinavian dish made of raw salmon that is cured using a dry marinade of salt, sugar and fresh dill. That would be my starter for my meal.
Do you get down time, given everything you are involved in?
Not much, but if I do I like to watch a TV series – but I am always way late to the pass and have only just finished Broadchurch. I didn’t watch Downton until lockdown.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Jonathan Breeds , Jonathan Breeds .