This will be my last report as mayor of Rye and it has been a very pleasant couple of weeks. Following on from the great fun of the charity fashion show at the town hall on April 10, and the St George’s Day parade on April 21, for which I popped round the town and to Rye Harbour to make sure all the flags were flying.
Rebekah and I had a lovely morning at the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. On a visit to support fellow Cinque Port mayor of New Romney’s charity, our group was shown around, backstage, the great work that goes on behind the scenes – from mending carriages and engines, to a history of how this little railway came to exist. It is a great attraction and well worth a visit if you haven’t been, and even if you have, I’m sure there will be something new there to entertain the whole family.
On Sunday, April 28 we visited the mayor of Faversham to celebrate 50 years of their town council in a church service followed by tea. My very first visit as mayor of Rye was to Faversham, so it was fitting that the last was too. Although, technically, I will be there again next week as the Barons of the Cinque Ports catch up on the anniversary of the coronation, but more of that next week!
It was lovely to see other Cinque Port mayors there and catch up with them as they either come to the end of their tenure, or look forward to their second year in office. We’ve met some wonderful, hardworking people who represent their towns so well, and have been very lucky over the past couple of years. In the church service at Faversham, there was a reading from Philippians (2:3-7) reminding us why we do this: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Jesus .. .who took on the nature of a servant.”
So, it just remains for me to say a very big thank you to all those on the town council who have supported me as chairman, and for the most excellent work of our town clerk, Richard, and his deputy Jess. And a very big thank you to each and every member of the public who has been there over the past couple of years for your support too – as volunteers, it’s you who we do this work for, and you make it all worthwhile. It has been a great privilege to hold the title of mayor of Rye and a great honour to represent this magnificent town and the people who live, work and study here.
Thank you for your support, your laughter, your queries, and your time. Especially those of you who have helped with the Christmas lights and other projects, giving up your evenings and hanging around street corners in the cold – but it was all worth it! I’m grateful to Rebekah for all she has helped with quietly in the background to make my mayoralty run smoothly, so thank you.
But most of all a thank you to the mayor’s mascot, Sophie. She is five years old now and has known nothing but public service. She has visited just about every Cinque Port, their churches, town halls, even beaches and been as good as gold. She has been a wonderful icebreaker for people to come over and say hello and given nothing but joy and love in return. She’s welcomed first, rightly, by event organisers and even had her own name plaque on a pew when we visited Arundel Cathedral, so thank you for being there Sophie.
We will endeavour to carry on with the projects we are involved in and continue working for the town of Rye.
Image Credits: Dover Town Council , Rebekah Gilbert .
What a trio and what great ambassadors for Rye. In addition to all the public facing duties carried out by Andi and Rebekah they both spend a huge amount of time and energy behind the scenes with endless meetings and fund raising activities, supporting, encouraging and signpposting so many people, groups and organisations. They both deserve a well earned break now and let others take on some of their roles. Thank you both for such loyal and dedicated service to this town and for making such a difference to so many peoples lives, we are extremely grateful. As for Sophie, well, she has become the unoficial Rye mascot, a face we all know and love and is also loyal to the core.