One of the joys of Rye, is its variety of independent shops and businesses. They are what makes our town and High Street unique.
The glue that holds all these iconoclasts together, is the legion of volunteers who’s priority is the prosperity of the town itself. For the last ten Decembers we have relied on the Rye Christmas Festival volunteers. With this no longer an option, we needed to think of something new.
There’s a small window, pun totally intended, between Bonfire night and Christmas eve, when people are prepared to spend money. Because of this, there is a dual imperative. It is crucial to entice customers into your particular shop, but also to help contribute to overall visitor numbers in town.
And because necessity is the mother of invention, in a perfect display, again pun intended, of what can be achieved when we all come together and pool our resources, lights were strung, free parking organised, the Christmas Tree Festival in St Mary’s returned and the Christmas windows competition was established.
Held in conjunction with the Rye Chamber of Commerce, the town hall and Rye News, the Christmas windows competition consists of two parts: the Mayor’s Choice and the People’s Choice. The first winner was revealed at the Chamber’s Christmas event last Friday 28 November in St Mary’s, surrounded by wonderfully decorated Christmas trees.
The previous evening, in the cold and the rain, a judging team had diligently made their way around town, discussing the merits of the many and varied displays. Made up of Jane Brook and Sarah Broadbent from the Chamber, local resident and stylist Bhnadan Rochnabhenkul, known to his friends as Smart, Christine Bayliss from Rother District Council, Rye News editor James Stewart and the Mayor, Andy Stuart, they deliberated and adjudicated into the night.
Triumphing in the inaugural competition, was the ecstatic Sunflower Charity Shop. In his comments the Mayor emphasised how with even less resources than most, the team had managed to create such a strong Christmas narrative and sense of joy to their display.
The second part of the competition is down to you. Let us know which window is your favourite, by commenting on social media, as we re-post every window taking part. The competition closes on Monday 8 December and we will have a full summary of all entrants on that day, on Instagram and Facebook. The result will be published in Rye News on Friday 12 December.
As this initiative shows, in straightened times, the bonds of community are more important than ever. To support one another, work together as a single force, all pulling in the same direction, with purpose and energy is what will keep Rye strong, individual and prosperous #ryetogether.
Image Credits: Kt Bruce , Natasha Robinson , Kt Bruce , Kt bruce .