Ryecast

Hidden away on an industrial estate in Winchelsea Beach, wrestlers from across southern England train twice a week in a professional ring at the Black Harbour Club. This week's Ryecast is all about the Extreme Academy of Wrestling. The club is run by Stu Allen - or The Dominator - who explains why he is so passionate about wrestling and helping others to achieve their dreams, plus how the spo...

Stories from around the corner and across the world. "Have you talked to Noel Varley?" Most weeks someone will say that to me when I've been looking for people to talk to for Ryecast. He's the subject of this edition of Rye's podcast with stories of growing up in wartime Rye and adventures in far off places. He's a well known face and voice around town, a member of Ry...

Ryecast is back for 2024, with loads of locals lined up to tell their story. The first proper episode of what’s now series 3 gets published next week, but until then here’s a bonus episode called “I love Rye because…” Over Christmas and New Year Rye News ran a social media campaign sharing some of the many reasons why people love Rye (spoiler alert: it’s the people). It was Natasha Robinson’s idea...

This week’s Ryecast is a bit different – it’s a look back at some of the interesting people I’ve talked to in 2023. Just a few of the friends and neighbours I’ve met whilst making the twenty episodes of the podcast this year. Recognise anyone? I’ve recorded Ryecast on the river, on the beach, in a shed, in a garage, and loads of other places around Rye. There have been intimate one on one conversa...

The boxer’s favourite musician on their close bond He was one of the biggest names of the twentieth century, but for a local musician Muhammad Ali was a close friend and inspiration as they travelled the world together. This week’s Ryecast meets Ali’s favourite songwriter Michel, who lives in Hastings but is recuperating in Rye Hospital at the moment. As part of the podcast there’s some amazing ar...

Every Thursday evening the Creative Centre – the old school – on New Road in Rye is filled with the sound of joyful singing. Ryecast joined the fifty or so people putting in some last-minute practice ahead of a special performance by The Marsh Choir outside The George on the High Street, as part of the Rye’s late-night shopping. I listened in on rehearsals to hear some of the stories of the people...

James Foster will always remember Saturday November 11 2023. It’ll mark his first Rye Bonfire as Chairman of the team that has been working hard for months to make this year’s event happen. He’s been telling Ryecast about the challenges of putting on such an important night in Rye and how proud he is of continuing his family’s involvement over many decades. “I think I must have been about ten when...

Ryecast: How you can help the hospital at the top of the hill. I’ve driven past Rye Hospital so many times, but possibly like many I haven't really much of an idea what goes on there. For this weeks Ryecast I’ve had the chance to find out more - and to hear about an innovative team thinking big. There’s some impressive ambition at the top of Rye Hill which our town should be really proud of,...

Meet Charlie Harkness. Known around town as a former editor of Rye News, he’s also served as a Rye Town Councillor, but there’s so much more to talk about. After a long career in journalism, he made the move into comms and ended up working in Westminster for successive governments.  On this week’s Ryecast there are stories about the press & politics, together with tales of some infamous Whiteh...

What a brilliant day in Rye! Hundreds of visitors enjoying the re-enactment of the day 450 years ago when Queen Elizabeth the first visited our town. As in 1573, a procession made it's way through Rye, this time though it was led by actors from Rye Players, town crier Paul Goring, the Sing It Out choir, the Rye Herrings shanty group and, of course, the Ryebellion Drummers.  Along the way, the...

Would you know how to help someone having a heart attack? Thousands of people around Rye do, thanks to Rother Responders - a fantastic local charity that’s just put in place its 20th defibrillator. The machine has been installed at Suttons on Sea Road Winchelsea Beach and to mark the occasion Rother Responders held a  session to teach local people (and me) how to use it. The charity, which also re...

It’s amazing what you hear when you really listen. That’s what the latest edition of Ryecast  is all about, with a special podcast featuring recordings made around Rye. Mostly just the wildlife. A twenty minute montage of birds, bees, sheep, wind, rain, and a few dogs too. The soundcape is part of the SongMaps Rye project which has seen local people collaborate with artists to tell the story of cl...

Beach yoga is on the agenda for this week’s Ryecast as I join Joanna Allen from “The Humble Warrior” for one of her classes on Camber Sands. She’s back in Rye after some huge life changes which have seen her leave behind a highly stressed job in fashion and replace it with teaching meditation and mindfulness. She says: “From what I was doing then to what I’m doing now, I’m totally unrecognisable....

As promised, this edition of Ryecast features more stories from Diana Patten. Last time it was all about flying – even now in her late eighties she’s still flying and earlier this year she took to the skies above Rye in a spitfire. There are more stories about speed – this time on land and at sea – in this podcast, but first it’s all about her family, her childhood, and a very famous schoolfriend....

Diana Patten is just the best company. Full of fascinating stories. So much so I’ve two episodes about her exciting life. She’s a pilot and even now in her late eighties she’s still flying – just last week she was up in the skies high above Rye…doing aerobatics too. A real pioneer - though she says she isn't - Diana has been responsible for generations of pilots learning to fly at Headcorn ai...

When you wake up tomorrow, Miriam McGuirk will have already been up for hours working in her shed in Valley Park in Rye. She calls it her writing shack – a place to escape to when she’s writing and blogging.  Her latest book “Second Chances” was partly written here, as she’s been telling me on the latest edition of Ryecast. We also discuss her childhood in Ireland, her love of outdoor swimming, an...

Ryecast this week is all about the police in Rye with an interview with Chief Inspector Jay Mendis-Gunasekera, the Sussex Police Area Commander for Hastings & Rother. He’s been telling James Stewart about his team, his priorities and how he thinks policing has changed for the better. Plus there are questions from Rye News readers about the uncertain future of Rye police station, tackling crime...

The big showbiz past of Rye's small business rep. Lee Harrington is a lot lighter these days, but back in the day, our local lead for the Federation of Small Businesses used to weigh forty stone, becoming well known for his acting, modelling and dancing. He’s been telling me about working with the likes of Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis and Michael Caine on this week's Ryecast. As well as star...

Sometimes making the pod I have genuinely no idea about what I'll end up talking to local people about. That's why I love Ryecast. In theory this episode is all about the first Rye Arts & Crafts Fair, but as well as hearing from the creatives and makers manning the stalls in the Community Centre about their work, we end up discussing so much more. Not least our love of Rye. And scary...

Meet the artists behind SongMaps Rye With most arts projects you kind of know what’s going to happen from the outset. SongMaps Rye is a bit different. Not only is it all about how Rye continues to be affected by climate change, there really isn’t a plan of what will be created - at least not yet. There will be though, as we'll find out in July. On this week’s Ryecast, I’ve been meeting the ar...

Local walks through the worst of times Carolyn Gould from Playden says walking has helped her hugely following the death of her husband Dave in 2019. She’s been talking to Ryecast about her walks around Rye. “It’s been very difficult and it’s still not easy, but I find walking so calming and it allows me to switch off." In an emotional edition of the podcast, Carolyn joined me for a blustery...

A passion for motorbikes & making a difference. Ryecast meets Mags Ivatts. Mags loves her Harley-Davidson motorbike. Really loves it. The bike is called Harold and is decorated with drawings featuring the Battle of Hastings & designs from the Bayeux Tapestry. She is the latest local to be featured on the Ryecast podcast telling James Stewart about her travels across Europe from her home in...

Ryecast is back - with another series of podcasts about the people living & working in our town. This week’s edition is all about Rye harbour master James Bateman. James Stewart joined him on board his launch, Rother IV, during a routine check on the condition of the navigation lights that keep sailors safe. Along the way there are seals and birds, and a chance to look at Rye’s flood protectio...

After a short break - Happy New Year by the way - Ryecast is back for another series of podcasts all about Rye. Here's a short preview episode recorded whilst James gets interviewed & photographed for a feature in Rye News. KT Bruce shares her tips for taking the best photos whilst trying to get a smile out of James in the Gun Garden by Rye Castle. You can read the Rye News article here....

The first series of Ryecast is now complete. There are ten podcast episodes available online and downloadable, each one featuring stories about people who live here in Rye. I’ve met so many interesting Ryers over the course of the last six months, each one sharing their love of town, which is why I’ve pulled together an extra episode of Ryecast celebrating why they think Rye is so special.  Many t...