Lions from Oz visit Rye

Brian and Gael Harvey, with their grandson Jack were visiting from the Lions Club of Rye, Victoria, Australia.

They were welcomed by Rye Lions’ president, Malcolm McDonough and member Conrad Freezer.

Their tour started with an introduction to Rye, by visiting the Rye Town Model at Rye Heritage Centre on the Strand Quay, where after an introduction by the Centre’s Manager, Peter Cosstick, they enjoyed the story of Rye.

Conrad Freezer said: “They were then taken on a full tour of Rye and enjoyed a pub lunch at the Ypres Inn. Brian Harvey was delighted to find that one of the local real ales was also a Harvey’s.

“This is the third visit that Rye and District Lions have had from Australia, with a delegation form Winchelsea, Victoria, in 2010 and another visit from Rye, Victoria, last year.

“Club banners were exchanged by both clubs at the foot of Mermaid Street. This is one of the advantages of membership of a Lions Club, in that wherever you travel in the world, with clubs in over 200 countries worldwide, a visiting Lion is warmly welcomed.

“Their tour was rounded off with afternoon tea at Hayden’s.”