Rye Observer Comment: An example of double standards

The BBC using red-tape to deny a dying 11 year old boy his wish to visit the Dr Who set and a disabled man, desperate to lead an independent life, left isolated by social service cuts.

Social services laud the ARRCC activity centre as a flagship while at the same time preventing needy people from attending. An appalling example of double standards.

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Children in the Rye area would have been out this week trick or treating for Halloween.

While it is good to see youngsters having safe fun, the occasion still raises enough concerns for police to issue advice and posters that can be displayed in windows.

What is regrettable in a way is that the American inspired event, with all it’s commercial trappings, has effectively replaced an older English tradition which has all but died out.

Older readers may remember Penny for the Guy where children used old clothes and a good bit of creativity to build a Guy which was then often pushed around town in a cart and proudly displayed on street corners.

The local corner shop selling a mask to put on the Guy was as commercial as it got.

Perhaps Rye, with its strong sense of history and bonfire tradition, would be the perfect place to revive this forgotten custom.

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Raise a glass to Dick Pearce - a great character who was landlord of the Ypres in Rye for many tears and latterly the Plough at Cock Marling.

Dick died on Sunday as his favourite band played a final encore - as friends and family said, it was the way he would have wanted to go.

The Rye area has lost a great character. As one reader commented: “Dick was a one-off”.