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 sport has helped him deal with addiction and stress. It's very different from his last full time job as a mo...
Mar 17, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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 Rye Rotary and local boatbuilder for many years. But, and you may need to sit down at this point, he's actually a Yorkshireman... Th...
Feb 15, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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 – she’s the paper’s Instagram whizz. You can hear her suggestion in this week’s Ryecast, as well as...
Jan 26, 2024•8 min0
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 conversations and chats recorded in the middle of Rye’s big events. I’ve met countless people who’re doing s...
Dec 20, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 20
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 archive featuring both men. A long lost 1970’s tv show “With love from Muhammad Ali” was found a few y...
Nov 30, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 19
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 in the choir, and their leader Carly Bryant. Everyone taking part has their own reasons for joining...
Nov 12, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 18
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 I went to my first Rye Bonfire. I remember wearing a long black coat and a black top hat. It was a ...
Oct 31, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 17
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, as you’ll hear on the podcast. In the staff rest area, I’ve been talking to Fran Clent who’s the company ...
Oct 24, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 16
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 Whitehall parties (not the one’s you’re thinking about). There are big stories and big characters, along wi...
Aug 31, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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, there was singing, speeches and stories - and this week's Ryecast celebrates the day's events, talking to som...
Aug 13, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 14
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 recruits volunteers to help the emergency services, has placed defibrillators all around Rye and the su...
Jul 27, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 13
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 climate change. There’s art, poetry, music, and in this podcast – sound. I made the recordings on a wal...
Jul 13, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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. It’s so different but so much better.” After the class we grab a coffee at Camber Landing as Jo tell...
Jun 29, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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. Read more about Diana in Rye News Ryecast is presented and produced by Rye resident James Stewart. ...
Jun 24, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 airfield in Kent The second episode it’s all about her family, holidays in pre-war Germany and a famous sch...
Jun 08, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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, and why her own second chance helped her be more Miriam. It’s an emotional interview, with some wise ad...
May 31, 2023•18 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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 & anti-social behaviour, drug taking, and confidence in the police following recent scandals in...
May 11, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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 starring in TV commercials, Lee was part of a novelty dance group called The Blobbindales - an act based on The Ch...
Apr 27, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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 dolls. And neutering cats. And the Knights of the Round Table. As you do. Plus a chat with Jackie Brooks, the...
Apr 06, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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 artists who’re working with local people to collaborate and create something special. I joined one of their...
Mar 30, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 4
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 walk along the Tillingham Valley. We talked about where she walks, what she sees and hears, and how she s...
Mar 16, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 3
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 Rye. “It’s a famous bike and I’m never going to part with it. The designs represent the area that I...
Feb 23, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 2
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 protection and the work on Strand Quay. It’s a totally different way of seeing Rye, with a unique view of the...
Feb 09, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 1
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 full episode of Ryecast is on the way, with more stories about life in our town over the coming...
Feb 02, 2023•2 min0
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 thanks to everyone who’s got involved, suggested a story, and given time to be interviewed. Thanks als...
Dec 21, 2022•8 min0
This week’s Ryecast features two local men who have collaborated on a new picture book for young children. “Daisy and the Sneezee” has been written & illustrated by David Angell and Oliver Brooks who both live in Rye. They’ve been telling James Stewart about the story behind the book and discussing their favourite authors – including some of Rye’s most famous writers. They’re entering a crowded marketplace competing against best-selling celebrity authors, but they’re both inspired by the cre...
Nov 24, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This week’s Ryecast celebrates the Ryebellion Drummers The sound is deafening. Each Monday evening the Community Centre on Conduit Hill in Rye shakes as Ryebellion rehearse. Our town’s drumming group are getting ready for November’s bonfire celebrations, with over 40 drummers following the lead of Musical Director Robert Draper. He’s been telling Ryecast's James Stewart about the music they play, some of which is unique to Rye. “A Sussex Bonfire is an assault on the senses, The sights, the sound...
Oct 27, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 9
This week's Ryecast features volcanoes, circuses, and a hasty move to Rye all thanks to Donald Trump. For over thirty years Graham Ellis, who was brought up in East Sussex, lived an idyllic life off grid on Hawaii teaching circus skills. He’s been telling Ryecast about his adventures on the volcanic island, and how it all came to an end thanks to the former US President and a decades old cannabis conviction. Deported back to the UK, he’s been living in Rye for the past year teaching juggling, gi...
Oct 13, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week’s Ryecast has the definitive answer on how to pronounce the name of our castle – from THE expert. How do you say Ypres Castle? Rye Museum Chairman Jo Kirkham MBE explains all as she shares her knowledge & passion for Rye’s history and heritage, and chooses her favourite artefact. Plus, as she looks back at half a century as a Rye town councillor and many years as a JP, what would she change about Rye? Ryecast presenter James Stewart has also been talking to Rye Museum director Juli...
Sep 08, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This week’s Ryecast recreates the day when one of the world’s literary greats visited Rye’s Flower & Vegetable show – and talks to the organisers of this year’s event. Charles Dickens made a day trip to the Rye District Horticultural Society Show in 1852. Excerpts from his journal – read by local actor Ian Klemen – detail his thoughts about our town and describe the tents and produce on show. Dickens was hugely impressed by what he saw, writing that “there was the most refined politeness in ...
Aug 24, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 6
