Rye’s Own was first published in November 1965. It was the brainchild of Jim Hollands although the actual title was suggested by Jim’s mother ‘Winnie’ Hollands.
Jim became the Editor for the next seven years and with a tiny staff produced what Canon John Williams once described as “The Little Magazine with the big heart”.
In that time the policy was to support all that was good in Rye. The Rye Fawkes Pageant, Rye Sports Day, Rye Police, Rye Corporation, Rye Business, Rye Wheelers, Soccer in Rye including Rye United, Rye Athletic F.C, Reckitt and Coleman F.C., Udimore F.C, Iden F.C, Peasmarsh F.C. and East Guildeford F.C.
Then there were the Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies, The Rye Air training Corps, Sea Cadets, Rye Movie Society, Rye Camera Club, Rye Horse Show, Methodist Choir, Rye Town Band, all the Churches and many many more. Rye’s Pomp and Ceremony Days were featured including the Visit of H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, which was covered in a special edition that became an all time best seller for “Rye’s Own”. “Rye’s Own’s” biggest contribution to the town in those years was the agitation, through its columns, for a Community Centre in Rye. This led directly to the formation of the Rye Community Centre Association.