Bournes the Rye removal company have been presented with the famous UTS Dancing Elephant after winning the award for the second time since its conception in 1993.
The first time that Bournes carried off the ‘Quality Performance Award’, which goes to the company in the UTS Group with the best annual record of customer satisfaction, was in 1993 when there were just 75 companies in competition. The second time, for results in 2004, there were around 1500 outlets in the giant UTS Amsterdam based group which is now a world wide organisation.
To mark this fantastic achievement Bournes gave their employees and their families a party, starting with a reception the Rye Auction Galleries, followed by a devilishly cunning Treasure Hunt around the streets of Rye, devised and judged by Eric Bourne himself, and culminating at the River Cafe where a magnificent buffet was enjoyed by all.
Bournes of Rye have shown remarkable strides since 1966 when they operated just three vans. Forty years on and they now employ over 100 people and have vehicles working around the clock all over Europe.
By 1990 the size of the company had seen a ten fold increase in local and distance removals and in 1993 they became a founder member in UTS and were soon involved in a massive expansion brought about by new operating systems within the UTS Group. European work was taken and the Bournes lorries regularly travel all over the Continent, drivers being away for weeks at a time on occasions. 
Question master Eric Bourne has a mischievous gleam in his eye as he marks the efforts of the seventeen teams that entered the Treasure Hunt around the streets of Rye.
Martin Wright samples the ‘hard stuff’ at the Auction Room reception.
“Some of your answers may be right, but they are still wrong if they don’t coincide with the answers on my sheet” Eric Bourne told the contestants who had entered the cunning treasure hunt he had devised.
When the Auction Galleries closed in Cinque Ports Street it was Bournes who kept Rye on the Auction map by setting up Rye Action Galleries in one of their large storage warehouses in Rock Channel.The firm ran there under the wing of it’s parent company until just recently when it was transferred into a more compact and cosier home further down the block. There are auctions four times a month, on Fridays. Kevin Wall and Leon Bourne share a joke as the marked questionnaires are returned to the team leaders. “Some of your answers may be right, but they are still wrong if they don’t coincide with the answers on my sheet” Eric Bourne told the contestants who had entered the cunning treasure hunt he had devised. specialist sales of Antiques and Fine Art on the first Friday in each month, a Collectable Sale on the third Friday and General Sales on the second and fourth Fridays.
Eric pointing out the advantages of a smaller bottle.
Leon Bourne in earnest conversation.
Kevin Wall and Leon Bourne share a joke as the marked
questionnaires are returned to the team leaders.
PARTY TIME AT THE RIVER CAFE
Wesley Bourne, second from left, enjoys the party from a prime position at the River Cafe Bar.
The winners of the Treasure Hunt were the Dive family. Their combined knowledge of Rye and observant eyes winkled the clues out as they made their way on a circuitous route of the High Street and cobbled areas of the town.
The party in full swing. Some of Bournes Transport and Auction Gallery staff with their families.
From July 2005 Issue of “Rye’s Own”
All articles, photographs and drawings on this web site are World Copyright Protected. No reproduction for publication without prior arrangement. © World Copyright 2005 Cinque Ports Magazines Rye Ltd., Guinea Hall Lodge Sellindge TN25 6EG