30th November 1938 – 1st August 2025 Donations in remembrance of Jim to benefit Pilgrims Hospices. A man who made things happen Jim’s energy was never confined to the pages of a magazine. When he and Roma lived on a farm in a remote part of Mid Wales, Jim soon saw that local people had … Continue reading James Ernest Hollands (Jim)
Category: Obituaries
The Obituaries section gathers Rye’s Own reporting, features and recollections on this part of local life. From “Ernest Charles Apps”, “David Smeed”, “Ron’s Gone”, “Sad News”, and “James Ernest Hollands (Jim)”, the archive offers several starting points for exploring the subject. The result is a varied record of the district, told by writers who noticed both the headline events and the revealing details around them.
Old Town Character
GOODBYE TO A KIND BRAVE MAN John Napier 1952 – 2018 By Jim Hollands The people of the Old Town lined the streets on Thursday to say farwell to John Napier, better known as ‘John the Cobbler’ who lost his battle with cancer on Monday 9 April. His world famous business, ‘Cobblers to the … Continue reading Old Town Character
Memorial Service For Peter Dee MBE. 1927-2017
Memorial Service for an Exceptional Ryer The Memorial service for Peter Dee MBE will be on Wednesday 8th February at St. Mary’s Church, Rye at 11.30am, followed by the wake at River Haven. All are welcome. If anyone would like to make donation to the Royal Air Forces Association and St Mary’s church, two enterprises close … Continue reading Memorial Service For Peter Dee MBE. 1927-2017
Another Great Ryer Has Gone
Last remaining Alderman from Rye Borough Days It is with great sadness we report the death of Rye’s last remaining Aldermen from the Borough Council Days. Peter Dee was as well known in Rye as the Landgate Tower. An ever present in theparade at the Mayoring Day event and a popular member of Rye’s community.
Sad News
Heather Worked at “Rye’s Own” in 1965 It is with deep regret we report the passing of Heather Bryant who as Heather Bottomley worked for “Rye’s Own” when it was first published in November 1965. Heather played a vital part in those early days, selling advertising and working with Elaine Pepprell on the regular Down Rye … Continue reading Sad News
Rye Councillor and Artist Dies
Another Character Lost to the Town By Jim Hollands It is with a heavy heart I have to report the death of yet another great Rye Character. Councillor John Izod has been a great supporter of Rye and Rye’s Own over the years. He has provided the magazine with hundreds of drawings and cartoons and left … Continue reading Rye Councillor and Artist Dies
Robert Vincent – A True Ryer
A TRUE RYER No man is more deserving of the title ‘True Ryer’ than Robert Vincent, who died at the Conquest Hospital on Saturday 13 October 2012. Robert was know to almost every soul who lives in the town. His own particular brand of humour seem to make everyone smile. He was born in Rye, … Continue reading Robert Vincent – A True Ryer
Roger Breeds
Roger Breeds by Jim Hollands It is with great sadness I report the news that Roger Breeds, former Mayor of Rye, has died. Roger was a supporter of “Rye’s Own”. He regarded himself as a Ryer and so he was, for he is a direct line descendant of another Breeds who was Mayor of Rye in 1560 and … Continue reading Roger Breeds
Goodbye Shoey
By Jim Hollands The Final Whistle It is with great personal sadness that I report the death of ‘Shoey’ Bennett, The toughest chap that ever played for Rye United.
David Smeed
By Jim Hollands It seemed that the whole of Tilling Green from the 1950’s and 60’s had turned up at Playden Church for the funeral of one of Rye’s unsung heroes. There were faces there I had not seen for 50 years or more. They came to pay respects to a very talented man.