Rex & Rita – Ryers Through and Through
Rye Town Crier, Rex Swain, and his wife Rita celebrate sixty years
of happy marriage on this very day Friday 1. October as this magazine
reaches the newsagents.
Our front cover celebrates sixty years of dedication to each other
and their fine service to the Town of Rye. The picture was taken the
day that one of Rye’s mace bearers could not make a very important
event in the calendar and Rita stood in at the last moment.
Rex’s boundless energy in carrying out up to 100 functions a year
in his distinctive Town Crier ‘uniform’ has not diminished one iota
since he was 18 and representing Rye in a different outfit. Rex Swain
was a star member of the famous “Rye Aces” Cycle Speedway team team
who swept all opposition before them on their dirt track at the old
Football Salts. As can be seen from the picture, Rex was just as
handsome and debonair in his younger days.
He is a man of many talents and was part of the team from Spun Concrete
who were responsible for building the new lighthouse at Dungeness.
He is almost as famous in the Dymchurch as he is here, being asked
back time after time to ‘perform’ at the spectacular Doctor Syn Day.
What about Rita? We have all heard that famous phrase, ‘Behind every
good man there is a good woman’ – In Rita’s case that should read
remarkable woman. It’s Rita that gets his famous ‘uniform’ ready and
makes sure Rex goes off looking his very best. He has been described
as immaculate in his appearance at all times. They are both very nice
people, their partnership has stood the test of time. Through good
and bad, and you can be sure there have been tough times during 60
long years, they have kept smiling and been happy together. We wish
them many more lovely times together.
Full story and many pictures in the October Issue of Rye’s Own
Rye’s Own October 2015
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