TWO GREAT YEARS COME TO A CLOSE
Paul Osborne will go down in history as ‘Rye’s Cycling Mayor’ but he was much more than that. His casual style endeared him to the public and his practical approach to problems, through very difficult times, was emphasised by the way he got to grips with the Monkbretton Bridge works.
He turned what could have been a disaster, similar to that caused by the South Undercliff fiasco, into no more than a serious inconvenience by persuading the contractors to find ways of reducing the closures and restrictions from months to weeks. He also arranged free, secure overnight parking for residents living in New Road and Kings Avenue and actually hand delivered details to each household in person.
His cycling exploits are lege nd a r y. He conceived the idea of the Cinque Ports Run to raise money for his mayoral charities and undertook the challenging ride of more than 120 miles, every Cinque Ports Town and limb. Faversham, Ramsgate, Margate, Walmer, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Hythe, New Romney Lydd, Tenterden, Hastings, passed under his spinning wheels. He was accompianed all the way by an escort of Rye Wheelers.
dignitaries on the 120 mile ride.
He was Speaker of the Cinque Ports at the time of his epic ride. In that same year Rye entertained the new Warden of the Cinque Ports and all the other Mayors of the Confederation.
There can be no doubt that Paul Osbourne and his lovely Mayoress Lynn have done Rye proud in every sphere of Mayoral activities. They have attended hundreds of local events, civic, charity and business, in support of Rye and the people who live here.
The name Paul Osborne will stand high among the 900 year long list of Mayors that are recorded on the walls of Rye Town Hall.
“Rye’s Own” May 2008
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