Rye Mayor and Mayoress meet Mr. Speaker
The Mayor and Mayoress of Rye met Mr. Speaker, on a recent visit to the Houses of Parliament
FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT.
by Ann Hamilton Would you like to be sure that the producers of raw materials and products from the developing world receive a fair wage for their labour, a fair price for their products and have reasonable working conditions-including permission to join Trade Unions? You can – by looking for products distributed by several firms dealing in Fair Trade goods. These include Green and Black, Cafedirect, Teadirect, Clipper (for tea and coffee), Percol and Traidcraft. Overseas buyers for these firms deal with small farmers, or cooperative groups. The fair price paid means education and community development projects become possible. Trade becomes life changing.
Many fairly traded products, though not all, carry the Fair Trade Mark given by the Fair Trade Foundation which certifies that the above conditions have been met.
Fair Trade Fortnight is a national, annual event, held this year from March 3-15. For the first time there was an Information Stand in Budgen, by the kind permission of Budgens Head Office, and John Burney, Manager of our Rye Store.
Volunteers, Ann Hamilton and her helpers Valerie Ruff and Barbara Wild, gave out information leaflets – some containing delicious recipes for using fairly traded ingredients as well as samples of tea and instant coffee to be taken away, and chocolate and snack bars to be eaten enthusiastically on the spot! Budgens stocks of fairly traded tea bags, instant coffee, ground coffee, chocolate, hot chocolate, cocoa and bananas had to be topped up continually. One customer sampled the fairly traded tea at his home and rushed back especially to buy a packet His luck was in as he was just in time to grab the last one.
Next time you go grocery shopping think of the producers and decide if you would to know that the workers have just and fair conditions then look for the Fair Trade Mark, or read the labels.
Happy, fair, shopping.
The Bells of St. Marys
An exhibition and bell ringing demonstration at St. Mary’s took place on Saturday 8th March. Visitors were greeted warmly by members of The Rye Bell Ringers as they entered the church where they were offered refreshments before their climb up to the belfry where they arrived somewhat out of breath but eager to participate in their first ever attempt at ringing the bells.
A fine demonstration was given by all the bell ringers which was followed by an explanation of bell ringing techniques by Kevin Clifton for the benefit of the onlookers whom he then invited to have a go.
Kevin’s first volunteer was his young daughter Stephanie, who did so well she volunteered again and set the precedence for others to participate. The event was well attended and among the crowd were visitors from France who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and left the bells safe and intact!
To keep the bells of St. Mary’s ringing, more volunteers are needed. Practice and instruction takes place every Thursday evening at 7:30pm. Please contact Margaret Bird at 01797225030 if you are interested. No prior experience in bell ringing is necessary.
The Mayor of Rye Councillor Peter Dyce is seen here in the photograph with Ann, Valerie and Barbara, smiling with gratification after sampling the fairly traded chocolate!
Rye Mayor and Mayoress meet Mr. Speaker
The Mayor and Mayoress of Rye met Mr. Speaker, on a recent visit to the Houses of Parliament
Rye’s Own April 2003
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