Back in 2012 Kenneth Bird had the ambition to create a proper on-line newspaper to cover all that was happening in and around Rye. This was a time when the internet was coming into its own, local print newspapers were struggling and in particular the Rye Observer owners had their own problems and the paper was becoming less relevant to Rye.
Like many before him, Kenneth discovered that starting a newspaper, even a relatively modest one, was not easy. Volunteer staff had to be found, a website produced and the whole thing funded. But he persevered: a community interest company was formed to own the paper; directors were appointed; an editor, in the form of experienced Times journalist and night editor Tony Nunn, now retired, was persuaded to come on board; and an IT company contracted to produce a website and editing suite.
The net result was the birth of Rye News and the first issue appeared in February 2014.
Since then an issue has been produced every Thursday (except for the week between Christmas and New Year) and not a single issue has been missed. Even right through Covid and the inevitable difficulties that the pandemic and lockdown caused, Rye News continued to appear every week.
All this time Kenneth, as proprietor (although he hates to be called that, regarding the paper as owned by the team producing it) has been there. Sometimes in the background, at others cooling heads heated by the inevitable creative arguments, but always supportive (and as publisher for four years and editor for two, I personally have enormous gratitude for his support, advice and wisdom).
Over the years readership has grown from just a few views every month to now up to 80,000 - quite an achievement for a local paper serving a town the size of Rye.
Kenneth has guided the paper through all this, together with appointing four editors, three publishers, two IT consultants and any number of volunteers, some of whom have come and gone and others are still working away to produce your paper each week.
But life moves on and changes happen. Kenneth, having threatened to retire for some time (but always persuaded not to) has now decided that the time has finally come to hand over the reins to new management.
He has been a tower of strength over the years, always there, always ready with advice and always with a passion for his brainchild. While still active in other areas, he has more than earned his time to rest from Rye News, and while it is inevitable that there may be changes as new ideas are investigated and tried, those of us who now take up his baton are more than well aware of the high standards that we have to live up to.
Thank you, Kenneth for all you have done, it has been a privilege for all of us who have worked with you.
