Rye Fawkes

Since 2009, the right to be Rye Fawkes and light the bonfire has been sold to the highest bidder to raise funds at the society’s annual Auction of Promises. Before then a wide range of celebrities or local dignitaries were invited to sit in the chair.

1946John WinterBonfire society founder member
1947Peter CheyneyAuthor of the Lemmy Caution and Slim Callaghan series of novels
1948J MaynardFirst honorary life president
1949Alderman H O Schofield MCMayor of Rye
1950R A PrebbleMayor of Rye
1951Joseph HannanMayor of Rye, New York, USA
1952Noel Whitcomb'Under the Counter' columnist, Daily Mirror
1953Richard GreeneRobin Hood in the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood
1954Judy CliftonChosen at 7pm on the night
1955Sir Bryant Godman IrvineMP for Rye
1956Norman Fawkes BEMA direct descendant of Guido Fawkes
1957Gerald CampionBilly Bunter in the TV series Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School
1958Garry MarshFilm, stage & TV actor and author
1959Alfred HornerMayor of Rye
1960Sir John Ferguson CBE DLFormer Chief Constable of Kent
1961Richard HearneMr Pastry on TV and stage
1962François de VialConsul General of France in London
1963Alfie BassBootsie in Bootsie and Snudge and Mr Goldberg in Are You Being Served? on TV
1964Desmond CarringtonBroadcaster and Doctor Anderson in the TV series Emergency Ward 10
1965Pamela DuncanSister Doughty in Emergency Ward 10
1966Pik-Sen LimNurse Kwei in Emergency Ward 10
1967Hugh ManningMr Hunter in Mrs Thursday and Reverend Donald Hinton in Emmerdale on TV
1968Geoffrey ChaterTV actor in Foyle’s War, One Foot in the Grave and Dad’s Army
1969William HartnellThe first Doctor in Doctor Who
1970John AnthonyTV newsreader
1971No event
1972Bob ToddDan in the TV sitcom In for a Penny
1973Rosamund GrandRye Carnival Queen
1974-1977No event
1978Caroline MartinRye Carnival Queen
1979Joan YatesRye councillor
1980Roy NevansBroadway theatre producer from Rye, New York, USA (on behalf of the mayor of Rye, New York)
1981Nicky WhitePupil at Freda Gardham school
1982Tessa CollinsMiss Rye
1983Christopher CazenoveBen Carrington in the TV soap Dynasty
1984Josephine KirkhamFormer Mayor of Rye
1985Dick BrignallWeirdie Beardie on Radio Kent
1986-1993No event
1994Spike Milligan
1995Rod Hull and EmuRye Fawkes 1995
1996Phillipa ForresterTelevision and radio presenter
1997Leif StarkeyPupil at Freda Gardham school
1998Chris DiffordOf the band Squeeze
1999Vic ReevesComedian, actor and television presenter
2000John RyanCreator of Captain Pugwash
2001Michael FosterMP for Rye & Hastings
2002Kaddy Lee PrestonBBC weather presenter
2003Arthur BrownOf The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
2004David Van DayOf Bucks Fizz
2005Jessica NeameLady Mayoress of Rye dressed as Dickie Bird
2006Wendy MiersChair of Rother District Council
2007John RadfordBroadcaster and wine expert
2008Sam SousterMayor of Rye
2009Alex Blincow
2010Alisha Wicking
2011Priscilla RyanWidow of John Ryan dressed as Captain Pugwash
2012John Izod
2013Kate Head
2014Jimper Sutton
2015Jim Hollands
2016Prince Rostislav R Romanov III
2017Caroline Snowden
2018Bob BoothRye Fawkes 2018
2019Michael Eaves
2020No Bonfire due to Pandemic
2021Chris EmsonRye Food Bank and many other local organisation.
2022Andy PolleyLong serving member of Rye Fire Service

If you can help fill in any of the gaps, or have any photos of Rye Fawkes to share please contact us.