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.
1946 | John Winter | Bonfire society founder member |
1947 | Peter Cheyney | Author of the Lemmy Caution and Slim Callaghan series of novels |
1948 | J Maynard | First honorary life president |
1949 | Alderman H O Schofield MC | Mayor of Rye |
1950 | R A Prebble | Mayor of Rye |
1951 | Joseph Hannan | Mayor of Rye, New York, USA |
1952 | Noel Whitcomb | 'Under the Counter' columnist, Daily Mirror |
1953 | Richard Greene | Robin Hood in the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood |
1954 | Judy Clifton | Chosen at 7pm on the night |
1955 | Sir Bryant Godman Irvine | MP for Rye |
1956 | Norman Fawkes BEM | A direct descendant of Guido Fawkes |
1957 | Gerald Campion | Billy Bunter in the TV series Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School |
1958 | Garry Marsh | Film, stage & TV actor and author |
1959 | Alfred Horner | Mayor of Rye |
1960 | Sir John Ferguson CBE DL | Former Chief Constable of Kent |
1961 | Richard Hearne | Mr Pastry on TV and stage |
1962 | François de Vial | Consul General of France in London |
1963 | Alfie Bass | Bootsie in Bootsie and Snudge and Mr Goldberg in Are You Being Served? on TV |
1964 | Desmond Carrington | Broadcaster and Doctor Anderson in the TV series Emergency Ward 10 |
1965 | Pamela Duncan | Sister Doughty in Emergency Ward 10 |
1966 | Pik-Sen Lim | Nurse Kwei in Emergency Ward 10 |
1967 | Hugh Manning | Mr Hunter in Mrs Thursday and Reverend Donald Hinton in Emmerdale on TV |
1968 | Geoffrey Chater | TV actor in Foyle’s War, One Foot in the Grave and Dad’s Army |
1969 | William Hartnell | The first Doctor in Doctor Who |
1970 | John Anthony | TV newsreader |
1971 | No event | |
1972 | Bob Todd | Dan in the TV sitcom In for a Penny |
1973 | Rosamund Grand | Rye Carnival Queen |
1974-1977 | No event | |
1978 | Caroline Martin | Rye Carnival Queen |
1979 | Joan Yates | Rye councillor |
1980 | Roy Nevans | Broadway theatre producer from Rye, New York, USA (on behalf of the mayor of Rye, New York) |
1981 | Nicky White | Pupil at Freda Gardham school |
1982 | Tessa Collins | Miss Rye
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1983 | Christopher Cazenove | Ben Carrington in the TV soap Dynasty |
1984 | Josephine Kirkham | Former Mayor of Rye |
1985 | Dick Brignall | Weirdie Beardie on Radio Kent |
1986-1993 | No event | |
1994 | Spike Milligan | |
1995 | Rod Hull and Emu | |
1996 | Phillipa Forrester | Television and radio presenter |
1997 | Leif Starkey | Pupil at Freda Gardham school |
1998 | Chris Difford | Of the band Squeeze |
1999 | Vic Reeves | Comedian, actor and television presenter |
2000 | John Ryan | Creator of Captain Pugwash |
2001 | Michael Foster | MP for Rye & Hastings |
2002 | Kaddy Lee Preston | BBC weather presenter |
2003 | Arthur Brown | Of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown |
2004 | David Van Day | Of Bucks Fizz |
2005 | Jessica Neame | Lady Mayoress of Rye dressed as Dickie Bird |
2006 | Wendy Miers | Chair of Rother District Council |
2007 | John Radford | Broadcaster and wine expert |
2008 | Sam Souster | Mayor of Rye |
2009 | Alex Blincow | |
2010 | Alisha Wicking | |
2011 | Priscilla Ryan | Widow of John Ryan dressed as Captain Pugwash |
2012 | John Izod | |
2013 | Kate Head | |
2014 | Jimper Sutton | |
2015 | Jim Hollands | |
2016 | Prince Rostislav R Romanov III | |
2017 | Caroline Snowden | |
2018 | Bob Booth | |
2019 | Michael Eaves | |
2020 | No Bonfire due to Pandemic | |
2021 | Chris Emson | Rye Food Bank and many other local organisation. |
2022 | Andy Polley | Long 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.