This year, Jim Martin, Right Worshipful Mayor of Hythe, has enjoyed the honour of being Speaker of the Cinque Ports as the Confederation of Cinque Ports comes to Hythe. The honour lasts for one year, rotating between the head ports and ancient towns.
To prepare the Town Hall, High Street, Hythe for the occasion of "Speaker's Day", the Mayor proposed using his Mayoral Fund to cover the cost of materials to repaint the scruffy bollards fronting the Town Hall. He asked Hythe Civic Society to provide volunteers to do the work and they agreed.
However, having painted the nine bollards outside the Town Hall, the volunteers - including the Mayor - continued working, now planning to repaint all the street furniture in the High Street. As part of this endeavour, the Hythe Heritage Trail information panel in the under croft at the Town Hall also received a new coat of paint but the rather intricate Town Crest remained untouched.
Answering the cri de coeur from Hythe Civic Society for an artist to carry out the job, Rod Major, local 'plein air' artist stepped forward. He has stripped off all the old paint and brought the crest back to life with fresh, vibrant colours. The whole panel has undergone refurbishment and, with the crest now looking colourful again, it looks wonderful.
Rod Major said: "I don't normally do this kind of work, as I concentrate on landscapes and streetscapes, but it was a pleasure to do something worthwhile for the town. The crest is a most attractive feature of the Heritage Trail panel and it deserved the attention it has received".
For more information, contact Sally Chesters of Hythe Civic Society on 01303 266118.
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