Piracy Rules In Rye

A famous children’s cartoon character has taken over the main booking hall at Rye railway station in East Sussex.

The Captain Pugwash exhibition was officially opened by Rye Mayor Cllr Bernadine Fiddimore, and soon became popular with train passengers passing through the station.

The exhibition was organised by Kevin Barry, the Sussex Community Rail Partnership’s community rail development officer for the Marshlink line, who is based at Rye station. Kevin said :- “Captain Pugwash was created by John Ryan, who lived here in Rye. We had a great response to the John Ryan memorial garden which we opened in April, and, with the invaluable help of John’s wife Priscilla, daughter Isabel, and their family, we have now gone a step further and decorated the whole of the booking hall in ‘pugwashiana!’

Kevin Boorman, the chair of the Marshlink line rail partnership, added :- “I remember Captain Pugwash very well from my childhood, so it was great to be involved with this event. There can’t be many stations which are decorated with pirates, even unsuccessful ones as Captain Pugwash was.

“We are very grateful to Southern Railway for their support, to Kevin Barry for making it happen and, of course, to Priscilla and Isabel Ryan for all that they have done. It really brightens up the station.

“The exhibition runs until the 26th August, so I would encourage anyone who wants to remember their childhood, or show their children/grandchildren who Captain Pugwash was, to travel to Rye station - preferably by train!”

First picture shows Pricilla and Isabel Ryan with some of the pirate artwork, courtesy of Kenneth Bird.

Second picture shows more of the artwork, courtesy of Isabel Ryan.