Viva Lewes Issue #134 November 2017

Photo by Alex Leith
MY LEWES: ROSIE BOXER,
BUSINESS RESEARCHER, ROCKET FM PROGRAMMER
Are you local? No. I was born in Birkenhead – the
Wirral, actually – and moved to Ringmer in 1987
when my husband Tony got a job at Brighton Poly.
We had a spell in Newcastle, but it was too cold up
there, so we moved back down, to the same house,
which we had never sold and still live in now. I got
a job at Lewes Tertiary College… the rest is history.
Why did you choose Ringmer? We wanted to live
round here because of the train links to London
and Gatwick Airport; the houses in Ringmer were
more affordable than those in Lewes. We realised
it was a lovely village, with great shops and a fine
community swimming pool. We regularly walk up
to the top of Caburn, from where you can see the
sea, on a good day. We’ve not regretted it.
How did you get involved in Rocket FM? I got
hooked on radio when I was a barmaid at The
Grapes close to Radio City’s studios in Liverpool,
then I started doing hospital radio DJing as
a hobby. About ten years ago I met Rocket’s Andy
Thomas and he persuaded me to get involved.
Should it be on all year? It relies on the good
will and hard work of an awful lot of volunteers
and sponsors, and I’m not sure that would be sustainable
for much longer than three weeks a year.
People don’t realise how much goes into it. Just the
programming – which I do with Peter Flanagan – is
a full-time job for three months.
Are you ‘Bonfire’? On the 5th, I generally stay at
home! But we consider Rocket FM to be the eighth
bonfire society. And I think that Bonfire is incredibly
valuable for the town, not least to protect its
cultural heritage. Lewes is increasingly becoming a
destination town, and it’s great for the residents to
be able to take it back for 24 hours.
Where do you like eating and drinking? In
terms of Lewes pubs the Brewers, the Lewes Arms
and the Swan, but our favourite is the Six Bells in
Chiddingly. Their Christmas Yorkies are to die for.
We really miss the Trevor in Glynde – please do
something Harveys! – but enjoy the quarterly popup
pub run by the Glynde Memorial team. The
food in the new chains Côte and Aqua is good, but
I’m worried about the effect they’ll have on all the
independents.
Where do you shop? Bread, meat and pet supplies
can all be bought in the village. Otherwise Tesco,
Waitrose (when I get free vouchers) and - for a
monthly treat - Lidl in Newhaven.
What don’t you like about living in Ringmer? I
spend too much time standing outside Lewes Waitrose
waiting for the bus, which is very unreliable.
If not Ringmer, where would you like to live?
West Kirby, where my sister lives. If it’s not raining
you can see Wales, over the Dee. It’s where I hung
out as a teenager, and that never leaves you. AL
Rocket FM, rocketfm.org.uk / 87.8FM, runs till
November 5th
11