Meet the team: Tony Sharpe
By Laura Ross
Communications Officer, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
If you're a regular visitor to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, you'll probably have spotted our membership recruitment van parked outside the Discovery Centre. It’s a mobile ‘office’ for our recruiter, Tony Sharpe, who travels throughout the south east of our county promoting the work of the Sussex Wildlife Trust. To date, he's signed up over 1,200 new members, with over 200 of those memberships coming from visitors to our nature reserve at Rye. It’s thanks to our loyal members that we can continue our work to protect wildlife, wild places and our nature reserves throughout the county.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I've been in this role for over four years now and although I work from lots of different sites, I've got a soft spot for Rye Harbour. Imagine starting your day amidst the tranquil marshlands listening to the call of migratory birds. The only downside is the amazing cake and pastries in the visitor centre - I find it hard to resist them, which explains my waistline now!
You make the job look easy. What's your secret?
I guess I possess a knack for connecting with people, making them eager to support our cause which I'm very passionate about. I'm married with three kids and a grandchild, so it's incredibly important to me that our natural world is protected for future generations.
What qualities does your job require?
Being a face-to-face membership recruiter requires strong communication skills, empathy, resilience and the ability to engage people in conversation. I gained many of these skills from being in the motor trade for twenty-seven years, working as a salesman and a general sales manager. Once you can crack that environment, anything else is going to be a breeze.
Tell us something about you we don't already know
You wouldn't think it looking at me now, but in my younger days I was a talented sportsman. I played rugby for South Yorkshire and was a semi-pro squash player. However, a devastating leg and ankle injury during a football match forced an untimely end to my sporting endeavours, highlighting the unpredictable nature of competition.
Tony has captured his love for Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in this rather lovely poem:
At Rye Harbour, where nature thrives,
A sanctuary where the soul revives.
Amidst the marshes, by the sea's embrace,
Stands a haven, a tranquil space.
The Discovery Centre, a beacon of delight,
Where wonders unfold in the morning light.
A sanctuary for people with dogs large and small,
Where stories of nature enthral.
Within its walls, a café gleams,
A place to savour dreams and schemes.
With each sip of coffee, each bite of cake,
Moments of serenity we awake.
And there, the staff, with hearts so kind,
Welcoming all with warmth combined.
Their smiles, a beacon, their care profound,
In their presence, joy is found.
They weave tales of the land and sea,
Guiding visitors with grace and glee.
Their passion for nature, a guiding flame,
In their stewardship, we find acclaim.
So here's to Rye Harbour, a haven rare,
Where nature's beauty fills the air.
To the Discovery Centre and its café bright,
And the lovely staff who make it a delight.
Do you have what it takes to be a membership recruiter like Tony? Why not get in touch to find out more?