Silver Cross of St. George: Chris Viner
In
1987, a gentleman from London (together with his good lady wife and two young sons) began a new life in the historic East Sussex town of Rye, one of the original medieval Cinque Ports. Deciding that a rejection of the rat-race was in order, and that he would like to spend the rest of his days painting model soldiers, Chris Viner embarked on a remarkable career — and personal crusade.
Chris was convinced that his hobby, as well as being commercially viable, could open the doors to people, young and old, who might otherwise not appreciate, or be led to appreciate, the history that has made England (and the world) what it is today. And so, Soldiers of Rye was formed, first trading in one of the town’s antiques arcades, and then progressing to its own premises at 110 The High Street, not far from the famous Landgate Tower and the magnificent views to the east — to the River Rother and Romney Marsh beyond.
“It was the atmosphere of Rye which brought me here,” explains Chris (taking time off from a very detailed painting of some Napoleonic infantry!) “You couldn’t really do this sort of thing anywhere else, and my shop and indeed workshop, close to the street and easily visible through our window displays, has had a magical effect — beckoning people in — not just diehard historians, but ordinary folk, curious and excited by the model armies they see before them.”
A morning spent at Soldiers of Rye is not just a visit to a shop: it is a history lesson. Youngsters who come in with their families, and who may be uncertain about certain aspects of history are put right by Chris. Many a time you can hear this devoted shopkeeper inspiring young people; telling them to close their eyes, exercise their imagination, and leave the everyday world for a voyage back to Agincourt, or Crecy, Waterloo, Balaclava, the Battle of Britain, the Zulu wars, and back again to Viking raids. He has even been known to paint models of Sherlock Holmes, so it’s not just the military world which comes to life here!
The craftsmanship and skill which Chris brings to his work is truly remarkable, as is his lifelong fascination with and scholarship concerning the Emperor Napoleon — a figure who captured the model-maker’s imagination many years ago. Proudly patriotic — and his shop, Soldiers of Rye, is festooned in Union Jacks — the proprietor nevertheless has a huge soft-spot for France’s enigmatic Emperor and his many campaigns, not least the complicated story of Waterloo and its outcome.
In addition to the skills of maintaining the miniature and model-making tradition, Chris Viner also gives many illuminating talks on history, commanders, battle-plans and the lot of the ordinary soldier through the centuries. And at a time when the English high street is increasingly bland, it is heartening to know that an emporium of this nature survives and flourishes.
We join with Chris’s many customers and followers worldwide in celebrating his three decades in Rye. Long may his cause continue. STUART MILLSON