Previous Events
21 April 2024 - The Big Breakfast
Rotarians and friends of the Club attended the Big Breakfast event held by David and Mandy Wilkinson. The superb breakfast was accompanied with bubbly and orange juice. In excess of 50 attended the event and £1500 was raised for the Club's approved charities.
A special thanks to David and Mandy and several helpers which made it such a successful event.
This was just one of the social events held throughout the year where we can all get together and have a good time.
10 April 2024 - Bowls Match - Swale Indoor Bowls Club
The annual indoor bowls competition between the Rotary Club’s of Sittingbourne Invicta and Minster-on-Sea took place at the Swale Indoors Bowls Club, Milton Regis. Following some practise for the novices, five teams of three per side took part in a closely fought competition with Sittingbourne Invicta the eventual winners. Both club’s teams were supplemented by members of the bowls club which helped keep the standard relatively high!
A great time was had by all with plenty of good humour and banter giving way eventually to a steely determination to win by both sides. The evening ended with a superb buffet laid on by the bowls club and a big thank you must go the Minster’s Danny Stack and, on behalf of Sittingbourne, Mike Scott for keeping control of the assembled Rotary rabble!
Here’s to a return match next year.
25 March 2024 - Frugal Meal - Three Tuns - Lower Halstow
Club members and partners enjoyed a very good frugal meal produced by Carol and Chris of the Three Tuns Lower Halstow who were supporting this fundraising event.
29 January 2024 - The Light - Tenpin Bowling - Sittingbourne
An enjoyable evening where club members attempted to bowl whist consuming pizzas. The star of the evening with the highest scores was George Cole, well done George.
18 December 2023 - Club Christmas Dinner
Members and partners of the club met at Hempstead House Hotel for the annual Christmas Dinner. A splendid time was had by all and the after dinner entertainment was provided by folk duo Russ Hughes & Steve Wood, whose performance was enhanced with readings by John Frewin, Lynn Baxter and Suki Calder. President Patrick Phillips wished everyone a Happy Christmas and thanked the performers for their excellent (and free) contribution, a sentiment echoed by the District Treasurer. Steve Wood hoped the band had passed the audition and looks forward to being paid next time.
11 December 2023 - Carol Service at St Giles Church - Wormshill
Members of Sittingbourne Invicta gathered with their partners in the historic St Giles church in Wormshill for their annual service of carols and lessons. Despite the pouring rain and wind the church was full of people and Christmas cheer. A mix of traditional and modern Christmas music was provided by the members of local choir Opus 32 under the leadership of Derek Boyne and the Rev Alan Pinnegar presided. After the service refreshments were provided in the village hall.
6 November 2023 - The Sun, Bredgar
Club members and their partners had a very enjoyable evening at The Sun in Bredgar.
20/22 October 2023 - Three District Conference - Eastbourne
The District Conference this year was an excellent event made even better by Members from three Districts coming together to have a fun time and celebrate another year in Rotary. When mixing with so many people, opportunities always arise for Members from different Clubs to exchange ideas about things they do in the Community and what they do to raise funds.
The entertainment this year had a sports theme with fun stories being told by Dennis Taylor, retired professional snooker player, and Geoff Miller OBE one of the most respected cricketers of his generation, telling stories about life in cricket in those days and the cricketers he played with and against. I don't know why but he seemed to find cricket balls coming at him at 100mph from 22 yards and without a helmet to be a bit frightening!!
Continuing on the sports theme, I would like to report that the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta won the golf trophy this year but unfortunately I can't. The golf was rained off so it will have to be next year when that is reported.
Now for the finale: there were other options on the night but as you will see from the picture, all the Members of RCSI chose to go to the Ball and a great time was had by all. Some on the dance floor, others watching those on the dance floor trying to dance and 'one or two' preferring to have a drink and stay away from the dance floor. Wherever you were you had music and it was good fun.
Unfortunately we missed having the highest number of attendees from our District, 1120, by one. The winner was Minster. Again, this is something else to win next year.
Patrick Phillips, President, Rotary Cllub of Sittingbourne Invicta
4 September 2023 - Murston Heart Creative Community Hub
20 members and partners attended the evening at the Murston Heart Creative Community Hub and had a lovely Greek meal prepared by Lenny and his staff in the old Murston chapel. John Nightingale who is the Chair of the Murston All Saints Trust which oversees the site came along and said a few words about the project before our meal.
A number of members who work in the vicinity will I think be enjoying tea/coffee, cakes and lunch on a regular basis at The Hub kitchen in the future!
6 August 2023 - Club Members on Kingfisher Mark
Club members had a great day on Kingfisher Mark thanks to Steve and his crew. We started from Wateringbury Marina, we went through Hempstead Lock and under the lift bridge at Yalding and then on to the disused lock where we turned around. We moored at Teapot Island for lunch where a number stretched their legs before making our way back to Wateringbury. The weather was very kind a most enjoyable day was had by all.
20 May 2023 - Music Evening - Tunstall Village Hall
A very enjoyable music evening on Saturday with music being provided by Jeff Pedley who kindly provided his servicers for free. Ticket sales and the raffle means we raised over £600 for local and Rotary charities.
29 April 2023 - Grand Charity Auction
For the first time since before the pandemic the Grand Charity Auction took place at The Appleyard in Sittingbourne on Saturday evening. The evening was very well attended and following the dinner Kent Auctioneer Clive Emson enthusiastically and amusingly managed the auction. An incredible £14,500 was raised for Rotary Charities, the money will be distributed locally and internationally.
29 March 2023 - Bowls with Minster Rotary Club
The annual bowls match took place at the Swale Indoor Bowling Club. This year it was decided to have mixed teams. A good social event with another Rotary Club.
25 March 2023 - Quiz Night at Bredgar Village Hall
The annual quiz was held on Saturday at Bredgar Village Hall hosted by Steve Wood and ably assisted by Claire Wood, all funds raised will go to local Rotary charities..
20 March 2023 - Frugal Meal
Club members and partners enjoyed a very good frugal meal produced by Carol and Chris of the Three Tuns Lower Halstow who were supporting this fundraising event.
5 February 2023 - The Red Lion - Milstead
Club members and their partners enjoyed a social evening over a meal at the Red Lion in Milstead.
12 December 2022 - Carol Service St. Nicholas Church Rodmersham
In weather that Good King Wenceslas would have been familiar with, club members and their partners and friends descended on picturesque St Nicholas, Rodmersham, church for our annual Carol Service. Led by Rev Paul Longbottom and ably supported by the choir of nearby Tunstall church, the congregation sang heartily during the familiar carols and enjoyed the anthems performed by the choir. The church was almost full, which helped with the temperature, and the lessons and poems were read by club members. At the end of the service Rtn Patrick Phillips was able to announce the club had supplied a record number of Christmas Stockings for Swale Foodbank, which will be distributed to children in the area for Christmas. Thanks are due to Vicky Lukehurst and her team for preparing and serving the refreshments at the end of the service.
12 November 2022 - Wacky Races - Stockbury Village Hall
We had an evening of food and bizarre races. The race challenges were devised by George Cole who, as Chef de Course, started the racing pigs on a predetermined course. Next came horses drawn by string with volunteers sitting backwards to the course, and all complained of wrist ache by the end. Racing “sliding” rats followed easily being won by the tallest in the room. Dice determined the winners of the next race with “human” horses moving by the number rolled on a dice. A ploughman’s platter was prepared and provided to all by Suki Calder and this was accompanied by beverages of one’s own choosing. With a well-supported raffle and a pound game with the proceeds going to the club’s charity fund. A fun evening was had by all.
24 October 2022 - Red Lion Milstead
26 Club members and their partners enjoyed a relaxing social evening and a delicious 2 course meal at the Red Lion in Milstead hosted by owners Chris and Hazel.
21/23 October 2022 - Rotary South East Annual Conference - Eastbourne
This weekend 10 members of Invicta, led by President Penny, with their partners were in Eastbourne for Rotary South East’s annual conference. The conference ran from Friday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime. We had talks that challenged us to be more effective Rotarians, talks that informed us of the initiatives of other Rotary clubs and talks that thoroughly entertained us.
We learnt about how Deal Rotary Pirates bring a different approach to Rotary, how Folkestone Rotary Club is leading a project to bring advice and support to the local community, how Rotary clubs can involve themselves in environmental projects and other inspirational ideas.
We had entertaining talks on the careers of Diddy David Hamilton, the veteran radio DJ and John Lyons, who played Sergeant Goode in a Touch of Frost for 17 and half years. We had comic interludes from the Rev. Ravi Holy, the vicar of Wye and Shaun Williamson, Barry from Eastenders who were both very funny. Steve Brown talked to us again explaining how his career had developed from being captain of the Paralympic wheelchair rugby team to being a familiar face as presenter on a variety of television programmes.
The weekend was also very much a chance for members to socialize through two Italian meals and a Gala Dinner and Dance.
A pleasant and valuable weekend was had by all.
Radio Presenters Meet at the Conference
Club member Steve Wood, who is also part of the Rotary Radio UK team, was delighted to meet renowned DJ David Hamilton and "Touch of Frost" star John Lyon, when he attended the District 1120 conference at Eastbourne. Steve asked David to mention Rotary Radio on his show on Boom Radio, which he duly did, and carried out his promise to mention David on his Rotary Radio show, which he duly did too! Plans are afoot for a podcast with John Lyon about his extensive acting career on TV and the stage.
22 August 2022 - Tour of Gillingham Football Club
We had an excellent evening at Gillingham Football Club getting a behind the scenes look. The tour was very interesting and informative. The photo shows Club Members having a well earned rest before enjoying a very good buffet. Our hosts could not have done more for us.
NB: Some Club Members missed the photo opportunity.