Previous Meetings

8 April 2024 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees and allocate funds to deserving causes.


18 March 2024 - Rob Gearing and Paul Nicholls - Nicholls Transport

The two speakers for the evening were Rob Gearing, Head of Commercial and Business Development and Paul Nicholls, Group Chairman from Nicholls Transport in Sittingbourne. They first showed a short film about the business which started in Rainham in 1961. In 1978 they moved to the Lydbrook Close site. After developing the Sittingbourne Retail Park site they moved to their current site at Sittingbourne Logistics Park.

Nicholls currently has 115 trucks and 385 trailers all fully owned and contracts with many FMCG companies. They have a number of eco projects in hand and aim by 2035 for their whole fleet to run on biomethane. They have their own workshop, apprenticeship scheme and have recently been appointed as a DVLA Authorised Testing Facility. They have achieved a 191% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and won several awards for their eco actions.

After answering several questions, a vote of thanks for a fascinating talk was given by Beverley Willis, the company being a shining example to others.

11 March 2024 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees and allocate funds to deserving causes.

4 March 2024 - Roger Truelove - Politician and Author

An interesting talk was given by Roger Truelove, an ex-member of the Club,whose talk was entitled “Inside Left”. Roger had recently published an autobiography entitled “Inside Left” much of which was about his experiences in teaching and also his involvement with cricket. However for his talk he concentrated mainly on his involvement as leader of Swale Borough Council for the period 2019 to 2022 when no party was in overall control of the Council.

26 February 2024 - Jamie Beard - Medical Detection Dogs

Jamie went through the formation of the charity 16 years ago using a video of the dog which first showed detection was possible. All dogs are ‘super sniffers’ with a sense of smell 60 times more sensitive than humans. All breeds are capable but less excitable dogs are better suited to both Bio Detection (a dog which specialises in one particular disease) and Medical Alert Assistance (dog alerts owner when their health is deteriorating). Jamie then showed how the dogs were trained with a number of examples of how they are so good at detection i.e. for prostate cancer they detect 92% against the current test with a 50% success rate. They could be used in hospitals, at the border to stop malaria entering the country and even Covid. It is highly likely that technology will provide much better detection in the future but, for now, dogs could save money for the NHS in many areas. 

I very interesting and inspiring talk.

19 February 2024 - Our Club Presentations - John Robinson

Club member John Robinson presented the new presentations that a team of club members had developed. There are two presentations an auto presentation which runs continuously for when the club has a stand and a presentation for club members to deliver to groups and clubs to promote Rotary and our Club.

13 February 2024 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.


5 February 2024 - Cycle and Recycle - Adrian Oliver and Donna Seager

Adrian is the Borough Active Travel Coordinator and covered the development of foot and cycle paths across Swale and his efforts to publicise them and see them used much more often. This included coordinating access with public transport to the most scenic routes possible. A second string to his bow has been the collection of used bicycles and their reconditioning by inmates in HM Prison and their distribution as working bikes to those who need them most.

Donna outlined her responsibilities for managing the re-cycling of refuse in the borough and then provoked a very lively discussion by inviting questions that ranged from the general to the highly specific. She explained that adjacent authorities used different colour bins basically as their recycling targets differed. In Swale cross-contamination of recycling streams remains a significant challenge.

Both talks were highly entertaining and enjoyable.

15 January 2024 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.


8 January 2024 - Si Ellsmore - COOK

Si Ellmore is Operations Director of COOK based in Sittingbourne. Si gave the background to the Company explaining that it is a frozen food company founded by the Perry family in 1997.The aim is to produce frozen food using the same ingredients and techniques that would be used at home so that everything looks and tastes homemade.

COOK has 800 employees in Sittingbourne and 1,400 across the country, 97 stores across the country plus 1,000 concessions. It also operates its home delivery function from Gillingham Business Park.

COOK is run on ethical and environmental lines and has a number of schemes for employees including the Raw Talent Scheme which helps people into work after prison, homelessness or other difficulties. This scheme helps between 15 and 25 people each year.

A very good talk from a very impressive Company.

4 December 2023 - Annual General Meeting and Business Meeting

The President reported on the year to date and officers of the club were elected for the year 2024/25.

At the monthly Business Meeting we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives and receive updates from committees and individuals..


27 November 2023 - Professor Martin Michaelis - Covid 19 

Professor Martin Michaelis who is Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Kent talked about the development of Covid 19. Michael spent the first part of his career in Frankfurt before coming to the University of Kent in 2011.

Martin ran through the history of viruses, first identified in 1892, virus being the traditional word for poison or filth. They came in various shapes and sizes and coronavirus was first identified in the 1960s. Martin outlined the development of SARS in the early part of this century. SARS – GV disappeared after a while because it did not transmit through the air; however SARS-COV2 did not because it was readily transmitted by asymptomatic patients

In answer to the question did we get our response right, we don’t know. We were unprepared, the political response was reactive and we should have been better prepared for the second wave when more data was available. We were also lucky that vaccines saved us and we don’t really know why vaccines were effective. In terms of what will happen next, we don’t know but there will probably be more serious variants but we do not know when or how serious.

20 November 2023 - Andrew Westby - Deputy Vice Chancellor University of Greenwich

Andrew gave a talk entitled “A Vice Chancellor’s Lot”. Andrew outlined his career to date which included involvement with the University of Greenwich for nearly 40 years. He quoted the vision for 2030 of the University to be “the best modern university in the UK” with the core values of inclusive, collaborative and impactful. He ran through the various demographics of the university and explained the function of the centres where the university is located – Greenwich, Medway and Eltham. Andrew explained his position as head of Research and Knowledge Exchange, focussing on impactful research and societal impact. He finished by giving some examples of the outcomes of the work performed at the university and also their involvement in the Growing Kent and Medway Project.

13 November 2023 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also receive update reports from committees and indivduals.

30 October 2023 - Lyn Baxter - Job Talk

Lyn Baxter, founder member, needed no introduction for his job talk and the Club was pleased to welcome Simon who is Managing Director of Electroquip Ltd. Lyn ran through his career since leaving Sheerness Technical School and completing a five year electrical engineering apprenticeship. After joining the merchant navy with Cunard he joined Seeboard, then Abbott Laboratories, then a German company before spending five years in Singapore. Then 35 years ago he returned to the UK and set up Electroquip of which Simon is now the Managing Director. Lyn and Simon explained the business that Electroquip is in and passed around several of the strange looking components that they bought and sold which were in general a complete mystery to members of the Club.

16 October 2023 - David Barnes - RNLI

David Barnes is a Governor of the RNLI and a Water Safety Volunteer. In his talk he covered covered the history of the RNLI from its formation in 1824 as the National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwrecks (NIPLS) to its present day activities as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. His talk included many pictures of the different vessels that the RNLI uses in its activities, including some films of the boats in action. 

9 October 2023 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.


2 October 2023 - John Robinson - Job Talk

Club member John Robinson gave an entertaining talk about his career in Insurance and Risk Management he provided an insight as to how Risk Management worked in large companies. He also shared some interesting stories of his time working with some of the worlds largest organisations. 

25 September 2023 - Matt Tottle - 3D Modelling

Past member Matt Tottle spoke about Reality Capture 3D Laser Modelling. Matt gave an explanation of sonar and echo sounding through to his Lidar light scanner and various other scanning methods. He demonstrated how this had been used by him in the production of building and planning application drawings and drawings for manufacture. Matt then demonstrated his Lidar scanner by producing a scan of the meeting room at Hempstead House.

18 September 2023 - Dennis Spiller - Rotary Foundation and Rotary Regionalisation

Dennis spoke on two subjects the Rotary Foundation with an emphasis on where the money comes from and how it is spent and the Rotary Regionalisation Project to explain what it is intended to achieve. 

An excellent presentation which provided Members with clarity and a greater understanding of the subjects.

Image is Dennis Spiller with President Patrick Phillips.

11 September 2023 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.


21 August 2023 - Meeting the Community Chest Organisations

A special evening at Sittingbourne Invicta when we welcomed representatives from organisations who received the 2023 Community Chest donations. It was an opportunity for Club Members to meet the organisations and for networking amongst the groups. Each of the 12 organisations made a short presentation explaining how they provide community services and how our donations were being put to good use. It was inspirational to hear how these groups make a difference in our local community through the love, care and support they provide largely on a voluntary basis.  

7 August 2023 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.

Chris Porter was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship presented to him by Club President Patrick Phillips in recognition of his hard and imaginative work on community projects over many years beyond that usually expected of a Rotarian .

24 July 2023 - Sittingbourne Golf Club

Our meeting was at the golf club where the speaker for the evening was the Secretary of the Sittingbourne Golf Club, Steve Bootes. Steve gave a talk about all aspects of his role at the golf club. He has an interesting and diverse role and seems to be involved with most things going on at the club.

In addition the usual Sittingbourne Invicta business matters were discussed.

10 July 2023 - Business Meeting

The first Business Meeting of the new Presidential year and Patrick Phillips outlined the new structure of the Club Council. Members then provided updates of projects, events, visits and fundraising.

The second draw of the 50/50 draw was undertaken and the successful winners are:

First Prize: Iain Calder £172.50

Second Prize: Rob Fenton £  86.25

Third Prize: Jeff Hall £  28.75

26 June 2023 - Handover meeting - Presidential Year 2023/24

Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta's new Presidential year 2023/24.  At the end of a splendid Rotary year outgoing president Penny Twaites places the Club in the safe hands of new president Patrick Phillips.  During Penny's year Sittingbourne Invicta supported many local community charities and organisations and provided donations to help Ukraine together with the funding of water projects in Africa 

12 June 2023 - Brainstorming Session

In addition to the usual updates from Committees and Members we conducted a brainstorming session to develop ideas for future fundraising events and club activities. It turned into a very productiive evening with lots of ideas being put forward.

5 June 2023 - Business Meeting and Club Assembly

The monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.

It was also the Club Assembly where President Elect Patrick Phillips made a presentation for the coming Rotary year 2023/24. 

22 May 2023 - Simon Mulchinock - Rotary Hub Clubs

Simon provided an overview of how Hub Clubs will function, RIBI initially had a national hub with members paying subscriptions direct to RIBI. RIBI have more recently encouraged Districts to create their own hub. Simon is the coordinator for our district hub. This was started in March and has 14 members with an additional 2 potential members.

Simon considers one of his roles is to introduce his hub members to their local clubs. The hub club cannot have its own projects so should be considered as a resource for clubs to use for their own functions and events. It is possible that the hub members may migrate to normal clubs if they wish. A very interesting development which should provide benefits to our Club.

Simon pictured with Club President Penny.

15 May 2023 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.

We agreed to donate £2,500 to the Young Lives Charity, £1,000 to Sittingbourne Ukraine Hub and £1,000 to the Rotary Club of Hoorn 6T Project.  £227 was raised at the Tunstall Coronation Fete.

17 April 2023 - Fred Ross - Albert Figg WWII Veteran and Normandy Hill 112 

Fred spoke about Albert Figg, a WWII veteran, and the Normandy Hill 112. Fred began his talk by showing a short documentary, by the BBC, interviewing Albert Figg for local TV. He then related some personal anecdotes on his meetings with Albert.

Fred is pictured with the Club President Penny.

3 April 2023 - Annual General Meeting and Business Meeting

At the AGM the President reflected on all the good works the Club has completed in the past year and in particular the efforts in supporting Ukraine and Christmas Stockings for children. The President also mentioned many of the fundraising and social events the Club were involved with throughout the year. The President Elect then gave his vision for the coming year.

All of the other usual formalities of an AGM were completed.

The Business Meeting provided an update on fundraising, social events and Committee reports.

27 March 2023 - Paul Frostick - District Governor- District 1120

It was a pleasure to welcome District Governor Paul Frostick and Assistant District Governor Graham Forster to our Club. Paul gave a very inspiring talk and encouraged us all to re-energise the passion we had for Rotary when we joined the Club. He suggested that we investigate different forms of clubs and formalities and said that we need to promote ourselves as a Club.

13 March 2023 - Business Meeting

Tonight was the monthly Business Meeting where we discuss projects, events and fundraising initiatives. We also here update reports from the various committees.

6 March 2023 - John Nurden - 40 Years of Spin and Wheezes

John started with a few autobiographical slides and then gave us some slides of spins and wheezes full of very amusing anecdotes. He finished by a list of ‘Journalese’ asking the club what the words might mean – we were mostly wrong!

The image left is John with Club President Penny.

27 February 2023 - Kevin Harper - District Judge

This was a Partners evening and Kevin gave a very interesting and amusing talk on how he had come to be a District Judge and his experiences in dealing with family law and the Court of Protection. On one occasion he sent someone to prison for hiding in a cupboard!

20 February 2023 - Raid by the Rotary Club of Faversham

On Monday evening the club members and their guests from the RC Faversham, were entertained by two speakers on widely different subjects. First up was Rtn John Fisher who updated the members on the situation with the End Polio Now campaign and was able to highlight a number of successes. He was followed by Rtn Steve Wood who entertained everyone with a light-hearted presentation about the work carried out on its trip boat Kingfisher Mark by the members of the Kingfisher Medway Trust. Several club members are part of the Kingfisher “crew” and they were very interested in the work carried out. The Rotarians from Faversham were also interested and promised to find groups who would be interested in a trip on the river Medway. 

13 February 2023 - Business Meeting

The meeting provided an update on all activities including fundraising and volunteering. The various committees provided reports of their progress and where donations are being made in the communities. Members agreed to fund (£1,180) two Shelter boxes in response to the Turkey Earthquake.


30 January 2023 - Mark Bathurst - Medway Queen Preservation Society

Mark Bathurst from the Medway Queen Preservation Society gave a very professional presentation on the history and restoration of the Medway Queen, including its involvement in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, its time as a nightclub at the Isle of Wight and the subsequent restoration on the Avon funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund before its return to the Medway.

23 January 2023 - Mary Smith - A Schoolgirl's War

Mary was a headmistress of Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, she gave a very interesting talk called A Schoolgirl’s War, regarding the air raid shelters in the school grounds as illustrated by the art teacher at the time in her War Diary 1939 - 1946.  

16 January 2023 - Business Meeting

The meeting provided an update on all activities including fundraising and volunteering. The various committees provided reports of their progress and where donations are being made in the communities.

9 January 2023 - Kevin Fielding - A Year in the Life of a Small Italian Olive Farm

A very interesting talk on a year in the life of a small olive farm. This included  a history of olive growing, an explanation of the different qualities of olive oil, the processes involved in extracting the oil and his year’s work at his four and a half acre Olive Grove Farm in Italy..

5 December 2022 - Special General Meeting and Business  Meeting 

The Special General Meeting elected new Officers for the 2023/24 Rotary Year.

Highlights from the Business Meeting:

21 November 2022 - M2/A249 Junction Project 

Daniel Rollinson and Matt Barnett Project Managers pictured with President Penny. Daniel started by giving a very detailed description of the four stages of a project:

Matthew then explained how the project tackled environmental and ecological concerns. Also how National Highways have continually had meetings with local communities, residents, local councils and local businesses. An excellent and well illustrated talk.

14 November 2022 - Business Meeting 

The meeting provided an update on all activities including fundraising and volunteering. The various committees provided reports of their progress and where donations are being made in the communities.

7 November 2022 - Kresse Wesling of Elvis & Kresse

Kesse began with a short biography, coming to the UK in 2004 from Canada via Hong Kong. She gave a very brief resume of the starting of her recycling business, which started by repurposing redundant London Fire Brigade fire hoses.The business now repurpose15 types of materials.

They have now moved to a farm near Painters Forstall, where they have introduced recycling and conservation very seriously and created a straw bale ‘passive’ work space, a wetlands sewage system and a vineyard. A very environment friendly business and an interesting talk. Please take a look at their website: www.elvisandkresse.com/ 

31 October 2022 - Dr Paul Staker - The History of Medicine 

Dr Paul gave a very interesting talk on the History of Medicine. In the short time he was allotted he made a whistle stop tour of the last few thousand years from Hippocrates “Hippocratic Oath” to the present day. The talk was well illustrated and was full of amusing facts, with the occasional gory detail.

17 October 2022 - Warm Care Package - Age UK / Brainteasers Quiz

Chris Bunting gave an interesting update on the Warm Care Package run by Age UK. This was followed by a Steve Wood quiz based on the brainteasers he has used in recent weeks on his Rotary Radio UK Show. 

10 October 2022 - Business Meeting

Some important decisons were made at this meeting including providing funding for projects in Ukraine, Sanctuary Supported Living and Meadowfield School. Planning updates were provided for future projects and events.

3 October 2022 - Vanessa Adenowo - RYLA 

Vanessa and Victoria are the daughters of club member Yetunde Adenowo and both of them recently attended RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards).  Vanessa gave a very entertaining talk about her experiences at RYLA and the challenges and tasks she had to complete.. There was also a lot of emphasis on food! 

3 October 2022 - John Robinson - New Website and Social Media

In the second talk of the evening John explained the importance of up to date websites and social media. He also provided a guided tour of the new club website.

26 September 2022 -Trevor Arnold - Ukraine

Our speaker at this meeting was Trevor Arnold who has completed two humanitarian trips to Ukraine and is planning a third in November. He is collecting donated goods, almost anything as the need in Ukraine is so great. He talked about the groups and people he met and there were some amazing uplifting stories in what is a desperate situation.

12 September 2022 - Business Meeting

After an enjoyable buffet dinner we heard reports from the Chairs of committees of the progress being made. The good news is we are continuing to improve the situation in our local, national and international communities.

5 September 2022 - Russ Hughes - Job Talk

We had a very entertaining talk about the diverse career of Russ Hughes one of our Members. Russ talked about Teacher Training and teaching Craft (woodworking) at a number of schools. He then started his own Exhibition Stand business. From there he moved to various hospitals teaching and developing Occupational Therapy. A varied and rewarding career that provided him with great satisfaction.