Club News

Thank you to the people of Faversham! This year’s Christmas Carol Tour raised £5,302.

Thank you for your generosity and thank you to all those who volunteered to help with the collecting. There were two days at both Tesco and Macknade Fine Foods, plus one day in the Market Place, and of course Santa toured the streets of Faversham – for 12 nights this year.

Everything went very smoothly and we had great fun meeting our supporters as we toured the town. As usual there was a great atmosphere.

The live tracking of the float via the website was definitely well-used. Father Christmas can be quite elusive so it was good to know where he was. Thank you Santa’s elves!

The money raised will be used to support one or two international projects, but most of the funds will go to local charities and good causes, including the Umbrella Centre, the Food Bank, Porchlight, Age UK and Faversham Youth Football, to name just a few.

In the weeks before Christmas, pupils from St Mary of Charity and Davington schools were busy designing Christmas posters and writing Christmas cards. The posters are on display in the Town Hall and the cards were delivered by Rotarians to care homes in the town, together with mince pies and sweets for the residents. The Club also donated mince pies to the Umbrella Centre.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Father Christmas and his festive float will be visiting various supermarkets and streets and estates across the town from Thursday 5th to Friday 20th December.

For details of where and when to see the float, please go to www.favershamrotary.org/carol-tour  

You can also find out how to track Santa’s progress each evening between 6pm and 8pm.

Please come out to say hello and donate money to charity if you are able.

The Rotary Club of Faversham has been running the Carol Tour for over 60 years and it is the main fundraising event for the Club. Money raised is used to support local good causes such as Age UK, Umbrella Centre, Food Bank, and many many more.

Christmas Posters designed by pupils from local schools will be on display in the Town Hall exhibition area during December.

In November, a group of members and friends enjoyed a visit to the Kent Mining Musuem built on the site of Betteshanger Colliery.

Betteshanger was the largest of the four collieries in the East Kent coalfield, the others being Tilmanstone, Snowdown and Chislet, employing thousands of men who had come from other parts of England, and from Scotland, Wales and Ireland to work in the mines.

The Kent mines were particularly deep so the working conditions were very difficult, with the heat being especially challenging.

The story boards and exhibits in the museum were very informative about the life and work of the miners and their wives and families.

Retired miners were on hand to answer questions and share their personal memories – a highlight of the visit.