Club News

Organised by Faversham Rotary Club, this year’s Bike Ride took place on Sunday 12^th May and for the third year running the weather was fine and sunny. More than 160 riders set out on the 12.5 km route, started on their way by Cllr Trevor Martin, Mayor of Faversham.

Starting and finishing at the Abbey School, the riders cycled through the countryside around Faversham. One cyclist was heard to say that she hadn’t realised what beautiful scenery was so close to town.

Three generations of riders – children, parents and grandparents – were in some of the family groups. The youngest cyclists who completed the route under their own pedal power were just four years old. Well done!

All that fresh air and exercise meant that the 1^st Faversham Scouts were kept busy cooking for the cyclists when they returned. A total of 84 bacon baps were consumed!

Generous sponsorship from local businesses and trusts means that the event has generated funds for the Rotary Club, money that will be put to good use supporting local organisations. Thanks go to everyone involved, but particularly the cyclists who took part.  

See you all again next year!

And finally, the last word must go to the young rider who told one of the marshals that he’d had a great time. He’d seen horses and a donkey, but the star of the show was a little mouse that had run across the road in front of his bike. “I just love all this nature.”

St George’s Day was marked by the club with dinner for forty members & friends and a guest speaker. There was bunting with the flag of St George and tables were also decorated. Red was a popular choice for clothes and there were red roses in several buttonholes.

Chef Richard at Faversham Golf Club served a dinner of traditional English Fayre – a roast beef main course, followed by bread & butter pudding with custard. Delicious!

Heather Knight FSA was the guest speaker. Heather is a Senior Archaeologist at the Museum of London Archaeology. She specialises in the Elizabethan & Jacobean playhouses in London, which were the subject for her very informative and entertaining talk.

Heather explained how modern archaeological investigations are uncovering new evidence which challenges the previously held views about London’s early playhouses.

Shakespeare would of course have known some of these playhouses, both as playwright and actor. He died in 1616 on the 23^rd April – the same day that St George’s Day is celebrated.

There was a table-top quiz which severely tested most guests’ knowledge about St George, although one table scored maximum points. How did they manage that?

All in all, an interesting and fun evening.

A total of 33 members, family & friends recently enjoyed a car treasure hunt arranged by Mandy & Alan. Although not designed as a fund-raiser, a surplus of £76 will be donated to Foundation, the Rotary Charity.

Thanks go to David KM for the maps which participants were given. There were 12 highlighted villages and various questions about each village, but first the anagrams of the village names had to be unscrambled! For example, “did not dong” became Doddington and “grin we ate leg” turned into Wilgate Green. Only then could people decide on their route.

Questions ranged from the straightforward – Where would you find the white horse at Kingsdown? Answer: at Hole Street Farm – to the obscure – Which number will stop you skidding in Painters Forstal? Answer: SW 307 (on the KCC grit box).

And then there were the bonus questions which we were assured we would find the answers to en route! For example – When should you be aware of toads? Answer – January to April (see traffic warning sign at Kennaways).

Not everyone took the most direct route between the villages! Some were heard to say they’d driven down lanes they’d never seen before, but all returned safely for a well-earned cup of tea and cakes.