General Meeting

Thursday, 8 January 2026
Breakfast meeting
Everyone was welcomed to our first meeting of the year by Pete with season’s
greetings.
Visitors and guests
- Ronan Lennon and Rev Simon Tillotson
Apologies
- Kathy, Lesley, Elaine and Sue Prosser.
Sad news
Marian and Reggie passed away over Christmas, condolences were sent to
families. Funeral arrangements will be notified to Rotarians once known.
All Saints Christmas tree
Our Christmas tree was well received in All Saints church. Lots of comments from
visitors and on social media. Special thank yous to David for the memorial tags,
signage and lights, Sheila for her help with decorating, Lesley for organising and
Tankerton Yarn Bombers and Anne for the knitted and crocheted decorations. All
now safely stored for next year!
Rev Simon informed us £1850 was raised for Pilgrim’s Hospices. Suggested this
maybe a two year event - with the possibility of it being a competition 
Car Parking
- 31/12/25 - raised a reasonable amount.
- 31/01/26 - as it stands the shifts are covered.
International
- District have now received the okay for our Open your Hearts to Bhutan district
grant, just awaiting the money.
- Thank yous from shelter box and MSF have been received for our recent
donations.
- A further donation to Shelterbox will be considered at the next Board meeting
(10/2)
Treasurer
The grant for SERV vehicle tyres has also been agreed.
1
Evening meeting
29/01, Raising Stoke Awareness, menu will be circulated with these minutes.
Robert will circulate attendance sheet for menu choices.
Grace given by Paul, in the absence of the Rev (a tumble drier delivery called him
away)!
Another delicious breakfast was partaken of by most members.
Mistakes and lessons learnt as a vicar
Rev Simon
31 years ordained, 21 years a vicar. Once ordained he felt like another creature, no
longer just a human being! When he was a vicar in Aylesford he had to convince the
police he was the vicar not the burglar, another time he wasn’t recognised in his
dressing gown.
Having discussed with his family Simon decided to choose some of the less
scandalous incidents:
• Remembering who’s who, and what service he had undertaken.
• Computing glitches, especially Find + Replace.
• Wrong info folder at a cremation in vintners Crematorium- a brief conversation
with the deceased’s son meant his eulogy majored on the deceased’s love of
clocks and he just about scrapped through.
• Asking a daughter how her mother is at the Mothers funeral!
• Using the word ‘fit’ to describe a bride!
As far as Simon is aware he hasn’t made any really awful mistakes, or at least hasn’t
been told about them 
To be ordained as a vicar one part of the process you have to endure is a 2 day
selection process. One of the invigilators thought Simon was talking to him when he
was having problems with a salad.
A personal change in attitude Simon told us about was his acceptance of the LGBT
community. Coming from a very evangelical background his views were very
conservative, he has gradually moved on from this view. In the Church of England
gay couples can have their union blessed within a church service, however not a
blessing service or wedding.
Simon told us a key thing from him has been learning to accept his own limitations
when people expect a vicar to be available 24/7. The church has declined steeply
over the last 30 years, vicars cover large communities and any number of churches
(Simon covers AllSaints and St John’s) so realising he is human and recognising his
own limitations and accepting his faults is essential.
Simon was thanked for his expose, seemingly enjoyed by all.
2
Raffle a bottle of red was won by Paul.
Master at Arms
Dave fined us for a variety of misdemeanours: seizing the reins of power, looking
grim, leaving car parking early, usual inappropriateness, absolution and ring tones.
Dave was cross fined for his New Year hat 
Final Toast given by Pete, remembering Marian and Reggie.
Next meeting 15/1/26 7.30 for 8am breakfast, The Monument Church
Street.