The Club's 40th Anniversary Year

RCSF – 40^th Anniversary Year

Dover’s Rotary Club of South Foreland has recently celebrated its 40^th Anniversary of receiving its Charter for its existence. A special Lunch event was held in the Winston Room of the Marina Hotel on the seafront where the Guest of Honour was King Rat (otherwise Bob ‘the Cat’ Bevan). The event was very well supported by club members, former members, partners, and members of Rotary District 1120 together with members of the Inner Wheel Club of Dover. Another Guest was the Rotary District Governor, Penny Spiller.

Bob Bevan was the Guest Speaker and gave a very witty address congratulating the Club on all its achievements over the past 40 years and wishing it well for the future. President Peter Sherred presided at the Lunch and the Hotel rose to the occasion by providing an excellent meal for Lunch. The occasion was masterminded by Past District Governor John Dunkley who, together with his team, had planned and carried out all the arrangements for the day.

At a subsequent meeting of the Club members looked forward to a new Rotary year commencing on 1 July when Jim Gleeson would take over the role of President from Peter Sherred. This was also an opportunity to look back over the current Rotary year and to inform members of plans for the future.

During the Rotary year 2025-26 members had, with the aid of an Environmental Grant, enabled Guston Primary School to establish a Mud Kitchen in their grounds adjoining Dover Road at Guston. The Headteacher and staff, together with their pupils, were very grateful for Rotary assistance in providing this new facility for them. In addition, members recalled that they had organised and attended a very successful Shuffleboard Evening in St Margarets Village Hall in November, raising funds for Rotary Charities. The service commitment of Rotary was provided by the members of the Club being engaged in the Spring Clean Up organised by Keep Britain Tidy which involved members and friends litter picking at various locations in and around the town of Dover. Members also assisted with the Christmas collections at Morrisons store in Bridge Street. The Club programme gave members a good selection of speakers who addressed the Club at meetings on topics such as Blood Runners, the Steam Tug ‘Cervia’ based in Ramsgate, the Duke of Wellington, Mercy Ships and running the London Marathon, together with the Headteacher of Guston Primary School about the challenges facing education today. At the end of 2025 the Club organised a Celebration of Christmas at the Church of St Mary-in-Castro, courtesy of English Heritage. This event raised funds which were distributed to the Dover Outreach Centre and various other local charities.

The Club also worked with the Rotary Clubs of Dover and Deal and the Inner Wheel Club of Dover to organise a very successful St George’s Day Dinner in the newly refurbished Maison Dieu.

The Club gained two new members during the year, looks forward with confidence to the future and welcomes expressions of interest from any person, male or female, who wishes to support their local community, be part of an international organisation and enjoy the fellowship offered by the Club. The 40^th Anniversary celebratory Lunch was the highlight of the year when members welcomed the District Governor and various representatives of local charities and voluntary organisations some of whom had benefitted from Club activities in past years.

The Club is fortunate to have a number of experienced Rotarians who are very willing to take roles to enable the Club to contribute to its local community and show newer members opportunities for the future. The essence of the Club’s success is the willingness of its members to lead and support the various activities of the club throughout the Rotary year. Long may that continue!