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This year’s Tonbridge Rotary Christmas Festival held on Sunday 30th November was a huge success. For once, the weather was kind to us and upwards of 10,000 people enjoyed event which culminated in a spectacular firework display.
The event was managed by Lollipop Events Ltd. on behalf of the club, with the support of TMBC together with Tonbridge Lions Club who provided many of the marshals for the event.
There was a wide variety of stalls in the street market with something for everyone, with additional entertainment provided by the Hartley Morris Men. Large crowds enjoyed the wonderful entertainment provided by groups such as Razzamatazz and the Tonbridge Rock Choir.
Father Christmas made an appearance, riding down the High Street in his sleigh much to the delight of the many young visitors, who were then able to visit him in his grotto. He even brought two of his reindeer with him, who were a major attraction for many visitors!
The Local Heat of the Tonbridge Rotary Young Musicians Competition 2026 took place on Sunday, 23rd November at Somerhill School, Tonbridge. Seven talented musicians, aged ten to sixteen took part.
The event offered participants the chance to be evaluated by three independent adjudicators and to progress through subsequent competition stages, culminating in a National Final recognised by the Royal Society of Music and the BBC Young Musician of the Year.
Tonbridge Rotary’s Vice President, Valentina Waters, who teaches at the Leigh Academy Hugh Christie, joined their students, the Headteacher Mr Shah, Head of PSHE Ms Renton and Head of History Ms Sivyer, in the traditional parade from Tonbridge Castle to the Memorial Garden at Bradford Street where a wreath was laid on Remembrance Sunday.
Rotary President Peter Thomas represented the Club at the ceremony, along with presidents of other service organisations, and laid a wreath on our behalf
On 7th November, volunteer drivers from Tonbridge Rotary took a group of senior citizens to the Oast Theatre to see the dress rehearsal of Quartet.
Everyone enjoyed this funny and poignant play set in a retirement home which follows the experiences of four former opera singers preparing for their annual gala performance.
Tonbridge Music Club held a concert on 2nd November entitled ‘A Showcase of TMC Award Winners 2024’ where five young musicians displayed their talents to an audience at the Music Suite, Somerhill School.
Those performing included flautist Sophia Shaw, who in addition to receiving a TMC Award also won the 2024 Tonbridge Young Musician Competition, promoted by Tonbridge Rotary.
The Tonbridge Music Club Awards scheme for young musicians was established to give young players and singers of all ages some financial assistance as they develop their musical talents.
Tonbridge Rotary President Peter Thomas, accompanied by Rotarians Phil Higgins and Barry Ednie, was delighted to present a cheque for £500 to the community charity Babons Cancer Support on 29th October.
Babons has been established for just over a year and has assisted, advised and listened to many clients at their cancer support drop-in centre in Tonbridge High Street.
Twice a year the Club organises a Frugal Lunch where participants pay the normal charge for their lunch but receive only soup, bread and cheese, with the surplus going to a charity.
£685 was raised at October's lunch and donated to Operation Smile who provide world-class cleft care in more than 30 countries helped by thousands of highly skilled medical volunteers.
Ngan after her life-changing surgery
Photo: Peter Stuckings
The Charity Quiz held on 24th May at Somerhill School raised over £800 for Global Sight Solutions and other Rotary charities. Ten teams competed under the watchful eye of the question master Chris Wickham. The winning team was the President’s Seven. International Committee chairman Jeremy Hills organised the event, and Rotarian Andy Blundell kept the scores and set up the IT equipment to display them. The catering staff at Somerhill provided a delicious lasagne supper and contributed to a very enjoyable evening.
