Channel Rotary Folkestone

30/05/2026

EVENT UPDATE 🚴‍♀️
It is with regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Channel Charity Cycle Challenge 2026 has been cancelled.
We know many riders, families, volunteers and supporters were looking forward to the event, and we sincerely apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the event and shown enthusiasm for this year’s ride.
Further information regarding registrations and payments will be communicated shortly.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support ❤️

22/05/2026

CHANNEL ROTARY GOLF DAY SUCCESS- £7500
Friday morning on the 8th May heralded a lovely sunny day for Channel Rotary’s 35th charity golf day at Sene Valley Golf Club.
Over 150 golfers tee’d off in perfect conditions to play imperfect golf with a wide range of scores but with a men’s and a women’s team from Sene Valley taking the team prizes. The Winning Men’s team was Tom Terry, Walter Hurrell, Brendan Cole and David Darlow with the individual winner Anton Dusek
Women’s team Linda Dicks, Alison Walne, Tina Oughton and Sue Price. Alison also won the Individual Women’s prize. There were several mixed teams the winners being Mike & Lisa Simmonds, Paul Simmonds and Phil Barker.

Beat the Pro proved difficult on the par 3 11th hole but with a restorative and complimentary Pimms drink on the 13th hole (courtesy of Rotarian Malcolm Stewart) everyone was ready for the back nine and certainly the14th produced some of best scores of the round!

Channel Rotary organiser Guy Valentine-Neale commented “My thanks to all the players who were very generous with their money raising the fantastic sum of over £7,500 for local charities. Also thanks to everyone that helped on the day including Inner Wheel, who sold a record number of raffle tickets, and Sally Milton who recorded and calculated all the golf scores
The club house staff at Sene Valley Golf Club were most welcoming keeping the food and drink coming. Bruce McDonald, golf pro, gave great support for the day including generously donating prizes.”

The real winners of the event are of course Channel Rotary's nominated charities including the Rainbow Centre, to whom a cheque will be presented in the near future
Whilst the Rainbow Centre’s provides essential services, including: • Breakfast Club • Homeless Support Services • FoodStop • Foodbanks • Pantries they are embarking on a major project Hamlet House.
This will be a secure, discrete, permanently staffed, supported accommodation for local people who are experiencing homelessness. Mentors and support staff will help them to restart their lives and move on to independent living. It will not be a permanent residence for anyone. The aim is to help many people improve their lives each year.

Channel Rotary has supported the planning and fundraising for the project since the start and will continue to support it as a focus of our work in the community. It has great potential for good.

Channel’s next charity event will be the Annual Cycle Ride on Romney Marsh just go to
http://www.channelrotarybikeride.org.uk for all details

PHOTOS SHOW:
Mens Winners, Ladies Winners, Mixed Team winners, First tee etc
You can find more pictures here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18kVAqTEAu/

Folkestone Rainbow Centre
Sene Valley Golf Club

19/05/2026

19/05/2026

BOOK NOW & HELP US MAKE THIS EVENT AMAZING! 🚴‍♀️
The Channel Charity Cycle Challenge 2026 is shaping up to be another fantastic day of cycling across Romney Marsh 🌿

To help us organise the best possible event, including marshals, support crews, refreshments, signage and rider facilities, we’d really encourage everyone to book as early as possible 🙌

✅ Easy online registration
✅ Secure online payment
✅ Routes for all abilities
✅ NEW Family Treasure Hunt Ride

Every early booking helps us plan and deliver a safe, fun and well-supported event for everyone.
Gather your friends, family, club or work team and secure your place today! 🚴‍♂️
👉 Register now:
http://channelrotarybikeride.org.uk/

17/05/2026

CHANNEL ROTARY HELPS FOODBANK COLLECT ION

Channel Rotary have supported the Shepway Foodbank run by the Rainbow centre for many years. This month Channel Members, Friends and their partners were at Tesco Cheriton to encourage customers to give to the Foodbank. Each year the amount given is a wonderful sign of people’s generosity, it never fails to amaze everyone taking part how generous people can be. Some just dropped off a couple of items, others gave a whole bag full and in one or two cases even a trolley load. As you see from the photos, even little children wanted to get in on the act!

The customers are so supportive and some even remember how grateful they were in the past when the Foodbank and all the other Rainbow centre services helped them and now just want to give something back.

Channel Rotary and the Food bank are really grateful for the publics’ magnificent support. Which this time generated over one ton of groceries

The aim of the Trussel Trust Shepway operation is to make sure that no one in the local community has to go hungry, and it’s the help from people like Channel Rotary that makes this happen.

Wendy Lehnert from the Rainbow Centre was delighted with the result.” Thanks to your tremendous tenacity, we successfully collected an astounding 1,043.5kg of much-needed stock. This phenomenal achievement—surpassing the one-tonne mark—will directly benefit five of the Rainbow Centre’s essential seurvices, including: • Breakfast Club • Homeless Support Services • FoodStop • Foodbanks • Pantries Your hard work ensures that we can continue providing vital nourishment and support to the most vulnerable members of our community. We are deeply grateful for your time, energy, and the spirit of service you brought to the event”
Why not come and support Channel Rotary’s next Charity Event- the Annual Cycle Ride and challenge around Romney Marsh on 5th July - 30, 50, 80 mile options and family Treasure Hunt of just 10 miles. Just go to Channel Charity Cycle Challenge 2026 for all the details..

PHOTOS SHOW:
Some children helping
Channel Rotary member Derek Harris alongside one of the cages loaded with things for the Foodbank

Folkestone Rainbow Centre

15/05/2026

12/05/2026

🚴‍♂️ BOOKINGS ARE NOW OPEN! 🚴‍♀️
The Channel Charity Cycle Challenge 2026 is back — and registering is now quicker and easier than ever! 🙌
✅ Simple online registration form
✅ Secure online payment
✅ Choose 30, 50 or 80 miles
✅ Family Treasure Hunt Ride 🗺️
Join hundreds of riders for an incredible day of cycling across beautiful Romney Marsh 🌿
Great atmosphere • Friendly riders • Fully signed routes • Marshals & support throughout ❤️
🎟️ Book your place today!
👉 http://channelrotarybikeride.org.uk

05/05/2026

Channel Rotary members enjoyed a wonderfully engaging outside visit last
Wednesday to the picturesque Brabourne Vineyard, where owner Hester
Fenwick captivated the group with the inspiring story behind her family’s
flourishing venture.

Hester recounted how she and her husband Paul returned to Kent after years
working overseas, settling with their three young children on what was then
a neglected market garden. From those early days of clearing brambles and
planting their first vines, the family has steadily built a thriving
boutique vineyard supplying high‑quality wines to the local community. Their
journey , equal parts determination, vision and sheer hard work ,struck a
chord with everyone present.

Members were treated to a fascinating insight into the rapid rise of
English viticulture, with more than 120 vineyards now operating in Kent
alone, before enjoying a guided tasting and an engaging walk‑through of the
entire winemaking process. From pruning and harvesting to pressing,
fermenting and bottling, Hester’s enthusiasm and expertise shone through at
every stage. Naturally, the tour concluded with several Rotarians selecting
a few bottles to take home , purely for further research, of course. The
group then rounded off the evening at the Five Bells, Braybourne, where
supper (and a little more tasting) continued in true Channel Rotary style, full
of warmth, conversation and camaraderie.

Members and guests alike left with a deeper appreciation of the craft, the
landscape, and the generous welcome that made the visit so memorable.
Channel Rotary regularly incorporate outside visits, throughout the year, as a
part of its fellowship schedule of events

03/05/2026

2 MONTHS TO GO! 🚴‍♀️
The Channel Charity Cycle Challenge is getting closer — and we can’t wait to see you on the start line!
✔️ Flat scenic routes
✔️ Fully supported ride
✔️ Perfect for individuals, teams & families

Don’t forget — you can choose your distance on the day, so there’s no pressure… just enjoy the ride!
👉 Secure your place today: http://channelrotarybikeride.org.uk/

Channel Rotary Charity Cycle Challenge
Channel Rotary Charity Cycle Challenge

01/05/2026

Just 1 week until our Charity Golf Competition — we can’t wait to welcome you all! ⛳
Final spaces are very limited, so this is your last chance to join us.
🏆 Competitions include:
Best Team & Individual
Nearest the Pin in 2
Beat the Pro

🎟️ Plus a fantastic raffle!
📧 Last entries: [email protected]
❤️ Supporting The Rainbow Centre & local charities
👉 Don’t miss out — book today!

Sene Valley Golf Club Folkestone Rainbow Centre