Although founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, Rotary took 17 years to reach Maidstone.
In April 1922 the club was founded at a dinner at the Royal Star Hotel which stood on the site of what is now The Royal Star Parade and for over 100 years has served the community locally, nationally and internationally.
Our main fund raisers are around the Christmas period when we marshal Charity Christmas Car Parks in the lead up to Christmas and operate the Santa’s Grotto in Maidstone Museum in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council. These activities can provide money which is mainly distributed to Maidstone charities every January. We also assist other charities with marshals and parking assistants and help staff events.
Fund raising is only a small but important part of Rotary. It is fellowship and fun that makes a club worth belonging to. We have that in abundance. At least half of the fortnightly meetings feature a professional speaker where suitable, partners and friends are invited. Speakers have included a snail farmer, a Tiller Girl and the Police Commissioner, when the club was also filmed by the BBC in connection with a documentary.
In addition to the Friday meetings other activities have included a Mosel Tour organised by our German member, visits to the  Nuclear Power Station and Hastings Lifeboat Station, a guided tour of Maidstone’s most modern school built at a cost of £35,000,000, a vintage London bus to a cream tea in the country.
Rotary offers a wealth of opportunities and avenues for service, coupled with friendship. If you are not already a Rotarian why not give us a try.