On Friday, 18th October 2024, The Star Pub in Rolvenden was filled with excitement as it hosted the Mayor of Ashford Community Award Ceremony. The event, held at 6:30 pm, celebrated the dedication and commitment of The Star Pub and the local youth football team, the Rolvenden Tigers. Mayor Lynn Suddards and Councillor Kate Walder, representing the Beaver town and Rolvenden & Tenterden West wards respectively, were present to personally present the Certificate of Achievement to these two community champions.
A Surprising Honour Revealed at the BBQ
The path to this recognition began earlier in the year. Back in May 2024, at the RFC Presentation Day BBQ, Councillor Kate Walder surprised everyone by announcing that both the Rolvenden Tigers and The Star had won the Mayor’s Community Award. Covered in BBQ soot and smoke at the time, it was decided to arrange a formal presentation in October, allowing the Tigers’ players and their families to attend.
The Star: 16 Years of Heartfelt Community Dedication
For over 16 years, The Star has been much more than just a pub—it’s the heartbeat of Rolvenden. Known for hosting the annual Rolvenden Village Fete, establishing the Care Bears Food Bank Scheme during COVID-19, and creating the Warm Hub, The Star consistently provides a welcoming space for all. This winter, The Warm Hub will once again open, offering senior citizens a warm, friendly space with free tea and coffee, a roaring fire, newspapers, board games, and good company. As The Star proudly says, “There are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met yet.”
The Star is also home base for the Rolvenden Tigers Football Club and the Rolvenden Cricket Club, demonstrating its commitment to supporting local young people in sports. Additionally, The Star is focusing efforts on supporting Rolvenden Primary School by helping to raise funds to furnish the school’s new classroom facilities, which will soon replace their ageing portacabins.
For more about The Star’s activities and upcoming events click here
Rolvenden Tigers: A Youth Football Club for the Community
The Rolvenden Tigers Football Club, headed by Ezio Muratore and run by a dedicated group of parent volunteers, has also earned a Certificate of Achievement. The Tigers, with five teams for ages ranging from under 8s to under 13s, provide a safe, supportive environment where children can learn and improve their football skills with the guidance of FA-qualified coaches. Open to boys and girls of all abilities, the club emphasises fun, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
The Certificate of Achievement for the Tigers honours “all the volunteers and players who have made the club so successful and, despite adversity, kept going to give so much enjoyment and support to children and young people in Rolvenden and beyond.”
For more on Rolvenden Tigers or to get involved, visit their website or connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
These awards highlight the incredible community spirit of Rolvenden, with The Star and the Rolvenden Tigers proving just how impactful local dedication and teamwork can be.
