What an absolutely wonderful evening we had here at The Star on Friday, 15th December 2024, for the fantastic Christmas Tractor Run, organised by the lovely Eddie and Rosie Tompsett. To say we were blown away by the turnout and support is an understatement – it was truly a night to remember!
The fun began with all 10 tractors (and even a ride-on lawnmower!) gathering at The Farm, each one more beautiful than the last – from flashing reindeer and tinsel to a hand-painted sleigh!
The weather didn’t exactly cooperate, but that didn’t stop the amazing crowd from coming out in full force. The streets were lined with locals and visitors, all there to see the magic and show their support.
The parade continued through the village, with cars honking and flashing in excitement as the village lined the streets. The atmosphere was electric, and it was clear this wasn’t just about tractors – it was about coming together as a community.
The evening ended here at The Star, where we did our best to help raise money for Rolvenden Primary School. From hotdogs to cold drinks, and an amazing raffle that raised over £350 (thank you, Jan from Tesco Tenterden for the generous donations!), it was another reminder of just how amazing our village is. The pub was absolutely packed – with people coming from all over to take part in the fun and show their support.
Father Christmas (also known as Mick to some) was in full festive spirit, spreading holiday cheer in our Christmas Grotto. We decided we would donate all the proceeds from the food sales and raffle back into the pot, hopefully making a real difference for the school.
Rosie said “We really can’t thank you enough Lyn, Yvonne & Mick, for everything you did for our school and continue to do.
From the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU. This event was never about having 100’s of tractors, going through lots of villages. It was about bringing families & the community together to help raise as much as possible for our children and their school.”
As for the winner of the best-dressed tractor? It was a unanimous decision – the tractor with the sleigh! Sue Morgan, Chair of Governors at Rolvenden Primary School, was there to present the £50 cash prize. And in true community spirit, half of that prize was kindly donated back into the fundraising pot.
And now, for the grand total… Drum roll, please… The Tompsett Christmas Tractor Run raised an incredible £1,500! We can’t thank you all enough for your generosity and support. How amazing is that from Rosie & Eddie on the first ever Rolvenden Tractor Run! What an amazing result.
Rosie has already had a lot of people asking if she will do it all again next year. She said YES and we’re looking forward to doing it all over again in 2025.
Thanks again to everyone who made this event so special. You’re all what makes our village and The Star Pub such a great place to be.
See you next year!
With love,
Lyn, Yvonne & Mick
