Twelve months before WBro Royston Kear was installed as Worshipful Master at the Globe and Laurel Lodge No.4657 in Deal, he took up rollerskating, using in-line wheels, as a form of recreation along Deal sea front to Kingsdown and back to Deal.

Royston enjoyed this recreation and decided To put it to good use in the form of raising funds for charities and good causes, by doing sponsored roller-skating. His foray into this venture involved skating from Sandwich Toll-bridge through the Sandwich Bay Estate, the Cinque Port golf course and then along Deal sea front to the Royal Marines Memorial Bandstand on Walmer green.

This first attempt at raising funds took place in November 2000, into the teeth of a force seven gale and took one hour seven minutes to cover the six miles. It was worthwhile as his efforts raised the sum of £420, which was presented to the Deal Marine Cadet Force.

Royston realised that he needed to do something different during his year as Master of the Globe and Laurel Lodge. He therefore got down to some serious training, and just before he was Installed announced he was going to do a sponsored roller skate from St Luke's Rd, Masonic Hall, Ramsgate, to Sondes Rd, Masonic HaIl, Deal, a distance of 16.8 miles. One third of the sponsorship money raised would go to The Marine Cadets Deal, and the remainder to The 2004 Festival for Boys and Girls.

After much hard work, a few falls, many phone calls and letters, and greatly assisted by Bro Mike Baxter who acted as his organiser and drove the safety car, kindly provided by WBro Robbie Adamson, the big day arrived it was 28th July 2002. He was sent on his way by the Master of The Royal Navy Lodge No.429 Ramsgate WBro R J Hills. Royston was accompanied throughout the journey by his 14 year old grandson, Benton Ashman, whose assistance on more than one occasion proved invaluable as there are no brakes on roller blades, only skill, which Royston didn't have much of. On some of the hills in the Ramsgate and Pegwell bay areas young Benton's skill saved his grandfather, but even Benton couldn't save him down Chalkhill Lane when Royston took the safer option of summersalting into the cornfield rather than careering out of control across the main Ramsgate to Sandwich road at more than twenty miles an hour. This little mishap resulted in a pulled hamstring, and called for ice-packs from the safety car.

They eventually arrived at Sandwich, the halfway mark, where he was greeted by WBro John Rowe Worshipful Master of Rutupiae Lodge No.6611 and his guests, who gave Royston, Mike and Benton liquid refreshment, plenty of encouragement and relief from his suffering with a bag of frozen peas for the hamstring injury. They were sent on there way with a cheer from Rutupiae members and set off on the last leg of the journey to Deal. The rest of the journey was uneventful and Royston and Benton arrived at Sondes Road Masonic Hall having completed the journey in a little under three hours.

As a result of this epic journey, Royston was able to present The Marine Cadet Force with a cheque for £543 and later a cheque for £1,100 for the 2004 Festival for Boys and Girls.