Loddon Valley Lions Club News
Loddon Valley Lions support for Haiti Earthquake victims
Loddon Valley Lions have made £1,000 available to the Lions Clubs International Foundation fund to support the victims of the recent Haitian earthquake. Lions from Haiti and around the world are working on the ground to provide immediate help after the disaster and will continue to support the area physically and financially, long after the aid agencies have left. This support will help to rebuild important infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, orphanages and housing. For more information, Click Here.
Loddon Valley Lions celebrate 34 years of service to the community and, the wider world.
On the evening of 30th January, Loddon Valley Lions celebrated their 34th Charter Anniversary (Birthday) at a Dinner Dance at the Hampshire Court Hotel, Basingstoke. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of Melvin Jones Fellowships (the highest award that a Lions Club can bestow on a member) to two Lions who have been members of the Club since it was accepted into our International Association 34 years ago. The awards were presented by District Governor Judith Goodchild and Lion President Tim Boulsbee to Guy Elliott (left picture) and Geoff Wheeler (right). The club had also received a letter from HM Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, in which she praised the many years of much valued work carried out by Geoff Wheeler on behalf of the St John's Ambulance Brigade.
Also during the evening, service awards were presented to Steve Davey (Right), and Iain Aldridge (left) (each for 10 years service) and to Roy Bridgewater second left) (for 30 years service).
The evening was attended by 137 Lions, guests and friends and included members from the Lions clubs of Basingstoke, Fleet, Hart, Hook & Odiham, Newbury, Wokingham, Yateley & District and Yeovil as well as members of the Loddon Valley Club. Following the meal and presentations, there was dancing to Fairlight 2. A splendid evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Father Christmas toured Loddon Valley
Despite the snow in the run up to Christmas, Father Christmas did manage to complete all but three of his tours. At the beginning of December, Father Christmas and his helpers got extremely wet on some occasions, but the weather did not deter children young and old from coming out to hand in their entries for the colouring competition, donate their old and unwanted spectacles for recycling or just to have a chat with Santa. Then, it got very cold, but that was no deterent for Santa and his helpers, nor it seems, for Santa's supporters. However, immdiately prior to Christmas, the snow came. Santa, Rudolf and his helpers managed to slither around Kingsclere, but Rudolf needed considerable help to get Santa around some streets. Further snow the following Monday made it impossible for Rudolf to take Santa out and the condition of many of the roads and footpaths made it unsafe to attempt the tours on the Tuesday and Wednesday immediately prior to Christmas. Rudolf and Santa apologise to those in Pamber Heath, Sherfield-on-Loddon and Baughurst for being unable to visit.
Loddon Valley Lions would like to thank the public in their community for their generosity during December, which enabled us to collect over £8,000 for our programme to bring a little cheer to the elderly, the lonely and the disadvantaged at this festive time of the year.
Tadley Christmas Lights Switch on
Loddon Valley Lions Christmas Float took Father Christmas to the Tadley Christmas Lights switch on on Friday 27 November. The weather was ideal for the event and Father Christmas was swamped with youngsters who all wanted to let him know what they wanted him to bring them for Christmas - so much so, that he even ran out of lolipops. There were also numerous performing artists to keep the children amused, as well as outdoor musical performances and Carol Singing and a very popular indoor Christmas Market. The lights were switched on by special guest Jamie Rickers, who is playing Buttons in Cinderella at The Anvil in Basingstoke and is also on CITV's Toonattik on weekend mornings.
Loddon Valley Lions also took a collection, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Tadley and District Branch of Age Concern. To see pictures of the event, courtesy of Cllr Stephen West, Click Here.
Congratulations to Tadley Town Council and their team, for a great evening.
Loddon Valley Lions Fireworks Fiesta 2009
This event was highly successful, with several thousand visitors attending our event on Saturday 7th November at Wellington Country Park. As always, we are grateful to His Grace The Duke of Wellington and the Park Management Saff for allowing us to run the event at this splendid venue. The weather was good enabling clear views of the fireworks as they exploded into fountains of colour several hundred feet into the air. Although the accounts are not yet complete, it looks as if it has earned us in the region of £10,000 for our humanitarian work in our local community and, the wider world. We thank the public who attended for their support, but most importantly all those who helped us in the sponsorship, organisation and running of this event.
New President takes Office
On 5th July Lion President Bob Bone hosted a Garden Party at his home, during which he formally handed over the Presidency to Tim Boulsbee for the 2009-2010 year. The event was blessed with superb weather and was much enjoyed by all the members and their partners who attended. To see more pictures of this event, Click Here. Our thanks to Bob Bone for providing the pictures.
