50 Golden Years of Service
Loddon Valley Lions Club was chartered on 15th October 1975 and recently celebrated 50 golden years of service to their local community and the wider world.
On 12th October, the Club hosted a free tea party for local residents, past and present members and friends. This was held at Heath End Village Hall, Baughurst in the presence of the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Colin Phillimore. After enjoying the magnificent cakes and refreshments prepared by Lion Vanessa Tolson-Goddard, those present adjourned to the grounds of the Hall, where The Mayor assisted Mrs Pat Fowler in unveiling a bench and suitable plaque. The bench and plaque had been donated to the local community by the Club in memory of Pat's late husband, David, Charter President of Loddon Valley Lions and is sited a short walk from David and Pat's home, where Pat still lives. Our picture (left) shows L to R: Lion President Robin Withey, Mrs Pat Fowler, The Mayor of Basingstoke. The inscription on the plaque reads, "Presented by Loddon Valley Lions Club in memory of Founder Member David Fowler to celebrate 50 years of Lionism 15th October 1975-15th October 2025.
A week later, the Club celebrated with a Charter Lunch and Tea Dance at the Wellington Arms Hotel on the Wellington Estate at Stratfield Turgis. This was attended by 65 members, former members and friends as well as guests from 6 other Lions Clubs from as far away as Chelmsford. Among the guests were three, who were named on the Charter. District Governor Dianne congratulated the Club on serving the area for 50 years and presented a framed Certificate of Appreciation (see Home page, by Clicking Here) from the Lions Clubs of The British Isles, signed by HRH The Countess of Wessex, Duchess of Edinburgh, Patron of the Lions Clubs of the British Isles. A similar certificate was presented for Geoff Wheeler, Charter Member. Regrettably, ill health prevented Geoff from attending. Three Melvin Jones Fellowships (the highest award any Club can present to one of its members or a member of the public) were also presented to Lions: Jane Saunders, Dave Hurley and Peter Grayson.
The Wellington Arms was an appropriate venue for the event, as many of the Club's larger events in the early years were held on the Wellington Estate, with the former Duke being a good friend and supporter of the Club. These included Country Fairs, magnificent Firework Displays, which people would travel many miles to attend. The Club also became known for it's Santa Float which would tour the communities in its area, each December, a tradition which still continues today and is enjoyed by many elderly people who can remember seeing it when they were a child and now bring their Grandchildren out to see Santa.
The Tadley Treacle Fair has also become a firm favourite in the local community and in it's time has included Camel Racing and even slalom Steam Roller Racing. In former years the President of the Club and his lady would head a procession through the streets of Tadley to the Fair in a magnificent horse drawn carriage with the Mayor and Mayoress of Basingstoke. The horses would be driven by the late Lion Guy Elliott, a Charter member of the Club. On one occasion, the President and Mayor were delivered into the main arena by helicopter, as the procession entered the site. Sadly, the procession is no more, largely due to the chaos it would cause to traffic; it did not matter what colour the traffic lights were, the procession would continue on through! It would include at least one marching band, vintage vehicles including steam powered vehicles of all descriptions and decorated floats. There were also Vintage Ploughing Matches that were very popular, but the EU put an end to them when the farmer whose land we used received a satellite picture from Brussels demanding to know why he was cultivating land for which he was being paid Set-aside money!
Although it is becoming more difficult to attract new, younger and more able-bodied members, the Club looks forward to the next 50 years, a bright future with a proud past. If you think you would like to be a part of the next 50 years, please click here.
