Having missed the District Governor's visit last month, it was left to President Ian Gillings at our January 2024 meeting to present long-standing Lion Graham Coulson with a Chevron to celebrate his 20 years' service with the Club. During that time, Graham has had many roles within the Club, including President, Fundraising Chair and Chair of House and Programme (that's our social calendar). A keen golfer, Graham also leads our golfing activities. Congratulations to Graham and thank you for your 20 years' service with Southwell & District Lions. Graham, left, with President Ian Gillings |
District Governer Lion Paul Southerton travelled all the way up from Kings Lynn in Norfolk to attend our social evening on Tuesday, 23 January - we had a very jolly quiz over a few pints, since you ask. As well as taking part in the quiz, Paul presented several three and five years service awards to Club members, saving the best for last - Barry Erlston for an amazing 45 years' service with the Lions. During that time, Barry has held several positions within the Club, including President in 1996/97 and ran the successful Carols for Everyone concerts for over 20 years. Congratulations and thank you, Barry!
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Southwell Lions are delighted to welcome Simon Dawkins as their newest member. Club President Alastair Murray (the smart one with the chain of office) conducted the ceremony at our Business Meeting on 8th October, with Michael Peak as Simon's sponsor. The Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at The Reindeer Inn on Westgate and is always pleased to welcome new members. Pictured left to right: Alastair Murray, Simon Dawkins, Michael Peak. |
Southwell Lions are delighted to welcome Neil Parrott as their newest member. Club President Alastair Murray (the smart one with the tie and chain of office) conducted the ceremony at our Business Meeting on 11th October, with Ian Edwards as Neil's sponsor. The Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at The Reindeer Inn on Westgate and is always pleased to welcome new members. Pictured left to right: Ian Edwards, Neil Parrott, Alastair Murray. |
Carols for Everyone will take place at Southwell Minster this year on Saturday, 10th December. If you would like your charity, good cause or community group to be the beneficiary, or you want to nominate one, please get in contact with us via our Contact Us page or email [email protected].
We'll need to know the name of your group, what it does and how it plans to use the money raised. Don't forget to include your contact details! Deadline for applications is 30th September. Previous beneficiaries have included Framework, Chernobyl Childrens LifeLine, NORSACA (Nottingham Regional Society for Adults and Children with Autism), Himalayan Trust (furniture for Schools programme), REACH, Beaumond House, Tools for Self Reliance, Rainbows Hospice, Keframa High School in Uganda and SRiS (Support Refugees in Southwell). |
Southwell Lions are delighted to welcome Nick Cocks as our latest new member. We were really pleased to be back at The Reindeer Inn for our monthly meeting on March 8th, when Club President Nick Parr was able to conduct the ceremony in person, with Roger Eastty as Nick's sponsor. The Club hopes to be able to continue meeting in person and is always pleased to welcome new members. Pictured left to right: Roger Eastty, Nick Cocks, President Nick Parr
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Combining our commitments to the environment and to supporting youth groups, over the winter, we created a competition to make and decorate bat and bird boxes, some of which will go to Clumber Park but mostly to be put up in the refurbished Squires Pond area when it's completed. First up were Southwell Scouts, who built and decorated some brilliant boxes for birds and bats to nest in. Read more here.
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In February, we bade farewell to Paul Wilkinson, one of our longest-serving members, who is moving away from the area to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Over more than 30 years as a member for Southwell Lions, Paul has been a very active member, including two stints as President. After joining members for a vigorous game of walking football, we retired to our usual meeting place - the Reindeer Inn - for a farewell tipple and presentation at which we expressed our heartfelt thanks to Paul for his years of service to the Club and friendship.
Paul said: "I want to say how much I appreciated the parting gifts presented to me yesterday evening at the Reindeer by our President, Nick. I have thoroughly enjoyed the 39 years I have spent in Lions, of which nearly 30 years has been with our club in Southwell. Although club members have come and gone over the years, the friendliness, banter and laughs along the way have ensured that our club has gone from strength to strength in serving our community and making us all feel part of a close Lions family. "It’s been my pleasure to know you all and I will be back!" Best wishes to Paul and his family; we hope they will be very happy in their new home. |
Pictured left to right: Lions Mike Peak (sponsor), Ian Wallis, President Nick Parr, Roger Eastty (membership secretary)
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Southwell Lions are delighted to welcome Ian Wallis as its newest member. As we were still meeting via Zoom due to the high level of Covid-19 infections, Club President Nick Parr conducted the ceremony at our online Business Meeting on 8th February, with Mike Peak as Ian's sponsor. However, they were able to meet outside afterwards to record the occasion. The Club hopes to be back to meeting indoors at The Reindeer Inn on Westgate in March and is always pleased to welcome new members. |
Lions UK have formed the Lions Brain Tumour Research Appeal (Lions BTR) with Brain Tumour Research, to raise £1,000,000 to help fund game changing research and raise awareness of brain tumours. 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK each year. At any one time there are about 60,000 people living with a brain tumour.
Our coastal walk challenge in 2021 was Southwell Lions’ first step to help raise funds. The Lions District VIRTUAL balloon race is another way for us to raise funds for this worthy cause, whilst having a bit of a flutter. The race starts on 13th March and ends on 27th March. The owner of the balloon that has ‘travelled’ furthest will receive £100 and there are 10 runner up prizes. The virtual balloons are just £5 each via www.balloonrace.com/LIONS105CE, where you can also track your balloon’s progress over the two weeks. Do please have a go and help us support this much needed research. |