Successful 43rd Charter Night celebrated at Saracens Head
We returned to Southwell's iconic Saracens Head hotel for our annual Charter dinner for the first time in many years in 2024. Around 50 members and guests enjoyed an excellent three course meal in convivial surroundings, with the evening being rounded off with a few short speeches from 2nd Vice District Governor Ian Constable, Immediate Past President Ian Gillings and current President Nick Cocks. The speakers took a look back at some of the successes of our Club over the last year while looking forward to the future and more service to the local and wider communities.
Climbing the stairway to...the top of the Minster belltower
Sometimes, you need to put in that little extra bit of effort and August's social get-together took that to new heights! This month, it involved the long climb up the Minster Bell Tower for a fabulous bird's eye view over Southwell, where we could see as far as Belvoir Castle. We also had a close-up view on the Minster's famous 13 bells - which rang the half hour while we were up there!
Our thanks go to Lion Ian Edwards and Stella Sefton for the guided tour, including many fascinating facts about the history of the belltower and the bells themselves, as well as to Nick Turner for ensuring our safety.
Our thanks go to Lion Ian Edwards and Stella Sefton for the guided tour, including many fascinating facts about the history of the belltower and the bells themselves, as well as to Nick Turner for ensuring our safety.
July - a rare dry evening for President's BBQ!
The traditional President's BBQ took place in early July, when outgoing President Ian Gillings handed over the Chain of Office to new President Nick Cocks.
The members and their partners were lucky with the weather on what has been a very soggy summer, especially as a group of Lions had come home early from Trent Bridge the evening before when the cricket was rained off.
Thanks go to Ian Gillings for allowing us to use his garden, to the intrepid cooks, Ian Robinson, Ian Edwards and Nick Parr, and to everyone who brought delicious salads and desserts. An excellent evening enjoyed by everyone there!
The members and their partners were lucky with the weather on what has been a very soggy summer, especially as a group of Lions had come home early from Trent Bridge the evening before when the cricket was rained off.
Thanks go to Ian Gillings for allowing us to use his garden, to the intrepid cooks, Ian Robinson, Ian Edwards and Nick Parr, and to everyone who brought delicious salads and desserts. An excellent evening enjoyed by everyone there!
June - Enjoying the sunshine - and a walk to the pub!
Being a Lion isn't all about fundraising and giving away those funds to deserving good causes (however satisfying that is); we are also a highly social group of people. That's why our other regular monthly activity is a social meet-up, sometimes a meal out or a visit to a local landmark, sometimes a bit of competitive sport (eg, walking football, bowls, mini-golf) and sometimes just a convivial evening in a local pub. This month, it was time for our regular walk to Thurgarton, followed by a great meal at the Red Lion. If you like the idea of joining us, why not contact us a [email protected]?
February - Pie and skittles in Bathley
One of the most popular events in our social calendar is the Pie & Skittles evening at the Crown Inn, Bathley. The home-made steak pies are legendary and went down a treat, though weighed rather heavy when we adjourned to the skittle alley afterwards.
Dividing up into three teams, the tournament rattled along at a fair pace, with most players managing to avoid the tin strip in front of the skittles - but not always and those who don't are shamed by the very loud metallic clang. And the ribald comments that accompany it.
The result doesn't really matter (especially when the webmaster isn't on the winning team) - it's a very enjoyable night out. Our thanks go to Bob Callow for organising it.
Dividing up into three teams, the tournament rattled along at a fair pace, with most players managing to avoid the tin strip in front of the skittles - but not always and those who don't are shamed by the very loud metallic clang. And the ribald comments that accompany it.
The result doesn't really matter (especially when the webmaster isn't on the winning team) - it's a very enjoyable night out. Our thanks go to Bob Callow for organising it.
