The History of Babbacombe and St Marychurch Lions Club
In 1981, at a badging-up ceremony for a new Lion, the President of Torquay Lions Club, Lion Michael Luntz, commented that one day a new Lions Club would be formed in Babbacombe & St Marychurch. Contact was made with a number of people in the area within 18 months the necessary number of 20 members required to form a new Lions Club was reached. However, the new Club then had to obtain the support of LC Torquay and this was given only by the casting vote of the then President Lion Gordon Langley. Permission was then sought from the DG Lion David Honey, which was granted in March 1983.
The first meeting was a badging-up ceremony of all new Lions as Charter members of the Babbacombe & St Marychurch Lions Club. This was held at the Snooty Fox, St Marychurch on 31st May 1983. Lion Derek Donaghue (LC Torquay) Vice DG for 105SW performed the ceremony in the company of other local dignatories. Also in attendance was Lion David Saunders who was the Lions International Representative for the UK. He travelled down from West Sussex especially for the occasion and happily he is still involved with Lions.
The official Charter presentation to our Club took place at the Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton on November 21st 1983 in the presence of 180 guests. DG Lion Brian Lethbridge presented our Charter and on the same evening a Twinning agreement was signed with the LC of Gent - Scaldis, Belgium.
Fund raising started immediately with the start of the Victorian Evenings held every Thursday in the St Marychurch precinct. Members dressed in period costumes and ran a "Teddy Bear Stall", selling tickets @ 20p each. On one evening, between the hours of 7pm and 9pm a grand total of £4,200, (less expenses of course) was raised.
Six weeks after starting the Club the very first presentation was made to a local profoundly deaf child. He was given equipment to enable him to participate in classroom activities at his local school.
Past Presidents:
