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- Souvenir of original Belfast Lions Club
BELFAST LIONS CLUB has a proud history. In 1959 it became the third to be chartered on the island of Ireland, after Dublin & Cork and the first in Northern Ireland. But after forty years in existence, the roar of the Lions was silenced. The Club raised thousands of pounds for local charities and had done valuable work in the community since its foundation in 1958 by a local businessman (new page) BERT MASON. In 1984 in Japan he was elected as International President of Lions. Bert served as a District Governor in 1969-70 (the first of District 105-1 which covers Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland). He served as Council Chairman in 1970-71 and as Chairman of the Multiple District 105 Youth Activities Committee in 1972-74. President Mason was a member of the International Board of Directors in 1976-78. He received the District Governor's Extension Award, nine International President's Awards, the Melvin Jones Fellow Award and the Ambassador of Goodwill Award. Mr Mason was the chief executive officer of Finlay packaging, then the largest printing and packaging company in all of Ireland. A profile of him at the time described how he was proud of his own Club's first service activity, a Meals on Wheels project. Twice-weekly, Belfast Club members collected and delivered food to about 100 elderly and disabled in East Belfast. The operation later spread to other areas of the city. A proud record of service to the local community.
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- Lions International
Fast forward to October 2010 when a meeting was called at the Wellington Park Hotel in South Belfast. 1st Vice District Governor Sean Sandford from Co. Dublin whose wife Patricia is from Belfast convened a meeting to revive the city's Lions Club after a gap of several years. Lions from a number of neighbouring clubs attended along with a dozen prospective members, who indicated their interest in becoming involved. It took another four months before the Club was ready to start, under the guidance and support of Antrim Lions Club. In December 2010, Antrim Lions arranged to make a donation to (new page) Rosemount House in North Belfast. This is a shelter for those attempting to recover from alcohol addiction.
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- Belfast Lions present cheque to Rosemount House
The Lions also provided support for a Christmas party at the house. The manager was one of the first to show an interest in the revived Club and is now seeking volunteers and donations for one of his related projects. On Friday and Saturday nights along with helpers he drives a van around the streets of the city centre and South Belfast, providing soup, sandwiches and other assistance for homeless people, many of them migrants. Belfast Lions Club and other Clubs in Northern Ireland are a charity registered with HMRC: XR 90123. All monies raised go directly to the charity projects. There are no administration costs. If you would like to make a donation to the Club, please contact me at (e-mail) mjfisher1@btinternet.com MICHAEL FISHER, President Belfast Lions Club.
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- Michael Fisher, President Belfast Lions Club 2011
BELFAST LIONS CLUB has a proud history. In 1959 it became the third to be chartered on the island of Ireland, after Dublin & Cork and the first in Northern Ireland. But after more than forty years in existence, the roar of the Lions was silenced. The Club raised thousands of pounds for local charities and had done valuable work in the community since its foundation in 1958 by a local businessman, BERT MASON. In 1984 he was elected as President of Lions International in Japan. Bert served as a District Governor in 1969-70 (the first of District 105-1 which covers Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland). He served as Council Chairman in 1970-71 and as Chairman of the Multiple District 105 Youth Activities Committee in 1972-74. Lion President Mason was a member of the International Board of Directors in 1976-78. He received the District Governor’s Extension Award, nine International President’s Awards, the Melvin Jones Fellow Award and the Ambassador of Goodwill Award. Mr Mason was the chief executive officer of Finlay packaging, then the largest printing and packaging company in all of Ireland. A profile of him at the time described how he was proud of his own Club’s first service activity, a Meals on Wheels project. Twice-weekly, Belfast Club members collected and delivered food to about 100 elderly and disabled in East Belfast. The operation later spread to other areas of the city. A proud record of service to the local community.
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