West Norwich Lions CIO
Registered Charity No. 1211900
Since this article is for the September newsletter it does feel odd to write about an event
that happened in July. However, it did take place right at the end of July so I apologise if
you still think this is old news. Whilst my husband and I were sunning ourselves abroad,
Costessey Fun Day on 25th July was enjoying an equally sunny day with a well planned
event here on our doorstep at The Community Centre in Long Water Lane. West
Norwich Lions were delighted to be asked to help guide visitors to safe spaces in the
various car parks and were kept refreshed with drinks (non alcoholic of course) which
were gratefully received. It was a fun day that kept us on our toes as the turnover of
visitors meant we could re-fill spaces close to all the fun rather than send cars further
afield. A great event for us and I'm sure everyone who attended.
You may have read many articles about Lions Clubs but do you know who we are and
what we actually do? West Norwich Lions are part of Lions International which is an
charitable organisation started back in 1917 in Chicago USA. Queen Elisabeth, the
Queen Mother encouraged the Canadian Windsor Club to support the start of the first
club in London in 1950. The desire to support those in our community in need, as well
as aboard spread so much that there are now over 900 clubs in Great Britain and 50,000
worldwide. Have you seen evidence of Lions Clubs when you've visited other
Countries? Only recently I saw a donation box from Gibraltar Lions as I departed their
cruise port and yes since I hadn't spent any money in any shops I left a little in their box.
The membership in our Club consists of mainly retired people now, although when we
joined this club we were all hard working folk finding time to meet and plan events which
enabled us to make grants to people and other charitable groups in our area that
touched our lives for various reasons. Some might look at us and see a motley bunch of
OAP's (sorry my friends) but we've donated £8,162.00 this past 12 months and have
other donations set aside as we work towards buying another Defibrillator in our local
area.
Why not visit one of our meetings on 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 2pm at
Clover Hill Community Centre, Bowthorpe. Contact Secretary Patricia on
patmoorelion@gmail.com for a chat. We even provide hot drinks. August News letter
As I write the weather continues to remind us more of Naples than Norfolk but the cold wet winter will be upon us soon enough so I say enjoy it while we can.
Last month we took our Human Fruit Machine to a local school for some fun during their fete. Everyone wanted to have a go but of course young children haven't had the experience that us older folk have of One Armed Bandits in the old seaside arcades of our youth and this game is based on those old machines. Three people were positioned so that they couldn't see what each of the others were doing. When the bell was rung, three arms thrust a piece of fruit through a hole and if they were all the same a winner was declared. I lost count how many children thought they had won the plastic fruit. Some of course wanted the fruit, however a small packet of sweets or better still the winners choice of a soft toy always satisfied.
As always, West Norwich Lions were stationed at Bawburgh Gate during the Royal Norfolk Show. We offer to write the mobile number of an adult on a wrist band and fix it around the arm or ankle of young children. If they become separated a member of the Show's team are able to quickly get them re-united. Of course many a time we've be asked to do the same to a errant husband or wife.
The Race Night at Mayflower Court was as always a great success for those who attended with the good people keen for us to visit them again soon.
Finally, our end of year Changeover was another lovely afternoon in the garden of our new President June. There, we shared food and caught up with everyone's plans for the rest of the summer while celebrating a great year.
We would like to have a stall at one of the local car boot sales but don't have quite enough to make it worthwhile. If you have any bric a brac that you no longer love but someone else might please get in touch with me for a chat.
Please contact Patricia Moore on 07868724266 if you have a question or enquiry.
How delightful it is to have long bright evenings to enjoy more time in the garden whether it be catching up with the never ending weeding or enjoying a drink of choice with friends and family. I am certainly taking advantage of it.
In June West Norwich Lions enjoyed entertaining about 30 guests at our 38th Charter lunch. During the event, which celebrates our achievements in the last 12 months we awarded 3 special people for their particular contributions to our Club. Ian and Steve were both presented with The Melvyn Jones Fellowship award (MJF), while David was presented with the Presidents Award. Each had gone above and beyond to maintain our success and reliability at events throughout the past year and beyond.
In this past year we raised £10,900 donating more than £8,000 so far to 21 different local good causes and charities. We are of course saving for a Defibrillator for Clover Hill Community Centre which is why some remains safe in the bank.
By the time you read this we will have taken our Human Fruit Machine to St Michael and Clover Hill Infant, Nursery and Junior Schools' Summer Fayre. The Royal Norfolk Show will have come and gone along with us offering children's wrist bands (more amusingly known as child tagging) and at Mayflower Court, Bowthorpe Care Village, we once again entertained residents and guests to a Race Afternoon. These events do raise some money for our good causes but the more important fact is we have fun and so does everyone else at the event.
If any of this sounds like something you would like to join in with, please get in touch with me. No special experience is necessary as we are all ordinary people, with a little spare time, trying to give something back to the community we live in.
Please contact Patricia Moore on 07868724266 if you have a question or enquiry.
West Norwich Lions
Meet at Clover Hill Village Hall
2nd & 4th Wednesday each month at 2pm
.
Well things are getting busy for the Lions, since I last wrote we have collected at Tesco's for The Hamlet Centre raising £140, it was lovely to chat to the customers. Also we did our car park marshalling at the Moto Cross at Lyng. After having awful weather last year we were very happy to be doing it in the dry and at times the sun shone on us. It was fun chatting to supporters and listening to the noise of the bikes as they race around the course.
Thinking of car parking, a quick reminder that if you attend the Norwich City Football home games we regularly park cars at Europa Way where it is just £5 to park for the event. We are very pleased to have once again the full use of the car park as this increases our charity funds.
One of our members held her Macmillan Coffee Morning again this year and raised the fantastic sum of £940. Then 2 of our ladies took part in the Shine Night Walk in Norwich and raised £330 for Cancer Research.
So what's next. We will be shaking our buckets at Barron's chip shop for Hallowen, then it is Children in Need and for that we will be collecting at Roy's and B&M in Mile Cross.
Christmas, we will be having a special meeting shortly to confirm the dates and exact locations where we will be collecting and then once everything is in place we will let you know. We know we already have a date for Tesco's at Harford Bridge, then it will be Roy's, B&M, Barron's and if we have enough collectors we will be at other local venue's. So please it would be a great help to us if any of you could spare a few hours to come along and give us a hand. You would not be on your own, you would be supported by a Lion and it is great fun, so many people will stop and chat the time goes quickly. If you can help please contact Lion Pat, details below.
For further information please contact Lion Patricia Moore on 07868724266 or patmoorelion@gmail.com
West Norwich Lions CIO Registered Charity No. 1211900 Hello and welcome to another month and news of what West Norwich Lions have been doing. Like everyone else we've been making early plans for the festive celebrations ahead because our charitable collections are likely to start bang on the 1st December. We haven't quite finished selecting dates on the calendar so please watch out on Facebook and our Web page for the information. I can confirm collections will be made at Roy's in Bowthorpe, B&M's at Mile Cross and Barron's Fish Bar on Norwich Road Costessey. So, going back a bit, on 29th October, 5 of us went to the charity, Little Lifts main office, in Bowthorpe to see for ourselves a little of what they offer individuals who are beginning different treatments for Breast Cancer. We packed boxes of treats and items particularly suitable to the altered taste buds and conditions people experience during treatment. 20 items were carefully placed in sturdy boxes lined with tissue to emphasise the care and thoughtful manner of this free gift. These boxes are passed to local hospitals who give them to their patients. Little Lifts are always looking for volunteers to help with packing boxes and can be contacted through the usual channels. This is a wonderful charity which we have previously donated money to. On 11th October we provided Door to Door with their annual Race Night. As usual, a busy evening entertaining lots of happy people who hopefully went home with some winnings and full of the delicious fish and chip supper. I am pleased to report we were able to donate £500.00 to Door to Door as a result of the evening. West Norwich Lions are pleased have our meetings at Clover Hill Community Centre thanks to Sara. She also runs a Toddler Group there so we are pleased to donate £250.00 for their Christmas party this year. Children in Need was on 14th November, so suitably dressed we collected outside Roy's at Bowthorpe and B&M's at Mile Cross. Unfortunately, due to the dreadful Storm Claudia, we cancelled our plans to be outside Barron's Friday evening. However, the earlier events collected £422.10 which was a super result, so thank you everyone who helped make that happen. Please contact Patricia Moore on 07868724266 if you have a question or enquiry.
