Why did our members join us?  

What have they gained from membership of Wisbech Lions Club and Lions Club International.   

Lion Jack Connor has been with us for three and a half years.  He visited the Wisbech Christmas Fayre one year and saw our Santa. He thought he could be that person next year. He asked a member about joining and has not looked back. He had never heard of the Lions Club before but he has certainly put Wisbech on the map as our Santa. He is known across the world and has even featured in advertising for Goulds hairdressers.  He has recently read children's stories from his lockdown location in June!

Jack tells us he finds it very satisfying to help others and also to have fun whilst doing so.  Christmas is obviously his favourite time of the year bringing happiness not only to children, but adults too. 

In 2019, an appeal was launched to grant a young girl her Christmas Wish. Hope had been born with half an arm and for many years had been sending messages to Santa to help her, to no avail.  She had lost the magic of Christmas.  Many people were fundraising including Wisbech Lions. More than £20K was raised.  There was not a dry eye in the Black Bear Public House in Walsoken, when Betty Cunningham the manager, put together a surprise visit by Santa with a special gift. Santa Jack presented young Hope Weston with a certificate to have a new arm with a moveable hand fitted at Great Ormond Street. A very emotional night and she now 'believes' again.

Lion Jack's message to everyone is ' Join Lions, have fun while getting the satisfaction of knowing you have helped others'.

The good news for us was that his wife is now Lion Marilyn Connor and has an active role in the club.

Lions Jack and Marilyn can often be found at car boot sales in Upwell, Outwell and in town where they have been involved in fundraising for the Club.

Lion Bill Batrick, MJF has been a Lion for almost 23 years. He loves it and is always the first to encourage new members to get involved.

He was invited to join when he was working as an emergency medical technician in the Ambulance Service.  He wanted to give something back to the community.  Nowadays membership is still on invitation but you make the first move and we will do the rest.  Lion Bill had known of the Lions Club through his contact with other members. He says the best thing about being a Lion is the feel good factor you get when helping others.  He greatly enjoys the fun we have together and loves seeing members of the community every year when we are out fundraising.  He also enjoys the social events we regularly have together. 

Lion Bill is always there at Christmas going round the streets watching the children's eyes light up as bright as our sleigh.  He was recently awarded a Melvin Jones Fellowship and is currently active in our Zone in supporting many other clubs. His view is that sometimes you just need to give someone a smile, or a word of encouragement to help you feel you made a difference.  The money we collect all goes back to the community and this gives him a special feeling. 

Lion Bill has been Club President 5 times.  He also encouraged his wife to become a member.

Lion Marilyn Batrick has just completed a fantastic year as Club President. Lion Marilyn has worked as a Receptionist at Glennfield Care Centre having managed a Sue Ryder Charity shop for 11 years but started to have some free time. She joined to put her free time to good use. Lion Marilyn was a helper at many club events over the previous years so it was a natural step to join. She especially loves the fun at events and fundraising with other members and making a difference to people's lives especially those who are young and disadvantaged.

In 2019, Lion Marilyn was persuaded to be Mrs Claus at Christmas events and whilst unsure at first really gained in confidence.  She has served as Chair of our Welfare Committee for many years and ensured that those in need got what they needed from the club.  

She recalls one young lad with a serious skin complaint and our donation helped his family get a special bath.  At a Royal Wedding event we organised, she saw the young lad and how improved his life was. This was a very satisfying day.  Lion Marilyn cares about other people and is a credit to the Lions Club International organisation.

Lion Maureen Smart has been a member for 11 years.  When she was at a social event with her husband David, some people who were already Lions members chatted to them and invited them to a Club meeting. They both joined.  Lion Maureen says the best thing about being a Lion is making a difference and being proud when you hear the praise that Lions get.  Her proudest moment was seeing her husband who has since passed away, become Club President.  

Maureen loves meeting the public and has a special soft spot for two very tall young men who always embrace her, she feels like a dwarf.  Maureen encourages anyone to join Lions for fun, social and a feeling of pride in helping others. Lion Maureen also had a successful term as Club President and enjoys the Club social occasions, many of which she organises.

Lion Alan Edmunds and his wife Caroline both joined the Club 4 years ago. They had moved in to area and were looking at the notice board in Tesco. They saw an advert for Wisbech Lions. They had seen Lions in various parts of the country at fetes and Christmas sleigh runs. They applied to join to become involved in community activities and to meet new friends. They did both.  Lion Alan has been involved in organising the yearly activities, reviewing applications for donations, running the Facebook and Instagram page and setting up this web page.  He loves the community activities and enjoys keeping in touch with Lions around the world through Social media. He has taken advantage of many training courses that are available for Lions and organised the Club twinning with Rye Lions, Victoria, Australia in July on his first day as Club President.  He recommends Lions to younger people, especially since Covid 19.  Club membership is great for people who want to do things, organise things and help others while having loads of fun. 

Lion Caroline Edmunds has enjoyed many fundraising activities and maintains club records as Administrator.  She is currently Vice President of the Club.  She has enjoyed the friendship, service and fun the club offers and the chance to meet many fantastic local people.

Lion Christopher Gay has been a member for almost 7 years. His friend Lion Bill Batrick approached him when he was retiring from work and invited him to a Club meeting.  Chris enjoyed the company and said 'they were a great bunch' and applied to join.  He loves raising funds for the people of Wisbech and the friendship he gets from the fun loving members. In common with other members the stand out moment was raising funds for Hope Weston. Lion Chris has been President of the club after years of raising funds and organising our activities and service. He enjoys interacting with the public. He said "Lions everywhere do great work and help others and have fun doing it.  If you have a few hours a week to spare join us - you won't regret it".

Lion Susan Bell  joined Wisbech Lions 4 years ago.  She had not heard of us.  Lion Susan also wanted to be helpful to those in need in our community.  She feels happy that we are doing something worthwhile and also says to anyone thinking about joining us "go ahead, you won't regret it.  You will be with great friends and giving help to those who need it".  Lion Susan has been Assistant to our Treasurer and has been an active fundraiser. She is currently Chair of the Welfare Committee assessing applications for financial help.

Lion June Whichello and Lion Ron Whichello moved to Wisbech from Surrey, three years ago.  June's sister Jacqui had moved to Wisbech with her husband, a few months before.  Jacqui and her husband Chris were regulars at Bygones Cafe and became friends with the owners, Andy and Vikki.  Bygones Cafe has been a staunch supporter of Wisbech Lions Club for many years and regularly contribute time to helping us raise funds and bring a smile to children, especially at Christmas.  Jacqui saw a notice advertising us and was recommended to us by Andy.  Jacqui is now Lion Jacqui Strotten and so enjoyed being with us that she recommended us to June and Ron who also joined us.  They have been members for 2 years.  June says they like the friendliness in the club and the good work we do for the community.  They like being Lions and recommend other like minded people to consider joining.