South West Post - July 2023

In this month’s issue

Final message from Lesley—Worle Lions

Cabinet meeting dates

Plymouth Lions

Foreign coins

Budleigh Salterton Lions

Hearing aids recycling

Yeo Valley Lions

Ilfracombe Lions

Blackmore Vale Lions

Weymouth & Portland Lions

Service Reporting

In Memorium

Message from the editor

The International Association of Lions Clubs

District 105SW

JULY 2023 NEWSLETTER

District Governor - Lion James Mathers

Worle Lions Club was pleased to welcome guests to our June club meeting. District Governor Lesley Chudley, accompanied by Past District Governor Fred Broom.

After the meeting was ending, Lion President Clive Robinson presented the DG with a bouquet of flowers and thanked her for the hard work she had done over her year in office and the encouragement shown to us. This was followed by the usual exchange of club bannerettes.

When Worle Lions Club was presented with the DG’s personal banner. If that was not enough, Leslie said how when she last visited the club, we were struggling with numbers, her thoughts were that although everyone was trying to keep the club going after the pandemic, she wondered if the club would be able to last the year.

DG Leslie made us feel our hard work had been noticed and appreciated, that we not only survived but have been a very

Outgoing District Governor Lesley Chudley presenting Worle Lions Club with the DG’s personal Certificate of Appreciation.

active club throughout her year, attending events including attending district convention. visiting other clubs in our district, Winning the trophy for the Lions district scrap book competition. Leslie said was proud to hear we had raised enough funds to purchase and install a second defibrillator. (To be installed soon in the Worle area)

The meeting ended with District Governor Leslie presenting the club with her personal certificate of appreciation in recognition of our inspirational service. She also said this certificate of appreciation is the only one to be given in our district 105SW by DG Leslie.

We were told she wanted to make this presentation to be her last duty before her year came to an end.

This was totally unexpected by the club, there was rapturous applause after we had all picked our jaws up from the floor.

I am sure the certificate will be framed in gold and placed in a prominent location for all to see. So proud to be a Lion.

Lion John Christopher

Lion James Mathers

Lesley receiving her flowers

Lions Club of Plymouth (CIO)

Opening of Ocean Suite Hyperemisis Room June 2023

Earlier this year, the Lions Club of Plymouth awarded the Plymouth Hospital’s Charity with a cheque to the value of £3,000.00 from a trust fund set up by the family of Reuben and Marie Heathershaw to cover the refurbishment of a Hyperemesis room within the ‘The Ocean Suite’ of the Maternity Department which will help expectant mothers to recover from difficult situations involved in the stages of pregnancy.

The room has now been appropriately decorated and totally refurbished to include two especially adjustable chairs, a nurse call system, a large wall mounted television and broadband, coffee and ice making machinery and some beautiful pictures plus additional seating for caring relatives.

Lion President Jill Owen of the Lions Club of Plymouth accompanied by Reuben and Marie’s Daughter Lynn, some Lion members and members of the Maternity Department nursing staff attended the opening of the room which is understood to be a much-needed facility to help expectant mothers to ease their anxieties through the various stages of pregnancy.

The Lions Club of Plymouth whilst being part of the National and International Lions Network who assist mainly in the disaster struck areas of the world to assist with humanitarian needs, stand by the Lion Motto, ‘WE SERVE’ by serving wherever possible in the local community, by ensuring that our local charities and individual needs such as the homeless are a priority.

The President, Directors and Members of the Lions Club of Plymouth would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who support our fund-raising events and for their donations which allow us to serve the local community in this way.

Lion Roy Russell

Lions and staff at Plymouth Hospital

Lion Lesley Chudley

Gala Week is a great opportunity for the local community and visitors to Budleigh Salterton to have lots of fun and raise lots of money for various

Lions Club said, "Gala Week has once again been a great success with lots of local people and visitors to the town attending the various events. I'm delighted that so many different venues have been used this year including the Public Hall, the Green, the beach and seafront, Knowle Village Hall, the Croquet Club, the Football Club, St Peter's School, the Games Club, the Community Workshop, and the library!

We don't know all the totals of the monies raised yet but I hope the various local charities and other organisations who put on events during the week did well."

Charities and local organisations who held or organised events during Gala Week included Cancer Research UK, Force Cancer, Budleigh Community Workshop, Salterton Drama Club, Budleigh Salterton Games Club, Budleigh Runners, Budleigh Dog Grooming, St Peter's School, Budleigh Salterton Art Club, Budleigh

course Budleigh Salterton Lions Club.

Lion Richard added "of course Gala Week is not all about raising money. It's a great opportunity to involve everyone in the local community. It's a happy time for families, for people young and old to meet up with old friends and to make new ones and for lots of people to have a lot of fun."

The Budleigh Salterton Lions Club Gala Week started in 1982 although originallyit was only a 'Gala Weekend'. Over time as more Charities wanted to be involved it developed and became the 'Gala Week' that we know now, and it lasts 9 days so that the Lions can accommodate everybody who wants to take part.

Lion Richard Allen

Salterton Carnival Club, Hospiscare, Budleigh Salterton Football Club, Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, Love Budleigh, RNLI, Little Valley Animal Shelter, Budleigh Literary Festival and of

Last October Budleigh Lions Club became aware of the plans to create a walkthrough garden dedicated to Peace at the Methodist Church in Budleigh. The garden design has disabled access with seating and aims to provide the whole community and visitors to the town with a peaceful space for quiet reflection and contemplation.

Lion President Richard Allen said, "We were extremely pleased to be able to donate £500 towards the cost of plants and trees for the new Garden of Peace. It is a beautiful space and I, along with several

Lions, were delighted to attend the dedication on Saturday 3rd June. Often when we are out and about litter picking in and around the town, we will end up at the garden in front of Wesley's for refreshments”.

On Tuesday 13th June Budleigh Lions welcomed another new member into the Club, Lion Sue Alderson. Vice President Lion Alex McDiarmid presided over the induction ceremony. Sue has joined in with several Club activities recently including litter picking and helping at the Budleigh Community Food Larder and has already made a difference in the local community. Budleigh Salterton Lions Club now has 40 members.

Lion Richard Allen

Lion Shelley Watts welcomed visitors to her beautiful garden in Budleigh Salterton on Sunday 4th June to raise vital funds for Budleigh Salterton & District Hospiscare. In addition to the amazing koi carp ponds and the stunning plants, trees and shrubs there was lots on offer besides the garden. Lion Shelley and her husband were serving refreshments including tea, coffee, a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and even some Pimms! The cakes were all baked by Shelley's daughter Fern. There were also jigsaws on sale and all the money raised from the afternoon would be going direct to the local charity Budleigh Salterton &

District Hospiscare. Lion Shelley said later "We are so pleased that we raised a total of £176!"

Lion Richard Allen who visited the garden with his wife Deborah who works for Hospiscare said, "We were delighted to have the opportunity to visit Shelley's beautiful garden again and support this much needed local charity. It was a lovely afternoon and the cakes were delicious!"

THERE’S SILVER IN THEM THEIR BATTERIES

Button batteries contain a small amount of silver.

A member of Southend Lions has the ability to extract this and dispose of the rest, environmentally safely.

One kilogram of batteries will yield £50 of silver at today’s prices. Please collect these from care homes, medical outlets, chemists, hearing aid providers or anywhere that will save them for you, and bring them to zone meetings, cabinet, or post them to Lesley Chudley.

All monies generated will go into the MD Vision Screening Programme.

SO we are helping the environment and vision in one go!

WIN! WIN!

Val Dickens

Yeo Valley Lions provide environmental books for local primary schools

The Yeo Valley Lions have provided to all the local primary schools in the Yatton, Claverham, Congresbury and surrounding areas a set of seven children’s books, which deal with environmental issues.

The seven ‘Wild Tribe Heroes’ books are a collection of gentle and engaging true stories about animals that find themselves in trouble when their lives are affected by plastic in our oceans, climate change/global warming, deforestation and habitat loss.

The books are written by environmentalist and mother of four young children, Ellie Jackson, a member of a Cornish Lions Club. Ellie lives by the sea in Looe, Cornwall, and wrote her first book after living on Magnetic Island in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, during which time she and her young family saw a turtle called Duffy being released back into the ocean after a year of treatment for ingesting plastic. “My children and I were transfixed by the sight of this beautiful creature being set free, and subsequently visited a turtle hospital on the mainland to find out more. Once my children had made the link between plastics and turtles, they were inspired to pick up litter from beaches so that they could help protect turtles and other sea life. “The children’s books follow a range of different animals as they overcome problems in their environment. Through the help of people, the animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and released back to their home. The books are beautifully illustrated and aimed at primary and preschool-aged children.

The photograph shows Lion Tom Luker presenting the books to Chestnut Park Primary School Headteacher Tamara Dexter, Assistant Headteacher and Year 1 teacher Emmee Standeven, with the books being beautifully presented by some of the year 1 pupils.

Further information on Wild Tribe Heroes books and ideas on how you can get involved can be found at; wildtribeheroes.com.

Lion

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party & 35 Years Chevron

Ilfracombe and District Lions attended the mad hatter’s tea party at Bicclescombe Park on Sunday 18th June. Raising money for good causes was Lion Jane on Hook a duck, outgoing President John Forsdike on Dip for a Lion. A lucky French student visitor won a Lion to take back to France!

Lion Jane Lucas

President John Forsdike presenting Lion Steve Ashton with his 35 year service chevron.

A Good Day Out

We were delighted to be able to support Jessie May Trust and play a part in providing an enjoyable day out for these families. We hope to repeat this in future.

The weather was kind, the atmosphere relaxed and our equipment was put through its paces! Families were able to enjoy their day in whatever way was suitable for them. The reassurance of having a specialist team of four from the Jessie May Trust with a special support unit in a gazebo, was a major factor in this. Each family was able to decide what they wanted to do and it was very important to us not to intrude on this.

For many years, our Playground at Kingston Seymour has been used by literally hundreds of families who have children with special needs and by various organisations which support them. It has specially designed equipment and space for children to let off steam whilst other family members can relax.

As well as individual families, Yeo Valley Lions has encouraged other groups associated with children with special needs to use the Playground. Stay & Play Days, arranged by North Somerset Council’s SENDCAS Team in school holidays are very popular. Our latest venture was a family picnic organised by Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home helping families of terminally ill children.

No words can express this better than the picture of a young boy and his mum on our specially designed slide. He so desperately wanted to use it like his sister. We were able to make that happen and he laughed for the first time that day. There had to be repeat performances! There are countless other examples.

Our objective for the day was “to help create happy memories for families”. From the comments we received, that objective was achieved.

This is a bit like Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. Lots happening, a lot has happened and there is lots to come. Since we organised the Blackmore Vale Half Marathon back in February, we raised £3000.00 approximately, we have held a bucket collection on Easter Saturday outside a local shop

which raised £233.00 and sold and raffled Easter Eggs which raised £1291.00 with a bit more still to come. Various other raffles have raised £150.00.

A major activity we have launched is called KLIPS, Keep the Lions in Public Sight. It’s partly of making local people, and visitors, more aware or Lions Club

Lion Tim Otter

Our President, Peter Oswick and his wife Jean at the main table before our Charter Lunch.

The leading runners at about the half way point on the North Dorset Villages Marathon.

The Stapleton Arms Easter Egg Raffle. One of 23 which raised approximately £1300.00 for charity.

and partly a membership drive. Our aim is one newsworthy event a month which we hope will get prior notice and then a media release into local journals. We therefore do lots of things which are non-fund raising but increase publicity. These have included helping to marshal the North Dorset Village Marathon. Its run by Dorset Doddlers and you would think it’s a doddle. Stand on the crossroads and direct the runners and the traffic. Well, it is, but this being Dorset a herd of cows decided to join in and go the other way around the circuit. Quick thinking required by LIONS Simon and Gail Cullum!

The weekend of 9-10 June was very special to us. We held our first Charity Bingo session at Henstridge and then on the Saturday it was our Charter. With guests including DG LION Lesley Chudley, FDG LION Fred and Wendy Broom and President of Bridport Lions Club LION Sheila Greenaway with LION guests from Weymouth and

Portland, Dorchester and Gillingham Mere and Shaftesbury. All told 42 of us sat down to lunch at the Green Man at Kings Stag. Accompanied by music from The Beagles we had a good time basking in the sun before and after a convivial and satisfying lunch. Thank you to our guests for coming and to Lesley and Sheila for responding to the welcome and toasts.

We have recently made bequests and gifts to amongst others: a lady needing an electric mobility scooter, laptops to a charity helping educationally disadvantaged children, and allocated a grant to two scouts, from the group that never fails to support us at events, so they can travel to Iceland for some adventure training. We have applied for and received a grant to purchase trees to plant in the local area to commemorate King Charles’ Coronation. The more we do the more the value of “We Serve” becomes apparent. We are now busy preparing for the summer season. We are helping with the Marnhull Festival (MARFEST) on 7 July, marshalling, insurance permitting, the Stur Half Marathon (6 Aug) planning a bucket collection on August Bank Holiday and staffing an entrance and a stall at the Stuminster Newton Cheese Festival, (9-10th Sept). To miss quote the late, great, and very short Dudley Moore “We may be small, but we are ludicrously passionate!”

DG Lion Lesley Chudley, PDG Fred Bloom and wife Wendy and Jean Oswick and Lion Bill Brown, with LION President Peter Oswick and Lion Mike Marks enjoy a convivial charter lunch at the Green Man, King's Stag.

Forty Two members and their guests at Charter Lunch were entertained by "The Beagles"

Please contribute or we will send the Mafia after you! Easter Saturday was bright sunshine and blisteringly hot. We raised £233.00

18,000 Un-sold face masks donated by ASDA Weymouth, a trip to the Emporium in Callington and then Trip 12B to Poland and back.

A busy two weeks is in store for Weymouth & Portland Lion Kevin Brookes. On Thursday 22nd June Kevin

“sendinglovetoukraine” and l have heard so much about the Emporium that l took the first opportunity to visit”. It was a bit of a trek from Weymouth but a nice lunch on the way home in Tavistock made the journey worthwhile”. He also had the opportunity to meet volunteers on the day who were sorting, weighing and packing the aid. Kevin will be driving the 2500 mile round trip to Warsaw in Poland and back with Phil from Tavistock Lions Club.

They leave on Monday 26th June and will return on Friday 30th June.

collected 18,000 un-sold face masks that have been kindly donated by ASDA Weymouth. (Thank you Jackie), These were delivered to the Emporium in

Callington on Friday so that they could be loaded onto the vans ready for trip 12B to Poland leaving on Monday 26th June. Kevin Said, “Trip 12B will be my third trip to Poland with the group of Lions and volunteers, Cornwall and Devon

Lion Kevin Brookes

Lion Lesley Chudley

Lion Lesley Chudley

Thank you to everyone who has contributed this month’s South West Post.

Deadline for articles and photographs for next month’s newsletter is 20th July 2023.

Until then...

Lion Peter Rowe

Lion Kevin Brookes