December & January Update: December was a busy month, we were pleased to be able to help so many local organisations and families. Special thanks to customers of The Broads and Hotel Wroxham who year on year place gifts for local children under Christmas Trees in the hotels. Lions VP Mike Barker and Tom Tungate did their Santa Claus duties before Christmas distributing them along with food hampers supplied by Richard Hadleigh of Londis. We had our annual bucket rattle outside Londis with the proceeds of nearly £200 going to the Night Shelter.

It’s nice to be able to present money to local charities, during December we had the opportunity to make our selves visible at Christmas events held by Rackheath CP, Salhouse Guides and Friends of Coltishall CP – we thank them all for allowing us to take part in those events and gain a little publicity with our presentation cheques.

Our shop continues to surprise all, the girls’ work very had sorting the donations, steaming the clothes and grading and pricing the bric a brac. If any one would like to be a friend of the Lions I am sure Lion Lesley would be able to use more pairs of hands in her rota of volunteers. It’s not an everyday requirement, an afternoon or morning once a week or fortnight – who knows, it’s infectious and fun and could lead to more. The draw for those who give items, held every month, saw a cheque for £100 go to the Norfolk Fibromyalgia Group on behalf of Jean Kimberley, The Avenues Wroxham. Once again special thanks to the Salvation Army for a 2 car donation – its great to receive large amounts,

space is limited in the sorting area and as with the SA a telephone call to say you’re coming is appreciated.

We have boxed up our first batch of spectacles from our collection points, we have one in Chemists in the High Street Coltishall, thank you Robert and the girls for keeping the sweet papers out. Two Age concern shops and Anglia Optics in Norwich and Pennington & Yates in Hoveton also have bins. You can just about pack 100 pairs in good size 6 bottle wine boxes, 4 boxes of 350 + pairs are on the way to Chichester Lions for sorting and despatch to countries less fortunate than ours – many thanks for your contributions and keep them coming.

The Lions never stand still but January & February are not traditionally very active in other fundraising events. We do however have our internal functions, Wroxham & Hoveton always hosts the January Zone Meeting of clubs in our Area – it is planned for January, as it is usually the worst month to travel. In February we have a lunch on the anniversary of the Clubs Charter, the 27th year of continual fun and fundraising. Our guest speaker this year is to be Peter Mendham, the Norfolk Fund raiser of the East Anglian Air Ambulance who will have to sing for his lunch.

We have started to make preliminary arrangements for our 50/50 Auction in April – it is a long way off but only 2 more Marlpit editions to make our mark. We collect good items of furniture, bric a brac, pictures, garden equipment and sell them at auction in Hoveton Village Hall, another guest at our Charter Lunch is Martyn Fox of Keys gives his services free at the Auction. Please think of us – last year we brought a tear to Peter Mendham’s eye with another cheque for £1500.

More Information next Month

Thank you for the kind words we received following the presentations and these monthly articles. The Lions Clubs International are pleased to be Ordinary People doing Ordinary things, we need more of us though – why not give us a look, we have good fun and would welcome you.

Lion President David Pye
davidpye@lineone.net