LVLC NEWS FROM 2017
SANTA WENT OUT AND ABOUT IN DECEMBER AND RAISED OVER £11,000
During December, Loddon Valley Lions took Santa out and about in the Loddon Valley Lions area. Santa made tours on 19 evenings during the month to Tadley, Mortimer, Bramley, Little London, Silchester, Heath End, Baughurst, Kingsclere, Ramsdell, Monk Sherborne, Charter Alley, Sherborne St John, Bramley Green and Pamber Heath. Santa also made one special tour of the MOD estate in Burghfield on one Sunday, which seemed to be much appreciated by that community. Quite a punishing schedule, but Santa survived it all to make his usual world wide delivery of presents on Christmas Eve. Loddon Valley Lions sincerely hope that children, both young and old enjoyed watching and meeting Santa on his tours and thank the local community for their generosity and friendship during these tours. As a result, just over £11,500 was raised to support our humanitarian projects in the local community.
SOME RELAXATION
As well as all the work Loddon Valley Lions do to raise money in support of their humanitarian projects, they also relax from time to time and enjoy a good social life. Recent examples include a lighthearted quiz night, a skittles evening, a trip to the Haymarket Theatre in Basingstoke to see Footloose and, in November 2017, a trip to Kew Gardens to see the Christmas lights. In December, we shall be taking a night off from Father Christmas duties to enjoy a Christmas Dinner at the Old Mill, Aldermaston, followed by entertainment, together with our partners. Our pictures show some of the sights we viewed at Kew.
Our thanks to Lynne Bardell and John Goodchild for their photos.
TREACLE FAIR FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
The two main beneficiaries of Loddon Valley Lions Treacle Fair this year were the Tadley Branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau Please Click Here for More Information and Sebastian's Action Trust, Please Click Here for More Information.Sebastian's Action Trust had made a presentation to the Club earlier in the year which had focussed on the work of their respite home at North Waltham, near Basingstoke. Members were impressed by the work of the Trust and it was agreed that they be one of the main beneficiaries of our 2017 Treacle fair. Our picture shows Lion President Peter Haggith (Left) presenting a cheque for £3,000 to Cllr Robert Taylor, JP., Community Partnerships Officer for Sebastian's Trust (centre), with Bob Prevost from the Lions (Right) during a visit to the Trust's Bluebells Centre at North Waltham.
FIREWORKS BRING IN OVER £8,000
Loddon Valley Lions held another successful Fireworks Extravaganza on the evening of Saturday 4th November 2017. The event was attended by several thousand people who came from far and wide as well as the local area in and around Tadley. As well as two separate fireworks displays, the first being designed e
specially for the younger children (see right), there was a competition for the best Guy, Fairground Ammusements, a Food Village, Bar and Laser Light Show. After the childrens' display, the Guys were judged by members of Loddon Valley Lions and Breeze Radio presenter David Perry and are pictured with their makers, left. The overall winner was unanimously judged to have been made by Lewis and Ellis from Basingstoke (second from the right in our picture). The Guys were then ceremoniously paraded to the bonfire to meet their fate cheered on by the crowd. The main display followed and was highly spectacular. David Perry and Loddon Valley Lion Martin Slatford provided commentry for most of the evening and the main display was synchronised to music. All in all, a very successful evening for Loddon Valley Lions who are most grateful to the staff and management of Barlows Park for allowing us to use their superb venue for this venture and to Calleva Football Club for providing the Bar. At the time of writing, not all the bills are in, but our Treasurer is confident that we will have made over £8,000 to support our humanitarian projects in the local community. Our sincere thanks to all who supported the event, another fine example of 'Ordinary People - Amazing Things'.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL GOLF DAY
Loddon Valley Lions 23rd Annual Charity Golf Day was held on Monday 4 September 2017 at Bishopswood Golf Course, Tadley for more information, Please Click Here. 36 Golfers participated in the event which raised £1,500 for St Michael's Hospice in Basingstoke for more information please click here. For the most part, the weather was overcast with very little wind, but the grass was quite wet from previous overnight rain, stopping the ball from rolling on very far. This year, there was an additional hazard to negotiate. In addition to the Sin Bin on the 5th and 14th holes (a nearest the pin competition was also held on these holes), where payers were fined if their first shot did not end up on the green, there was another sin bin on the 7th and 16th holes (where there were also prizes for the longest drive), where players whose tee shot did not end up on the fairway were also fined. Together, these two sin Bins raised over £80. There was also a putting competition and participants were also invited to participate in a grand tombola and auction. Our picture shows (L to R) Lynne Grimshaw representing the Hospice, Peter Haggith President of Loddon Valley Lions G Pickup and R Lycett the winning pair and Loddon Valley Lions Peter Grayson the organiser of the event, following the presentation of prizes. For details of the prizes, winners and our sponsors, Please Click Here. Loddon Valley Lions wish to sincerely thank the management and staff at Bishopswood for hosting us again for this event and, also those who sponsored the event, whose details can be found by clicking the above link.
LODDON VALLEY LIONS SUPPORT LOCAL EVENTS
On Saturday 22 July, St Paul's Church in Tadley held their annual Fete and on 29 July, Ethan's Journey charity held a fundraiosing event on Tadley Common. Loddon Valley Lions were there to support both events with their fundraising Water Pistol Duck Shoot and also with a PR tent to raise general awareness of our activities in the local community. Unfortunately, neither event was blessed with good weather and attendees visiting St Paul's Fete, probably got wetter from the rain than if they had been the targets of the water pistol shoot! Inclement weather at the Ethan's Journey event resulted in a poor attendance, with many stalls packing up well before the end of the event. The intention had been for the Lions to raise funds at both events and donate the proceeds to each of the organisations. Regrettably however, these were minimal in both cases. However, we understand that St Paul's Fete did make a worthwhile profit overall. Our picture shows competitors trying their luck at the Ethan's Journey Event.
TADLEY TREACLE FAIR 2017 Raises over £10,000
Loddon Valley Lions sincerely thank all those who helped make our 2017 Tadley Treacle Fair a resounding succ
ess. The support of the public on the day was fantastic, as was that from all our sponsors and participants. This support has enabled us to raise over £10,000 to be shared between our main beneficiaries and our humanitarian projects in the local community and the wider world.
THANKYOU TO EVERYONE CONCERNED.
The main beneficiaries of our 2017 Treacle Fair will be Sebastian's Action Trust Please Click Here for More Information and The Tadley Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Please Click Here for More Information, as well as many other Lions charitable causes, mainly within the local community we serve.
On the Sunday, there were arena displays, Childrens Area, Charity stands providing information about their activities and an opportunity for them to fundraise, the Craft Marquee, Trade Stands, the Loddon Valley Lions Tombola and refreshment tent, the funfair and many other activities to keep the whole family occupied and amused throughout the day.
