News from Loddon Valley Lions 2020
We did remember them
Despite the Coronavirus Pandemic, Loddon Valley Lions did, as usual, support the annual Poppy Appeal by the Royal British Legion this year. Our picture shows one of our four wreaths placed on the war memorial at Baughurst on Remembrance Sunday (far right, top row). If the Poppy Sellers weren't able to get to you this year and you would still like to make a donation to the British Legion, Please Click Here.
Our first fundraising event since March
The Corona Virus Pandemic has prevented Loddon Valley Lions from holding many of its fundraising events this year. Our Easter Egg Raffle in pubs and clubs had to be curtailed, our Treacle Fair was originally postponed from June to September but subsequently had to be cancelled altogether and we have had to cancel our Fireworks display in November. However, we were able to hold our Annual Charity Golf Day on 28th September and this proved very popular with 44 participants in a four ball better ball stableford competition over 18 holes. The weather was ideal and the competition keen on the Bishopswood course which was in excellent condition. Our thanks to the Ground Staff for clearing leaves off the course before the start of our competition. To read more and see the results, Please Click Here.
Our Founding Member Celebrates his 90th Birthday
David Fowler was a member of Basingstoke Lions Club at a time when the Club became too large and had a long waiting list of prospective members waiting to join. So, it was decided to set up a new Club to serve the area bounded by Basingstoke, Newbury and Reading. Lion David took a pivotal role in setting up the new club and became it's first President when it was accepted into the fold of Lions Clubs International in October 1975. David has remained a staunch and enthusiastic member ever since and was elected President again in 1997-98 and for a third time in 2013-14. He continues to actively support the club today and had it not been for the Corona Virus Pandemic would. most likely have celebrated his Birthday by helping at the Tadley Treacle Fair, one of the club's main fundraising events each year. Our picture shows our President Vanessa Tolson, suitably socially distanced from David, together with a gift from the club, a card hand stitched by the wife of a club member and a small pot plant for David's wife Pat. David's card depicted many facets of his life including lionism, his love of traction engines and generally tinkering with things mechanical. More pictures can be found by Clicking Here. Note the large Lion on David's doorstep.
Visit to Australia
When away from home, Lions will often take the opportunity of visiting a Lions Club in the area where they are staying, if the Club has a meeting during the period of their visit. This provides an opportunity to see how other Lions Clubs operate and to compare notes and other useful ideas. So, when John Goodchild was in Australia shortly before the Corona Virus outbreak and found there was a Club meeting just three minutes walk from where he was staying, he made contact and was told that he and his wife Judith, a member of the Hook and Odiham Lions Club would be made very welcome at their next meeting. It is traditional at such meetings for the Clubs to exchange bannerettes and our picture shows John (left and his wife Judith (right) receiving Kogarah banners from Robert Greenhill (centre), President of the Kogarah Lions Club. This Club is based about 15 miles south of Sydney and was in the process of raising funds to provide a specialised wheelchair for a child at a local school they have supported for many years.
Covid-19 Support to the Local Community
Those of our members who are able, are providing support to members of local community by collecting prescriptions and delivering to the homes of others who are unable to venture out to their pharmacy and collect them for themselves. These members have also delivered sample containers from local surgeries to homes where people are unable to go out and returned later to deliver the samples to Basingstoke Hospital for analysis. Over 200 such deliveries have been made.
Support to Food Bank and to Step by Step
In conjunction with our local Sainsbury Supermarket, Loddon Valley Lions have provided £500 worth of food to our local Food Bank. WE have also given £500 to Step by Step who help young adults from broken homes in our area to build their confidence and integrate with the community . Because of Covid 19 they needed to employ extra help to cover those off sick.
Food, Handcream and Kitbags to NHS and Surgeries
The proceeds of our Easter Egg Raffles in Kingsclere, together with other donations received by Loddon Valley Lions have been used to provide food treats and hand cleaning materials which have gone to nurses and patients at the hospital from the children’s ward, to elderly people, the bereavement ward , mortuary and Covid wards. We purchased 25 cotton drawstring bags for the nurses uniforms to go into as they have to change at work, a lady in Tadley is also adapting pillowcases to drawstring bags. Tea , coffee , cake and biscuits were given to Holmwood and Morland surgeries. We have also purchased material for a local group making scrubs for medical staff at Basingstoke Hospital.
Easter Egg Raffles
Sadly our fundraising activity of Easter egg Raffles in local Pubs, Clubs and other outlets had to be curtailed as a result of the Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic. However, draws were held and one of our lucky winners decided that her egg should be used to show support for front line NHS workers during the Corona Virus Outbreak. Our picture shows the winner with her egg, which was donated to NHS Staff and workers at the North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke. Loddon Valley Lions have also donated Easter eggs to Bramley Surgery and Applewood Childrens Care Home.
