Our Club Supporting Other Clubs, Districts and MD

When any of our club members visit;

• Another lions club charter, or meeting
• A District or MD Convention
• A European Forum like Europa
• Lion share
• Supporting another club or charity, like the SWANS or Crocus Sapphires

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR THE LIONS DISABLED SPORTS DAY JULY 20^TH.

“YOUR CLUB YOUR WAY”, BUT WE CAN ACHIEVE GREATER THINGS TOGETHER

For several years now, Lions Clubs in South Essex have come together to provide a Sports Day for Disabled people across the south of England. Various clubs for disabled send representatives to take part in various sporting activities including Archery, Javelin and table tennis. They come to a secondary School in Hadleigh, Essex on a Saturday in late July. They all get a badge for participating and the winners of the events receive a medal in a ceremony attended by local Dignitaries, including Local MPs as well as District Officers.

The event is run and financed by a collaboration of the Lions Clubs of Leigh-on-Sea; City of Southend; Eastwood; Castle Point and Rayleigh. Assistance is provided by other clubs across the District including our club, but we also have help from Rotary, Sea Cadets and others.

All volunteers agree that this fabulous event is worthwhile - just seeing the expressions on the faces of the participants. They get a light lunch and drink as well – so it is a proper day out for them to have fun.

This year, the event is booked for Saturday 20^th July 2024. If you would like to help out, then contact one of the following: -

Tim Watts - tim@popup.plus.com, PDG Tony Prior - Anthony.t.prior@gmail.com - PDG George Harris - george.eileenharris@sky.com or Robyn Banks - districtdpo@gmail.com

Robyn, Rick, Sandie and Tont will be helping out

Sarah Banks Little Princess Trust 16th April 2024

On 16th April Rick and Robyn's Daughter / Sandie and Tony's Granddaughter will be having approximately 14 inches cut off her hair in Southchurch.

The hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to make into real-hair wigs for children and young people who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or other conditions such as Alopecia.

Her target is to raise £500 to help the charity give free access for children to these wigs.

Sarah works for Olympus Keymed in Southend, and they have agreed to double her donation, up to £1000!

She also held a cake and bake sale and raised £120

We as a club donated £50 + 12.50 gift aid

Sarah raised a total of £1072 + £201.63 gift aid + £1000 from her employers - Well done Sarah and Keymed 

Normandy Visit 11th - 15th April 2024

Robyn and Rick joined up with Jaap and Clare De Jong, Richard and Jackie Williams, Ralph and Jan Watson, and Richard and Tina Stannard, all from District 105CW. We headed over to Caen, Normandy to team up with Pascale Grieve and Lions from her club Caen Reine Mathilde from District N103. 

Thursday 11th April 2024 Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen.

Friday 12th in the morning we all picked 4000 tulips between us. In the afternoon the first group of mixed lions (English and French) began selling tulips, whilst the rest of us visited the Bayeux Tapestry. As we walked through Bayeux we were pleasently surprised to see lots of the shops were having art painting on their windows to commemorate 80 years since the Normandy landings, many saying 'thank you for liberating us' in English.

Saturday 13th again in mixed groups of English and French lions, over 2 hypermarket sites Hyper U and Carrefour, and 6 x 2 hour sessions, we managed to sell all our tulips and raised €1000, which is to go to childrens cancer research in France.

In the afternoon we visited Gold Beech to see the 1,475 lifesize silhouettes that represent the 1,475 British servicemen and two women who died on D-Day and the British Normandie landing Memorial. The silhouettes are being installed to commemorate 80 years since the Normandy landings.

Robyn and Rick couldn't resist a quick photo oppertunity at Lion Sur Mur (Lion on Sea)! We followed that with a big group dinner in the evening.

Friday and Saturday was glorious sunshine, a welcome break for all of us!

Sunday 14th we visited Mont Saint-Michel.

Monday 15th we visited Medico at Le Havre and had a very interesting tour of the glasses recycling facility by Medico President Gerard Chaline. Rick and Robyn also managed to donate 3000 pairs of spectacles (2400 from Chelmsford Lions and 600 from our club)! Afterwards we had a group lunch.

Medico processes and ships out 5 million pairs of glasses each year. The glasses are inspected, and sorted into ok to re-use or damaged. The damaged pairs are recycled, with the glass lenses taken out, crushed in a machine on site, then sold to a glass manufacturing company. Likewise the frames are sold on to a company who recycles them. All the money raised from recycling goes to cover the cost of shipping the refurbished and graded glasses to where they are needed.

The current projects that were being prepared are

• 12000 pairs to Angola
• 600 pairs to Senegal
• 5000 pairs to Congo

Robyn and Rick then spent a few days visiting the WW1 and WW2 battlefields, cemetaries and memorials on our way home via Calais. At Thiepval Memorial we were pleasantly surprised to find a bench donated by lions 105E, with an additional plaque from 105CE in memory of Serge Weibel, who was from the French district that we are twinned with. We tied a poppy to the bench.

Thiepval Memorial Lions bench was placed there by Jean Bowden, John Saynor, Lynne Roberts, Theresa Walker, Alcon Biddulph from Hykeham, and a couple of others.

Hastings Half Marathon 24th March 2024

Robyn and Rick went down to Sunny Hastings on Sunday to help marshall at the Hastings Half Marathon. They were roughly 10 miles along the 13 mile course and were even trusted with a road closed sign and cones!.

Ethiopan runner Seyfu Jamaal won the race out of 2587 runners. He was trying to set a course record held by a Kenyan runner, but didnt quite make it.

Thankyou to Hasting Lions who donated an amazing £250 to our club to thank us for helping out!

21st March 2024 Easter eggs

On Thursday 21st March President Moira handed over 20 Easter eggs to Julie Taylor for her to distribute to children in the area who will not otherwise receive one.

105CE lions Convention at Dunston Hall 15th - 17th March 2024

Rick, Robyn and Angela are attending the 105CE lions Convention at Dunston Hall 15th - 17th March 2024.

Rick, Robyn and Angela attended the Bleed Control bag and Social Media workshops on Friday

Pictured here at the cops and robbers host night on Friday, Rick won the play your cards right game!!

Their table at dinner, Joined by Ralph and Jan from Rugby Rokeby club in 105CE, Nicola Karen from Swaffham Lions and Lioness branch club also won the colouring competition

Rick and Robyn were joined by Young Ambassador Mollie Speed and International guest PID Gary Anderson from Grand Rapids, Michigan to judge the new Lions Bakeoff competition

President Moira and Mark joined them for the business session on Saturday

Robyn and Rick made it into DG Paul's District newsletter where he thanks them for helping to judge the Bake Off competition at Convention.

Full DG Bulletin

Knit-N-Natter 14th March 2024 Maldon District Councilor Kevin Jennings

At the Knit-N-Natter session on 14th March 2024 Moira and Mark invited Maldon District Councilor Kevin Jennings (a former Maldon Leo) to come and talk about the proposed closure of St Peter's Hospital. He also helped some of the members to complete the rather long consultation questionnaires.

SWANS quiz 4th March 2024

A very credible 5th place at the Witham and Maldon SWANS quiz on Monday 4th March 2024 at the RAFA club, Witham!

Robyn, Rick and Angela with members of the Crocus Sapphires from Saffron Walden

January 2024 Stroke Unit at Brentwood Community Hospital

Louisa heard of a lady in Tiptree who works at Stroke Unit at Brentwood Community Hospital. She wanted less than 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles with an adult theme, books with large size text and board games, so that family members can spend quality time with the patients.

Louisa has found some suitable items in our stock, 7 jigsaw puzzles, 8 games and 6 books, and has donated them.

January 2024 Worry Worms and Octopussies 

Louisa met a SEND Coordinator from Woodham Walter Church of England primary school

The school buy in 'Worry Monsters' to help calm nervous or upset children, but these are too bulky to fit in a pocket discretely. Louisa offered to make 'Worry Worms' which are much smaller, and would fit in a pocket. The school have asked for 20 at least, and have asked for Octopussies as well.

By 1st April 2024 Robyn had knitted 18 Octopussies 

17th - 18th November 2023 New Century Lions Club charter

Rick and Robyn had a lovely weekend attending the New Century Lions Club charter at the Imperial Hotel Great Yarmouth

Robyn and Rick joined up with Chelmsford Lions for the Friday night quiz and found time to walk arround The Venetian Waterways and Gardens  

6th November 2023 SWANS Quiz

Rick and Robyn attended the SWANS quiz night at the RAFA club in Witham. We came 8th in the quiz, but Rick did win a nice hand bag in the raffle, which we think goes lovely with the new club t shirts!

2nd November 2023 Poppy Appeal stall

Tony and Sandie were out collecting for the poppy appeal in Hadleigh Morrisons again after helping on 27th October

5th November 2023 Poppy Appeal stall

Rick and Robyn have been out doing a poppy appeal collection again in Hadleigh Morrisons today!

31st October 2023 Poppy Appeal stall

Rick and Robyn have been helping out the Castle Point Lions on the Poppy Appeal stall today at Morrisons in Hadleigh

Global Winning Women

Global Winning Women – our group in Zambia
Winning Women is a franchise run by a very sensitive, strong woman called Allison Marlowe. There were twelve groups UK wide at the peak. Allison was delighted for Rosemary Cunningham to start the Southend group and we launched in October 2014 with fifty women at Leigh Community Centre.

Ten percent of Winning Women fees goes to the Mumba Children’s Project and at our launch we bought goats, chickens and maize seed for a women’s group in Zambia. Fees now go to support a tiny school, feeding the children each day and helping pay teacher’s wages.

We had an evening meeting with speakers each month and grew to have monthly morning meetings in Chelmsford, Brentwood and central London too.

We donated 4 suitcases to this group in october 2023 to help transport goods out to a school in Africa

This is also the lady who donated all the wool to our club that we turned into blankets for the homeless, and the school books, which we hope to send to a school in Africa

7th October 2023 Autum Forum, Peterborough

President Moira, Robyn and Rick attended Autum Forum at Peterborough on Saturday 7th October 2023

Robyn finished the edging on a blanket, whilst Michelle and Lynne from Trinity Branch Club of Peterborough Lions sewed some squeres together to start the next blanket, and Moira made 7 Worry Worms

All whilst listening to everyones ideas for fundraising

Fashion Show 30th September 2023 John Lewis, Chelmsford

Some members accompanied by some of the SWANS attended a Fashion Show at John Lewis, Chelmsford run by Chelmsford Lions on Saturday 30th September 2023

It was supporting Grapevine, a club for adults with learning disabilities in Chelmsford, and was run in conjunction with John Lewis.

9th September 2023 Lions Apple Gleaming

Rick and Robyn helped pick apples at a farm in Nottinghamshire, that would otherwise have gone to waste.

This is a projest that Rick and Robyn had heard PDG Chris, who is also the MD Hunger Officer, speak about often.

The apples were donated to a foodbank

8th September 2023 Lions charity shop in Wroxham

Sandie and Tony found the Lions charity shop in Wroxham, Sandie is pictured here with Lydia who was volunteering in the shop and also with her items purchased!

The police visit to Knit-N-Natter group 7th September 2023

Mark and Moira run a weekly Knit-N-Natter group on behalf of Julie from St Peters Hospital, Maldon

It is weekly on Thursdays at Maldon Methodist Church

The group also make squares for our blankets

28th - 29th June 2023 Royal Norfolk Show

Next stop was 2 fun filled days at the Royal Norfolk show. We had 6 members in attendance giving out Guardian Angel wrist bands - Sandie, Mark, Moira, Angela, Robyn and Rick.

The weather might have been a little up and down, not often you can get sun burn and a soaking at the same event!

Whilst walking round we saw this fabulous knitted buckingham palace, we were in awe of the work that had gone into it.

At the end of the 2nd day we were represented in the sunset parade at the end of a lovely show.

23rd June 2023 Chelmsford Lions Charter

Its been a busy final week of the Lionistic year, starting with attending the Chelmsford Lions Charter night. A great night was had by our President Robyn, Sandie and Tony

11th June 2023 Leigh Charter

President Robyn, Rick, Sandie and Tony attended Leigh Lions Charter at Saxon Hall, Aviation Way, Southend

7th May 2023 Kings Coronation Afternoon Tea

On Sunday Sandie invited members from both our own club and also the Witham and Maldon SWANS for afternoon tea to celebrate the Kings coronation. Tony of course took great pride in decorating his house!

5th - 7th May 2023 MD Convention at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park Newcastle

Our President Robyn and newest member Rick attended MD convention in Newcastle. Robyn was also there with her GDPR stand and took part in the New Voices presentation on stage. Looks like they had a lovely weekend!

18th April 2023 Peterborough Lions charter

Our president Robyn and newest member Rick attended Peterborough Lions charter last weekend.

They had a very enjoyable time and were intrigued by a different way of running a raffle! No numbers were called out, but the winning tickets were pre attached to prizes.

CW Convention 31st March - 2nd April 2023 Best Western, Coventry

Our president Robyn recently attended the 105CW Convention at Best Western Coventry with our newest member Rick. A great time was had!

Robyn won ‘The Newbie’ competition - gaining signatures from Lions in senior positions - Although Robyn is a District officer, this was her first CW Convention.

Lady Godiva speaks to the Convention - this Lady Godiva spoke about her charitable foundation.

CE Convention 17th - 19th March 2023 Dunston Hall, Norwich

Recently at our own 105CE convention our club was well represented by President Robyn, Rick, Angela, Mark and Moira.

Another lovely weekend was had by those who attended.

Friday Host night was a Safari theme.

Rick jointly won ‘The Newbie’ competition - gaining signatures from Lions in senior positions

Rudolph Drive St Peters Hospital, Maldon December 2022

Robyn won the Rudolph Drive while helping to raise funds for St Peters Hospital, Maldon

14th November 2022 SWANS Pudsey Drive

Our President Robyn and Rick are out having fun at the Witham and Maldon SWANS pudsey drive

Children in Need 12th November 2022

Sandie, Tony, Mark and Moira helping Braintree lions at freeport on 12th November 2022

26th - 30th October 2022 Europa Forum Zegrab

Robyn and Rick attended Europa Forum in Zegrab, Croatia

Robyn, in her role as MD Data Protection Officer had a meeting with the European Privacy Working Group

Robyn and Rick attended a meeting about the new Lion Portal

Rick got badged up by IP Brian Sheehan and visited castles!

22nd October 2022 Chelmsford Lions Sharing Service Ideas Day

Our president Robyn and members have been out and about attending Chelmsford Lions charter and the sharing service ideas day. Robyn even managed to finish a blanket that was part of the demonstration during the day! We also presented a cheque to the District Govenors wife's appeal.

14th October 2022 Chelmsford Lions Charter

Robyn and Rick attended at the Ivy Hill Hotel, Margaretting

24th September 2022 Littleport Lions Charter

Tonight President Robyn, accompanied by Angela attended the Littleport Lions club charter, looking lovely ladies!

9th July 2022 Witham Carnival Tea

We helped the SWANS provide the Witham Carnival Tea. It was great to be back and see some familiar faces!

30th June 2022 Royal Norfolk Show

This week Robyn, Mark, Moira and Angela went to the Royal Norfolk Show to assist with giving out Guardian Angel wrist bands to children and vulnerable persons.

These contain contact details for the guardian should a person become lost in the showground.

Louisa was also there but was instead competing at the show, staying overnight meant she had some free time in the evening......don't worry the knitting needles made an appearance!

Royal Norfolk Show gave us a £100 donation for our help

Md Convention 29th April to 1st May 2022

Robyn, Rick, Mark and Moira attended Md Convention in Birmingham

Robyn and Rick made a 24" x 24" cake for for Council Chair Richard Williams

Robyn took part in a Lions presentation on behalf of Council Chair Richard Williams

Feeding The 5000 Colchester 30th October 2021

Feeding The 5000 was a District CE event at Culver Square, Colchester. President Robyn dressed up as a pumpkin (apparently it didnt take too much persuasion) and Club Director Sandie helped to feed 5000 local prople pumpkin soup, pumpkin risotto and various pumpkin deserts for free.

The pumpkins were gleaned from local farms which otherwise would have been wasted, and cooked by Colchester Academy.

This was a food festival designed to educate the public on the problem of food waste and celebrate the easy, fun and tasty solutions to tackle this global problem.

Lioness Conference 14th - 16th February 2020

Members attended and helped out at the last Lioness Conference held at the Best Western hotel, Marks Tey

In the breakout session in the afternoon Rick held a workshop in how to make a red rose bud from icing (being Valentines weekend)

Pontefract Lioness Lantern Festival 19th October 2019

Members joined in Pontefract Lioness Lantern Festival 19th October 2019

October 2019 Copdock Bike Show

John and Sue have just spent an extremely cold and wet Sunday morning, helping Ipswich Lions with the Copdock Bike Show. There was very heavy rain, but cars and motorbikes needed marshalling . Unfortunately, due to the weather, the event wasn’t anywhere near as busy as last year, but the bikers who braved the weather seemed to enjoy the event.

Ipswich Lions gave the club a donation of £62.50 and actually made a loss, but still insisted on giving us a donation for helping.

Paddock Wood Lioness Certification Anniversary 6th October 2019

Members attended Paddock Wood Lioness Certification Anniversary lunch

4th - 6th October 2019 Europa Forum Tallinn, Estonia

After being appointed as MD Data Protection Officer on 2nd October 2019, Robyn was invited to attend Europa Forum in Tallinn to represent MD105 and advise senior Lions on Data Protection - GDPR issues

29th September 2019 Big Breakfast

Members attended and helped at Witham Lioness Big Breakfast

7th October 2018 Ipswich Lions Bike Show

Sue and John helped Ipswich Lions with marshalling at their Annual Bike show at Trinity Park, Ipswich
A donation of £200 was made to our club from Ipswich Lions for helping them

May 2018 Bungay Lions Annual Car Ralley

Sue and John helped out at Bungay Lions Annual Car Ralley at Evesham Hall
Lots of people attended, and there was lots of cars

Bungay Lions gave our club a £75 donation for helping them

12th February 2018

Members attended Witham and District quiz

7th December 2017 Felixstowe Bind Association

Serving our community. Our Members helped cater for 70+ members of the Felixstowe Bind Association at their Christmas Party.

19th August 2017 Sandie thanks for Zone support

Sandie invited the clubs in her Zone 2B to a BBQ at her house in Maldon to thank them for their support over the previous 3 years. As well as a BBQ there was live entertainment in the garden

Clubs in her Zone were, the Lions Clubs of Mersea, Braintree, Clacton, and the Lions and Lioness Clubs of Chelmsford and Witham

A Cheque was also presented to Christine and Rosie who sponsor an African school

8th July 2017 Queens Tea for Witham Carnival

Members helped prepare the Queens Tea for Witham Carnival

28th June 2017 Norfolk Show day 2

Sandie, Tony, Angela and Sheila helped out giving wristbands to children with their parents phone number on, in case they got lost or separated

They also promoted Lions and took part in the parade

13th May 2017 Witham and District 30th Certificarion Celebration

Ella visited Witham Lioness 30th Certification Celebration with several of our Members She will be staying in Witham for a while as part of her travels around East Anglia.

30th March 2017 Bungay Lions Country Fair and Car Rally

Members assisted Bungay Lions with a Country Fair and Car Rally at Earsham Hall, Bungay

Bungay Lions said Great write up in todays B&B. Well done everyone

Club Secretary Sue received a cheque from Bungay Lions President Jane as a 'Thank You' for helping at the Car Rally and Country Fayre.

17th March 2017 EA Convention

Members attended EA Convention at the Holliday Inn, Peterborough West

Ella had a wonderful weekend at our District Convention, she is now on her way to Saffron Walden.

It has been suggested that Ella is a little worse for alcohol. This is most definitely not the case! However that cannot be said about some of our Members.

22nd February 2017 Lioness 40th Convention

Members attended the Lioness 40th Convention

6th November 2016 Paddock Wood Charter

Tony, Moira, Sandie Sylvia and Sheila at the venue for Paddock Wood Charter

26th June 2016 Bungay Area Lions 42nd Charter Anniversary

Some of our Members travelled to deepest Norfolk to help Bungay Area Lions Celebrate their 42nd Charter Anniversary. The evening was held in the spectacular rooms of Earsham Hall. Bungay Lions are our sponsoring Lions Club.

21st May 2016 Swaffam Lioness Club 25th Charter

On 21st May 2016 some of our members travelled to Swaffam to help Swaffam Lioness Club celebrate their 25th Charter