Club News

29th June 2008 - Southport Lions Presidential Handover

Our 2008 Handover was most generously hosted by Lion Alan and Rosemary Havard who, fortunately, have enough space under cover to deal with any vagaries that the weather might send, or even any rain showers. True to form we had a few of those, so Lions and Guests gained a little extra exercise darting from in to out and back again.

A sumptuous buffet was complemented by a glass or two of carefully selected accompaniment, and the darting in and out became a little slower as the afternoon progressed. Not that there was a general descent into immobility. A number of activities were available to keep the corpuscles on the move: boules, a treasure hunt, counting the number of fish in the pond and the number of herbs in the garden, occupied a pleasant hour or so before the business end of the meeting arrived.

Outgoing President David Linden is seen here, looking strangely leave-happy as he prepares to handover the burden of the Presidential Insignia to incoming President Joan Rylands [and to anyone without direct experience, the forty six name bars, and the Southport Crest, together weigh a considerable amount, whether in ounces or grammes - it's just that it seems heavier in these metric thingies]

But it could be, of course, that there is another reason for OGP David to look so pleased. It could be that he has just caught sight of a rather special chocolate cake which was about to be presented...

...while ICP Joan is looking happy because she has yet to discover the full weight of responsibility which has just descended on her shoulders!

By the end of the afternoon, everyone agreed that we had all had a very enjoyable afternoon, that the business had gone just so, that Lion David was thanked for all his hard work, and that Lion Joan was wished the very best for her year of office.

16th February 2008  Smorgasbord 2008

The Smorg is back with a vengeance! More than seventy Members and Guests attended the function and a great time was had by all. But, of course, the glittering and glamorous front concealed the truly monumental efforts of Phil at the West Lancs Yacht Club, and the Lions Team, aka the Usual Suspects, who were there at the crack of sparrows on the Saturday morning to start the preparations.

Now we wouldn't like you to think that there is anything sexist about the work assignments here. Every year, dozens of fully qualified men volunteer for kitchen duty, and every year we are all rejected, and told to go away and blow up balloons. Which is precisely what we do, though with the theme of 'Valentine's Day' this year, some of the balloons came in a rather curious format.

But whether it was due to an undetected escape of gas from the balloon cylinder, or purely natural high spirits, the gents completed their assigned tasks with a will. And a Dave, and a Chris, and a Steve, and an Arnold....

...and of course, by this time, the oddly shaped red things had become full-blown heart-shaped Valentine treats. Mind you, some of them were rather more than full-blown. More like exploded. But then, as the kitchen staff never tire of reminding us, boys will be boys. But the boys did quite well with their other task: setting the tables...

...but as always, the end result is the product of a real team effort. Well done, the Usual Suspects

1st July 2007  Lions Awayday and Presidential Handover

One of the most popular of the Club's social events a year or two back was a visit to Millerbeck Light Railway, at the invitation of our own Lion Arnold Gorse. This year, the members, partners in service and friends of Southport Lions paid a return visit and combined the pleasure of the day out with the business of installing Lion David Linden as the Club's President for the year 2007-8.


Lion Arnold in charge of the 1357 from Millerbeck to Millerbeck Junction

The rain which fell, occasionally, was not the wrong sort of rain, but it did mean that seats in those carriages with roofs were in heavy demand.



But, notwithstanding this, we see here our Lion Treasurer impersonating one, or more, of the stars from 'The Railway Children' but possibly just a little late.

The main purpose of the day was that moment which comes round every year at this time, the installation of the new President. After an extremely enjoyable lunch, outgoing President Lion Ann Smith handed the awesome responsibility, and the chain of office, to incoming President Lion David Linden.



And after a round of applause,  a vote of thanks to IPP Lion Ann, and best wishes to the new Pres, members started to make their way home. Those who went the old fashioned way down the A6 had a very pleasant trip. Those who took the modern motorway M6 probably wished they hadn't, as a traffic jam held them up for absolutely ages! Oh dear.

12th May 2007  Southport Lions 45th Charter Anniversary

Saturday 12th May was the celebration of the forty fifth anniversary of the granting of a Charter to Southport Lions Club, and more than seventy Lions, partners and guests assembled at the Prince of Wales Hotel on Lord Street to mark the event. Guest of Honour for the evening was District Governor Elect Mike Hendrickson, who congratulated the members on the enthusiasm with which they approached their charitable and social activities!

During the course of the evening, Lion President Ann Smith presented Long Service Certificates to no fewer than seventeen members of the Club, marking service to Lions of varying periods between five years and thirty two years.

24th June 2006 Lion Ann Smith Installed as Southport Lions President

The annual handover is always an evening of mixed emotions. There is the satisfaction of looking back at the achievements of the year just completed, and anticipation of the year ahead. But no incoming Club Officer is without a certain degree of apprehension - and so it should be!

The Handover this year was a dual function, shared with our colleagues from the City of Liverpool Lions Club, and held at the Scarisbrick Hotel, in Southport. A most excellent meal was followed by the formal passing of the batons to the new teams. The photo shows the new Immediate Past President Jean investing the new President Ann with the chain of office.

Southport Lions Club Inducts New Members

One of the challenges faced by any Club these days is attracting and keeping members. With so many pressures on time, it is very easy to concentrate only on family and job. And this is very understandable. But we all need outside interests, and helping others through service clubs such as Lions can provide welcome relief from daily stresses and strains.

Southport Lions have welcomed seven new members during the past year, including two couples, and we hope that our numbers will continue to grow.

6th July 2005 Lion Jean Tabron Installed as Southport Lions President

Former Vice President Lion Jean Tabron was formally installed as President of Southport Lions Club at a handover ceremony on 6th July 2005. Outgoing President Chris Leather passed on the best wishes of all the Club Members for Jean's year of office. A very pleasant Dinner followed, which was enjoyed by more than forty members and guests

8th June 2005 Lion Neil McQuaid is lost for words!

Wednesday 8th June saw the annual Sefton Sports Council Awards, a glittering event held at the Royal Clifton Hotel, Southport. An audience of nearly 200 people celebrated the recognition given to volunteers and amateur sportsmen and women from around the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton. A total of sixteen categories were honoured, including the Disabled Sports Personality of the Year, an award sponsored by Southport Lions Club.

The final award of the evening, however, was the Lifetime Achievement Award, and no-one could have been more surprised than its recipient, Lion Neil McQuaid (on the left of the photo.) The award was given for a number of years (Neil is only a youngster, after all!) of totally dedicated service to sport and the development of youth throughout the area. And incidentally, Lion Neil is also, in his spare time (!) the Welfare Committee Chairman for Southport Lions Club. Congratulations!!!

23rd February 2005 Lions & Rotary Serving Together

The District Governor of Lions District 105BN Lion George Kissane(centre) and the District Governor of Rotary District 1180 (left) Rtn Colin James exchange greetings and souvenir banners under the watchful eyes of the President of Southport Links Rotary Club (right) and the President of Southport Lions (invisible, behind the camera!)

The reason: a celebration of the co-operation between Southport Lions and local Rotary Clubs to raise funds for the relief of distress following the Asian Tsunami. The event: the regular meeting of Southport Links Rotary held on the Centenary Day of Rotary International. All-told, four joint fundraising events were undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the devastation, which raised more than £15,000. For more details, please see our Events page.

2nd October 2004 FAREWELL TO LION JIM HEYWOOD

Time marches on but the toll which it takes on friends and colleagues is something which never becomes easier. Southport Lions have been mourning the death of fellow Lion Jim Heywood, who died on Saturday 2nd October 2004. Lion Jim had not enjoyed the best of health in recent years but was always to be found looking out for those less fortunate than himself, and it is no surprise to realise that his last acts of service to Lions were as recent as August, when Jim took his place at the Left Luggage and Plant Creche at Southport Flower Show. Personally, Jim was a modest man who had done amazing things, and who did not seem to know the words "no" or "won't" and only recently had to admit to sometimes having to come to terms with the word "can't." He will be greatly missed.

Lion Jim Heywood, with red hat, serving Club and Community at the Left Luggage stand at the 75th Flower Show in 2004.

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