Past Events

79th Southport Flower Show - 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th August 2008

It hardly seems any time at all since we were selling copies of Harry Foster's excellent book celebrating the 75th Flower Show, and here we are, already thinking about the 80th, next year. But enough of that, the 79th Flower Show was favoured by several really pleasant days, and the good weather was enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors, some local, and some who had come from many distant parts, even beyond Liverpool. Which is entirely appropriate as this year's theme was 'Liverpool '08 - the European City of Culture.'



Wherever you stood in the Park, thousands of people were going and coming, many of them to the three Left Luggage and Plant Creche facilities operated by Southport Lions. Each year we have provided a safe place to leave lunch boxes, umbrellas, plants and gardenalia, and each year we have to tell at some potential customers that we can't accept unruly children or mothers-in-law, at least not at a realistic price!



This year saw the return of the Green Bag, an ideal tool for carrying the swag, which has proved very poplular with our customers. Fortunately, it is the bag which is green, and not the customers, unlike some of the rather odd folk to be found on the ground, from time to time.



But, as always, it is the major displays, and the hundreds of stalls, which are the big draw to the show, and the exhibitors had really entered into the spirit of this year's theme. A prominent feature of Liverpool during '08, has been the prevalence of superlambananas. For those who may not know exactly what a superlambanana is....well, what an experience you have missed...



...but you might get a general idea from this charming chappie, in full H M Prison uniform complete with keys, which appeared on the display of one of Her Majesty's institutions! Now that I call imaginative!

Our charitable activities have benefitted by some £2,300 from the donations, and the proceeds of Green Bag sales, this year, and we would like to give our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has put their hand in their pocket at a time of considerable financial difficulty, to help those less fortunate.


Southport Summer Classics - the Proms in the Park - 25th & 26th July 2008

The Summer Classics have become a regular feature of Southport's summer activities, and this year, once again, Southport Lions have taken a very visible part. Not particularly glamorous, but then the really essential support functions seldom are. To quote one of our stalwart volunteers "I'd only been here five minutes and they gave me the sack!" Which, it has to be said, is entirely true. More accurately it wasn't just one volunteer, and it wasn't just one sack. It was, in fact, more than a thousand sacks, each nattily labelled "Sefton Council Litter Sack"



Each of these was given, personally and by hand (!) to groups of incoming music-lovers to help keep Victoria Park tidy.



The first evening featured Liverpool rock band 'The Christians' who entertained the crowds  with some of their best known pieces, and a few others besides; the Christians were followed by M-People who brought the majority of the audience to their feet, but not before they had generously reached into pocket and purse to support the Club's charitable activities. 


Click on the You Tube link above to experience the atmosphere for yourself!
Shame on those (few!) people who stayed outside the Park, and sat on the seats in Rotten Row!



Thanks to all those (many) people who came inside, got up, danced, enjoyed the music, had a great time, and helped those less fortunate than themselves


Southport Charity Carnival - 28th June 2008

This year, Southport Lions decided to return to our roots for the Charity Carnival Parade. Lions come from the Jungle, right? Right. So a bit of the jungle is what we brought to Southport. Not just Lions, but tigers, gorillas and bucketeers, too! Plus a bright yellow Emu.
First on the schedule for the day is preparing the vehicle for our safari. We are very grateful to Formby Timber Services for providing an excellent flatbed truck which made a first rate mobile disco.



You would never think that buried underneath all that bunting was a computer controlled disco unit, with laptop PC. It is a very modern jungle we inhabit! And to prove the point, we do not regard age as any bar to joining in our fundraising activities, and surely enough the younger element are usually more successful!



Once the safari was ready to go, we all set off for Knowsley Road, where the Parade was being assembled. You have never seen such a collection of sights. Next to us was an open topped bus, being managed by a green and yellow turtle, and just behind was a traction engine. However, in due course, we all set off, collecting buckets at the ready.



It has to be admitted that, however hard we tried, not all the jungle creatures looked fierce and wild. Some, it has to be said, were just a bit cuddly.



While there were hundreds of people along the route of the parade, not everyone found it easy to go and stand on the side of the street. So, just to spread a little sunshine, our bright yellow Emu made a few house calls on the way - just to say 'Hello!'



We had a greeeaaaat day out, and we collected some poor, homeless, unwanted coins from generous members of the public on the way. All of this, 100%, will go to our charitable activities, so a big 'thank you' to everyone.

Christmas Parcels 2007

As we have done for the past two years, Southport Lions joined with Southport Rotary and the Southport Visiter in a joint programme of fundraising, packing and distributing Christmas parcels to needy and disadvantaged folk in and around Southport. Between us, we brought a bit of Christmas cheer to more than 300 recipients of all ages, from the very junior to the very senior, and from some of the letters we have received we can tell that the cheer was welcome. For many, the Christmas parcel is a visible and tangible sign that, in a harsh world, there are those who actually care enough to do something for those less fortunate. So, to everyone who contributed, through the campaign in the Visiter, or by donating to either Lions or Rotary, a big Thank You!

Southport Christmas Lights Switch On - 18th November 2007

Get the Chuck Wagon ready, make sure the flashing novelties have arrived on time and are stowed on board, print the bucket labels and the new Authorised Collector Badges, arrange the rota for Lions and volunteers, tow the Chuck Wagon to the Town Hall, put up the lights, check the generator only to find it isn't working, run the extension cable to the Town Gardens Cafe (thanks VERY much!), start selling the novelties, issue the buckets to the collectors, brew tea and coffee - it gets coooold standing around for several hours, collect in the buckets, sell more novelties, repack the unsold items, dispose of the rubbish, repack the Chuck Wagon, tow it back to its lair, and then go home. Nothing to it!



But, of course, we haven't earned the nickname of Intrepid Bucketeers for nothing! The money we collect from (nearly!) everyone watching the Parade, and the profits we make on sale of novelties, go entirely to our charitable activities. And of course, with Christmas coming up, the funds are extremely useful to pay for the Parcels which we distribute to less fortunate members of our community.



But once we have set up and the Ferocious Lion appears on the scene, the whole atmosphere changes! Children of all ages....



...Photographers of all ages, and many others head straight for the Chuck Wagon to be seen with the coolest Lion of all...



We would like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who supported our efforts. More than £400 was donated to our street collectors, and a similar amount was raised from the sale of novelties. The generosity shown will provide Christmas Parcels for more than eighty families and individuals in and around Southport, families and individuals who have been nominated by organisations and neighbours, and who will know that there are people out there who do care about them.


Southport Lions Club First Charity Auction - 27th October 2007

Doing good works requires an on-going supply of funds, and all around the country Charities and Service Clubs are busy raising the money which supports their activities. And in a very real sense, all these funds, all the donations, have to be earned by the Charities and Good Causes.



For the first time ever (or at least as far back as any of the members can remember!) Southport Lions held a Charity Auction. Publicised around town, thanks to our two local newspapers, the Southport Champion and the Southport Visiter, a fabulous assortment of small and large furniture, crockery, glassware, porcelain, books and records, and even an electronic organ, were donated by generous people, and sold for our Welfare Funds.



The Auction was held at St James's Church Hall, Lulworth Road, Birkdale. Viewing took place from 10.30am and the auction itself began at 1.00pm. Over 200 lots went under the hammer, expertly wielded by Lion Steve (Where's Your Attic?) Paine, and he didn't break a single one! The thousand pounds raised will help to make life a little better for a number of worthy recipients. Thanks again to all those who gave items and helped on the day.

The 78th Southport Flower Show - 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th August 2007

The Southport Flower Show is one of the premier national horticultural shows, and attracts thousands of visitors, not just from local areas, but from across the country. This year's Show had a musical theme, and was opened by broadcasting personality Gloria Hunniford.

As usual, the zillions of visitors found dozens of things to do, and hundreds of stalls and exhibits and, most importantly, thousands of things to buy!



And as there is nothing worse than having to cart huge quantities of stuff around once you've bought it. Southport Lions provided their tried and tested solution. Our world famous (even beyond Lancashire and Merseyside!) Plant Creche and Left Luggage facilities...



But people come to the show to learn, as well as to buy, and throughout the four days there are numbers of demonstrations, workshops, and question-and-answer sessions. A regular feature is the hour with Show Patrons Roddy Llewellyn and Professor David Bellamy



Will next year's show be bigger and better than ever? We hope so!

Summer Classics - Music In The Park - 27th, 28th & 29th July 2007

Firmly established in the Cultural Calendar are the Summer Classics in the Park, held in Victoria Park, and which took place this year on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, 27th, 28th and 29th July. With three separate styles of music being featured, it would be difficult to find anyone who would not have enjoyed at least one of the concerts.
The Friday evening concert featured Aussie Pink Floyd, while Saturday saw the return of the Orchestra-in-Residence, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. The series was rounded off by Sunday's jam session involving Jools Holland and Friends with Special Guest LULU.



But, of course, Southport Lions were not there on a mission of enjoyment. Oh, no.  Though, fortunately, there isn't exactly any rule which says that we can't manage a bit of quiet appreciation here and there! But our main reason for Being There was to distribute bin bags to help with litter management, and to help any concert-goers who might need a bit of assistance.


Look closely and you will see that the wheel on the wheelbarrow isn't actually in contact with the ground! Strong chaps, our Lions!

But as well as great performers and great music, the atmosphere at the Summer Classics is half the fun. Picnics and tables, chairs and tablecloths, candelabra, lights and lamps of all descriptions, crystal glassware (and contents!) and lots of flags ready for waving added their own unique flavour.



And to round off the Saturday night concert, some spectacular fireworks and a spirited rendering of 'Land of Hope and Glory.'

Saturday 30th June 2007  Southport Charity Carnival

Just when you want a bit of global warming to put the tropical zest into a great event, what happens? The day descends upon you with all the excitement of wet blotting paper. And on this particular day, blotting paper would have been in particularly short supply...

It didn't always look like that, however. The Tent Team arrived at the park on Friday evening to find glorious blue skies and sunshine..



An hour's work in pleasant conditions saw the frame of the Mobile Events Facility (sounds much grander than 'tent') ready for action on the Saturday morning. Everything was left ready, including the high hopes and optimism, at 7pm when the park closed.

Overnight, the water monster decided to go on the rampage, and by Saturday morning things were not looking good. The early morning Lions managed to get everything set up just before the deluge, and stood, expectantly, looking for customers...



Meanwhile, back on Lord Street, the Intrepid Bucketeers were out looking for anyone who might be standing there, in the middle of a downpour, looking for somewhere to dispose of surplus cash. Does it sound as though there were lots and lots of potential donors? Right first time. The parade accompanied by the Bucketeers, wound its way into the park, and our Street Team headed directly for the Mobile Events Facility where they were sustained by Danish pastries! Didn't stop them looking very soggy though!



Our spectacular Lion had been through the washer only a few days before, now it looked as though it had just been through the wringer. The ordinary Lions seemed to be just as wet on the inside of their waterproofs as on the outside, and it did not take much to persuade them to head for home, warm and dry, rather than remaining to frolic in the puddles.



What a shame! All that work by so many people, the Organisers, the Paraders, the Stallholders, more or less washed out. With true Brit grit, we stuck it out until half past three, by which time the towel was too wet to be worth throwing in anywhere.

Sunday 10th December 2006  Christmas Parcel Packing

One of our main Welfare activities, each year, is the preparation and distribution of Christmas Parcels to some of our fellow citizens in the Southport area. Whether it is elderly people on their own, or families who have lost a breadwinner, our parcels prove to the recipients that someone has remembered them, and has nominated them to receive a Christmas Gift.

This year, Southport Lions have joined Southport Rotary Club and the Visiter newspaper in the Christmas Wish Appeal. With the help of many generous folk from the local community we will send out several hundred parcels, with food items, toys and vouchers.



We are fortunate in that one of our members has an extensive warehouse, and on one Sunday morning before Christmas each year, this is turned into Parcel Central. This year, seventeen Lions, friends and helpers gathered to pack 122 parcels with packets and tins and fresh fruit and veg.



Before long, the assembly line swung into action, with parcels being filled from stacks of goodies. At the end of the line, the wrappers-up and the label stickers-on did their essential bit, and in quicksticks there were stacks of parcels ready for delivery.



A hundred parcels were set aside for collection by our colleagues from Rotary, who transported them all to the Visiter office ready for distribution, while the Packers adjourned to the coffee room, for coffee and biscuits - the job well done for another year.


Sunday 19th November 2006  Southport Christmas Lights Switch-On

Every year the lights seem to get brighter and the switch-on ceremony more colourful - or is it the other way round? Certainly it is one of the highlights of the year for the members and friends of Southport Lions Club, as we were invited to practice our retail skills once again. The preparation starts around a month before, with the ordering of this year's newest twinkling novelties. Then, on The Day, the Lions Caravan, known to everyone in the Club as the 'Chuck Wagon,' has to be brought from its secret den to the front of the Town Hall



Fortunately we have our own, our very own, White Van Man! The Chuck Wagon acts as our mobile base, from which we distribute Intrepid Bucketeers, who march along with the Parade, relieving tired spectators of some of that heavy metal weighing down their pockets and purses. And as the November days are a little chill, even with Global Warming, a good hot drink is welcomed...



We, at least, were all nicely wrapped up. So, too, was our Big Friendly Lion, who as usual attracted most of the camera phones within commuting distance. The energetic youngsters who provided much of the entertainment were much more dependent on enthusiasm to keep them warm, but they did a pretty (!) good job!



And of course, everything becomes much more atmospheric After Dark. The amazing range of twinkling novelties that were on display really came into their own, and sales took off in proportion!



All of the profits from the sales of toys, and every penny of the street collection, goes to our charity works. Not one penny, not even one, goes in administration or our expenses... we pay all those ourselves! So, a big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed in any way. Many local folks will receive Christmas Parcels of food and goodies this year as a result of your generosity.


Thursday 17th, Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August 2006        The 77th Southport Flower Show

This year, the Flower Show was bigger and better than ever, with the most amazing displays of flowers, plants, bulbs, seeds, tools, crafts, foods, garden equipment, and everything else imaginable! There were displays of gardens created by landscape artists, competions, dog displays, and some rather flash motors! All of these things provided unrivalled retail opportunities for the thousands of visitors who came to see, buy, and wonder how on earth they would carry all their purchases around all day...

Fortunately, as usual, Southport Lions had the answer. Conveniently located near each of the entrances was one of our "oh, that's better" left luggage and plant creche tents. Hundreds of parcels, packages, trolleys, plants, and lunch boxes were stored while enthusiastic visitors returned to the front lines for more.

The Flower Show was opened by Famous Gardening Person Diarmuid Gavin who, in the best tradition, went walkabout after the ceremony. Here he is seen meeting Lions Sallie McBride and Arnold Gorse. Lion Ray Roukin looks on from the right of the picture.

This year, in conjunction with the organisers of the Flower Show, we were offering a most useful carry-all; a heavy duty woven plastic bag for only £3. The bargain of the show! PS There are a few left for the 2007 Show!

The sales of bags and donations received from the public have added a net total of more than £3,000 to the funds which we use for our welfare and charitable activities. Thank you is all we can say to everyone who contributed so generously, and we hope to see you again next year.

Friday 28th, Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th July 2006

Summer Classics - Music in the Park

Southport Lions have once again been privileged to stage a performance which puts us right at the front of the Concert Going World (as well as at the back, and down the sides!)  The first movement was the Mobile Command Centre (aka the Chuck Wagon) from its regular home to its temporary location in the stalls, just off the main entrance to Victoria Park (and back again afterwards!) The second movement saw the Lions arrive, by 5.30pm, to start tuning up. The third movement consisted of listening to our Conductor (aka The Prez) setting out the programme: Help and Aid in B Major, Bin Bag Serenade, and Leaflet Lament. And the fourth movement was the Fundraising Finale. All-in-all, a really concerted effort!

Eventually, everyone was settled. Bin bags were issued to anyone who wanted them, and others, too. The tables were set up, tablecloths spread, plates and cutlery set out, and, perhaps most importantly, corks popped. And battle commenced.

But life is not all duty, of course, and those Lions who had done their bit, and the thousands of regular concertgoers, enjoyed some fine music and superb performances. And not only that, but the weather, which had looked (and felt) distinctly iffy at times, stayed fine.

DUring the intervals, a collection was made - buckets circulated, and we heard some very nice things said. Over the three days, we received incredibly generous donations totalling £3,380 for our Welfare Funds, which leaves us feeling tired but very grateful!

9th July 2006 Crosby Lions Charity Carnival

 Another Carnival? Yes, but this time Southport Lions were there strictly as helpers! As a 'thank-you' to Crosby Lions for despatching the Marvellous Mahouts and the Petrol Pachyderm for our summer frolics, a small but perfectly formed team from Southport Lions repeated their previous performances with 'Bat the Rat' and the 'Loopy Loop.' And sundry other entertainments!

 But this year was just a little bit different. We brought our own King of the Jungle, in the form of the very same spectacular Wild Lion which wowed the crowd at the Southport Carnival. You will be glad to know that this particular Wild Lion has been to charm school, though, and proved a great hit with many of the smaller members of the public - especially when they were encouraged to growl back!

 And as a special reminder for IPZC Ivan, here is the Petrol Pachyderm from two years ago! He really is in remarkable fettle for his age...he's nearly as old as some of the Lions!!!

24th June 2006 Southport Champion Charity Carnival

Every year it seems to get bigger and better, and the umpteen thousands of people who lined Lord Street to watch the Parade, and then headed to Victoria Park for the games and stalls and shows, all had a great day out.

 Southport Lions were there in strength, or as much strength as we can muster these days! Almost at the front of the Parade was our spectacular Wild Lion which wowed the crowd and fascinated the youngsters along the route...

 ...followed at an appropriate distance by the Petrol Pachyderm, also known as the Crosby Lions Club's Mechanical Elephant which was making a return visit. As we know, normal pachyderms, or elephants, are reputed never to forget, and we are pleased to say that our fibreglass friend has the same characteristic. Thanks again to Crosby Lions! (We'd love to be able to tell you that our big friendly elephant walked to Southport from Crosby, but the honest truth is that trunk roads (no, no!) are a bit too much for him, and he came on a trailer with his two mahouts driving up front!)

 Meanwhile, back at Victoria Park, our new Mobile Events Facility (aka the tent) was in place, together with interesting retail opportunities. Tombola prizes of some of the cutest cuddly Lions, and even some toy Lions, too, were going like hot cakes, and just to cool things down a little, we had copious supplies of cooling liquids as well!

But, of course, every event is glitzy and glossy on the surface, but behind the scenes there is a lot of effort goes into preparation, and maintenance.

 The Mobile Events Facility is very good, but sometimes it can be a bit difficult to put pin C into bracket A while reading the instructions at the same time...

 ...and, of course, on the day there is nothing to beat a clean and tidy park, and keeping it that way falls, inevitably, to the Organisers...but we enjoyed watching.

Thanks to all the Lions who turned out, to the team at the Champion who organised everything, and to all those members of the public who helped fill the Charity Buckets! Ta.

31st May 2006  An Evening of Floral Art with Tom Hodge

It almost seemed as though Southport Lions had gone into Show Business. Well, almost! But we did host an extra special evening, An Evening of Floral Art, at St James's Church Hall, Lulworth Road, Birkdale, on Wednesday 31st May 2006.

The theme was "Creative Design, by Tom Hodge" Tom is a well known local, and nationally celebrated, floral artist, and the opportunity to see one of his widely acclaimed demonstrations was a real treat for the more than one hundred and fifty people who came to watch, learn and be impressed. The profits from the evening will be dedicated to Lions Charitable activities, many of which you can read about elsewhere on this website!

5th December 2005  Shelterboxes and the Earthquake Region

If you look further down this page you will see how Southport Lions joined with the three Southport Rotary Clubs to stage a street collection to raise money for Shelterboxes for the victims of the Asian Earthquake. Each box can provide temporary shelter for up to 10 people, and the street collection raised enough money to send four boxes.     

Photographs have now been received which show Shelterboxes in action in the Kashmir Region - this picture shows, in addition to the spectacular scenery, the kind of terrain which has made it so difficult to distribute aid effectively. The Shelterboxes seen here will provide emergency life support for 80 people.

 In many areas, helicopters are the only way in which urgently needed assistance can be delivered, but, of course, helicopters are scarce, and incredibly expensive - the running costs alone of one helicopter can reach £5,000 per hour!

 Shelterboxes are, with no exaggeration, life savers for the people whose towns and villages have been destroyed. But, with the best will in the world, they are only a temporary solution to a long-term problem.

More information about Shelterboxes, and the distribution programme, can be found on their website. Click here to go there!

21st November 2005  ChemoCare Unit Opening Ceremony

ChemoCare has been our on-going project since the spring of 2004, and to mark the completion of the work in the Unit, an opening ceremony has been held. Click to visit our ChemoCare page for full details!

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Enough history? Let us take you to Our Works, where you can find out how we spend the money which so many people give so generously.