WOKINGHAM Lions held a celebration in Wokingham Town Hall on Friday to mark their 50th anniversary.
A video, speeches, a cake cutting ceremony and awards presentations were followed by afternoon tea.
The club president Lyn Baily welcomed deputy mayor of Wokingham Borough, Cllr Carol Jewell, Wokingham Town mayor, Cllr Rob Comber, and Wokingham Town deputy mayor, Cllr Louise Timlin.
Current and former members of Wokingham Lions attended, as well as Lions from other clubs in the district, including recent district governor, Dave Ebsworth, who reflected on how life had changed in five decades.
Wokingham Lions, Ian Grange and Mervyn Clark presented a video about the Lions history, including the Wokingham club’s half century.
Long service awards went to Mervyn Clark for 40 years as a Lion, and to Kenny Brant who was a founding member, and has served for 50 years.
Also there were representatives from many of the charities that Wokingham Lions has worked with over the years.
Claire Revie, manager of Share Wokingham explained that Wokingham Lions had been generous with both funds and time, and that their help had been invaluable.
She said that what had been expected to be a short-term project now has 15 sites, with a service providing pre-loved furniture and white goods to those in need.
Samantha Rosier from Camp Mohawk said the group had been fortunate to work alongside Lions, and that a donation from The Lions’ Wokingham May Fayre last year had helped them to expand their facilities.
Wokingham Lions are also helping them with their Enchanted Forest Ball in October, which will help fund accessible changing rooms and showers at their centre.
Simon and Barbara Young from the Ollie Young Foundation (OYF) talked about losing Ollie to a brain tumour 12 years ago.
The Foundation set up in his name has now raised over £750,000 for research into childhood brain tumours.
Wokingham Lions have helped raise their profile in the community, runs a stall for their benefit at the Ollie Young Fun Day, and supports the organisation with funding from the Wokingham Walk.
Emma Cantrell, founder of First Days Children’s Charity talked about the practical as well as financial help Wokingham Lions can give.
She explained how Wokingham Lions have washed, ironed and repaired many items of school uniform, so they are as good as new.
At short notice Lions also helped put together a Winter Wonderland for Santa at The Winter Carnival.
In their 50th year, Wokingham Lions are giving 50 Golden Awards of £500 each to local charities and community causes who are planning a new project or service in 2024 that needs funding, or a new piece of equipment to enhance or expand what they do.
Two charities present at the event were surprised with a Golden Award each.
Me2 Club will use their Golden Award to train new volunteers to accompany and support children with additional needs and disabilities to access mainstream leisure activities.
The Link Visiting Scheme wants to make their service more inclusive and will use the Golden Award to translate their literature into other languages such as Urdu, Hindi and Cantonese.
Wokingham Lions have now awarded 24 Golden Awards.
Those recipients present were given presentation cheques to mark the awards they had previously received.
And in final presentations The Lions awarded £5,000 to Twyford Age Concern to help them purchase a new minibus, and also to The Friends of CAMHS Phoenix School, at Wokingham Hospital to help them develop an outside area and new seating for the children.
Wokingham Lions works closely with both the borough and town councils to put on events and support people in need in the community.
For information, visit: www.wokinghamlions.org.uk, follow them on social media, or call: 0345 8337384.
To see the video made by Ian Grange and Mervyn Clark, visit: tinyurl.com/wkl50
