PLATFORM 51 CHEQUE PRESENTATION
The Mayor of T&MBC, Cllr. Brian Luker and the President of Tonbridge Lions Club, Allan Mort, attended the award presentation for students enrolled in the Platform 51 self-improvement programme. This project aims to improve school attendance and help students make better use of the teaching facilities that are on offer to them. The reward / incentive scheme is funded by Project 51 and Tonbridge Lions made a donation of £380 towards the cost of a theatre trip to see "Wicked" for the successful students .

LIBRA CHEQUE PRESENTATION

The President of Tonbridge Lions Club, Allan Mort, recently presented LIBRA with a cheque for £1,500. The special Christmas donation was accepted by LIBRA Trustee PDG Michael Adams and LIBRA Chairman Andrew Lodge.

Tonbridge Lions has supported our appeal since we launched and today its 61 members take a keen interest in our fundraising projects. Allan joined the Club in 1996 and is an active supporter of LIBRA.

During the cheque presentation he commented: “Many years ago, I visited King’s for one of the annual tours and was so impressed with the groundbreaking treatments being developed.

“Since then I have taken part in nine London Marathons and always focussed on raising funds for this fantastic appeal. Through my running sponsorships I have raised around £34,000 and donated more than £12,000 to LIBRA. In 2012 I plan to take part in the marathon again.

“At Tonbridge, our support for the appeal has grown in recent years. As Trustee Michael Adams is a member of our Club he keeps us up- to-date with the latest news from King’s and he explains the ongoing need for funds to purchase hospital equipment.

“Our members are passionate about supporting the appeal. We have four major fundraisers each year and these include a triathlon, carnival, horse show and pantomime. This year we donated proceeds from our popular horse show.”

Image above: Trustee Michael Adams with Chairman Andrew Lodge and Lion President Allan Mort

TONBRIDGE LIONS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

Tonbridge Lions have rolled out their barrel organ again for their Christmas collection in Tonbridge.

To demonstrate his support for the good work done by the club, Sir John Stanley, MP for Tonbridge & Malling, stopped to put his donation in the collecting tin of Lion President Allan Mort outside Iceland Foods Ltd, Tonbridge.

The idea for a Christmas collection, with the proceeds being used to provide Christmas gifts to some of the elderly in the community, started back in 1952.  At that time the Club had been in existence for less than two years and was just beginning to establish its reputation as a charitable service organisation in the town.  Founder member Lions Tom Wakefield and Jim Parks had to drive an open van to Brighton to collect a barrel organ that was hired at a cost of ten guineas a week. As well as appearing in the High Street, the barrel organ was taken to pubs in the town where customers were encouraged to make donations to the good cause by being allowed to give the organ handle a twirl.  The proceeds of the collection were used to provide gifts – two hundredweight of coal and two bushels of logs (a precursor to the Government’s Winter Fuel Allowance) for the elderly.

In 1969, as barrel organs became museum pieces and were more difficult to obtain, club members set about building one of their own.  The music came from a tape recorder powered by a huge lead acid battery from a railway carriage.  Thankfully electronic miniaturisation has provided smaller and lighter equipment to be installed in more recent years.

 

Photo: Lion Ken Thomas (barrel organ mechanic) looks on whilst Lion President Allan Mort collects the donation from Sir John Stanley MP.

CHRISTMAS PARTY 3RD DECEMBER 2011
On Saturday 3rd December, members of the club gathered together at Donnington Manor Hotel in Dunton Green for the annual Christmas party. The club were entertained by Paul Sutton who is the country's leading Ronan Keating soundalike and a Stars in  their Eyes winner.
A great evening thoroughly enjoyed by all.

MONDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2011
A very busy business meeting last night with the the District Governor and Region Chairman in attendance. Two club members, Lions John Mears and Lion Fred Aldridge received their 35 year chevrons and at the other end of the spectrum we welcomed a new member Andrew Morrison. The District Governor also presented the Excellence award to Immediate Past President Lion Mike Edwards.

THE CLUB JOINS THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Today the club joined the information age. Not only do the club have it's own website but we now have, thanks to Lion John Ruck, a Facebook page. This will bring the club to the attention of the younger members of our society and may encourage those interested to consider joining us. If you are a Facebook user have a look and post something on the wall.

Tonbridge Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Tonbridge have announced that the inaugural Tonbridge Half Marathon which took place in September raised over £14,000. When added to the amounts raised by individual competitors the money raised is in excess of £50,0000 shared by 28 charities.

The presidents of the two clubs, Allan Mort and Chris Wickham have presented cheques for £4000 to each of the three main beneficiaries – Hospice in the Weald, Kent Air Ambulance and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.  In thanking the clubs for the gift, Sonia Bryant from Hospice in the Weald explained the increasing range of illnesses that their service now encompasses and the financial challenge faced by their supporters. David Mantz, from Kent Air Ambulance spoke of the additional demands that come with the development of improved medical services. The DKH Legacy Trust was represented by Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth gold medal winner, Adam Whitehead who conveyed the gratitude of Dame Kelly to the organisers and competitors.

Race Director, Andy Blundell, reported that feedback from the race entrants was very positive and that over 90% would like to do it again next year. The first joint venture by the two local service clubs was an undoubted success.

Photo: L-R are Allan Mort, Adam Whitehead, Sonia Bryant, David Mantz and Chris Wickham.

Two Tonbridge schoolgirls have taken the first steps towards national success by winning the competitions organised by Tonbridge Lions Club. Tina Hopkins, 13, from Hillview School won the local round of the Lions’ Young Ambassador Award, which is based on community service. Tina has used music therapy to help and inspire young children through difficult times. The judges were most impressed with Tina’s maturity and positive outlook on life. She will now take part in the south-east regional competition at Brands Hatch in January.

Rosalind Dinnis, 13, from Weald of Kent Grammar School won the first round of the Lions’ Peace Poster competition with the theme “children know peace”.  In a field of 28, Rosalind’s entry was selected unanimously by the judges, both for its artistic ability and its interpretation of the theme. The next round of this competition is in December.

Lions Club spokesman, John Chapman, said “We were very impressed by the talents of both of these girls and wish them every success in future rounds of the competitions.”

HEVER HEAD GARDENER ATTENDS DINNER MEETING
On Monday 7th November, the club were entertained at the monthly dinner meeting by the head gardener of Hever Castle, Neil Miller who not only gave a very witty history of the castle but also some "secret' gardening tips as well!!
         Neil with Lion President and his wife Jacqui

NEW LION JOINS CLUB

Lion President Allan Mort with the newest member Peter Godsall and Lion Don Furbank. Peter was inducted at the monthly business on the 15th August and was proposed by Lion Don Furbank, his father in law, a LIon with more than 30 years service and seconded by Lion Gordon Hill.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CHEQUE PRESENTATION

Lion President Allan Mort helping to bring to an end the Tonbridge Branch of the Royal British Legions 2010-2011 Poppy Day Appeal by presenting a cheque for £1500 from the proceeds of the Party on the Lawn, which took place on the evening of our Carnival in July 2011. The music event had atrocious weather, but still managed to get some good public support and sponsorship from a number of companies including Parker Builders.

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TONBRIDGE AND SEVENOAKS LIONS COMBINE TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITY

On Thursday 21 July Tonbridge Lions President Allan Mort and Sevenoaks Lion Roger Hope presented cheques totalling £1500 to West Kent Debt Advice Project Manager, Graeme Connell and Case Manager, David Trice.

WKDA is a Tonbridge based charity that provides free debt advice to folk in financial difficulty. It has centres in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge as well as surgeries at Tonbridge Castle and Paddock Wood. A fourth centre will be opening in South Tonbridge in the near future. The administrative hub is in north Tonbridge in offices made available by Tonbridge Baptist Church. WKDA has over 60 trained volunteer advisers and is currently training a further 24. To cope with increased calls for help it has been necessary to install a computer network that can link all centres with the North Tonbridge hub. It was towards the cost of this project that the Lions made their donation. In expressing his thanks Graeme Connell said

”WKDA is a local charity serving local people and while our advisers are volunteers we do nevertheless incur operating costs such as this project which would be difficult to sustain without the generosity of local individuals and organisations such as the Lions.”  People seeking help may call 01732 300425 during normal office hours otherwise a 24 hour answerphone service is in operation.

Photo: Left to Right - Graeme Connell, Allan Mort, David Trice, Roger Hope.