Lions at the Lord Mayor's Show

The family of Lions once again hit the City streets on 12th November with an obviously popular entry to the audience promoting Lions service to the Community since 1950. Our SE contingent this year came from Haywards Heath, Tenterden , Deal and Seahaven Lionesses, Cranleigh, Paddock Wood, Guildford and Thanet as well as Leo’s from Kent. As usual, our own Roary the Lion was also there but this year in a new body after it was discovered that some nibberly creatures had decided to transfer their attentions to his head ! Chairman of Council Tony and Diane came down from Cheshire to join in the fun.

This was the 797th Lord Mayors Show, as always, full of fun and very enterprising floats, bands galore and a great party atmosphere. The weather was reasonably kind, well it was dry, and we all arrived back at the assembly point in London Wall tired but satisfied that it was a job well done. The half a million people along the route gave our Lions entry a great welcome with cheers and plenty of flag waving. Our Land Train was a great success and the Leo passengers all helped to “whip up” support from the crowd. We certainly achieved our objective in improving public awareness of Lions and our activities in the community. Whilst we were not a selected feature, BBC TV did catch us, quite a bit during an interview with the past Olympic athletes on the open top bus in front of us. DG Frank and Judith were up in the grandstand at St.Pauls along with fellow Governors who all gave an enthusiastic welcome as we marched by.

Our thanks must go the Lions. Lionesses and Leo’s from the four Districts who made up this years Team. Sponsorship is vital in funding our entry and this year, in spite of the economic situation we were still able to secure Foulger Transport, SCL Ltd, Funtime Hire, Twinline Utilities, Build Swift Ltd and Benton Hall Golf, without whom we would not be so successful in achieving our objectives.

Laura and the Lions unite to help charity

Reproduced by courtsey the Isle of Thanet Gazette

THANET South MP Laura Sandys has donned a blindfold to find out what it is like to live without sight.

The exercise, which took at the Broadstairs Asda branch, was part of an event organised by the Thanet Lions Club and the Kent Association for the Blind to mark International Sight Day on October 14.

Among those taking part with Mrs Sandys were Broadstairs Mayor David Saunders, Deputy Margate Mayor Brian Sullivan and Thanet District Council Chairman Doug Clark.

Colin Lockitt, of the Thanet Lions Club, said: "This is a worldwide campaign that the Lions Club takes part in every year. The idea is to get a number of influential people to attend so we can show them the kind of things blind people go through.

"The event was very well received and a lot people were interested in trying the glasses. My opinion is that if one person realises what it is like and how something can be changed as a result then we have made a big impact."

Asda's Kay Smith said: "It gave us all an idea of what it would be like. It really made me realise the problems people have and how we need to be more aware of how we can help."

Though the main purpose of the day was to raise awareness, a collection was held for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, raising £45.