Wetherby District Lions Club

the local branch of Lions International, which covers Wetherby and the surrounding villages of Walton, Thorp Arch, Boston Spa, Collingham, Clifford and Bramham.

A member of Lions International, with the motto “We Serve”, the club is a service organisation which fundraises for charitable purposes and cooperates with other charities and not-for-profit organisations to help them achieve their aims.

Beneficiaries of the club’s charity account and charitable trust include local, national and international causes, helped by the international nature of the Lions organisation.

The menus to the right give access to more detailed information about Wetherby District Lions Club and the Lions Clubs International organisation, whether you are an interested member of the public, a person or organisation seeking help or support or someone interested in becoming a member of the club.

You can see photos and videos about the club on Flickr and Youtube by searching on “Wetherby Lions” and follow us on Twitter

We are indebted to the Bridge Inn, Walshford, LS22 5HS for providing meeting rooms and hospitality to the club.

Wetherby Lions celebrated the 46th anniversary of the formation of the club with a formal dinner at The Bridge Inn, Walshford on Saturday,  21st April.  Guest of honour was Town Mayor Cindy Bentley.

Lion President Stuart Arnold addresses Lions and guests while Town Mayor Cindy Bentley looks on

Classical guitarist Tom Devine entertains guests

Lions and their guests enjoy their meal at the Bridge Inn, Walshford

Leg injuries, periods of convalescence, a visit to Wetherby by family members with limited mobility are all reasons that residents of Wetherby find themselves with a short-term need for a wheelchair.

One of the lesser-known services offered by Wetherby Lions is the loan of a wheelchair to people in these situations.  We have a stock of six wheelchairs, all available for collection by arrangement if you contact Lion Colin Gaden on 01937 581652 or by using the contact form on our website at wetherbylions.com.

Lion Colin and Gillian with some of the wheelchairs that we loan

We make no charge for this service but find that many people make a token donation to offset our maintenance and running costs.

Our vice-president Mike Earle recently visited the NMA at Alrewas in Staffordshire where various memorials are exhibited.  The memorials fall into several categories:

* Military
* Civil Services (Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance)
* Charities
* Local organisations
* Overseas organisations

The British Isles and Irish Lions clubs built a shelter there, officially opened by the Duchess of Wessex in September 2011 and dedicated to all the Lions club members who had passed to higher service.

Our own Lion David Burton is commemorated on the plaque displayed in the shelter.

Wetherby Lions were pleased to welcome Yorkshire district governor Ian Thornhill on his official visit to their recent club meeting at the Bridge Inn, Walshford.

Lion Ian heard about a number of donations to be made by the club in respect of the Learning to Listen Autism Programme (£1,000), a holiday for a disabled person (£500), support for Acorn Activities for Alzheimer sufferers (£500), a donation to Carers Resource (£500) and a £1,000 in support of the Sadie Rose Clifford Appeal.

He also had the opportunity to induct new member Tony Challenor into the club

District Governor Ian Thornhill, new member Tony Challenor and Vice President Mike Earle

On The following Monday, 27^th February members had the opportunity to visit Sicklinghall-based Learning to Listen and present a cheque for £1,000 to this organisation, which offers an Equine Assisted Mentoring Programme for Children on the Autism Spectrum.  They heard how it connects with, mentors and coaches children with autism to help develop their individual and unique qualities via the medium of working with horses while providing help and support for their families.  The effectiveness of the programme is monitored by Learning to Listen and North Yorkshire County Council while pupil progress is monitored by the participating schools.

Club members pictured with Learning to Listen’s Sarah Kreutzer and Maxine Forster and two year-eight pupils from Wetherby High School who benefit from the programme.

You can learn more about Learning to Listen at learningtolisten.co.uk.

Lions are reconstructing the Notre Dame School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with Lions of District 103-SW, France. The school will serve 361 disadvantaged students. Two years later, learn how Lions and LCIF continue to rebuild hope in Haiti through long-term relief efforts.

US$35,000 has been awarded to Lions in the Philippines, to assist with relief efforts following Typhoon Washi. Lions are sponsoring several relief operations to provide blankets, food and water throughout the city, particularly in the hardest hit areas of Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City.

Lions have renewed their commitment with the World Health Organization to strengthen efforts through SightFirst-funded programs to fight preventable blindness.

See all grants recently approved, find out about our grant program areas or locate grant applications.

Here are some of the photos taken on the day:

Press the pause (||) button to look at a particular picture.

You can see more photos by going to Flickr and searching on “Wetherby Lions” then choosing “Photographers”; “Wetherby Lions”

“Shopping in Wetherby on Saturday 17^th December?” asks Lions publicity officer Steve Cooper. “Be sure to visit the Market Place where you will find the Dickensian spirit of Christmas”.

“Wetherby Lions Dickensian Christmas includes some special treats and one surprise for 2011”.

“Mark the date in your diary, come along with your children and grandchildren.  You will be able to listen to the Silver Band, hear the Musical Theatre Group’s singers and experience the old world charm of a barrel organ”.

“Local schools have been invited to bring along their choirs and singing groups too”.

“While all this is happening you will be able to keep warm with hot roasted chestnuts and bacon rolls while the Market Place deli will also be serving soup”.

“Santa Claus will be in his grotto to hear last minute Christmas wishes”.

“And then there’s the surprise – genuine reindeers and their sleigh. You will be able to have your photograph taken on the sleigh so be sure to bring along your camera.

Santa and two of his reindeers

Fundraising is not always about high profile events with hundreds of participants raising tens of thousands of pounds of profit.

Wetherby Lions run a season of quizzes at St Joseph’s Church Hall for about 80 hard-core quizzers and raise funds for various charities and causes nominated by the club. Over the last seven years the quizzes have raised over £13,000.

Image from the Smile Train website

However the quiz team comprising quizmaster Terry Burns, AV presenter John Wardley and the club’s founder member Colin Gaden as doorman and bouncer has become a bit of a franchise.  They recently presented a quiz evening for the Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association and their supporters which raised £487 for the YCA’s chosen charity, The Smile Train which provides surgery for hare lip/cleft palate deformities for children in developing countries.

Lion Terry manages to combine the compilation of his quizzes with his role as club treasurer and involvement in three local chorus singing groups.

PS: There’s no prize for the correct answer but do you know by which name the character in literature Natty Bumppo is better known?

We are pleased to announce our timetable of Santa’s sleigh visits to the streets of Wetherby.

We are again grateful to Nidd Vale Motors for the loan of a towing vehicle for Santa’s sleigh

Santa at the Farmers' Market last year

On Sunday evening, 14th November at the Leeds Carnegie Stadium GYBR organiser John Taylorson MBE reported on the 2011 event which has now surpassed its £2,000,000 target for sponsorship raised over its 27 year history.

He paid tribute to the cyclists who raised over £144,000 this year and his support team who are mostly close friends who have been with him from the start of the event.  He thanked the numerous sponsors of the event who provide various facilities such as vehicles, food and finance and the charity volunteers who provide marshals and staff at the start, along the way, at drinks stops and at the finish.

Individual and group sponsorship successes were recognised with trophies, while the beneficiary charities received cheques and explained the uses to which they would put the generous donations.

Wetherby Lions Vice President Mike Earle accepted our cheque which we will share with other Lions clubs and organisations who assist us on the day or are part of the pre-planning which we undertake in the run up to the day.

Inspired to enter next year’s event?  Then go to gybr.co.uk, read more about the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride and bookmark the site to return in February 2012 and enter – but be quick.  Entry numbers are limited for obvious safety reasons and they go quickly.

VP Mike Earle receives Wetherby Lions donation from the 2011 GYBR

The slideshow below details the donations that the club made in the year ending June 2011.

Download John Taylorson’s press release of 22nd November [pdf format]