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Club Welcomes New President David Thomas |
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Written by Andy
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Wednesday, 24 June 2009 |
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Stowmarket Lions' new president is Lion David Thomas. At the Changeover Night held at the Cedars Hotel on Thursday 18th June, he and his team took over from outgoing President Ivan Bonnet who was there to hand over the Presidency in spite of a broken ankle. Reporting on his year of Office, outgoing President Ivan thanked members for helping the Club to put on some of its best ever events and for making his year as President a very memorable one. He was very pleased to report that the Club had raised some £38,000 during his year of office, a great achievement. He thanked all his officers and club members for their help, saying that the Lions mantra "Ordinary People, Amazing Things" certainly applied to every member of the Stowmarket Club. He particularly thanked all the ladies for their key part in everything that the Club undertook. His final duty was to make three presentations. Lion Lew Hart received the Membership Award, having introduced two new members to the Club, Keith Cooper received the "Boob of the Year" award, whilst the Lion of the Year award went to Lion Brian Rowson for his unstoppable enthusiasm in organising the Suffolk Villages Charity Bike Ride, a new venture which was a great success, even if it was the cause of the President's broken ankle! His last and sincerest thanks were for his wife, Rita, for her help and support over a very busy twelve months. He then formally handed over the chain of office to his successor, Lion David Thomas who thanked Ivan remarking that he was more nervous than when he had first been President, 18 years before! That nervousness was attributable, not least, to the two Melvin Jones Fellows in the Club, the £38,000 raised and innumerable hours of service completed in the last year, all a tribute to the Club. He congratulated Ivan for an outstanding Presidency. The new President nominated his charity for the year as Rheumatoid Arthritis Research. He stated his intention during his year as President to maintain and extend what the Club already did well but also to find time to look towards more practical help, focussing on the community side of the Club's work. Quoting "Ask not what your Club can do for you, but what you can do for your Club", he challenged the Club to do even more for Stowmarket people whilst recognising that fellowship must also be a big part of the Club's support for its own members and for others. He presented his officers for the year, then concluded saying that it was a great privilege to be asked to be President and hoped that he could fulfil the trust placed in him. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 June 2009 )
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Suffolk Villages Charity Bike Ride |
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Written by Andy
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Thursday, 18 June 2009 |
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On Sunday 14th June, 152 riders took to the roads of Suffolk for the Suffolk Villages Charity Bike Ride organised by the Stowmarket Lions Club. Riders set off on one of three circuits of 20km, 40km or 80km to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, the British Heart Foundation or other Lions charities. The routes took riders northwards from the start at Elmswell as far as Stowlangtoft to the west and Mellis to the east. The event coincided with the beginning of national Bike Week and attracted both competitive riders using the event for training and families and friends out to enjoy the Suffolk countryside. They came from as far afield as Birmingham, Hertfordshire, Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire as well as many from Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. Some took the opportunity to visit local attractions such as Thornham Park or stopped off at one of the pubs en-route for lunch. The ride was not intended to be a race, although one rider completed the 40km route in an hour and a quarter. In contrast, one family took six and a quarter hours to complete the 80km route at a rather more leisurely pace! The fine, sunny weather added to the enjoyment of the day with many riders taking the trouble to seek out the organisers to say how much they had enjoyed it. Organiser Brian Rowson declared himself very happy with the way the day had gone and said that it made all the Lions team's hard work over the preceding months worthwhile. The event has already raised some £2,500 and the Club hopes to at least double this figure when sponsorship is returned, enabling them to make significant donations to both the Anthony Nolan Trust and the British Heart Foundation whilst also benefitting the other Lions charities. The event was previously organised by the Anthony Nolan Trust but has now been taken on by the Stowmarket Lions who intend to continue it as an annual event. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 22 June 2009 )
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Rhythm of Life Walk Takes a New Route |
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Written by Andy
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Thursday, 18 June 2009 |
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On Sunday 7th June 53 hardy walkers turned out to take part in the annual Sponsored Charity Walk. Over the years the Sponsored Walk has raised thousands of pounds for Papworth Hospital and the cardiac units at Ipswich and Bury St.Edmunds hospitals and this years' walk will provide further much needed funding for these vital facilities. As a change from the previous years' routes, this year walkers were taken along the 7km Aggregates Trail following the river Gipping from Needham Lakes to the Barham Visitor Centre.
After a bright start, the weather all-too-quickly turned wet and all but the earliest starters had to contend with steady heavy rain for the rest of the morning. Spirits were only slightly dampened, however, and most walkers still enjoyed the walk through this natural haven formed between the A14 and the railway line. Most were glad to take advantage of the bus that was on hand to return them to where they had left their cars at the starting point, whilst some who had come better prepared braved the weather and opted to walk back again. Alternative approaches to coping with the rain ranged from defiant shorts to all-enveloping rainproofs! The new route, which was also slightly shorter than previous years, was given the "thumbs up" by all the walkers. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 June 2009 )
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