EMMA DUNN meets a club with good causes at its heart

HIGHWORTH and District Lions Club is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The club, which has helped good causes across the area since it started in 1974, is inviting more people to join them.

The club’s committee and volunteers raised £26,180.59 for groups and individuals last year, and they have just been named best Lions club in the district.

Terry Coker, president of Highworth and District Lions, said: “It’s an honour to the club that we were judged the best club in the district.

“We would love to have more members and volunteers. We raise money for all sorts of causes – it can range from local Scouts or Brownies up to bigger organisations in Highworth. We purchased a minibus for the use of all residents of Highworth and District, and we always give money to Swindon Foodbank.

“We’re also aiming to get four defibrillators for Highworth. The Lions have funded two, and we have had some generous donations. We have nearly got the amount for the fourth defibrillator.”

Lion Clubs International is the world’s largest service club with 1.3m members in 202 countries.

There are 980 clubs in the British Isles and Ireland.

Highworth and District Lions have been active in organising events to support local and national charities and projects in the community for 40 years.

Although based in Highworth, the club’s area covers Blunsdon, Stanton Fitzwarren, South Marston, Sevenhampton, Coleshill, Shrivenham, Bourton, Watchfield, Inglesham and Hannington.

Projects carried out or supported by the Highworth and District Lions Club include helping with fireworks displays in Highworth and Swindon, helping at the Christmas lights, helping at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford, Santa’s Sleigh, and sponsoring youth sports teams.

They gave money to help out during the Somerset floods, and they regularly give money to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

They have raised about £1,000 for the Great Western Hospital Brighter Futures campaign and are encouraging other clubs in the area to raise funds for the cause too.

The club also takes part in the message in a bottle project, which encourages people to keep their personal and medical details in a specially made bottle, which is kept in the fridge.

The club has a charity shop in Highworth, which is run mostly by the club’s volunteers.

Former president Rosemary Jackson, who is the club’s media officer, said: “Our volunteers are a wonderful group of people who never let us down.”

The club’s secretary, Gerry Stephens, said the club has been successful thanks to the support of the public.

“The community has been so generous in supporting us through donations over the years,” he said.

Members and volunteers come from all walks of life and across a large age range – there is no maximum age limit and members can join at 18.

 

  • The club meet once a month at Blunsdon House Hotel.

     

    Call Rosemary Jackson on 0845 8339831 or Rodney Davis on 01793 766800.