Multiple District 105 projects.

St Dunstan's Llandudno Centre is Open !

See Website - http://www.st-dunstans.org.uk/

On Monday 19th September the new St Dunstan's Centre at Craig-y-Don, Llandudno opened and received its first St Dunstaners - the Centre will provide treatment and rehabilitation for Service personnel who have lost their sight either in the current conflicts in Afghanistan and elsewhere that our Service personnel are or have been involved, or whose sight has deteriorated with age.

Prior to its formal opening, on the evening of Thursday 15 September St Dunstan's held a Reception for those individuals and organisations who had made donations to the Appeal Fund that had enabled them to completely refurbish and extend the former North Wales Medical Centre in Craig-y-Don, Llandudno.

As one of the major donors to this Project representatives from LCI MD 105 had been invited to attend - CC Lion Tony Gadsby & Diane, DG Lion Beryl Roberts & PDG Lion Eric Roberts together with Lions from all the Clubs adjacent to Centre represented MD 105, also in attendance were IPCC Lion Jacquie Prebble and Lion Bob Prebble, PDG Lion Evan Wm Jones and Lion Thelma Jones, and Lions Peter and Lynn Albert from Crosby & District LC, Lion Peter had just completed a solo kayak journey of 138 miles down the Thames, sponsorship for which had raised upwards of £2,500 towards the MD Appeal for St Dunstan's.

All attendees were taken on a tour of the completed facilities, with the Lions party being treated to a personal viewing of the two Dayrooms named in honour of Lions Melvin Jones and PIP Lion Bert Mason by St Dunstan's Chief Executive Mr Robert Leader and the St Dunstan's Partnerships Manager Mr Tegan Jones. Whilst in the rooms CC Lion Tony presented Mr Leader with a further interim cheque for £36,000 - this makes a total of £91,000 that has actually been presented and the balance (our target was £100,000), indeed in excess of it, is in process of being transferred from Districts to the MD Charities Treasurer PDG Lion John Bush so will be available for transfer to St Dunstan's as soon as PDG Lion John has collated the amounts.

St Dunstan's objective is to provide a World Class Centre offering state of the art rehabilitation, training and respite facilities together with high dependency nursing beds for those with more complex needs. The new Centre will enable St Dunstan's to equip many more beneficiaries with the skills to live independently often transforming their lives and aspirations.

Most certainly the foundations for the achievement of this objective have been laid for all those present could not fail to be impressed by high quality of the facilities which we were shown. More significantly for the Lions present it was most satisfying to note the tasteful manner in which the two Dayrooms honouring our two distinguished Lions have been furnished it will indeed be a privilege for LCI to be associated with this high quality unit - each room has information about LCI and Lions Melvin Jones and Bert Mason.

It is less than a year since the Lions of MD 105 were asked to support the MD Special Appeal for the St Dunstan's Llandudno Project and as ever you have responded magnificently in enabling us to meet and exceed our targets to assist in the provision of these facilities for our brave Service men & women. Importantly too we have committed to an ongoing Partnership relationship with St Dunstan's that will enable us to provide assistance other than financial to meet the needs of those Service men and. women who have lost their sight.

To mark the actual opening some current St Dunstaners had walked from Brighton via their headquarters in London and the unit in Sheffield and timed their arrival for the Monday to symbolically hand over the keys - 105BS DG Lion Beryl together with a significant number of local Lions were there to provide a Guard of Honour for the St Dunstaners who had walked from Brighton - what better way for the Lions of MD 105 to show we mean it when we say that we want to work in Partnership with St Dunstan's.

Thank You
PDG Lion Evan Wm Jones
Co-ordinator - MD 105 Special Appeal for St Dunstan's Llandudno Appeal

Elham Valley and Wye Welfare Projects

It's A Knockout for local adults with learning difficulties or special needs.

On Sunday 4th September the Lions Clubs in our "Zone" (Dover, Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, Elham Valley & Wye and Tenterden) joined forces to organise and host an "Its a Knockout" competition. Tenterden Lions Club did all the organising and preparation for the day and each of the clubs invited one or two of their local organisations or homes to enter a team.

Elham Valley and Wye's teams were:

"The Valley Vikings" from Valley House in Elham

"Broadstreet Bashers" from Broadstreet House in Lyminge.

Both teams participated in the fun games including "Dressing Backwards", "Through the Hoop", "Post the Letter" and "Beanbag Balancing". Much fun was had by all and the hall at Homewood School was echoing with all the cheering on by competitors, Lions and Carers. Our teams both did exceptionally well, Valley Vikings came 5th and Broadstreet Bashers came 7th, very impressive results considering the sheer determination and ability of the 12 teams present!

Also helping on the day were several Homewood School Sixth Formers who were absolutely fantastic and a real credit to their school and parents. To give up their Sunday to help and encourage those less fortunate than themselves was admirable and its great to see teenagers doing something so wonderful.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Tenterden were present as well and were there to present the medals to all the participants and the trophy to winning team, "Scuppa Cuppas".

Well done to all the teams and a big thank you to all the helpers. See you all next year!

For more information on Valley House and Broadstreet House please click on the link below to their website:

http://www.familyinvestmenthomes.com/

Kennington Scouts

Elham Valley & Wye Lions Club gave 1st Kennington Scout Group a donation of £500 towards their new Scout Hut. Donations were recieved from local organisations and businesses and the building is now up!

Brenchley Hall which had been the Group's Headquarters since 1959 was demolished to make way for the Kennington Scouts Community Hall - See Community Hall Appeal website http://www.kenningtonscoutscommunityhallappeal.co.uk for more details about the project.

"Christmas in June" - Day out for the elderly in our community.

Elham Valley & Wye Lions organised their now annual Party at Westenhanger Castle for the more elderly people within the Elham, Barham, Stelling Minnis, Lyminge and Brabourne areas.

A coach was laid on for those who were unable to drive themselves, with help and carers provided by Age Concern, who also transported some of the guests so an enjoyable afternoon could be had by all.

The club decided last year that a day out in the summer so people can get out of their homes and meet up with others for a chat and entertainment would be preferable to vouchers and hampers which used to be given out. Following the party last year which was well enjoyed it has now been repeated, with good success.

Around 70 people arrived at Westenhanger Castle for a drink and a cream tea, served by the Westenhanger staff with help from club members and club helpers and singer Jodie singing a selection of songs during the afternoon.

Club president John Brooks appeared as Father Christmas to pull crackers with the guests, as the funds are raised during December with the Christmas Float which visits the various villages around Elham Valley & Wye areas.

Fortunately the weather was good enough for some to enjoy the castle grounds and we are hoping to repeat with a similar day out next year.

Brabourne and Smeeth Under 10's Football Club.

We recently sponsored this local team who were in urgent need of a new kit.

Good luck to them for the rest of the season.

President John Brook, Welfare Chairman Roger Osborne and other members of the club meet with the team during training to present the new shirts.

Ten Year Anniversary - Pilgrims Hospice Garden Party for the patients.

On Saturday 9th July 2011, Elham Valley &Wye Lions Club hosted a garden party for more than 100 patients and their carers at The Pilgrims Hospice, Ashford, to help celebrate the Hospices 10th Birthday.

Two marquees decorated with blue & white balloons, flowers and banners were situated within the Hospice Gardens with the stage literally set.

Afternoon tea, which consisted of platters of sandwiches and mixed savouries followed by a cream tea, was served by members of the Lions Club and the Hospice helpers.

Entertainment was provided by 13 yr old Biddenden resident Lewis Fuller who did close up card magic at each table and the Ashford Sings Choir, who provided an enjoyable repertoire of popular songs, with Nigel Donkin the Hospice Fund Raising Manager, joining in with an inflatable guitar during a Queen song!!

It was a very enjoyable day and the weather held off for an almost summers day. For me the day was made all the more special by being told by one of the carers, ‘this day is better than any pep pill' and another who told us ‘you do not know how much a day like this means to the carers' which was very humbling and made all the hard work very worthwhile.

When the Lions club first discussed this event with the Hospice, we put a budget to how much we would need to raise and then set about deciding what the day would entail. A few meetings later and the menu was decided and how the day would go.

The marquees were erected over the Friday and Saturday morning with tables and chairs to be put out with table decorations and balloons etc.

Whilst the Hospice Helpers laid up the cream tea platters, Club members were busy being told by one of the Hospice team helpers how to get the sandwiches made up & plattered. Eventually there was time for a well earned cuppa before our guests arrived for the afternoon.

As with any charity event you have your budget and then do everything to not exceed it and many thanks need to go to those who so kindly donated not only time but food, balloons and marquee.

Big big thanks go to the following who kindly donated various items for us to be able to put the day on.

Brakes for supplying the savouries and the cream tea

The Red Balloon Company of Evegate, for the balloons.

Bars & Buffets for the crockery, cutlery and glasses.

The marquee company for the two marquees and the men who put the marquees up, with help from the Hospice (Nigel & Pauline) and some of our club members.

The Next Day

During the planning stage, as there was going to be the marquees and tables etc set up in the garden over the weekend one of the Hospice helpers decided to put on her Strawberry afternoon tea. Thinking they would do a small fund raiser to make full use of the weekend and do teas for around 50 people.

As it was, the day was so successful they managed to tempt a crowd of 500 to enjoy an afternoon Strawberry Tea with entertainment provided by the Rock Choirs from Canterbury, Deal, Folkestone & Ashford. A total of £3600 was raised for the Hospice from the day.

Although the Lions club were not involved with the Sunday Teas, it was a good feeling to have been able to provide part of the structure for the day to enable such a good fundraising event to take place.

To find out more about the work of the hospice please go to their website at www.pilgrimshospices.org

The marquee looking beautiful.