Bexhill Lions celebrate 43 years

Bexhill Lions Club 43rd birthday celebrations at Cooden Beach Hotel 2014 SUS-140925-090829001

Around 100 guests joined in the celebrations, including Bexhill Town Mayor Cllr Brian Kentfield, Lions District Governor Terry Mason, Director, Chief Executive of the De La Warr Pavilion Stewart Drew and partners, along with visiting members from local Lions clubs.

Following the dinner guests were entertained with a cabaret performed by members of East Sussex School of Performing Arts (ESSPA). Their theme was ‘treading the boards’ and included ESSPA Principal Teena Symonds reciting hilarious poetry and the company performing songs and dance from Grimm Pickings, Pippin, Les Miserable and Showboat.

Bexhill Lion President Richard Winrow said it was one of the best Charter’s ever for the club and praised everyone who contributed to make the club such a success.

He said: “Thanks go to all members of the Club and their partners, together with Friends of Bexhill Lions for their support and contributions in terms of their time, energy, ideas and manpower.”

Lion Richard highlighted the clubs many and wide ranging fundraising events, which raised over £24,000, adding: “This enabled us to support 42 community and welfare requests over the past 18 months.”

District Governor Terry Mason said the popularity of Lions Clubs was on the up. He said: “Membership of Lions Clubs is rising in the South East. Worldwide there are now over 1,390,600 members in 46,713 Clubs.”

Lion Mason said though there is a decline in individuals seeking support from Lions clubs, there is an increasing need for help with community projects such as Youth Club sponsorship, health awareness /screening, Air Ambulance support and wider local community involvement.

Cllr Kentfield praised the Lions for their important and valuable work: “Thanks to the Lions for all their support to the local community.

I am impressed by the range of activities undertaken by members which made a real difference to individuals as well as charities and community groups.”

The evening concluded with ESSPA performing an energetic ‘can can’.

For more information about Bexhill Lions visit the website at: www.bexhill-lions.org or call Lion Rick on 0845 833 9591.