Lions celebrate

Members of Lions clubs from across the region were present at the Cooden Beach Hotel last Friday to join Bexhill Lions in celebrating their 36th Charter Night. They included colleagues from Hastings, which "fathered" the Bexhill Club.

Responding to the toast to Lions Clubs International and District 105SE, which had been proposed by Bexhill president Lion Freddie Thorns, the District Governor, Lion Robin Blake, reminded the company that they were not only celebrating 36 years of service to the local and world community by Bexhill Lions but 90 years of the international movement.

Eighty years ago, Helen Keller had challenged Lions to become "Knights of the blind."

The international movement's Sight First campaign, supported by countless clubs such as Bexhill, battled preventable blindness in Third World Countries, restoring the sight of millions and preventing millions more from losing their vision needlessly.

"We did this! Lions did this! Where for so many there was darkness now there is dignity and independence - thanks to Lions," the District Governor told 114 Lions and guests.

The movement's founder, Melvin Jones, had declared: "You can't get very far until you start doing something for someone else."

He told Bexhill members their club had travelled far since their first Charter Night.

"You should be very proud of your achievements.

"On behalf of all those you have helped or will help in the future I say thank you."

Under the gavel of genial toastmaster Lion Ron Moore, the gathering had been reminded by the Bexhill president of the founding aims of Lionism - creating and fostering an understanding of the needs of others through community involvement locally and internationally.

Freddie Thorns said Bexhill Lions had raised 800 on Alexander Rose Day. They had raised 3,000 last Christmas and more than 1,500 over the summer months. They had raised 800 for Water Aid, providing clean water supplies for Malawi.

Locally, their work had included supplying people, such as someone with multiple sclerosis, with equipment to help them lead a more independent life.

Referring to the work of Lion Alan Mitcheson, he said the club had collected five boxes of old spectacles a month from local opticians and chemists. These were sent to Third World countries where they were dispensed to people in need.

A few weeks ago, Bexhill Lions had taken a coach party on a mystery tour which ended with a cream tea. For some it had been their first outing for many years.

Referring to the old Ben Lyon- Bebe Daniels radio show Life With the Lyons, he said Bexhill members also enjoyed a happy social life together which included barbecues, visits to neighbouring clubs and the creation of a club golf society.

The toast to the ladies and guests was humorously proposed by 1st Vice President David Burstow.

He said he had inadvertently brought the speech intended for his daughter's forthcoming wedding. He cleverly transposed this, casting the club in the role of the bride, Lions International as the groom and the District Governor as best man. Every visiting club and guest in turn were accorded a nuptial role.

Responding, Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon tsaid that, having seen members at countless fetes and fairs throughout the summer he thanked Bexhill Lions on behalf of the town for all that they did for the community.