Beccles Lion President Chris Lambert with his wife Carolyn enter the Waveney Suite after being ‘piped in’ by the Beccles Sea Cadets.
To celebrate our 50th Charter Anniversary, we organised a Celebration Dinner at the Waveney House Hotel on Saturday 11th May.
Over 100 people attended this memorable event - including the Mayor of Beccles - Councillor Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw, Peter Aldous MP (who is one of our members) plus representatives from 13 other East Anglian Lions Clubs and a large number of our friends from Beccles and District.
We had worked hard to ensure that this would be a very special evening and our Guests were welcomed by a guard of honour from the Beccles Sea Cadets, Rumpus Ukulele group and Trevor and Ian Shurmer who kindly photographed all our guests and presented them with a special copy.
Once our Guests were seated, the Beccles Sea Cadets ‘piped in’ the Top Table Guests and as the Hotel Staff served the meals, Phil Perry the Magician moved around the tables astonishing everyone with his dexterity.
Our Top Table: (L-R) Lion Paul Martin PDG, Lions District Governor - Lion Mandy Hawksley, Lion President Chris Lambert, Mrs Carolyn Lambert, Mayor of Beccles - Councillor Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw, Mr David Brambley-Crawshaw, Lion Peter Aldous MP.
Following the meal, the formal part of the evening included toasts and responses to Her Majesty the Queen, “Absent Friends”, Lions Clubs International and “Our Partners, Guests and the Town of Beccles”.
Lions International District Governor for East Anglia - Lion Mandy Hawkesley presenting the 50th Anniversary Certificate of Appreciation from Lions International to Beccles Lion President - Chris Lambert.
The annual Ivan Holmes Community Award - presented by Mrs Mandy Holmes in memory of our late Past President - Lion Ivan, was awarded this year to Mrs Joyce Wilson for her work at The May Centre.
A video of our longest serving and founder member - Norman Garrod receiving Lionism’s highest honour - The Melvin Jones Fellowship award was shown. Unfortunately, being over 90 years of age, Norman was unable to join us in person.
The most surprised person of the evening was Lion Keith Moore who was similarly honoured with a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Keith became a Lion some 30 years ago and was active and indeed President of the Lowestoft Lions Club before moving to Beccles where he has served in the same position. The large contingent who had joined us from the Lowestoft Club were as delighted at this award as the Beccles Lions.
Lion Keith Moore (left) receiving the commemorative ‘MJF’ plaque from Lion President Chris Lambert.
The 50th Anniversary Cake made by Mrs Sue Moore and featuring the head of our Club Mascot - Sid the Lion, being cut by our newest member - Lion Sharon Page and longest serving active member - Lion Dermot Wesley-Smith PP.
Entertainment was provided by Tosh.
Melvin Jones founded the first Lions Club in Chicago, Illinois in 1917.
Now, Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service organisation with 46,000 Clubs around the world and some 1.8 million members.
In the British Isles, Ireland, and the rest of Europe, Lions donate over 5.7 million hours work and £88 million to humanitarian causes each year.