The Lions Club of Clacton on Sea
Old Stories from 2009
FATHER CHRISTMAS HAD A BUSY TIME
In addition to all his other activities over the pre-Christmas period, Father Christmas had a busy and successful time helped by the Lions Club of Clacton on Sea and their friends.
They all spent six evenings doing a House to House Collection in the Tendring area and raised a gross amount of £1,097.08.
With more collecting at The Range, Tesco’s and Morrison’s stores, the total raised was £8,869.78
These funds will be used to benefit local charities and groups as well as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), Colchester General Hospital's Children's Heart Scanner Appeal which is close raising the funds needed to buy a heart monitor for the special care baby unit at the hospital and the Clacton Lions Charitable Trust.
Lion President Alan Mercer thanked Father Christmas, all his helpers and the public for their generous support to all these fund raising activities especially during the recent difficult weather conditions.
DASHED IF SHE DIDN’T WIN IT!
Brightlingsea shopper, Mrs J Young has an early Christmas present when she was amazed to hear that they had won the Trolley Dash Draw recently run by the Brightlingsea Branch of Clacton Lions Club.
However, Mrs Young took up the challenge to have two minutes let loose within the Fiveways in Brightlingsea one Sunday morning. In total, she collected goods to the value of £385.60 in her two minutes and she was also presented with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of bubbly to round off the morning.
2 other lucky people won shopping vouchers worth £20 each. They were Mr G Mann of Brightlingsea and Mrs M Smerdon of Alresford.
The Draw raised £949.31 for local charities and the Everyman Cancer Campaign. The Brightlingsea Branch Club were delighted with the result as it was their first major fund-raising effort and they had a successful time meeting lots of local people and attracting potential members.
FATHER CHRISTMAS HELPING FAMILIES
The Lions Club of Clacton on Sea are in for a busy time over the 20 days leading up to Christmas helping Father Christmas spread Christmas Goodwill as well as collecting money for Lions good causes.
Two charities will be the main beneficiaries of this collection and they are the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) and Colchester General Hospital's children's heart scanner appeal which aims to raise £60,000 to buy a heart monitor for the special care baby unit. Other local charities and groups will also benefit as well the Clacton Lions Charitable Trust which provides longer term help for local and Lions charities.
For 6 evenings between Thursday 3rd December and Monday 14th December, Father Christmas will be out on the streets of Clacton and the Tendring Area ably assisted by Clacton Lions with their float and helpers from other local organisations who have volunteered to help.
Father Christmas and the Lions and other helpers will also be at The Range, Valley Road, Clacton on Sea on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th December; then at Tesco’s Superstore, Brook Park on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December; and finally inside Morrison’s Superstore in Centenary Way, Little Clacton daily from Thursday 17th until Thursday 24th December.
The routes covered by Father Christmas will be (weather permitting):
Thursday 3rd December Holland on Sea – off York Road
Friday 4th December Holland on Sea – off Kings Avenue
Monday 7th December Holland on Sea – off Frinton Road
Tuesday 8th December Douglas Road, Coppins Road area
Wednesday 9th December Kiln Barn Avenue
Monday 14th December Lymington/ Carisbrooke Avenue Area
BRA CHAIN EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
On Saturday 3rd October, we set out to create a chain of bras at least 2 miles in length on Great Bentley Green but, in very blustery conditions which always threatened to send the whole chain off into Suffolk, they managed to complete a chain which measured 3.08 miles. Only time and a lack of space stopped them surpassing even this distance.
The funds raised from the sponsorship of the event will be in aid of the Chemotherapy Unit at Essex County Hospital, Colchester to improve the conditions for the many patients attending who have breast cancer. Donations can still be made to support this appeal at this time.
The
Lions would like to thank the many hundreds of ladies who have donated bras to
them for this event, many arrive by post even addressed sometimes just to “Bras,
Clacton”. One of the bras donated was a special bra devised for a production of
“Are you being Served” staged by Clacton Amateur Dramatic Society. The total
number of bras collected was well in excess of 5,000 but the Lions were sadly
miles off the world record set in August this year in Bundaberg in south-east
Queensland, Australia of more than 166,000 bras stretching over 163 kilometres
(approx 102 miles).
After the event, the bras will be recycled to the Third World and to Eastern Europe in the Lions tradition of recycling unwanted items. If any charities could use bras in a clean condition, some are new, then please call the Lions Helpline on 0845 833 7367.
UNDER THE HAMMER
Over 160 lots will go under the hammer on Saturday 17th October at the Clacton Lions Charity Auction at the United Reform Church Hall in Carnarvon Road, Clacton on Sea which will raise funds to continue their projects throughout the local area.
The doors open on for viewing of the Auction Lots at 9.00 am with bidding starting at 11.00 am. Entry is by catalogue and these cost £1 and will be available from Saturday 10th October from Brian Birt Carpets in High Street, Clacton on Sea or from the Lions “Vision Matters” Exhibition in the Trinity Methodist Church Hall between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm that day.
Among the lots featured are collectibles, an exercise treadmill, a mobility scooter and loads more interesting lots. Something for everyone.
Donations of further lots, excluding clothing and furniture, can still be accepted by calling Trevor on Clacton 861827.
THE LIONS WANT YOUR BRAS
The Lions are at it again. Collecting in your old bras Ladies, that is and they will be doing it at their stand at the Tendring Show (Stand B21 which is near Gate A – right opposite BBC Essex).
They need to collect in over 3,500 old bras in order to complete a chain of bras at least 2 miles long on Great Bentley Green on Saturday 3rd October all in aid of the Chemotherapy Unit at Essex County Hospital, Colchester. Funds will be raised by people sponsoring the chain.
The last time that the Lions attempted the Chain they managed 1.62 miles and raised over £1,200. They now wish to go further than 2 miles.
In addition to collecting the bras at the Tendring Show and at their stands at other events throughout the summer you can hand in your bras at TREE in High Street, Clacton on Sea; EDS Mobility, Frinton Road, Holland on Sea; Fir Trees Café, Tenpenny Hill, Thorrington; 11 St. Mary's Road, Aingers Green, Great Bentley; Carpenters Farm, Great Bentley and 3, Linnet Way, Great Bentley.
After the event, the bras will be recycled to the Third World and to Eastern Europe in the Lions tradition of recycling unwanted items. Recently, over 3,500 pairs of old spectacles, 175 unwanted mobile phones and over 250 printer cartridges were despatched for recycling following collection in the 25 special blue bins that the Clacton Lions have throughout the Tendring area.
LIONS ON THE STREET RAISE A ROARING LOAD OF CASH
At a collection held in Clacton Town Centre, the Lions Club of Clacton on Sea raised £442.60 for their funds to support local and international good causes. £32.54 of the amount raised was specifically for Diabetes UK as a result of the Care for a Cuppa event.
They also collected a number of used pairs of spectacles and hearing aids.
This was one of the last fund-raising events in Lion President Trevor Grimsey’s year of office. Lion Trevor thanked the public for their generosity towards the Club and their efforts to help those less fortunate especially in our community.
Dashed if she didn't win it!
Ready for the off
The Winner and her spoils along with Members of Clacton Lions
Local shopper, Mrs Marks from Clacton, was amazed to hear that they had won the Spring Trolley Dash recently draw run by the Clacton Lions Club.
However, Mrs Marks took up the challenge to have two minutes let loose within the Morrison’s Superstore at Little Clacton one Sunday morning. In total, she collected goods to the value of £226.29 in her two minutes and was presented with a bouquet of flowers at the end of her dash.
2 other lucky people won Morrison’s vouchers worth £20 each. They were Mrs Sadler and a Mrs Thurwell of Clacton on Sea.
Clacton Lions’ Fund Raising Chairman, Peter Luckhurst, said that the Draw had raised over £1,000 for Lions charities and the Club were delighted with the result. He also thanked the management and staff at Morrison’s at the store in Little Clacton for all their assistance.