Lions and Bookshop Volunteers training in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
On 13th August Lions club members and Bookshop volunteers received CPR and Defibrillator training from GWAAC's Public Education Co-ordinator, Carlota Appleby, ably assisted by Richard.
Lions Club members were invited to visit the GWAAC base in Almondsbury earlier this year (see article further down on this page) after raising £1,000 for them through our Giant Easter Egg raffles. During the visit we were told that GWAAC offered free training in CPR. As we run the Bookshop in the centre of Thornbury it seemed too good an opportunity to miss as our volunteers could very easily find themselves faced with a situation where CPR training would be invaluable.
Around 26 members and volunteers received the training at St Mary's Church Hall on the afternoon of 13th August. It is good to know that we will be better able to help in an emergency should the need ever arise.
Lions Club members were invited to visit the GWAAC base in Almondsbury earlier this year (see article further down on this page) after raising £1,000 for them through our Giant Easter Egg raffles. During the visit we were told that GWAAC offered free training in CPR. As we run the Bookshop in the centre of Thornbury it seemed too good an opportunity to miss as our volunteers could very easily find themselves faced with a situation where CPR training would be invaluable.
Around 26 members and volunteers received the training at St Mary's Church Hall on the afternoon of 13th August. It is good to know that we will be better able to help in an emergency should the need ever arise.
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And for those members and volunteers who cannot make the training you can always take the online course provided by the British Heart Foundation.
Click on their logo opposite to go to their website page for the free CPR training package. |
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Activity Alliance National Junior Para Athletics Championships: 6th/7th July 2024
Our Youth Officer, Kevin Simpson, spent another rewarding week-end helping out at this event. The Games co-ordinator, Penny Tregillus sent the following message to all the Lions volunteers:
"Thank you so much for coming along to help at the 2024 Games over the weekend. My thanks go to all of you for everything you did.
Your help is much appreciated by myself and Activity Alliance. Without the team of Lion volunteers Activity Alliance could not run the Games.
Whatever the role you carried out it meant the Games ran smoothly and safely. Everybody was fed, cars parked in the correct place for the Games athletes or sent to the correct location for the football, athletes were able to participate in their respective sporting activity.
There were many smiling faces as athletes proudly showed off their medals."
"Thank you so much for coming along to help at the 2024 Games over the weekend. My thanks go to all of you for everything you did.
Your help is much appreciated by myself and Activity Alliance. Without the team of Lion volunteers Activity Alliance could not run the Games.
Whatever the role you carried out it meant the Games ran smoothly and safely. Everybody was fed, cars parked in the correct place for the Games athletes or sent to the correct location for the football, athletes were able to participate in their respective sporting activity.
There were many smiling faces as athletes proudly showed off their medals."
Changeover 2024
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At the end of June, Thornbury Lions held their Changeover dinner where Terry Hunt stepped down as President and welcomed Pete Fish into the role. Lion Terry thanked all members for their support during his tenure, during which over £30,000 has been donated to local and national charities and worldwide disaster appeals. The club thanked Terry for leading the club over the past 12 months and wished Pete every success. Terry is one of the founding Charter members of the club 37 years ago, during which he has been President for 5 years and club Secretary for 32 years.
One of Terrys initiatives over the past 12 months was the ‘Books for Schools’ campaign, which resulted in 12 Primary schools and 2 Secondary schools in Thornbury and surrounding area receiving much needed funds to purchase books. This was greatly appreciated by the schools. The club also took part in the 2023 Lions ROAR contest involving local schools, which is an inspirational education competition run in partnership between Lions Clubs in the British Isles and ‘8BillionIdeas’. Although our entries did not win the competition, each pupil which took part found it to be a rewarding experience. The successful Lions bookshop is in its thirteenth year, with customers coming from far afield. The shop generates funds which have benefited and improved the lives of many in the surrounding area. Over the past twelve months, these have included Great Western Air Ambulance, JIGSAW, Krunch South West, Castle School Friends, Thornbury in Bloom, Scout groups, Olveston bowling club, Thornbury Area Youth Music and various Thornbury Town Football Club teams to name a few. This will be Pete’s fourth year of being President, having previously steered the club through the challenging COVID years. He plans to continue the success of the shop and attract new members, whilst continuing the club’s social activities with guest speaker evenings and meals out. |
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FunFest 30th June 2024
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One club member, Paul Wilkinson, was unable to join in the Changeover because he was committed to helping out at his old club, Fleet Lions in Hampshire. They, along with other clubs in their Zone organise a FunFest every year at the end of June. This is a fun packed day for people with disabilities or special educational needs, their families and helpers. The emphasis is on music and fun, for people of all ages and abilities: with bouncy castles, roundabouts, steam train rides and plenty of sideshows and games. And it's all free!
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Paul, seen here on the right, while the slide ride was tested out by one of the Lions, watched over by the Mayor of Yateley, where the event was held.
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Great Western Air Ambulance Visit - 19th June 2024
We had a very enjoyable and interesting evening with the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity based at Almondsbury. After an informative presentation by Jenny Benson we were shown around their headquarters including their helicopter, vehicles and equipment.
This is such a well deserving and hard working charity in our area and it is totally funded by charitable donations. We have helped them several times in the past and without the generosity of our bookshop customers we would have been unable to provide this much needed support.
This is such a well deserving and hard working charity in our area and it is totally funded by charitable donations. We have helped them several times in the past and without the generosity of our bookshop customers we would have been unable to provide this much needed support.
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You can help the Air Ambulance Charity with their life-saving work by joining their Lottery. It only costs £1 a week. Click on their logo to learn more.
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Gympanzees - 10th June 2024
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Our Youth Officer, Kevin Simpson, visited the previous Aust Services, which is situated very close to the Severn Bridge.
The purpose of his visit was to have a guided tour around the facilities together with members of Bradley Stoke Lions who invited our club to join them. The tour was given by Jenny Davies the fundraising officer for the registered charity Gympanzees. Kevin commented that the tour was "very informative and inspirational. They have such a vision for the future and plan to be up and running at the Aust Services site by mid June 2026". |
Bradley Stoke Lions in the blue shirts, our Youth Officer, Kevin, 2nd from the right and Jenny Davies on the far right
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If you want to learn more about what Gympanzees do then click on their logo opposite which will take you to their website
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GWAAC Thank you - May 2024
Message in a Bottle - 8th Jan 2024
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We have re-stocked Age UK , located at the top of the High Street in Thornbury, with a supply of 'Message in a Bottle' bottles.
The bottles are also freely available from the Lions' Bargain Bookshop in the St Mary Centre, Thornbury.
Click on the photo below to learn more about 'Message in a Bottle'. 
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Megan Brooks, one of Age UK's advisors, accepting the bottles from Lion Paul Wilkinson.
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Wooton Lions Club: "Under the Edge" 10,000 metre run on 17 Sept 2023
We were very glad to assist one of our sister clubs in need of Marshalls for their 10K run. Two club members, Paul & Kevin, volunteered to help and were lucky enough to complete their duties before the rain came. You can view many more photos on the Wooton Lions Club website here.
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Activity Alliance Junior Championship Games 1st and 2nd July 2023
Thank you to your Youth Officer, Kevin Simpson, for helping at the 2023 Activity Alliance Junior Championship Games over the weekend. My thanks to you for everything you did.
Your help is much appreciated by myself and Activity Alliance. Without the team of Lion Volunteers Activity Alliance could not run the Games.
Whatever role you carried out it meant that the Games ran smoothly, everybody was fed, cars directed to the car park and the athletes could participate in their respective sport. There were many smiling faces as athletes proudly showed off their medals.
Council Chairman Lion David Pope joined us on Saturday. He met the athletes/volunteering members of the Lions Team and participatied in official presentations. Your support is much appreciated
I have established that:-
Roles carried out by the Lion Volunteer Team included food distribution, assisting officials/judges to run track and field events, running events, directing cars to the car park, ferrying equipment to the field events, anything asked of them.
Penny Tregillus
Thank you to your Youth Officer, Kevin Simpson, for helping at the 2023 Activity Alliance Junior Championship Games over the weekend. My thanks to you for everything you did.
Your help is much appreciated by myself and Activity Alliance. Without the team of Lion Volunteers Activity Alliance could not run the Games.
Whatever role you carried out it meant that the Games ran smoothly, everybody was fed, cars directed to the car park and the athletes could participate in their respective sport. There were many smiling faces as athletes proudly showed off their medals.
Council Chairman Lion David Pope joined us on Saturday. He met the athletes/volunteering members of the Lions Team and participatied in official presentations. Your support is much appreciated
I have established that:-
- There were 157 athletes taking part.
- 39 Volunteers were attending (Lions, family members and friends) over the weekend.
- Volunteers came from 15 Clubs in 4 Districts (A, CE, CN and CW)
Roles carried out by the Lion Volunteer Team included food distribution, assisting officials/judges to run track and field events, running events, directing cars to the car park, ferrying equipment to the field events, anything asked of them.
Penny Tregillus
See some of the competitors and Lions volunteers in the slideshow below
Our Sponsorship of the Pump and a Planter looking good at The Plain - July 2023
Presidential Handover at end of June 2023
Lion Derrick stepped down as our President and welcomed Lion Terry into the role. Derrick thanked all members for their support during his year of office, during which over £28,000 had been donated to local and national charities and worldwide disaster appeals. The club thanked Derrick for leading the club over the past 12 months and wished Terry every success. Terry is one of the founding Charter members of our club 36 years ago and this is his fifth year of being President.
Keith & Kevin receive their long service awards (13 April 2023)
L to R: Kevin Simpson; Derrick Hildersley (President); Glyn Williams (Region Chair); Richard Stannard (Zone Chair) & Keith Townsend (Charter Member)
At the end of our April Business meeting two of our club members were presented with long service awards by the visiting Lions District Officers, Glyn & Richard. Kevin received his 10 year service award and Keith, who has been a member of Thornbury Lions since it was chartered as a club, received his 35 year service award. Well done guys!