Tenby and District Lions recently held their 41st charter anniversary dinner at the Giltar Hotel recently.

They were very pleased to welcome the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, and the Mayoress, Sian Waters, Lion district governor, Steve Petty, and past district governor, John Mounty.

Lion president Derek MacGarvie thanked the members of Tenby and District Lions for their wholehearted support and enthusiasm during the last 12 months. They have worked as a team and surpassed all expectations.

In response to local requests from individuals, schools, clubs and organisations Tenby and District Lions have made donations totalling around £10,000 during the year.

The Lions have helped to purchase new play equipment for New Hedges children’s park and Skrinkle Park in Manorbier, purchased a defibrillator, provided a drum kit for Greenhill School, provided football kits, contributed towards the costs of Christmas dinners and coach outings for senior citizens and many other donations to local worthy causes.

In his review of the past year, the president said that Tenby and District Lions have participated in all of Lions Clubs Internationals targets. With regard to LCI’s targets to preserve the environment, the president thanked the Mayor for her support in allowing the Lions to sponsor the flower beds on The Green and are the Lions Club are supporting the Keep Tenby Plastic Free Campaign. He also thanked the estate manager on Caldey for inviting the Lions to install a special bench for public use on the Island and for to provide food for the red squirrels. This enables the Lions Club members to play an active role in the preservation of the environment

Another of LCI’s aims has always been to restore and improve the sight of people in the developing world. Tenby and District Lions are expanding their collection of used spectacles. These are sent to France to be recycled and sent to countries in Africa and Asia to help improve the sight of millions of people.

Diabetes research is one of LCI’s new targets. Tenby and District Lions will shortly be holding a Diabetes Awareness Day in Tenby as part of their contribution to this cause.

Lions Clubs International also support pediatric cancer. Tenby and District Lions made a substantial donation to Elly’s Flag appeal for the Cancer Ward at Withybush Hospital.

After all the toasts, the president presented the Lion of the Year award to Peter Wilton, the club’s treasurer. Peter has made sure that the chemists and surgeries have a good supply of Message In a Bottle. He has also been instrumental in arranging for a plaque to be erected on The Green and organised the Easter egg draw in aid of local charities. He is always one of the first to offer extra time and help for others and is always on hand when there is practical work to be done.

When all ceremonies were complete, the president handed over the president’s chain of office to the president-elect Robert Mayhew. He in turn presented the vice-president’s chain of office to Lion Mona Skipper.

The new Lion president, Robert Mayhew, promised to continue to lead the Tenby and District Lions forward to ‘serve the local community.’