Lions return with a roar

After so many months of only being able to meet on Zoom, Reepham Lions has returned to St Michael’s for its meetings and is continuing to hold monthly quizzes, but now face to face.

It is lovely to be back, and I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the opportunity to get out and about more.

Earlier in the year a request was received to fund a small, above-ground swimming pool for a young local girl who has cerebral palsy, hypermobility issues and epilepsy.

Photo: Liz Howes

Flissy (pictured above) experiences pain when moving but this is relieved when she is in water. In July, she was delighted to receive her Lions-funded pool and has spent many happy hours enjoying the freedom of easier movement.

Moving to stage four of the government’s roadmap on 19 July meant that the Norfolk Day celebrations could go ahead this year.

The Lions spearheaded Reepham’s celebrations in collaboration with the Bircham Centre. It proved to be a great success giving the local community, both young and old, the opportunity to meet up again in a lovely setting as well as enjoying games and refreshments.

In August the Lions ran a food-oriented tombola at the Reepham Food Festival. Despite the torrential rain at the start of the day, the sun came out –– and so did the local community.

The tombola proved to be popular and the small number of items remaining have been donated to the North Norfolk (previously Cromer) Foodbank.

Reepham Lions also ran a summer raffle with prizes donated by private individuals, as well as a voucher for a weekend away donated by the Original Cottage Company and a voucher from Woodgate Nursery, Aylsham.

Our thanks go to all of those who donated and to you, the community, who kindly supported us. Without your support the club could not continue to thrive.

September sees the start of the new football season and the local women’s football club, Cawston Red Rose FC, will be sporting their new shirts sponsored by Reepham Lions.

The Lions Club is now in the early stages of organising the first Reepham Christmas Tree Festival. Watch this space for updates on this event.

As a result of your continuing generosity, Reepham Lions is now in the fortunate position to be able to invite funding applications.

If you know of any local organisation or person you think would benefit from a donation, please ask them to make contact by email.

We are continuing to collect old spectacles and hearing aids, and these can be left in the collection boxes at the Bircham Centre and The Crown.

Why not come along to one of our monthly meetings to meet us, hear about the club and our plans for the future?

There is absolutely no commitment on your part. Look upon it as putting your toe in the water.

We hope to see you at our next meeting in St Michael’s on Thursday 7 October. Members start to arrive around 7 pm, have a catch up over a cuppa and biscuit and the main meeting starts at 7.30 pm.

Liz Howes