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Helensburgh Lions Club held their annual Senior Citizens tea in the United Reform Church Hall.

A break in the weather encouraged 62 people join the Lions for a “Ritz” style tea.

The excellent food was prepared by Anna and Michael Curley of the Deli in the Square and was served by a group of lady volunteers and Lions Club members.

The Club would like to thank Frank Murray and Hamish Williamson who played the piano to accompany the tea.

The Lions Club are hoping to host their usual Senior Citizens lunch in the New Year.

The Lions Bench, originally situated in Colquhoun Square, is now located on the West Esplanade.
The bench was donated in 1974 to recognise the contribution made by well known civic leaders, Cloudy Williamson and Alex Gillespie who were founding members of Helensburgh Lions Club.
Unfortunately the years had taken its toll of the bench which was in very poor condition.
As this is the Centenary of the founding of Lions Clubs International in 1917 it was decided to renovate the bench to mark the event.
Long serving Lions Club members Derek Urquhart and Brian Stephenson took up the challenge and with the help of Helensburgh Community Council and the co-operation of the Local Authority Amenities Department restored the bench to its former glory and installed a plaque to commemorate the refurbishment.
Should any other “owners” of benches need their bench renovating Derek and Brian would  be pleased to help.

Following presentations to the Helensburgh Lions Club members about the activities of their respective organisations the Club were pleased to present cheques for £250 to help them with their valuable work.

Club members called in at Alzheimers Scotland Dementia Resource Centre in Helensburgh to hand over the cheque to Victoria MacLeod, the local manager.

Cheques were also sent to Marie Curie to help them expand the service to the local community and also to Mzuzu Lions Club in Malawi to assist their health care and education agenda.

Following a request from Julia Ward, a parent of a child at Parklands School, for assistance in purchasing specially designed tablets for use in the school Helensburgh Lions decided that rather than help we would buy all six tablets.

The Lions Club were delighted that Mia Ward, a pupil at Parklands School, and her mum Julia, Treasurer of the school Parent Council, came to the golf day to accept a cheque for £3594.  The money will be used to purchase six – Inclusive ClassMate with iSwitch -educational tablets which include special software and in particular facilities for use by the physically disabled.

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Helensburgh Lions Club held their annual Golf Day at Helensburgh Golf Club on 1st June when a record entry of 55 teams filled the schedule. The generosity of the Sponsors and the participants raised £2841 for the Lions Club charity funds.

Despite poor weather the course held up remarkably well and produced some excellent scores.

The winners with 50 Stableford points were “And in Last Place” Helensburgh members Tommy Darroch, Michael McKechnie and Carrick member Jim Hodge.

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A great success with £760.00 raised for charity.
This will be distributed to worthwhile local causes.

Many thanks to all who took part in our 2017 Easter Egg Raffle
and especially to those establishments who took our eggs and sold the tickets

The Argyll  –   The Station Bar

The Ashton  –   The Royal Bar

Helensburgh Golf Club  –  Scotrail

The Coach House  –  Deli in the Square

Kidston Cafe  –  The Ardencaple

The Anchor Inn  –  The Creggans Inn  –  Brae Shop

Another successful race night at Helensburgh Golf Club including a raffle for one of our delicious Thorntons Easter eggs!

The club were again pleased to be able to distribute some surplus funds at the end of the year.
Local organisations which were recognised for their contribution to the community were –

Helensburgh Lunch Club
Garelochhead Riding for the Disabled
Helensburgh and Lomond Young Carers
Challenger Sailing Group
United Reform Church Christmas Day Lunch

A total of £1550.00 was distributed between the various groups.

Spectacle Recycling in Helensburgh produces over 100 pairs of spectacles a month and since we commenced collections has provided approx 25000 pairs for recycling.

Collection boxes are located at The Medical Centre, Black and Lizars and Eyeware in the Square.

The spectacles are transported free of charge by Parcel Force to the UK Lions sorting depot operated by Chichester Lions Club. Spectacles undergo presorting where scratched and broken glasses are identified. These are sold for scrap and over the last 5 years this has generated over £200,000 for Lions Sightfirst and charities for the blind.

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