Supporting our Community....
Yoxall Open gardens June 22
The sun shone for a fabulous Open Gardens event in Yoxall (Staffordshire) on the weekend of 11th and 12th of June. Five very varied gardens were open to the public and attracted lots of visitors to view the gorgeous gardens on show.
Barton Under Needwood Lions club provided the manpower to help over the two days by manning the gates, providing refreshments with a selection of cream teas and scrumptious cakes and generally helping where required. Those who’s gardens were visited, had done a splendid job in preparing their gardens for those viewing and were so hospitable and knowledgeable and more than happy to answer questions and pass on their expert advice.
A great weekend for all and culminated in raising £1000 to go to The British Red Cross and £1000 to go to Barton Under Needwood Lions club for distribution to local causes and those in need in our area.
Thank you to the organisers and everyone else involved for your hard work and support. Roll on next year!
Teddy Bear Festival
A bright sunny day was in store for all attending this years Family Teddy Festival in Barton. After two years of Covid restrictions it was fantastic to see so many Teddys, Rabbits, Dinosaurs and assorted treasured toys turning up with their owners in tow at the festival once again.
After obtaining their passports and going through security they braved their way to the numerous challenges. From the Oblivion ride plunging from the top of the church to the Sky wire rocketing up to the bell tower to a race on the Boat a Bear ride the prized toys were put through their paces. Having survived unscathed, they then took their owners on a walk around the various stalls and exhibitions in and around St James’s church grounds and visiting the scarecrow festival before partaking of the fabulous refreshments on offer.
All funds raised from the day are donated to St James’s church.
Senior Citizen's Tea Party Returns!
Barton Village Hall was the venue for our 2022 Senior Citizens Tea Party. Having missed the event due to the pandemic for the last couple of years it was with great delight that Barton Lions Club decided they would be able to host the event once more.
We were joined by forty guests who enjoyed a superb feast of Tea, Coffee, Sandwiches, Savory snacks and lots and lots of cakes! Many of the cakes were supplied by the local Women's Institute for which w
e would like to extend our thanks.
Every person left with a box of chocolates and there were a few lucky winners of our card game bingo! All in all a lovely afternoon spent with friends old and new.
Volunteering at G4 Concert at Lichfield Cathedral in support of the Missing People Charity
Several of our members helped at the G4 Concert recently held at Lichfield Cathedral. Our members helped as ushers for the evening together with helping to sell merchandise and programmes, and took part in the can shake to raise funds for this vital charity. A great night was had by all.
Volunteering at St Giles Hospice- Light up a Life Service
Thanks goes to all our members who volunteered at the Light up a Life service at St Giles this year. This is a service of remembrance for those who have lost someone special from their lives. A carol service and readings are followed by lights being hung on the hospice Christmas tree and provides comfort at what can be a difficult time of year.
Our support of Light up a Life makes a huge difference and enables St Giles to be able to continue to provide care and support to local people and their families, living with a potentially terminal illness
Thank You....
Well, what can I say other than a huge thank you for all your help and support at the Light up a Life service in Whittington; we honestly couldn’t have done it without you. I hope you will agree that it was a lovely service which gave everyone, ourselves included, the time and space to remember our loved ones. From where I was stood, I could see our amazing nurses watching from the windows on the In-Patient Unit with patients and their families at their sides. It was a really poignant moment for me, which I felt honoured to be a part of. The amount raised from Light up a Life 2022, has so far it has raised over £34,000, which is incredible. You are a crucial part in enabling us to raise those funds, so once again, a heartfelt thank you!
Sally Redmond
In Memory and Legacy Manager St Giles Hospice
Books for Schools- Lions donated Wild Tribe Heroes books
Yoxall St Peters C of E primary school receive their books
Lions Geoff & Pam Trevena present books to Bartons Thomas Russell school
Lions Geoff & Pam Trevena present books to Whittington Primary school
Lions Geoff & Pam Trevena presenting books to Two Rivers High School Tamworth
Barton Lions Club are joining together with Lions clubs throughout the UK to promote the Wild Tribe Heroes books, written by mother of four Ellie Jackson from Looe in Cornwall.
Ellie was inspired to write these seven beautifully illustrated books showing the effects of plastic on our oceans having watched a rescued and rehabilitated turtle being released back into the sea off the Great Barrier Reef. Each story follows the true story of a well-loved animal as they encounter ocean plastic and how with the help of people the animals are rescued, rehabilitated and released back into their ocean home.
Lions clubs are presenting local schools with a set of these books so that children can be educated on the effects of plastics on our ecosystem.
For more information visit - https://wildtribeheroes.com/
Lions attend Lichfield Volunteers Fair
Like most charities we are always looking for opportunities to attract new volunteer members. Members of Barton under Needwood and Lichfield Lions attended the recent local volunteers fair set in beautiful Lichfield Cathedral. It was a great opportunity for us to meet members of the public interested in volunteering and to also chat with other local charities and volunteer groups in our area to share news and views!
2023 Mardi Gras Festival
Once again local Landlord of the Red Lion Pub in Barton, Mike Owen and his wife Toni, oganised the festival to celebrate the Mardi Gras for 2023. Hundreds of people came out to watch the lively procession and to enjoy the performace from the Jazz band who performed along the route and at two stopping points in the village. Some people even dressed for the occassion in the traditional Mardi Gras colours of Green, Yellow and Purple and danced along to the music. The profit of £646 from the event will go to St Giles Hospice and to Thomas Russell Infant and Junior schools.
Barton Lions club were out in force and helped to decorate the two lorries donated for the day by AR Taylor Transport and our thanks must go to Dean Mottram, Vinney Russell and Richard Brooks from AR Taylor who let us decorate their immaculately turned out lorries for the occassion.
Our thanks also to our fellow Lions from Lichfield and Rugeley Lions who helped us on the day and manned our collecton buckets.
A fun time was had by all.
