Golden Jubillee Review & the years ahead
1960
The start of any project usually involves one visionary individual. So it was with Hereford Lions Club. Dennis Taylor, a manager with Royal Insurance, had helped form a Lions Club in Harrogate in 1955 and after being transferred to the Gloucester branch started a club there in 1959. He quickly persuaded his fellow branch manager, Ron Williams, that Hereford needed a Lions Club, too. Ron, in turn, recruited his old army pal, Howell Davies, a partner in city solicitors, T A Matthews who would become the new club’s first president. The rest, as they say, is history.
1961
Jimmy Cottle, whose younger brother, Peter would follow him in the role a few years later, took over as president. Accountant Howell Haines took over as secretary, and would be at the forefront of the Lions international movement for the next half century, including sterling service as national treasurer..
1962.
The club is invited to send two local blind people to a newly opened holiday home for the blind in Great Yarmouth, which two years later would spark the idea of the club having its own holiday home.
1963
The club hits a rocky patch. Only nine of the original 19 members remain. Crisis meeting held. Members rally round and eight new members recruited, amongst them Ralph Green and Peter Cottle who would devote a lifetime to the cause.
1964
Howell Haines is in the chair and the club buys its first holiday home, a chalet at Clarach Bay, Aberystwyth, providing free holidays for local people in need of a break by the seaside. It cost £1,200, mostly paid by a bank overdraft.
1965
This was the year the Lions community transport service was launched. The mini-bus cost £698, by contrast the latest model cost the club £48,000. It was also the year Lions introduced live match reports from Hereford United to local Hospitals which would run for many years.
Bring on the dancing girls. (pictured) Lions staged a Polynesian Evening and adding a touch of glamour were members of the operatic society’s chorus line (l to r) Pam Pearson, Di Butler, Pennie Newton-Sealey and Sandra Harling. Club members on parade were Howell Haines, Joe Yeomans, Larry Farnham Harold Rumsey and Geoff Lewis.
1966
Lions created a traffic jam from Hereford to Madley. President Geoff Lewis, who would devote four decades to running the club’s transport service, set up a show on the old Madley airfield by the famous Canadian Hell Drivers, which proved highly popular
1967
Duncan Heins, who ran an auction room for household furnishing and goods, was president and helped furnish the holiday home with good quality items passing through his saleroom.
1968
The year of the terrible Aberfan Disaster, a South Wales coal tip collapsed on the local school killing dozens of youngsters. The day following the disaster club president, Peter Cottle delivered a van load of toys, donated by city shops, to Aberfan for the surviving children. The first voluntary organisation to reach the town.
1969
President Ralph Green launched the club’s first annual Donkey Derby,. For the next 21 years the donkey racing would be the top attraction of the summer. Like all such events it finally ran out of steam. But there will be thousands in the city with happy memories of a day at the races.
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1971
Ken Davies, whose family ran a photographic shop in the city, is elected president. Camping gear is bought for the Lads Club.
1973
Joe Wade, the ex-Arsenal footballer, who played for Hereford United, is now leading Lions Club and establishes a twinning with the Lions Club of Vianen in Holland from which many lifelong friendships were made.
1974
The club launches its biggest ever raffle prize – a £9,000 new bungalow at Fownhope. President at the time, Tony Cole recalls: “We had to sell 600 tickets at £25 a time. It was a hell of a risk, but in the end all tickets were sold making a £6000 profit.” The bungalow was won by Mick Gullis. It was also the year the annual dinner and boxing tournament started, still going strong. Also, the football trips to Holland for young lads, another Lions project continuing to this day.
1975
Lions started their Santa Sleigh tour of Hereford in the weeks before Christmas, visiting virtually every street in the city and surrounding villages.. It’s a great city festive tradition..
1976
Remember the heatwave of 76. A lorry load of ice cream was ordered for the Donkey Derby, but by the time the crowds arrive it had all melted.
1977
Fownhope garage owner, Denzil Biggs, is in the chair when the club set up their biggest ever project and bought for £30,000 a sea front house at Burnham on Sea as its new Holiday Home. Its now worth £430,000 and remains open for free holiday for those in need in Hereford and district.
Anthony Over of Ross wins a Triumph motorbike in the 1977 Lions raffle.one of the clubs first crazy prizes, later they would raffle some Hereford Bulls and a flock of sheep. Pictured from left to right : Graham Rivers, Denzil Biggs, Tom Barrow, Micky Bolt.
1980
Farmer Graham Powell led a project to help organise and fund a holiday in Holland for 35 handicapped adults from the Rockfield Road adult training centre. Our twin Dutch club in Vianen laid on trips for them. The club hosted the Lions District Convention at the Nell Gwynne Theatre, with delegates welcomed by a Hereford bull!
1982
City businessman, Graham Rivers decided it was time the club had a new min-bus for its community transport service and launch a three year £14,000 appeal fund to pay for it.
1983
Lions enhance their reputation for crazy fund raising ideas by raffling four bullocks which were later sold at the cattle market earning the prize winner £1000. President Keith Martin launched the popular Lions BBQ at Lucksall, Fownhope which would run successfully for 26 years. Another popular fundraiser, Racenight was launched and continues to this day. A new mini-bus costing £14,000 is purchased for the community transport service.
1984
To mark the club’s 25the anniversary, the president, city photographer Derek Foster, launched the concept of Silver Dining Clubs, an opportunity for the elderly to get out and enjoy a meal and company.
1985
Ralph Green was president – and entry to the Lions popular Donkey Derby was just 50p. Former Hereford United footballer, Roy Williams was broadcasting live commentary from the matches at Edgar Street to the local hospitals.
1986
Lions were touched by the plight of local youngster, Rebecca Field, born severely handicapped and relying on a ventilator to keep her alive. The club bought her a specially adapted electric wheelchair to give her some independence.
The club also arranged that year for Brian Colburn, who had lost both his arms and legs, to fly to Australia to visit his daughter. It was also the year Lions launched the Hereford Marathon in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.
1987
This was the year club president, John Goulding, made national headlines in The Sun. Blazed across Page 3 was the saucy headline ST. KNICKERLESS. John was playing Father Christmas and had been invited along with the Mayor to switch on the festive lights at the Maylord shopping centre.
Surrounded by hundreds of children and their mums and dads, John’s trousers suddenly fell to his ankles, causing hoots of laughter from the assembled crowd and leaving John redder than his Santa uniform.
1988
The club paid £20,000 for a vital new eye surgery camera for Hereford Eye Hospital, replacing the one they had bought 15 years earlier.
1989
This was the 21st anniversary of the Lions Donkey Derby.
1990
President John Weatherall decides its time for a new mini-bus and the club quickly raises the £20,000 to buy one.
Pictured is President John Weatherall (left) with Geoff Lewis
1991.
Romania was in turmoil. The country’s president had been executed. The world suddenly became aware of the terrible plight of Romanian orphans. Hereford Lions did their bit to help, sending a lorry load of vital supplies to one of the orphanages with three members volunteering to do the driving.
1992
John Burgoyne was president and for his project devoted £3,500 to equip a special sensory room at the St Owen Centre for adults with learning difficulties..
1993.
George Thomas introduces the ‘Jim Will Fix It’ theme from the television show , and the club’s ‘Lions Will Fix It’ campaign offered a helping hand to local charities or individuals who were facing problems getting a project or a personal goal completed.
George and Cassie pictured back in 1993
1994
Stuart Sheehan, whose pork butchers shop in the Butter Market is a popular port of call for many, bought a new £4,500 electric run-about for the city’s new Shopmobility scheme.
1995
Lions Festive News is launched and becomes a great success..
1996
Des Brooke organises the purchase of new computers for Hunderton School,.
1997
An £8,000 special heart disease testing machine is bought for the city hospital.
1998
Brendon Feeley, then just 14, was paralysed when he dived into the River Lugg and hit his head on a rock. Lions bought him a specially adapted electric wheelchair to give him some independence.
Three men in a boat. For many years the Lions Clubs' annual canoe rally down the River Wye from Hereford to Ross was a popular event, with hundreds of intrepid canoeists battling the elements to help raise cash for local charity projects. Lions Keith Martin, Roy Williams, and Alan Press look none to safe as the push off from the river bank. The canoe rally started in 1988 when Reg Hughes was President,
1999
David Hartland runs a refrigeration firm, but proves he has a warm heart leading the club’s community service work.
2000
Tony Sandford, (pictured) on one of his Santa festive visits to the children’s ward at the city hospital discovered the ward did not have its own life saving equipment, putting the children at risk. Lions quickly remedied the problem with a £12,000 resuscitation trolley.
2001
Retired headmaster David Mathias ensured that a group of handicapped youngsters from Bishops School got to compete in the annual Kielder Challenge.
2002
A car draw raises £34,000 for the new Acorns Children’s Hospice.
2003
Another car draw enables Colin Smith ( pictured) to hand over £10,000 to the County Air Ambulance.
2004
And yet another car draw, organised by president Mike Hughes, makes £22,000 for Macmillian Cancer Relief.
2005
Martin Exell made sure Lions came to the rescue of the city’s MS Therapy Centre in Mostyn Street when it did not have the £2000 demanded by a Government department to inspect the centre to check it met the standards laid down by new legislation.
2006
The club bought a horse for £5000 for Riding for the Disabled.
2007
With John von Anrep as club chief, Lions boost the Macmillian/Renton appeal to build a new cancer unit at Hereford Hospital with a cheque for £20,000, raised by yet another car raffle, and also bought a new £48,000 mini-bus.
2008
Martin Forder arranged for two deserving city charities, Headway, which cares for people with head injuries, and l Ledbury Road, a facility for youngsters with learning difficulties to share £8000 for new equipment..
2009
This year Hereford Lions Club is to contribute £15,000 to help the local Alzheimer’s Society open a new Information and Advice Centre in Hereford city centre.
The Alzheimer’s project will be an internet café style drop-in centre, manned by volunteers, but with professional back up from a dementia support worker. Some 2,700 people in Herefordshire have the illness and the number is growing as the population ages.
John Oldman the Immediate Past President of the club said. , “I am delighted that Lions Club is able to provide the financial backing to get this much needed new community service up and running. The number of people with dementia is increasing significantly and a central accessible facility where they – and their carers – can get help and support is long overdue.”
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The club has also donated four riser reclining chairs at a cost of £2500 to St Michael’s Hospice to mark the silver jubilee of the hospice.
Lion Past President John Oldman (left) is pictured with Former President Martin Forder, together with Sister Ann Bicknell
Sister Ann Bicknell, of St Michael’s Hospice said of the gift of the chairs: “The patients really love them. They are a huge improvement on our existing reclining chairs.” She added: “The Lions Club over the years has supported the Hospice in so many ways and this latest gesture marking our Silver Anniversary is typical of their concern for those in the community who need extra care.
“Hereford, as well as the Hospice is indebted to the Lions Club for its 50 years of unstinting service in the city. They have made a huge impact on the quality of life of so many and the donation of these four new chairs to the Hospice is just one example of the club’s outstandingservice to the community.”
AM AM Golf Tournament 2009
Youngsters Pipped to Victory in this years AM AM Golf Tournament
Pipped for victory.. (l to r) Rich Negus, Will Skinner, James Cooke, Alex Allen.
They almost made history by being the youngest team of players to win Hereford Lions Club’s annual charity golf tournament at Wormsley since it was founded 27 years ago. James Cooke, 18, Rich Negus, 17, Alex Allen 16 and 14 year old Will Skinner, all junior club members at Wormsley, had held the lead on 109 points for most of the day until one of the last of the 52 teams competing, city electrical contractor Colin Farr and his team mates, Steven Hyde, Ian Jay and Andrew Jones arrived back at the clubhouse with a winning score of 114. Winners of the ladies first prize were Helen Green, Heather Burley. Sharon Helps and Vicky Howells on 88 points. It was an outstanding day’s golf which also raised some £4,900 for the Lions Club’s local charity projects plus a further £2,600 from the novel fund raiser, a golf ball drop from a helicopter with £1000 for the owner of the numbered ball nearest the pin. Said Lion President, John Oldman, himself a leading local golfer, “We are indebted to Herefordshire Golf Club and to all our sponsors for once again helping the Lions Club raise the money needed to maintain our valuable work in the community.”
2010
Hereford’s St Michaels Hospice, which recently announced a £10 million appeal to double the size of the hospice, has received a £20,000 donation from Hereford Lion’s Club to pay for several urgent projects.
Said club president, Neil Jenkins, “Of all the local charity projects we could have chosen to support in our Golden Jubilee year none can be more deserving than St Michaels Hospice.”
Nicky West, chief executive at St Michaels Hospice (right) and Ruth Dennison, funding raising manager, explain the hospice development plans to Lion president Neil Jenkins
The Lions have also presented the children’s ward at the County Hospital with a large supply of cuddly lion soft toys to be given to youngsters being treated in the ward.
The club has a close link with the children’s ward, ensuring every Christmas morning that Santa arrives with presents for those having to stay in hospital over Christmas.
The club has given a £1000 thank you gift to the eye unit at the county hospital for saving the sight of one of its members, Ray Rose. The donation goes towards the cost of buying new diagnostic camera equipment.
Lion Ray Rose (right) pictured with a camera Lions Club bought for the eye hospital 22 years ago, with the consultant Alaric Smith, Sister Yvette Pitchford and Heather Powell when he presented the cheque
2011
Lions Support New Radiotherapy Unit
Work has started on a new radiotherapy unit as part of the Renton Cancer facility at Hereford County Hospital and Hereford Lions Club has pledged £10,000 to help buy vital equipment for the long awaited unit when it opens in 2013
Lions Club gave £20,000 towards the public fund to build the Renton chemotherapy unit which opened last year and now, through former president, Ron Williams, who has been treated at the unit, a further £10,000 is being donated to the second phase of the cancer busting unit which will cut the ‘misery miles’ of thousands of patients who currently have to travel to Cheltenham for radiotherapy. The radiotherapy unit, alongside the existing chemotherapy service, is costing the NHS over £7m.
Car Boots a Washout
The torrential rain during this summer has played havoc with Hereford Lions Club’s car bootsales which were such a great success over the last couple of summers, with only a handful being held. But the sun started to shine for a new start on July 21 and fingers crossed the car boots will now run uninterrupted through the rest of the summer and into early autumn
2012
Avenue of Oaks to Honour the Queen
Hereford Lions Club is planting an avenue of sixty trees, mostly oak as a gift to the city
to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The new Diamond Jubilee Avenue on Roman Road by the new livestock market, creates for future generations a magnificent tree lined entrance to the city.
Lion John Edmunds, president of the club, explained: “Our members very much wanted to honour the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee, especially as she and Prince Philip visited the city as part of their nationwide jubilee tour, and the idea of an avenue of traditional English oak trees, which could last for hundreds of years, was the natural choice.”
He added: “It is also our thank you to the people of Hereford for their unstinting support of our charity fund raising efforts over more than half a century.”
The Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Brian Wilcox said: “This is a very generous gift to the city and one which will be appreciated by the people of Hereford and visitors alike for many generations to come. Lions Club, who already do so much good community work in the city, are to be applauded for marking the Diamond Jubilee in such an appropriate way.”
Lion John Edmunds (left) and the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Brian Wilcox, dig up the first of the 60 oak trees for the new Diamond Jubilee Avenue.
Jubilee Community Fund
Hereford Lions Club has set up a £10,000 Lions Diamond Jubilee Community Fund to help smaller local community and charity projects get started or develop.
The club believes the fund will be a godsend to those community based self-help schemes springing up in the city and neighbouring villages but needing a cash injection to succeed. The fund aims to be a springboard for a wide range of schemes which will improve the quality of life for many people, young or old.
President John Edmunds explained: “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, together with the Olympics, in 2012 has created a ground swell of support for communities to work more closely together and this is a concept Lions Club wants to foster”.
To apply send full details and costings to:Hereford Lions Club, Diamond Jubilee Community Fund, PO Box 158, Hereford HR1 1WS.
Lions Club members come from all walks of life, but have a common bond - a desire to serve the community, and have fun doing so.
The Lions Club of Hereford roared into action when they heard that a local man with cerebral palsy was short of funds to buy a computer and camera that would open up his world.
Richard Hooper, 47 from Hereford has had cerebral palsy since childhood. His brothers found out that a local company in Malvern were working on software interfaces with computers which would enable Richard to override his disability.
Smartbox Assistive Technology Ltd in Malvern supply Eye gaze systems which allow people with severe physical disabilities to access a computer. These high-tech systems have an in-built camera which tracks where your eyes are looking, enabling you to move the mouse pointer around. You can 'click' by blinking, dwelling (staring at the screen for a certain length of time) or using a switch. This is done by the software The Grid 2 which is made by Smartbox's sister company Sensory Software.
The quote for the system was around £5,500.00 and the family had to find top-up money to be able to purchase this equipment.

Welfare Chairman of the Hereford Lions, Mr Mike Hughes said : “Lions knew Richard as over the years we have provided transport for him to visit his family in Wales and Devon.
“Members admire the way he copes with his limitations. He is a nice chap and never asks for anything. When we heard that this computer could open up his world, our members immediately supported the application for help and allocated £1,000 from our funds to help with the purchase.“
Richard’s brothers say that for the first time in his life, Richard is able to override his disability. “The first time he opened up the computer using his eyes, and read ‘Welcome’, he became very emotional. With Skype he can now answer calls from us and see us too. Amongst other features the Grid 2 reads out his messages to him which will help with his reading.
“This technology really is a great breakthrough as disabled people become isolated very quickly”.
Mr Neil Jenkins, who was the President of the Hereford Lions Club last year, took the cheque to Richard and said. “Frankly, seeing Richard in his room and his delight at showing me what he could do with his new computer was the highlight of my presidential year. It is very moving and I am delighted that Lions could help in this way”.
2013
LIONS GIVE BEDE HIS INDEPENDENCE
Bede Widdicombe is 15 but he has already undergone 18 major heart operations and can only walk very short distances, a big restriction for a bright young teenager. He is one of only nine youngsters worldwide with his rare heart condition.
Now, Bede who lives with his family in Letton can join his family and friends on outings thanks to the gift of a special £2,500 battery assisted trike from the Lions Clubs of Hereford and Kington who shared the cost. Said Nick Rowlatt, president of Kington Lions: “Seeing the big smile on his face when we gave him the machine and his joy when he took it for his first ride was a very special moment.”
Colin Smith, vice-president of Hereford Lions added: “Bede has had to rely on being pushed in a buggy but his new trike gives him some extra independence and the chance to have some fun like other teenagers. As Lions, it was our privilege to help a young lad whose mobility has been restricted by his heart condition.”
The hi-tech machine designed and built in Italy even folds up into a compact size to fit in a car boot.
His mum, Kathy said: “This is a life changer for Bede who will now be able to get around under his own steam, and to enjoy bike rides with his 13 year old sister, Aine and with family and friends. It really is a wonderful gift from the Lions.”
Bede is pictured on his new trike together with Colin Smith (left) and Nick Rowlatt.
Lions help Ben get mobile
Six year old Ben can’t walk. But now, thanks to a gift from Hereford Lions Club he is mobile and can play with his school chums.
The Lions answered a plea from Ben’s carer and bought him a £1,600 specially designed trike which enables him to chase around the school playground or the park. Ben, who has cerebral palsy is a pupil at Blackmarston School in Hereford .Head Teacher, Sian Bailey said: “The trike not only gives Ben some independence, but also provides him with valuable exercise for his legs. He has quickly learnt to ride it and whizzes around everywhere. He really loves his new trike and we are grateful to the Lions for buying it for him.”
Lion David Barrett, said: “It was a privilege to help young Ben and seeing his happy smiling face as he demonstrated for us his new mobility made it all worthwhile. I was particularly impressed with the wonderful care and support given to the pupils at Blackmarston, which teaches children with various disabilities.”
Ben is pictured showing off his new trike to former club president David Barrett (right) and Ron Williams.
Lions International Youth Exchange - Dutch Win for Hereford in 2013 
Hereford Lions fielded four teams in the international youth football tournament in Holland, with three of them getting through to their section finals, and all three being decided on penalty shootouts. The under 12’s and the under 14’s claimed victory, but the under 16’s failed to make it a hattrick. But it was enough for Hereford to take the overall tournament championship.
It was the 37th year that Hereford Lions Club had taken some 60 local schoolboys to play in the European tournament in Vianen and it is reckoned that over 2000 lads of benefited over the years from their first experience of a major overseas soccer championship. Some have gone on to make successful careers as professional footballers.
This Years Teams :
Under 12's
Under 14's
Under 16's
Under 18's
