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Thank you for your support 

It was a bit of a damp and misty day on Saturday 12 November but that didn’t stop many of you paying a visit to the Artisan Craft Market at Waldegraves and warming yourselves up with our mulled wine.  Thank you again for your support and generously filling the collection buckets at the gate. The money raised at this year’s events will go to a number of causes within the community which will be announced in the new year. 

Once again Kim Proctor and her family at the Blackwater Pearl are giving up their Christmas day to provide meals for Mersea residents who are elderly, infirm and alone. The residents are always delighted to receive the beautiful home cooked turkey dinners and see the friendly faces of our volunteers delivering the meals. 

The Lions will be out in the village on Saturday 26 November collecting for this year’s Christmas meals outside of the Co-Op, Tesco and Coastal Coffee.  We hope that you will drop by to say hello and pop a few coins in our buckets.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from one of these meals or you would like to help with the deliveries on Christmas day please contact Lion Bridget Smith before Wednesday 21 December on 01206 383166

Here is a selection of photos from our Presentation Evening which took place on Friday 1st February (Photos by Lion Keith Bird). The photos will also be permanently available from our Gallery Page here.

On the evening of the 8th February, I had the greatest honour to represent our very own Mersea Island Lions Club at Buckingham Palace.

We were invited by her Royal Highness, Sophie the Countess of Wessex who became patron of the Lions Clubs of the British Isles in 2004. The occasion being to mark 100 years of Lions Clubs International.

I was one of 350 individual Lions who came to The Palace. I shall never forget the freezing cold wind and snow coming through the great iron gates of the palace with the dancing snow in the courtyard swirling in the air like something out of the film FROZEN.

As I ascended the great staircase where many Royals including her Majesty The Queen had walked, I suddenly realised “This is real”, I am here in Buckingham Palace representing Mersea Island Lions and of course, Mersea Island.

I will skip the excitement that I felt when I was in the grandest cloakroom I have ever seen. I was shown in to the best known room in Buckingham Palace, The Throne Room, with its spectacular chandeliers and tapestries.

Although we were all wearing name badges, these did not say where we were from, so I made my way around introducing myself and asking where fellow Lions were from. The waiters were very kind and drinks became plentiful. After my third drink of Elderflower (non-alcoholic), I became known as the elderflower lady, but I did end up having one glass of wine.

As I wound my way down towards where the two important chairs (thrones) were, her Royal Highness walked right by me with a smile and a nod and went to the lectern and prepared for her speech.

Her Royal Highness started by welcoming us all to the Palace on such a cold snowy night. Before Countess Sophie went further into her speech, she had a confession to make, and, with a giggle, she said that she and another member of the Royal Family were watching us trailing across the courtyard with our boots, coats and hats which made us appear all in black looking like something from a film set. She had turned to another member of the Royal Family saying “There go My Brave Lions”. Countess Sophie gave a wonderful speech thanking all her clubs for our hard work and dedication and explained that she was only the fairy on top of the Christmas Tree.

Past International Director, Lion Phil Nathan, responded to this saying what our clubs worldwide do. He then went on to present the Highest Award that a Lion can receive, The Mervyn Jones Fellowship. Countess Sophie was lost for words but replied saying thank you so much and repeated that she was only the Fairy on top of the Christmas Tree.

The Countess made her way through the great hall. I was so close to her, watching and listening, a beautiful Lady in every way. She wore a simple sea green satin dress with a black bolero and black very high heeled shoes.

In Sophie, The Countess of Wessex, all present had something special to remember.

Mersea Island was put on the map that evening and I am honoured to have been part of it.

– Lion Christine Chamberlain, MJF. Past President Mersea Island Lions Club.

Footnote – Official photos have not yet been available from The Palace.

On Wednesday 14th March 2018 The Lions of Mersea Island donated a seat for the West Mersea Childrens Park. As can be seen it is already being used and I am sure it will be well used in years to come. It is a pleasure to help the younger generation.

On Saturday 10th March 2018 Mersea Island Lions held their 40th Anniversary at The Granary, Waldegraves Holiday Park. It was a packed evening with Lions from all over East Anglia, Smile’s, distinguished guests and friends of Mersea Island Lions.
Chris and his team did us proud with really good food and service to be proud of.

During the evening we were privileged to be entertained by Scarlett Garwood who sang beautifully to us.

Lion Bridget Smith and Lion Christine Chamberlain were presented by the District Governor Lion Derek Prior the highest award that a Lion can receive for dedication and service to humanity, the Melvin Jones Fellowship.

Photos by Keith Bird
More photos here

Mersea Island Lions Club celebrated their 40th anniversary with a Dinner at Waldegraves Granary Restaurant, attended by some 67 lions and guests.  See full report here.

(photos by Keith Bird)
More photos here

Our 2018 Annual Presentation Evening was held on Tuesday 2nd February at The Barn Entertainments Centre at Waldegraves Holiday Park, generously provided for us by the proprietors. It was a wonderful evening and a great celebration of all the things the Lions organisation is about: fundraising, community service and fellowship. As a result of a successful year of fundraising activities throughout 2017 we were able to distribute donations totalling £7,500 to 15 deserving local charities (more details to come). At the end of the evening we received an unexpected boost to this year’s fundraising with the presentation of a cheque for £1,500 from the Waldegraves management. (See full report here)

We have updated our photo gallery with hundreds of pictures from many of our 2017 events. Go to our ‘Photo Gallery‘ from the Main Menu to see a wonderful pictorial record of a very busy year!

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