Rushden & District Lions Club

Who are the Lions?

The members of Rushden & District Lions Club are volunteers of the world's largest and active service organisation and comprises men and women who give something back to the community by meeting the needs of others.

The International Association of Lions Clubs began as the dream of Chicago businessman Melvin Jones on June 7, 1917. He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.

The organisation was introduced into the United Kingdom by the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, after a visit to North America following the end of the second world war.

Local History.

The first clubs to be founded in the area were at Kettering (1972), Wellingborough (1973), and Corby (1974), with Rushden following in 1975 and comprising 46 members.  In contrast, the current membership in 2008 consists of around 9 volunteers, each of which are dedicated to raising funds for causes both locally and internationally.

Rushden Lions Club Charter Granted In 1975

Henry Cooper visits the Lions in 1982

 

The Lions' catering van, although no longer in use, would also often been seen at local summer carnival and other events with the Lion members inside serving up hot dogs and beverages which at one time formed a major part of the Lions' income.

The Lions 'Catering Van' waiting for trade.

 

In 1987, a game of American Football was organised between the ‘Rockingham Rebels,’ a team comprising the locals, and the ‘Alconbury Spartans,’ from the American Air Force base.  Needless to say the Americans won but only after a hard battle.

Such diverse activities have been held over the years varying from a ‘Backwoods Cooking Experience’, Treasure Hunts and Curry Evenings to visits to the local pantomime, to combine both social enjoyment and the raising of funds for the community.

During the recent years, as part of the Lions ‘service day’, an annual musical concert has been held at the Rushden Pemberton Centre, with free invitations being handed out to local senior citizens to give them ‘an enjoyable evening to remember.'

As with all Lions Clubs, a monthly business meeting has always been held to organise further events and allocate the funds raised to charitable causes. These meetings, (currently held at The Swan public house, Newton Bromswold) are attended by all the club members, and are fully documented with the 'minutes' of the decisions made at the meetings issued to everyone.

More recently, the club has sponsored the training of a hospital doctor and helped to educate a schoolgirl in Sri Lanka, in addition to organising a series of monthly pub quizzes in Newton Bromswold to aid the Lions 'Sightfirst' campaign as part of their international commitment. 

The Lions are probably best known locally for their Christmas fund raising activities, which includes combining with other local charity groups in bringing 'Father Christmas' on his sleigh to visit the streets of Rushden during the cold and dark December evenings, and in filling the High Street with 'festive songs and carols' for the benefit of the 'last minute' shoppers on the Saturday preceding Christmas day.