When you are fortunate enough to have a lovely family then a family party will be something special, we’re still recovering from the fun and games, the tasty Thai feast, chocolate cake and gifts of champaign all went down a treat. The helium filled balloons were drifting and all was nothing until Susie took a gulp from one of them and then regaled us with The Belle of Belfast City a la Donald Duck. I think we all lost the excess weight from the chocolate cake with the belly laugh that went round the room. One husband, one son and one daughter with their significant others and three grandsons. Welcome callers and unexpected phone calls just made for a great birthday celebration.
PRACTICAL SHARING
Newcastle Lion President Liz Murphy and Lion Dan O’Reilly with volunteers Manus O’Boyle and Patricia Harvey in the Lions Six Towns Christmas Foodbank Appeal
Writing in the Irish News `I mentioned that I remember the Lions Club somewhere in my distant past, a club exclusively for wealthy gentlemen, portly and in bespoke suits enjoying business talk, brandy and cigars. Cheques were written but few got involved beyond that.
Scroll forward over 50 years and the scene has changed. Today the Lions Club is a place for men and women, there’s even a Leo cub for young people, all have one thing in common, to use their time and talents to help others, no bluster just getting down to thinking of what’s needed to make lives easier. There is no talk of politics nor of religion only ideas for suitable projects to undertake.
It all began in 1917 after the First World War when there were many social problems and recognising this, Chicago businessman Melvin Jones established the Association of Lions Clubs throughout the United States. Since then it has taken off; 47,000 Clubs in over 200 countries with 1.4 million members. In 1925 blind and deaf activist Helen Keller approached them for help and to this day major International projects include the problems of blindness, also focusing on hearing, raising awareness of the dangers of diabetes and providing relief for disasters worldwide. The first club in Ireland was established in Dublin in 1956 and there are now 103 clubs throughout the island.
Here in the north, Dan O’Reilly is one of those 1.4 million members and chairperson of the Newcastle Lions known as Zone B. Although the Lions are on duty all year round helping others, Dan told me about their work this month.
“As we near Christmas there’s a need on a scale not seen before. Many families have faced Covid, have lost £20.00 in income per week due to cuts in Universal Credit, have seen food prices grow and found increasing costs in electricity, gas, and heating oil very difficult to cope with. For many families, even though they might be in full time work, they may not be able to purchase toiletries or food and must turn to local foodbanks. There’s no shame in this. There are many different foodbanks and they all need donations of food, volunteers, and money which is used to help purchase appropriate food, nappies, meat vouchers or toiletries. “
And don’t forget the children, a toy from the Lions might be the only Christmas present they will get.
Thinking Ahead
With Covid limiting clubs In their usual programmes, Newcastle and five other Lions clubs in the area talked it over and decided they could best provide the service needed by coordinating their efforts. These Lions don’t only talk the talk, they walk the walk as well, a 5K sponsored walk through Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch for the six presidents as well as organising a zoom night at the races and a raffle. The project involves Lions Clubs in Armagh, Newry, Downpatrick, Banbridge, Ballynahinch and Newcastle, who are all banded in a group called Zone B chaired by Dan and today he and his colleagues will begin to count the proceeds of their fund raising project to raise money for the food banks in each of the towns. Butchers vouchers have been offered, people have handed over the £100 vouchers as well a gifts of vital items. All the money donated will be split equally six ways for the food banks.
Zone B has a proud record of service – managing ten defibrillators in Newcastle and Castlewellqn her the last four years thanks to social events pupil quizzes and wine, gin and cocktail tastings. After the death of two pensioners in a caravan on a Newcastle caravan site, they fitted carbon monoxide alarms free of charge in pensioners homes. loading up trucks with important items for people of Kosova following the 1999 war. When the dreadful fire engulfed the Grenfell Tower four years ago Lions from this area went to London to help sort through clothing that had been donated and then brought some children back to Newcastle where they were guests of the Burrendale Hotel and during their time here visited schools to mixed with boys and girls and share their experience.
“Northern Ireland is a fortunate place with so many charities helping people in different ways.” Dan told me. “When asked on the street ‘Do you know what the Salvation Army or St. Vincent De Paul does?’ Most people would have no problem giving an answer that both groups help people in need. If though you asked a member of the public “What do the Lions do?”, unless you live in a town where there’s a Lions Club, you might answer it was a political party, it was a business group of men or it was a football team. If you were then told that the Lions Clubs International is one of the biggest charities in the world, made up of ordinary men and women whose only goals are to provide humanitarian need and voluntary service through community involvement and international cooperation, you might be surprised. The most important thing about all clubs is that 100% of any money donated to or raised by the Lions for charity goes to charity. The Lions are a global leader in humanitarian service.” After Christmas one project will be to hold a survey to find out what the public think and expect.
“Christmas is truly a time for giving. In these times in which many are struggling, anything any of us can do to ease the pressure is worth doing. This is the work of the Lions. A force of good and kindness in action.”
There is still time to donate as sadly there is an urgent need to supply food banks throughout Northern Ireland for families who are less fortunate than most of us and it’s up to us to offer support, who knows when we might need it and sharing an important lesson in life.
www.lionsnewcastlecodown.org click on the donate button.
List of food banks in Northern Ireland
STOP PRESS: Thank you for the publicity. I did tot up the money and over the period of a month the six clubs have raised £6000.00 , this means each club will be donating to their foodbank £1,000.00. Dan.
ANOTHER TRAGIC EVENT
Such sadness, in England two little children murdered and four young boys under the age of five die in a house fire. Two sets of twins aged three and four were actually rescued from the ‘intense blaze’ but to no avail. A 27 year old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect, if this is so it’s despicable.
Nearer home there are cases of children living in danger and neglect and we don’t know so it’s important to support children’s charities and allow them to do their work.
Brian May has said it has been “a truly horrible few days” after testing positive for coronavirus.
The Queen guitarist, 74, warned others to take care so the illness does not jeopardise their festive celebrations.
“Yep. The shocking day finally came for me. The dreaded double red line.”
I found this face book message from a friend most interesting as is one of the responses.
“A few weeks ago a friend and myself took a short break down south. It was a shock at the beginning to be asked to show vaccination proof and proof of identity and contact details every where we went but after the 2nd or 3rd time it became the natural thing to do despite a few fleeting seconds about feeling indignant about an infringement of my civil liberties etc.
We did the whole tourist thing and had show all the necessary documentation everywhere – cinema, theatre, even the bar of hotel we were staying in, fish and chip shop ,public bar , coffee shop and even an ice cream parlour. As I say it very quickly became the natural thing today and I ended up feeling safe knowing that every person around me was going through the same thing and if there was a suspected outbreak at least someone knew how to contact me and made me aware of situation. So much so that after 3 or 4 days I worried after I came home about safety of places around me back home.
I cannot understand the protests and objections people have to taking part in such a scheme in UK and here in NI. Each and everyone of us already carry out similar checks when we have to show a bank card or use a ticket to get on a bus or train!!“
This I’m afraid is typical. Trains and buses are packed with many non-conformers, supermarkets are appalling. Most people agreed wholeheartedly that we need to wise up, all but one person who voiced an alternative opinion considering it an infringement of civil liberty which is a point of view.
“Going along with this shit is exactly what people did in Nazi Germany. Sure it’s only this or only that… No. Our freedom was hard won. This is CCP style control… I am NOT COMPLYING. I was called a conspiracy theorist for saying that this was going to happen. The sheep who called me that are not saying “Oh, you were right” they saying “do as your told. The leader cares for you, it’s only this, it’s only that” but your complying and enabling the removal of ALL of OUR freedom, by facilitating it.“
SIR LOUIS LOOSES OUT BIG TIME
I’m not usually a Formula One fan but the last two races were mesmerising. I listened to the first on the wireless and it was so exciting I decided to watch it on Channel 4 catchup and of course that led me to last weeks race. It was pretty mundane until the last laps and honestly I don’t understand about when to lap and when not to lap but it was mega exciting to see Max overtake Louis and win, obviously there was discomfort and something was seriously wrong.
When Toto (to die for) started berating the race official and was told ‘it’s motor racing Toto’ `I was content to accept it. But now like the majority I`’m having second thoughts. `My support has swung away from Max to `Louis and I hope his knighthood will not be diminished by the loss of the race but I was disappointed that he and Toto sulked and didn’t go to the ball! I don’t think I’ll be watching again, `I wonder will he be racing again.
I always liked Benedict Cumberbatch, thought he was pretty special but I’ve been disappointed after reading this report in the paper. Benedict was scathing about people telling him how attractive was his actress mother Wenda Ventham and indeed she was and is very beautiful. “Oh Christ get me out of here,” he said. `”It is a compliment to her beauty but I` really don’t need to hear it. It’s a bit creepy.”
Charming boy.
Next Sunday it will all be over and a New `Year dawning. Stay safe and well.