Lions

LionsCaterham, Oxted and Godstone Lions Club

Since the Club was formed in 1978 it has focussed its efforts on raising funds by holding events such as musical evenings, quizzes, barn dances, running refreshment tents at local fetes and collections with Santa at Christmas time.

From the outset the Club agreed that it must spend the majority of its funds on local projects and with this in mind, COGs helped launch and initially funded the Tandridge Lions Talking Newspaper in October 1981. The newspaper, which is now autonomous, is recorded on to memory sticks weekly and provided free of charge to visually impaired readers and has been a great success in keeping listeners up to date with local news.

The new COGS Minibus

Every year we give listeners and helpers an afternoon tea party and if we are lucky someone offers to entertain our guests by playing the piano.

It was not long after the setting up the Talking Newspaper that the Club got its own minibus which was used not only by the Club but was available for use in the community. It was kept in good use for a number of years and was then replaced by another bought second hand. When the Department for Transport said it would consider the purchase of new minibuses for community groups the Club applied and were successful and although it took a while to be delivered we are now the proud owners of a new 12 seater which is available for use by groups in the community.

The Godstone Village Fete

In September 2008 COGs launched an annual maths bursary in memory of one its members, Arthur Sambles. The award goes to a successful student at Oxted School. The Club also organises an annual It’s Knock Out Competition for adults and youngsters with physical and learning difficulties. For the last few years it has been held at the Oasis Academy in Coulsdon where volunteering pupils join in the fun by helping the teams in their efforts to be the competition’s winners. It is a fun day and is usually supported by the Chairman of Tandridge District Council. The pupils at the school are outstanding in their help. School children are not the only ones to lend the Club a hand as our recently introduced Swimathon has been well supported by local businesses. This year the event will be held on the 12thMay at the De Stafford pool in Caterham.

Recently the Club successfully launched the Message In A Bottle (MIAB) initiative. MIAB is a scheme for anyone living at home who might be reassured to know that  essential information is readily available to Emergency Services should they suffer an accident or sudden illness. The scheme makes sure that vital information is available which will identify the person and give details of relevant illnesses, allergies, medication and contact addresses. The bottles and instructions are available from local chemists and surgeries and they can also be obtained from Sainsbury’s in Warlingham.

Every year since COGs was formed the Club has made donations to a great many worthwhile and deserving causes, mainly in the local area. If you would like to know more about how we raise money, spend it and have fun on the way you can visit our web site where you will get a much fuller picture of our fundraising efforts as well as the fun we often have while doing so.

Christmas Float

And of course we have a social side as well. We all get along very well and are very happy to welcome new members. Further details are available on our website – see below. Our immediate forthcoming fundraising events include; 23rd March Quiz in the White Hart Barn, Godstone and a tribute band concert featuring Abba Chique at Caterham School on the 6thApril. The Swimathon is on the 12thMay and after that we will be at various summer fetes including Godstone on August Bank Holiday Monday.

For more information about Caterham Oxted & Godstone Lions Club please visit our website www.coglions.co.uk. To speak to someone about COG Lions in general call Lion Tony Carter on 01883 741809 or Tony Skilbeck on 01883 335945. If you would like to use the Club’s minibus or find out more about it call David Annenberg on 01342 893353