New President for Tonbridge Lions Club

Tonbridge Lions Club’s new President Keith Bourne with predecessor Mike Stout

On Sunday June 30 Keith Bourne was inaugurated as the sixty-fourth President of Tonbridge Lions Club.  Outgoing President, Mike Stout, presented Keith with the chain of office at a luncheon at Nizels Golf Club.

Keith has lived in the Tonbridge area for most of his life. With three children, two grandchildren and married to Valerie he still gets time to be involved with sports, music and of course the Tonbridge Lions Club which he is honoured to represent as President for the next 12 months.

Formerly a Logistics Manager and Engineer for B.T. followed by other interesting local jobs he is now retired, apart from occasionally acting a Dance Host on cruise liners with Valerie. They enjoy the company of their families and friends on visits to the theatre, local concerts and the Royal Opera House.

With a passion for racquet sports and a keen football fan, mainly following Gillingham FC, Keith is now revisiting his youth by playing table tennis.  Another of his pastimes is collecting old ‘Whitbread Inn signs’ which has resulted in much research!

His father was a founder member of the Tonbridge Lions Club in 1950 and Keith is now both privileged and proud to become President of this great club, and along with Valerie looks forward to the year ahead.

Tonbridge Lions Annual Charity Walk

Early risers on Sunday May 19 may have heard the bells of St Peter & St Paul Parish Church, Tonbridge ringing Grandsire Triples on Radio 4 at 5.43 a.m.  Tonbridge Lions needed no such wake-up call  to prepare for their club’s 32nd annual charity walk. 

The 124 walkers who embarked on either a five-mile or ten-mile walk, starting and ending at Shipbourne Village Hall, raised thousands of pounds. The shorter route took them via Dunk’s Green, Fairlawne Estate, Ightham Mote, Wilmott Cottage, Budd’s Green, and Shipbourne Church. The longer route extended to Carter’s Hill and Underriver.

Shipbourne Church

With fine sunny weather, that was not too warm, and the “going” good underfoot in most places, the walkers returned full of reports of the magnificent views and the springtime fragrances of bluebells, and wild garlic.

The Lions planned and marshalled the event and supporters of other charities obtained the sponsorship and did the walking. The charities keep all the money for themselves and estimates indicate that around £4000 was raised. 

At the finish walkers had their sponsor forms officially “stamped” to show that they had completed the walk and Mike Stout, President of Tonbridge Lions presented each walker with a certificate.

The Mayor & Mayoress of Tonbridge & Malling BC, Cllr Howard and Mrs Jane Rogers completed the longer walk and raised funds for The Bridge Trust.  Other beneficiaries included Age UK, Hayesbrook School PTA, chYps Hospice, The Scotts Project, Angel Ladies and Junior Bowls, Tonbridge First Responders and well as local Scouts and Beavers.

Chance to raise funds for local charities and clubs

Tonbridge Lions will be holding their 32nd annual walk to help raise funds for local charities on Sunday May 19.

The Lions do all the organising and marshalling of the event and supporters of other charities get the sponsorship and do the walking. No fee is charged to participate. The charities keep all the money for themselves. Last year over £6,000 was raised by this event.

It will be a pleasant walk with two choices, one a short walk of approximately 5 miles, the other a similar walk but approximately 10 miles. Both walks will have drink stations at suitable points. Detailed point to point instructions and maps will be issued on the day.

At the finish, walkers will have their sponsor forms officially “stamped” to show that they had completed the walk and Mike Stout, President of Tonbridge Lions will present each walker with a certificate.

To register your interest in this walk, please contact John Ruck on 01732 351711 or e-mail john.ruck@btinternet.com.

Light Up Your Community

Winning Christmas Lights for TN9 - Elaine Knight, St Marys Road

Tonbridge Lions Club’s first competition for Christmas lights outside domestic residences in the Tonbridge area came to a close on the 20 December as the judges came together to consider the entries.

Having studied the photographs of the submitted entries, Mike Stout, President of Tonbridge Lions, Guy Portelli, well known local sculptor, and Robert Ham, son of the Lion member who had the idea of the competition, inspected the lighting installation of each of the selected finalists before reaching their decision.


There being no entry from the TN11 area it was decided to have two winners in the TN10 area from where the majority of the entries came.

Winner in TN9 was Elaine Knight’s lights in St Mary’s Road. She earned a £200 donation to The Bridge Trust.

TN10 joint winner Adrian Winter, Hopgarden Road

 Winners in TN10 were Adrian Winter of Hopgarden Road and Chris Owen of Framley Road. Both nominated Hospice in the Weald as their chosen charity so a £400 donation resulted. Each winner received Christmas food hamper.

TN10 joint winner Chris Owen, Framley Road

Chairman of the organising committee, John Ruck said,
“The competition was widely publicised in the local press, local news magazines and on internet blogs. We delivered over 100 entry forms to houses where good lighting displays had been installed. Whilst the quality of the entries received was good we saw many more that could have been contenders but were not entered. But we are delighted with the winning lighting schemes and pleased to donate to the nominated charities.”

Tonbridge Half Marathon

Athlete Kim Wall accepts cheque 

on behalf of The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust

Tonbridge Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Tonbridge have announced that the second TonbridgeHalf Marathon which took place in September raised over £10,500. When added to the amounts raised by individual competitors the money raised is in excess of £50,0000 shared by 40 different charities.

Rotary President Bryan Vernon (left) and Lions President Mike Stout

The presidents of the two clubs, Mike Stout and Bryan Vernon have presented cheques for £3000 to each of the three main beneficiaries – Demelza Hospices for Children, Kent Air Ambulance and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

Mike Stout and David Duncombe from Kent Air Ambulance

Karen Warner thanked the event organisers on behalf of Demelza Hospices. David Duncombe from Kent Air Ambulance spoke of how such donations were aiding local emergency medical services. The DKH Legacy Trust was represented by Kim Wall, a former GB 400m runner who conveyed the gratitude of Dame Kelly to the organisers and competitors. 

A further beneficiary of the event was Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource Ltd and Len Horwood was presented with a cheque for £1000.

Karen Warner from Demelza and Bryan Vernon

Jonny Cass, a K College student, showed a video that he had made of the event.  Race Director, Andy Blundell, reported that feedback from the race entrants was very positive and encouraging enough for the event to be run again next year.