Raise Funds for your Club or Favourite Charity

Tonbridge Lions will be holding their 33rd annual walk to help raise funds for local charities on Sunday 18th May. 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 £4,000 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 start (and finish) at Shipbourne Common and 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 Keith Bourne, 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.

Fancy a little friendly local rivalry

Fancy a little friendly local rivalry - then look no further than the Tonbridge Triathlon Team Competition.

Tonbridge Lions Club, in conjunction with Harwoods Land Rover of Tonbridge, is laying down a Triathlon challenge for local buinesses and organisations.

Entries into this year's Tonbridge Triathlon can be made by 'teams of three':
One team member to swim 400 metres
One to cycle 25 km
One to run 5km

The fastest team over the Triathlon Sprint distance will be awarded the Harwoods Cup, a new trophy for the Triathlon in its 24th year.

The teams will also be able to obtain sponsorship and raise funds for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance's new night flying service. The Lions Clubs in South East england have pledged to raise £250,000 for the Marden based charity over 10 years to help support its 24-hour operation.

The Triathlon takes place on Bank Holiday Monday May 5 at Tonbridge School's sports complex. So plenty of time to step up the training!!!!!!

To book a place go to www.tonbridgelions.co.uk and click on the Triathlon 2014 tab or call 07549 949615

Pantomime Gala Evening

As part of their 2013 Community Programme, Tonbridge Lions are delighted to be hosting a Gala Evening of this year's pantomime The Sleeping Beauty.

Prior to the main performances on Friday 20^th and Saturday 21^st December at The Angel Centre, special needs groups of both adults and children are being treated to a special preview performance on Thursday 19^th December.

The Kent Branch of the Royal Variety Club will be bringing local groups such as Ridgeview School, Parents Consortium, and Sussex Road School. Other groups such as Prospects and Lighthouse will also come along.

The pantomime which is produced by the Tonbridge based CLIPS Theatre Company, and attended by the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Howard Rogers, will be guaranteed to make the invited audience’s Christmas treat extra special.

Shows for the public are 20th December at 7.30pm and 21st December at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets are available from the Angel Centre 017323 59966 priced at £11.00 adult; £9.00 concessions and £32.00 for a family of four

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #289 - A Tonbridge Bee

'Bees are in serious trouble. Their numbers have fallen dramatically in recent years, affected by disease, chemicals and habitat loss. Since 1900, the UK has lost 20 species of bee. A further 35 bee species are considered to be under threat of extinction.' (Friends of the Earth)

I managed to get a close up photo of this bee in a Tonbridge garden and didn't even get stung. If you look carefully at the wings you can see all the minute details and patterns, and the bee does look rather soft and fluffy even though it has the ability to give a very painful sting. I'm quite proud of this shot.

Recently a new Tonbridge and Malling Friends of the Earth Group was formed, and they held their first event dressed as bees to raise funds and awareness of the Friends of the Earth Bee Cause.

The group took part in the Tonbridge Lions organised circular charity walk that began and ended at Shipbourne Village Hall passing through the surrounding open fields and Igtham Moat. Over £100 was raised for the Bee Cause.

If anyone would like to join in future environmentally friendly activities , you can get in touch by emailing TandMfoe@gmail.com
 

Waste Paper Recycling in Tonbridge

You could help raise funds for Tonbridge charities by the simple task recycling your unwanted waste paper.

The  Tonbridge Lions’ covered waste paper skip at The Little Orchard site in Higham Lane (Sign Apple Logs) is filled about 4 times a year.

This means that about 40 tonnes of waste paper in the form of newspapers, brochures, magazines, junk mail, directories and catalogues are recycled to Aylesford newsprint and kept out of landfill.

This activity raises just over £2000 a year, which is used to help meet the costs of local welfare cases and Tonbridge charities.

The store is open for collections on the first Saturday of each month from 9 to 11.30 am.

Next collections are Saturday September 7 and Saturday October 5.

Feel free to deliver your waste paper during these times or contact Ken on 01732 352935 for more details.

Tonbridge Lions Annual Diabetic Day

The Tonbridge Lions Annual Diabetic Day took place in the Angel Car Park, Tonbridge last Saturday. Four qualified Medix Nurses undertook the examinations led by Senior Nurse Mrs Barbara Plumb.  A healthy blood sugar level that is acceptable is in the range 4 - 7.

254 people presented themselves for examination and seven were referred to their General Practitioner for further examination and advice.

His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Howard Rogers along with the Mayoress, Mrs Jane Rogers were accompanied by the Lion President Keith Bourne and Mrs Valerie Bourne at the screening and were tested by the nurses.

The Tonbridge Lions Diabetic Screening has been taking place since the year 2000 and 3558 people have been examined of which between 6 and 7 per cent have been referred for further examination to their GP.

The Chairman of the Tonbridge Lions Health Group, Lion Russell Dorling whose Committee organised the Screening, said  “I am delighted with the response we have had today and cannot emphasise how important it is to have blood sugar levels examined in adulthood when early detection of high sugar levels can prevent serious consequences of diabetes in later life.  My thanks go out to all those people that made the day such a success.”

Photo – TMBC Mayor Cllr Howard and Mrs Jane Rogers with Medix Nurses Amanda Weeks and Barbara Plumb with Tonbridge Lions’ President Keith and Mrs Valerie Bourne.

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.

New starting point for this year's carnival procession

A message from Tonbridge Lions who want this year's Carnival crowds in the High Street, and not waiting for the procession on Quarry Hill Road and Railway Approach.

 'In a break with an almost unbroken custom that has existed over twenty five years, this year's Tonbridge Carnival procession, on Sunday 9th June, will not be assembling in Brook Street. 

Instead the carnival floats, classic cars, bands and other groups will gather in the Sovereign Way car parks, close to the Tonbridge Farmers' Market and then proceed from Avenue du Puy at 12.30 p.m.'

Be There for Bee Cause

There's a new Tonbridge and Malling Friends of the Earth local group, and the first event that local members can take part in is the annual Lions Club local charities sponsored walk to support the 'Bee Cause'.

 

These little insects are threatened by loss of habitat, certain insecticides, and disease.   

The loss of bees as pollinators would be a disaster not just for lovers of honey, but also for farmers and gardeners.  It would cause food prices to soar.

 

 

 

The walk starts from Shipbourne Common Sunday May 19, and will be 5 miles long.

(Dressing up as a bee, or wearing yellow and black clothes for the walk is optional, but encouraged) 

 

You can get a sponsor form and friends of the Earth ‘bee cause’ petition cause from TandM.foe@gmail.com or just donate £5, and go along for the walk (dogs on leads are welcome).

 

More details about the Friends of the Earth Bee Cause from www.foe.co.uk

Walk for The Bridge Trust

Ightham Moat

Tonbridge Lions Charity Walk - Sunday May 19

Registration from 9 to 9.30am at

Shipbourne Village Hall, Shipbourne Common

Enjoy a walk in the fresh air through some of Kent's loveliest countryside, and support The Bridge Trust's work with single homeless adults at the same time!

The route is 5 or 10 miles - maps and instructions are provided - refreshments free.

Both routes will have marshals and drinks stations at suitable points. Doges are allowed but must be kept on leads.

The 10 mile route:-
Shipbourne Common, Fairlawne Home Farm, Dunks Green, Fairlawne Park, Ightham Mote, Wilmot Cottage (lovely views across the Weald), Greensand Way, Carter's Hill, White Rock Inn, Underriver House, across open level pasture land to Mote Road, Shipbourne Church, The Chaser Inn, and finally across The Common to the Village Hall at Shipbourne. All road crossing will be marshalled by members of Tonbridge Lions Club.

The 5 mile route:-
This route is similar but starts the return leg at Budds Green.

If you would like to take part and raise sponsorship for The Bridge Trust, please contact Caroline Dunmall on cdunmall@thebridgetrust,org.uk as soon as possible, as your name needs to be forwarded, together with those joining you, to Tonbridge Lions Club.  You will also need to be sent a Sponsorship Form.