Air Ambulance to benefit from Tonbridge Triathlon

Tonbridge Lions Club has, once again, invited the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance charity to find sponsored competitors for the Tonbridge Triathlon to be held on Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May 2014. 

Lions Clubs across the south-east have pledged to donate £250,000 over 10 years to help KSS Air Ambulance achieve its aim of night flying.

The triathlon event, swimming, cycling and running was started by Tonbridge Lions over 26 years ago, and is recognised by the British Triathlon Federation who referee and sanction all triathlons. Competitors have a choice of completing the Sprint, a 400m swim, then a 25km cycle ride, ending with a 5km run or the Standard event that is double the distance for all three disciplines. Start and finish are at Tonbridge School Sport Centre.

Chairman of the organising committee, Lion Tom Simmons said, “Our aim is, as always, to provide an event that is enjoyed by the competitors and spectators alike whilst raising money for local charities. As well as assisting KSS Air Ambulance we are also supporting Headway, a charity that helps those suffering from brain damage caused by accidents.  All the proceeds from our Triathlon handbook will be donated to these two worthy local charities.”

Since its inception, the Tonbridge Triathlon has raised over £125,000 that Tonbridge Lions have used to support to various local charitable causes.

To book a place visit www.tonbridgelions.co.uk and follow the link to Triathlon 2014. 

The KSS Air Ambulance sponsor form can also be downloaded here. 

There is also a dedicated e-mail for event enquiries, tonbridgetriathlon@gmail.com and a dedicated phone number, 07549 949615.

An afternoon treat for Senior Citizens

Do you have an elderly friend, neighbour or relative who lives alone? Do you think they deserve a treat? 

Tonbridge Lions Club is once again arranging an afternoon of entertainment on the 22 February 2014 for Senior Citizens who live locally and alone. There will also be light refreshments served and The Lions Club will arrange and provide transport to and from the event.

To qualify for an invitation the person must be a senior citizen and live alone in Tonbridge, Hildenborough or Hadlow. 

Application forms are available from the Age UK office in Bradford Street, Tonbridge and must be completed and sent to the return address before 31st Dec 2013.   

Forms can also be downloaded from the “Future Events” page of the Tonbridge Lions website (www.tonbridgelions.co.uk). If the number of applications exceed the capacity of the venue then lots will be drawn. All successful applications will result in an invitation being delivered personally by a member of Tonbridge Lions Club.

Tonbridge Panto

Left to Right - Bethany Kingston, Josh Gurr, Chris Head

It's that time of year again when thoughts turn to Christmas time and organising family trips to our traditional pantos. So get ready, and book early,  for this year's Tonbridge pantomine which will be bursting at the seams with local talent.  This really is the show to go and see as, not only will you and your family have a ball, but it's our very own Tonbridge pantomine and the proceeds go to local charities.

Tonbridge based CLIPS Theatre Company, welcome two newcomers to the panto stage this year. Josh Gurr and Chris Head will tread the boards, alongside Bethany Kingston, in Sleeping Beauty at the Angel Centre in December.

Bethany, who plays the part of Sleeping Beauty is a pupil at the Weald Grammar School for Girls and a student at The Pauline Quirk Academy. She had played the leading role in Annie and has also performed with the Motet choir at the Albert Hall.

Chris, who will be taking on the role of Harry, currently attends the Miskin Theatre School, and  Josh who has secured the role of Cedric is a student at Hugh Christie School in Tonbridge,where he played the leading role in Bugsy Malone and in his spare time attends Stagecoach Theatre School.

This time long favourite fairy tale filled with joy, laughter, and of course the inevitable boos and hisses will be presented by Tonbridge Lions Club and will hit the stage on Friday December 20 at 7.30pm and on Saturday December 21 with three performances at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets are priced at Adults £11.00, Concessions £9.00 and Family of Four £32.00 and available from the Angel Centre Box Office 01732 359966.

Light Up Your Home - Light Up Your Community

Tonbridge Lions Club is to again run a competition for Christmas lights outside domestic residences in the Tonbridge area. 

The club is offering three £200 prizes, to be given to the local charities nominated by the owners of the best Christmas lights displays. Three prizes will be awarded for the best installations in the Tonbridge, Hildenborough and Hadlow area. In addition the winners will each receive a Christmas gift for themselves.

Entries are limited to private domestic residences and photographs of the lights will be required (either by post or email) for the initial assessment. The judges will then visit the short-listed installations before picking the three winners. The judging panel will include the President of Tonbridge Lions, Keith Bourne and local sculptor, Guy Portelli KBA, ARBS.

An entry form can downloaded here http://www.tonbridgelions.co.uk/portfolio.html

Good Luck!!!!!!

Digital Piano for Hospice Choir

Tonbridge Lions’ President Keith Bourne and the Hospice Choir.

The Hospice in the Weald choir was formed to bring together families of patients, carers and friends of the Hospice, as part of their Music Therapy Programme. 

Singers of all abilities were invited to join in community singing, learning new songs in harmony, with the intention of entertaining patients and families, and fund raising for the Hospice. 

The choir has been so successful, it was considered that the Hospice`s own small keyboard was inadequate for accompanying them, so Tonbridge Lions Club have donated a new Yamaha digital piano to the Hospice.  

 Kylie Ferris, Music Therapist, said “The donation will be appreciated by both the patients and staff in providing a high quality accompaniment for the choir, and for music therapy sessions.”