What a very humbling delight, to turn over the page in Nigel Baynes’ carefully laminated archive file, and to discover a pristine copy of the Q4 Newsletter I’d created somewhere toward the end of 2006.
The idea, I believe, was to create a newsy sort of feature, to be given away free at the Post Office in Allendale, so that folks would have a better idea of what the Lions actually were doing around the houses. And also to serve as a notice for the Carols in the Square event coming up.
Anyway, I’d forgotten all about that newsletter, though now that I see it I do recall how pleased I was with it at the time. A quiet labour of love, I imagine.
Time goes so fast, so quickly through our fingers, it seems. We’re here, and then we’re not. The Lions Club held a minute’s silence, at the 34th Business Meeting on the 6th of November, to mark the death of Alan Newman, a member of the Round Table as was. Condolences were sent to George and Joan Newman, and to Trevor and Prue, with flowers from the club, to let these Charter Members know we were thinking of them.
And although there were quite a few apologies from members who couldn’t make it to that meeting, lots of plans were developed to ensure that the Santa’s Sleigh rode again in the upcoming festive season, and that the tradition of Carol Singing in the Square was carried on. As well, of course, as careful consideration of funding requests, which involved the Middle School production of We Will Rock You, the Haydon Bridge High School’s Sunshine Panners, the Allendale Youth Project refurbishment, and the Pebbles Art Café’s section for young people. Each of these projects received £100 from the Lions Club. By this point, the Charity Account boasted only £1000 remaining for disbursement; it had been quite a year of supporting good causes!