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About the club

The current membership stands at 50 and meets twice per month, a business and dinner meeting, in addition to both the wide and varied programme of service, fund raising and social activities. These range from running a nationally recognised triathlon and the town Community Fête to Christmas barrel organ collections, a fun day for the disabled, quiz nights and numerous other events.

President 2022/23

Richard was born in Pembury and has been associated with Tonbridge all his life. Part of a farming and butchery family, he grew up on his family’s dairy farm. He spent his whole working career in Agricultural Engineering, based in Kent.

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Richard has a love of music, especially singing, performing with amateur musical societies, and small choirs. It was during his time with LAMPS that he met Julie, and they married in 1987. They have two girls, Claire and Rachel, plus 5 grandchildren.

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Since joining Tonbridge Lions in 2009, Richard has devoted himself to taking an active role in organising various fund raising and service events in Tonbridge. Having served as President for the year 2021/22 he has once again being elected to continue for another year.  He and Julie are pleased to be continuing to take the club further forward in serving the community.

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Board of directors 2021/22

The current board of directors is as follows.

Lion Richard Hill

President

Lion Gordon Hill

Secretary

Lion Peter Godsall

Treasurer

Lion Keith Bourne

Greeter

Lion Philip Jesson

First Vice President

Vacant

Second Vice President

Lion Graham Rapley

Minutes Secretary

Lion Ian McGill

Director (1 year)

Lion Lofty Bunyon

Director (2 year)

Lion Miles Harvey

Activities Chairman

Lion Pete Davis

Tail Twister

Lion Tom Simmons

Lion Tamer

Lion John Dean

Activities Secretary

Charity trustees

As part of the club we manage a charitable fund. Whilst the members and board of directors are the key decision makers for how we raise funds and where those funds are distributed, we have appointed trustees who provide oversight on the funds we receive and distribute.

Lion Philip Jesson

Trustee

Lion Gordon Hill

Trustee

Lion Ian McGill

Trustee

Lion Richard Hill

Trustee

Lion Peter Godsall

Trustee

The early days

The summer of 1949 saw the beginnings of Tonbridge Lions Club.

 

During the 1939/45 war a Tonbridge hairdresser CWH Addy was often in touch with servicemen from the United States and Canada. He heard many stories about the Lions and the aims and objectives of Lions Clubs, and decided he would try to organize a club in Tonbridge.

 

In 1947 he wrote to the headquarters office of Lions International for advice and as a consequence was able to advise that office in 1949 that he was in contact with enough interested men in Tonbridge to form a Lions Club.

 

The official formation of Tonbridge Lions Club followed on the 9th February 1950, though it had been operating as a club for some months prior to that date.

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