Tonbridge Lions
About the club
The current membership stands at around 45 and meets once per month for business meetings and quarterly for dinner meetings, In addition to both the wide and varied programme of service, fund raising we have a number of community service activities.
Our activities range from running a nationally recognised triathlon and the town Community Fête to Christmas barrel organ collections, a fun day for the less able youngsters, quiz nights and numerous other events.
President 2023/24
Gordon Hill
Gordon was born in Heathfield and raised in Sussex where he was educated at Bexhill Grammar School. After a few years living in London, Gordon relocated to South Africa, where he lived and worked for four years, met his wife Peggy and married before returning and planting roots in Tonbridge in 1976. Gordon and Peggy have three children: Fiona, Andrew and Robin, all educated in Tonbridge schools, and seven grandchildren.
Now fully retired, Gordon spent his whole career developing and managing commercial
IT systems in the UK and abroad. He joined Tonbridge Lions in 2004 and has been active in helping to organise fund raising and community events in Tonbridge ever since. In addition to his involvement with the Lions, Gordon’s interests include motorcycling, aviation, astronomy, bell ringing and supporting the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme on expeditions.
Gordon was first elected President in 2017, has been Secretary for the last two years and is looking forward to his second stint of leading the members of Tonbridge Lions Club
as they continue to serve the community of Tonbridge during the club’s 74th year.
Board of directors 2023/24
The current board of directors is as follows.
Lion Gordon Hill
President
Lion Mike Stout
Secretary
Lion Peter Godsall
Treasurer
Lion Richard Hill
Greeter
Lion Philip Jesson
First Vice President
TBA
Second Vice President
Lion Graham Rapley
Minutes Secretary
Lion Patricia Jordan
Director
Lion Trevor Dalladay
Director
Lion Ken Thomas
Activities Chairman
Lion Wayne Sleck
Activities Assistant
Lion Pete Davis
Tail Twister
Lion Wayne Sleck
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
Lion Graham Rapley
Trustee
Lion Richard Hill
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.
