Tonbridge Lions
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.
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.