The Lions’ motto is ‘We Serve’ — and Lions have been serving the local community in Witney and the surrounding area since the club was founded in 1969.

We are part of the largest service organisation in the world and one of over 800 clubs in the United Kingdom where like- minded people have come together to work for the good of the community. There are 27 members in the Witney Lions Club, we have no full time organisers, all our work is voluntary and done in our spare time with the support of friends and families.

Membership of the Lions Club of Witney is open everyone (male and female). It is not all work, we do meet socially with an annual 'weekend away', quiz nights, guest speakers etc.

Every penny donated to Lions goes directly to charity which since the clubs foundation in 1969 must amount to over £120,000 all donated to local people — distressed families, outings for lonely people, blind, deaf and disabled of all age groups, scouts and guides, playgroups, schools and Riding for the Disabled. Last year we helped to fund the new sensory room in the Moorland Centre and provided them with funding for their new garden project.

We sponsored a young talented tennis player and provided funds towards a new musical instrument for a dedicated, talented member of Witney Town Band.

A donation of £1,000 was made to Ronald McDonald House, part of the Children’s Hospital, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, which enabled them to purchase new bed linen for parents staying overnight. A donation of £1,000 was made to to Ducklington Cricket Club for the purchase of new nets and cricket equipment.

The club supports financially the Citizens’ Advice centre and delivered over 120 parcels at Christmas (special thanks to Father Christmas and his sleigh!) to needy households.

The annual carnival, organised by the service clubs of Witney (Lions, Rotary, Round Table and 2120 (Witney) Sqn Air Training Corps) is held to provide an afternoon of free entertainment for the whole family and gives an opportunity for smaller charities to raise money, please give freely and remember to buy your raffle tickets as this will support the carnival.

On behalf of the Lions Club of Witney, I would like to thank our main sponsors, Newsquest and Cotsway Housing, without whose support the carnival could not take place; to Wychwood Brewery for the beer tent; to all stall holders who give their time freely to raise money for their charities and finally to you the people of Witney for attending and making the carnival the success that it is.

We hope you have a good afternoon.

James Woodward
President
Witney Lions Club

For further information about the Witney Lions Club please call P Claxton on 01993 831049