Author: Chris Burstow

Lion Noel Mackereth MJF – passing to Higher Service MACKERETH, Lion Noel It is with great sadness that we communicate the news that Lion Noel Mackereth MJF of Windermere & Ambleside Lions Club passed away to Higher Service in February 2019. Lion Noel provided the Lions Club 44 years of Service – including taking the role of Club President in 1979/80 and in 1994/95, was Social Chairman for many years, Welfare Chairman, Zone Chairman, Region Chairman and was honoured as a Melvin Jones Fellow in recognition of his excellent Service. Lion Noel was also the Club’s Convention Chairman for the very successful 1985 105BN District Convention at the Windermere Hydro Hotel. Our thoughts are with wife Dorothy and her family at this time. President Chris Burstow Windermere & Ambleside Lions…

The W&A Lions Club has a fantastic and colourful stall at the Windermere Christmas Markets this year - with plenty of fun, games and prizes to be won! This year we have a: Charity Tombola, with prizes donated by many local organisations (listed below) as well as some toy Lion Unicorns and lots of sweets and candy floss to be won! A game of 'Guess the number of sweets in the jar' - to win a fantastic Coffee Machine that has been donated to us by Lakeland in Windermere A game of 'Guess the Name of the Unicorn' to win a huge pink Unicorn teddy that was donated to us by Atkinsons Toy Shop in Bowness on Windermere Christmas Signs on sale that were donated to us by Fab Interiors…

Winter Fuel A short time after the Chartering in 1974 of the then Windermere (English Lakes) Lions Club, now known as Windermere and Ambleside Lions Club, the club was offered some felled trees. The members at that time thought that we could perhaps cut them up and donate the logs to some elderly and disabled people in the Windermere area.     At that time we had a couple of members who had Land Rovers and trailers, the project was started, a delivery before Christmas and a delivery after Christmas, some Sunday mornings started off as “chopping up” days and others as delivery days, in those times we had 36 members so eventually chopping and deliveries could be done on the same days. Many people then had open fires so…

Our 44th Annual Charter was hosted this year at the Laura Ashley Belsfield Hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere. Lion President Chris Burstow and the W&A Lions Club were pleased to welcome around 80 guests to our Charter - including Lions attending from our twinned Lions club in Limoux in France - as well Lions from other Clubs within the District, their families, friends and guests. The Belsfield Hotel is beautifully positioned on a hill overlooking Lake Windermere - and on a clear day it really does provide a lovely view! Here are some of our photos !    

Windermere & Ambleside Lions Club was pleased to support Helen and her horse-riding team represent team GB in a competition in France - and were placed a very credible 10th in the scorching summer heat! Photo below of our very own Team GB in France: Below is a thank you note from Helen Westmoreland-Nicholson; Chris and all the lions A big big thank you for all your support in helping us get to France and for coming a creditable 10th. It was an amazing  experience and we never forget it. The heat was seriously intense and caused a few issues for our horses but it was truly fantastic and we couldn’t have done it with out your support. Thank thank you so much Helen and the team

We were pleased to support the recent renovation of Ings Playground with a £1,500 donation from the Windermere & Ambleside Lions Club. A few of us visited the playground recently to see the marvelous work that had now been completed -and it looks great! Whilst visiting we noticed that the original plaque was still visible from the time the playground was first built - showing that the English Lakes Lions Club (the old name for our Club) also contributed to the original build project in 1993. Hopefully this latest renovation will extend the life of this playground by another 15 years!    

As a result of the fantastic amount raised at the 2018 Lakes Classic Vehicle Show (around £12,000) - the Windermere & Ambleside Lions Club has granted two cheques for £5,000 - one for each of our nominated charities: Sandgate Hydrotherapy Pool in Kendal, and MS Society - Westmorland South Lakes Branch We thank both organisations for their energy and support at the classic vehicle show this year - it was a pleasure to have your support! Pictured in the photographs below: Windermere & Ambleside Lions Club - Chris Burstow (Lions President), Chris Amos, Anthony Harrison, Christine Harrison, Peter Irvine MS Society Westmorland South Lakes Branch - Christian Davies, Julie Davies, Jackie Kerr, Faith Billington Sandgate Hydrotherapy Pool - Nadine Scott, Carolyn Rayner, David Dean (camera man)    

Our annual Charter will take place on Sunday 21st October, at the stunning Laura Ashley Hotel - The Belsfield in Bowness-on-Windermere Enjoy a sumptuous Sunday lunch with views over Lake Windermere in the stunning Laura Ashley restaurant. We can offer people a choice from the attached Sunday menu at £25.00 per person (payable on the day) You can download the menu choice by clicking here Arrival on the day is 1pm, ready to sit down at 1.30pm All are welcome - whether you are a member of the Lions Club or not - we would welcome your attendance.   Please confirm attendance and pre-order menu choices to Lion Keith Fell: By Phone: 07816 462474 By Email: keithfell54@gmail.com, or By Post: 22 Ghyll Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 2LW If people wish…

We had a lovely Sunday lunch at the Lamplighter in Windermere on Sunday 1st July to celebrate a significant date in the Lions Calendar - the Club President's Handover. Lion Philip Fell has done the club proud over the past 12 months - with hard work and dedication. Now it is Lion Chris Burstow's turn to give it a go!      

This year was the biggest and best Lakes Charity Classic Vehicle Show yet - with over 250 classic vehicles, over 1,500 visitors, many local craft stalls, competitions and games, a tombola, catering and a ukulele band - and to top it all off the sun shone for most of the day! Download the 2018 event programme to see the full entry list - and all of the attractions that were available on the day - as well as a list of our sponsors. Over £10,000 was raised at the event - which breaks all previous records. These funds will be split between our nominated charities: MS Society - Westmorland and South Lakes Branch Sandgate Hydrotherapy Pool in Kendal with some funds being retained by the Windermere & Ambleside Lions Club…