Lions Club of Penrith

Welcome to the
Lions Club of Penrith Website

Penrith is a historic market town in the Eden valley between the Pennines in the east and the Lake District hills in the west. Here the A66 trans pennine route crosses the M6 as it reaches north towards Scotland. It is a meeting place and Penrith Lions Club welcomes new members and visitors alike

It was here in 1975 that a group of local men formed the Lions Club of Penrith. From these small beginnings our club has grown to its present 29 members serving the people of Eden. We have fun and fellowship raising funds and distributing them both in Eden and further afield.

Have a look at our website to get a flavour of the things we do. You may even be inspired to come and join us.

Annual Charity Golf Competition
Sunday 9th June

Almost 200 competitors took part in our 33rd annual golf competition at Penrith Golf Club.

The weather was excellent with sunshine most of the day and the course was in fine condition thanks to the work of the green staff. The competitors enjoyed their pit stop at the 9th hole where Lions and their ladies served hot dogs and cold drinks.

The scores were excellent with the winners Ian Birkett and Derek Russell scoring a magnificent 48 points.

We raised about £3500 from the event thanks to the sponsors and prize givers and on course the competitors.

More photos in the activities gallery

District Under 14 Footbal Competitions

Penrith Lions Club took two teams from Penrith to a 7-a-side football competion at Skelmersdale and Castletown Under 14's won the District Final at Penrith.

More photographs in youth gallery

Tree Planting with Local Schools

Lion Bernard Wood arranged with Brunswick Road school and Stainton school to plant 100 trees at Thacka beck and Dacre beck as part of a Lions Clubs International project to plant 1,000,000 trees worldwide. This has been so succesful that over 6,700,000 trees have been planted.

We were helped in the project by Will Cleasby from Eden Rivers Trust and Kevin Scott and Sophie Court from Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Headmistress Sharon Sanderson from Brunswick Road planted an oak sapling from seed from the Royal Estates.

More photographs in youth gallery

May Day Carnival

Monday 6th May started off cold and windy but in the afternoon the sun came out and we had a glorious end to the day.

A full day of entertainment kept the large crowds amused and the day culminated in the crowning of the May Queen and the Grand Parade.

The photograph shows our new Lions Head made at Up - Front Gallery with the help of John Parkinson

More photos in activities gallery

Presentations Monday 18th March

President Joe presented the District Governors Certificate of Appreciation to Peter Goodwin for his work with Message in a Bottle and he also presented the David Fairhurst Golf Trophy to Ronnie Bell at the business meeting at North Lakes Hotel

Heartstart Course with Tim Lorton

On Thursday 14th March a number of Lions and their wives visited the new Fire Station where our newest recruit Tim Lorton gave us an excellent training session on Heartstart and associated medical emergency scenarios.
Tim was an excellent tutor and we all got the chance to inflate Little Anne during the evening. When the course was completed we had a quick look round the Fire Station. Another group of guinea pigs tackle the course on 21st March.
More photographs in welfare gallery

Lions Present Specialized Pushchair to 3 year old Adam

Adam suffers from Lissencephaly and requires a specialized pushchair to protect him. Members of Penrith Lions Club agreed to purchase the pushchair and Penrith Charities agreed to provide some equipment for the pushchair. The photograph shows Adam in his wheelchair with President Joe Grinbergs, George McCrone chairman of the Lions welfare committee and Sheila Hadwin from Penrith Charities.
Photo courtesy of Freddie Wilson

Search and Rescue Dog Association

Karen Frith and her partner gave Lions an excellent talk and slide show on the traing and work of the Search and Rescue Dog Association to members at their meeting at the Conservative Club on Monday 4th March.

District Convention at Blackpool
1-3 March 2013

President Joe and Anne, Lion Bill Miller and Pam and Lion Ian Edgar and Anne attended the convention at De Vere Herons Reach for a weekend of fun and fellowship. The photograph shows Penrith members with the International Vice President Barry Palmer who will be inducted as International President in Hamburg in July. District Governor Meg Philp is also in the photograph.
More photographs in the social gallery

Donation to Ullswater Community College
Trip to Tanzania

Penrith Lions Club gave a donation to a school trip to Tanzania this coming summer. Money was also raised from the school pantomime at the end of January. Lions took 60 senior citizens to the event. The photograph shows President Joe presenting the cheque. Also in the photograph are George McCrone chairman of the Welfare committee, Ian Tuer and a number of students who took part in the pantomime and two of the students who are going on the trip.

38th Charter Anniversary

Members of Penrith Lions Club and their guests met at the North Lakes Hotel & Spa on Friday 22nd February to celebrate their 38th Charter Anniversary. Our guests for the evening were District Governor Meg Philp, her husband Lion Michael and President of Rotary Club David Dixon and his wife Maureen.

We enjoyed an excellent meal followed by dancing and socialising.
More photographs in the social gallery.
Photograph courtesy of Freddie Wilson

Collection for Hospice at Home
Monday 18th February

Members of Penrith Lions Club visited the Public Houses in Penrith and surrounding areas before Christmas and raised £775.80 for Hospice at Home Carlisle and Norh Lakeland. The photograph shows President Joe Grinbergs presnting the cheque to Sheila Thompson.

Photograph courtesy of Freddie Wilson

Burns Supper
Saturday 26th January
George Hotel Penrith

Over 90 people attended the above event hosted by Penrith Lions Club and the George Hotel.

President Joe Grinbergs welcomed everyone to the event. The haggis was piped in by Robin Davies from Langawthby and Colin McEwen, from Glasgow, addressed it. Following an excellent meal of cock-a-leeckie soup, haggis, neaps and tatties and cranachan George McCrone gave an excellent "Immortal Memory" and Bill Miller gave a hilarious "Toast to the Lassies".

Following the meal Arthur Atkinson provided music to dance to.
More photographs in the social gallery

Senior Citizens Concert
Wednesday 16th January

Senior citizens attended a concert at Penrith Methodist Church courtesy of the Lions Club.

The first half of the programme featured the talents of Myrna Tennant, Kids Alive and Matthew and Andrew Caton together with their father Phil.

Following refreshments provided by the Lions wives Penrith Town Band gave an enthuisiastic performance of well known pieces.
More photographs in welfare gallery

Cockermouth Charter Anniversary
Sunday 13th January

President Joe Grinbergs and Anne, Bill Miller and Ian and Anne Edgar braved the weather to attend the Cockermouth Charter Lunch at Hundith Hill where they sat down to an excellent meal followed by speeches and a quiz. We spent an excellent afternoon catching up with old friends and then got back to Penrith before we had too much snow!

Lions Christmas Party

Members and friends enjoyed a very pleasant evening at Penrith Golf Club on Saturday 22nd December.

The buffet was excellent and the social committee arranged a number of party games and quizes to keep everyone amused.

Unfortunately the photographer on the evening was not up to his usual standard!

Collection for Charity

10 members of Penrith Lions Club took to the streets on Black Eye Friday and visited pubs in Penrith and the surrounding area to collect money for Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland.

We all had an enjoyable time and managed to collect £775 on the night! Thanks for supporting the cause so generously.

Penrith Lions Club

Christmas Card Delivery Service

Members of Penrith Lions Club collected, sorted and delivered almost 8500 Christmas cards to homes in Penrith this year.

We are sorry that not all cards were delivered as there were ten cards with no addresses and a number were for areas outside of Penrith!
more photographs in activities gallery

Cheque Presentation to Penrith Golf Club Captain

President Joe Grinbergs presented a cheque for £300 to Penrith Golf Club Captain David Lawson for his Captains Charity which this year was for Childrens Hospice at Home. The money was proceeds from the raffle held by the Lions at the Charity Golf Day in June.

Santa Visits Penrith Estates

Santa visted Townhead, Carleton, Wetheriggs, Castletown, Scaws and Pategill courtesy of Penrith Lions Club to talk to the children and ask them what they would like for Christmas this year. He distributed sweets to everyone and the Lions managed to collect £1409 to be used for their charitable work in Penrith this Christmas.

He managed to visit all of the estates this year because the weather was reasonably favourable!

More photographs in the welfare gallery

Santa Pays an Early visit to Pategill Court

On Saturday 1st December Santa paid a surprise visit to Pategill Court to switch on the Christmas light for David and Wendy. Santa gave out small gifts to some of the younger visitors.

Everyone enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and a firework display. Hope that Santa did not have too much wine!

Stoneybeck Presentation

Members of Penrith Lions Club enjoyed a social event at Stoneybeck Inn where manager Tom Dent presented President Joe Grinbergs with a cheque for £1500 in recognition of the Fireworks Display organised by the Lions earlier in November. Following the presentation members enjoyed an excellent buffet provided by Stoneybeck Inn.

more photographs in the social gallery

Penrith Young Ambassador in District Final

On Sunday 25th November Penrith Lions Clubs Young Ambassador Emily Rowlands travelled to the Garstang Golf Course and Country Club where she competed in the District Final against other young people from the North West to become the District representative in the Great Britain final later in the year.

Emily gave an excellent account of herself during the interviews but unfortunately was not the judges choice.

Emily has been an inspiration to the members of Penrith Lions Club who have met her over the last few months.

The photograph shows Emily, in the pink jacket, with the other competitors and judges.

New Member Inducted

Tim Lorton (Tattie Tim) was inducted into Penrith Lions Club on Monday 19th November.

The photograph shows Tim with his certificate along with President Joe Grinbergs and Bernard Wood who assisted with the ceremony.

Children in Need Street Collection

Members of Penrith Lions Club took to the streets on Saturday 17th November to raise funds for Children in Need.

Despite the cold weather conditions members of the public gave generously and we raised £1119. The photograph shows members who collected later in the afternoon together with Tattie Tim who we inducted as a new member on Monday evening

QUEGS Pupils Draw for Peace

35 year 7 students at Queen Elizabeth Grammar Scool, Penrith got to work with their pens and paint brushes when Penrith Lions Club invited them to submit a piece of art for a peace poster competition. The theme of this years competition was ' Imagine Peace', sparking entries worldwide.

The photograph shows winner Hannah Lytollis on the left and runners up Katie Farley and Sarah Connolly with their entries. President of Penrith Lions Club Joe Grinbergs presented vouchers to the tree contestants. Also in the photograph is Ian Edgar organiser of the competition. The winning entry will be judged at district level.

Remembrance Day Parade
Sunday 11th November 2012

Nine members of Penrith Lions Club joined the Remembrance Day parade in Penrith on Sunday. President Joe carried the Lions wreath into St Andrews church.
Photograph courtesy of Freddie Wilson.

Penrith Lions plant daffodil bulbs

Ten members planted 1000 daffodil bulbs in half an hour at Kemplay roundabout on Sunday 11th November. The daffodils will brighten up the approaches of Penrith in the spring.

Sainsburys/Thomas Armstrong donated the bulbs for our use.
more photographs in activities gallery

Games Evening
Penrith Methodist Church
Saturday 27th October

The social committee organised a very successful games evening incorporating carpet bowls, table tennis, snooker, putting and various games utilising the brain. The ladies were more into these games!

We enjoyed and excellent supper provided by Ruth Gardiner. All in all a most enjopyable evening.

more pictures in social gallery

Opening of Sockbridge & Tirril Community Play Area

Saturday 20th October

Members of Penrith Lions Club attended this event as they had given a donation to help fund the event.

The day was blessed with sunny weather and the children enjoyed themselves during the event which was opened by Cedric Bell.

There are more photopraphs in the welfare gallery.

Cheque Presentation to Young Cumbria
Tuesday 16th October

President Joe Grinbergs had the pleasure of presenting a cheque for £1500 to Young Cumbria on the occasion of the official opening of their new premises at Mostyn Hall, Penrith. The premises were opened by the High Sherriff of Cumbria and we were then shown round the building. A group on young people gave us a presentation of their recent Duke of Edinburgh silver award expedition.

Photograph courtesy of Freddie Wilson

Keswick Lions 24th Charter Anniversary
Lodore Falls Hotel
Saturday 13th October

President Joe and four fellow members and their wives enjoyed a very pleasant evening renewing old acquaintances and enjojing an excellent meal at Lodore.
Photo by Andrew Cannon
More photos in the social gallery

West Cumberland Lions Club
Charter Dinner Saturday 5th October

President Joe, members and their wives attended a very enjoyable evening at Hunday Manor Hotel with members of West Cumberland Lions Club and friends to celebrate their 46th Charter Anniversary. A selection of other photographs are included in the social gallery.

Photos courtesy of Bill Miller

Social Visit to High Cup Wines,
Friday 21st September

Members and friends spent a very pleasant evening sampling a selection of wines from this northern winery on the edge of the Pennines. This was followed by an excellent buffet to conclude the evening.

Photo courtesy of Ian Proud

James Quigley Visits Penrith Lions Club

James Quigley, a medical student from Carlisle, gave us a very interesting talk on his visit to Bacolod in the Philippines earlier this summer. Penrith Lions supported him with some money to help with general surgery work for poor people who could not afford to pay for it themselves.

James and his colleague Aine Keating from Republic of Ireland were on a medical elective from Norwich University to further their medical education. They participated in Medical Missions with the local Lions Club to provide free healthcare to the poorest citizens living in the poor district of the city. As James said it was good to "do it for real" for the first time. He found the missions a very rewarding and humbling experience.

James prented president Joe with a banner and a small gift from Bacolod Host Lions Club.

photographs of James's visit on the welfare gallery

District Governors Visit
Monday 20th August

District Governor Meg Philp attended our business meeting at North Lakes Hotel & Spa. During the evening she presented long service pins and letters to Ian Edgar 30 years, Roger Roberts 20 years and Harold Threlkeld 20 years. At the conclusion of the meeting she exchanged banners with President Joe.

Town Treasure Hunt
Thursday 16 August

Members and friends enjoyed a walking treasure hunt starting and ending at the Agricultural hotel on a very pleasant evening with plenty of sunshine. The clues were set by Ian Proud, a past master at setting ambiguous clues! Following an excellent supper President Joe's party was declared the winners. Don't let Ian Proud kid you that he does all the work!
more photos in social gallery

Total Warrior
Shap Abbey 4/5 August

Members of Penrith Lions Club organised the parking at this event which is in its second year. Over 3500 competitors from all over the country descended on Shap Abbey to take part. The first day was a 10k run with various obstacles to surmount on the course while the Sunday race extended to 10 mies.

Cars were coming in thick and fast on Saturday and we had our work cut out until about 2.30pm when the last race started. Most people seemed to enjoy the experience and were looking forward to entering next year.

The photo shows John with umbrella up directing the traffic when a heavy shower came our way.