Welcome - Please explore our website and check out our Facebook page.
Please see our fund raising page for our recent activities.
Each year the President of The Lions Club of Ilminster and District can choose a charity to support during his/her term of Office. This year, the Lion President, Shirley Farley, has selected two charities this year, The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Baby Basics South Somerset. Over the last few years, Parkinson's Research, The Children's Hospice Southwest, The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and more recently The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital have been among the chosen charities. The donations usually go to buy specific pieces of important equipment in consultation with the charity.
These donations and the work undertaken by Ilminster Lions could not take place without the generosity and support of our local community. So Ilminster Lions sincerely thank all those who give so generously and would ask for your continued support.
Ilminster & District Lions Club (CIO) Registered Charity No 1181607
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Ilminster and District Lions Club is saddened to learn of the passing of our Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Sincere wishes and thoughts go out to Her Family and all who mourn our loss.
Thank you, Your Majesty, for 70 years of dedicated service.
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Our thanks to our outgoing President - Peter Sennett who has presided over the club through the most challenging last two years. It has been extremely difficult to fund raise throughout COVID but with the generosity and support of the local community we did, as you will have seen from some of the recent posts on here.
Please welcome our new President - Shirley Farley, who will be very well known and a familiar face to many in our community.
We thank Shirley for stepping up to take on this role and wish her well in undertaking the responsibility.
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Every month a member collects old spectacles from:
Ilminster - Richard Stent Optometrist, St Margaret's Hospice Shop and Church View Surgery Broadway.
Chard - Steven Beswetherick Optician and Specsavers
South Petherton - South Petherton Hospital
The spectacles are boxed up and sent to Chichester Lions Club or Birmingham Lions Headquarters. Here they are sorted and graded before being sent to developing countries where they are dispensed at Lions sponsored eye clinics.
If you have any spectacles which you no longer need, please pass them in to one of the collecting points above.
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May 2022 Ilminster Lions gathered at Dillington House for their first main social event for two years. An enjoyable evening was had by all. Grateful thanks to all who donated draw prizes and contributed to the £101 raised for Cancer Research U.K. Many thanks to Nigel and Ann Clymow for organising the event and to the team at Dillington House for ensuring the evening was a success.
June 2018
Thanks for supporting our Fete which raised £4600, shared with Ilminster Town Football Club.
We are also very grateful to all the local businesses who have supported us by advertising in our Fete programmes for so many years.
September 2017
Our 2nd Vice Diict Governor Lion Jim Partridge-Hogbin (right) paid us a visit recently and presented Ilminster Lions President, Andrew Lawson (left), with a bannerette from the District Governor, Lion Ian Snell.
A fascinating visit to Musgrove Park Neonatal Intensive Care Unit culminated with Ilminster Lions Shirley Farley (2nd left) and Nigel Clymow (2nd right) presenting a £500 cheque to Sister Sue Spooner (left) with Nursery Nurse Jane Benton (right). A brief insight into the highly specialised work of the dedicated team at the Unit was much appreciated.
July 2017
The gymnasts at Swanmead needed some new equipment and leotards so Ilminster Lions gave them some help.
June 2017
The Sunny Ile Pre School asked us to help provide some out-door equipment so Ilminster Lions helped out with a cheque for £719.
The Lions Club of Ilminster and District President, Alan Rudkin presents a cheque for £3000 to the Chairman of the local branch of Parkinson's UK, Mr Alan Gould with his wife, Isobel. Ilminster Lions thank everyone who helped to raise this sum for such a worthwhile cause. The presentation also coincided with Ilminster Lions Knobbly Knees Contest!
May 2017
Our Spring Event at Seavington Playing Field, the Kennel Club Obedience rally on Saturday 6th and Dog Show, Craft and Entertainment on Sunday 7th was enjoyed by all especially the dogs!
Music from Hamdon Brass (L) and Dave Case incinerating sausages (R)
April 2017
Members of the Lions Club of Ilminster and District enjoyed a tree planting ceremony at Ilminster Football Club on Saturday 1st April 2017. Joined by District Councillor Carol Goodall, Directors of the Football Club and members of the under 6 years team, Lion Alan Gibbs set the Italian Alder, chosen for its suitability for the location, in position next to the Archie Gooch Pavilion. The children were not hoodwinked into believing that spaghetti would bloom on their Italian tree next Spring, even though it was April Fool's Day.
February 2017
The First South Petherton Rainbows recently received a £200 donation towards their activities, presented by Lions Glenys Whaites, Rosemary Jackson and Shirley Farley.
November 2016
The Ilminster Victorian Evening, taking place in November each year, gives us an opportunity to accept donations for our mulled wine and biscuits. From this we make a donation to the Ilminster Christmas Lights Committee to help towards the cost of providing this spectacular show.
Ilminster Lions President, Alan Rudkin presents a cheque for £610 to Clinton Bonner of the Ilminster Christmas Lights Committee,
December 2016
Our last remaining Charter Member, Norman 'Dusty' Miller, decided to retire from the Club after giving 40 year's service to the Ilminster community. He held many positions including Club President during that time and was always ready to give his time and expertise to all the club's activities. We will keep in touch with him but will miss his friendliness, humour and kindness at our meetings and events. The President, Alan Rudkin (R), presented Norman (L) with a token of our appreciation at the Christmas dinner in December, 2016.
Each December, we organise a party for the children at Greenfylde C of E First School in Ilminster when we provide an entertainer then a few snacks. We can tell they've enjoyed themselves from the decibel level when they shout out 'Abracadabra', 'Hocus Pocus' or even 'Smelly Socks' to make the magic work!
L to R: Rosemary Jackson, Professor Bumble, and L to R: Crisps, Penguin biscuits, Rosemary Jackson,
Here are photos of some of our activities over the last few years. (See more under Fund Raising)
Top row - Receiving a donation from the Royal Oak, Over Stratton; A donation to birds of prey; A sing-song somewhere; A donation to Help for Heroes.
Second row - Concert by Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir at The Minster; President Alan Rudkin looking for the source of the River Ile; A donation to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance; Dave Searle and the Easter Eggs.
Third row - A donation to Vaughan-Lee House, Ilminster; Peace posters at Swanmead School, Ilminster; A Peace poster winner; Our brick at the new Ilminster Town Football Club Building; The Dog Show & Fete at Dillington.
Bottom row - Tall Ships voyage including our sponsored crew member Emily (far left); More Peace Posters; Collecting with Father Christmas at Tesco Stores, Ilminster; Arwel Huw Morgan, the soloist at the Minster Concert
