Community Action
COFFEE MACHINE
FOR SAXON HALL
HELP SANTA
Ian Foster samples a cup of coffee with Amanda, Tracey, Dan and Laura.
The café at Saxon Hall community centre at Putson in Hereford is now serving
superb coffee in a variety of flavours thanks to a £600 coffee making machine
donated by Hereford Lions Club. The café is run by Echo, the charity which provides
work training and experience for young people with learning difficulties.
Said former club president, Ian Foster: “It’s a two-way win – the young trainees
get to use the smaller version of the kind of machine used in city centre coffee shops,
and their customers enjoy top quality coffee. We were delighted to buy it for them.”
Victoria Craig, the Saxon Hall manager said: ”The café is a partnership between
the centre and Echo and is much appreciated by the groups using the centre. It is
hoped to extend the days it is open.”
She added, “Loneliness amongst the elderly is an issue in the community and the
café could be a great asset for an organised drop-in centre for them to share some
company with others. The coffee machine is a wonderful gift from the Lions Club
and will be greatly appreciated by everyone using Saxton Hall.”
The next few weeks are the busiest of
the year for Father Christmas and he
needs a bit of help. Lions Club, who
arrange his Santa sleigh tour of the
City to meet and chat to thousands of
children, are appealing for a few
volunteers to join the festive Santa
team. Just a couple of evenings on the
sleigh run will be a great help. Ring
David Hartland on 01432 356496.
DRIVERS WANTED
Hereford Lions Club’s community transport
service is busier than ever and needs some extra
volunteer drivers to help fulfil requests, usually on
behalf of the elderly or disabled.
The Lions Mini-Bus is just one community
support project run by the club, but it is one that
relies on some help from the public. It is the type
of role suited to someone recently retired and
wanting to find a worthwhile occasional activity.
Interested? Contact Celia Field (01432 487163) or
e mail: [email protected]
HEREFORD’S TOP CAR BOOT
Hereford Lions Club’s car boot sales have been declared the best in the region by
its regular booters.
The popular event each Saturday from the beginning of Easter to October on the
Aylestone Hill end of Roman Road, opposite Bookers this year raised £5,000 for
local charities. Unlike some other local car boots its free entry for the buyers and
all profits go to local charities.
Ceri Nicholls who rarely misses a boot sale said: “Its definitely the best, very
friendly and booters and buyers all get a warm welcome from the Lions members
on duty”
Twins Jenny Prosser and Sue Williams also set up their stall each week selling
baby and children’s clothes they knit themselves. It’s the only boot sale they attend.
“There is no hassle – just a very warm welcome from the Lions and the buyers”
Eden and Nigel Whittington-Fleckner from Eaton Bishop also regulars, like the
idea that all profits from the £5 a car boot as well as the donations generously
dropped in the bucket by buyers, goes direct to local charities.
The company resurfacing the road earlier this year had a few ton of tarmac left
over and kindly laid a new entrance and road surface into the field improving the
drive in for everyone. “It has made a great difference and the company’s generous
support is much appreciated,” said Mike Hughes who with Nick Rider are the organ-
isers.
The Lions car boot could soon be the only one left in the city. The owners of the
field opposite the cattle market, used for car boots are seeking planning consent
for a housing development on the site.
Ceri Nicolls
Mike Hughes and Nick Rider show off the
smart new entrance.
Twins Jenny and Sue
RACENIGHT
SPECIAL
FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2018• PAGE 25
Most folk fancy putting a couple of quid
on a horse even if they are not regular
race-goers. It is even more fun to go to
Hereford Lions’ annual Racenight at the
Shirehall (March 23), It is one of the
most popular nights out in Hereford’s
social calendar.
Watching the races on the screen,
placing bets on the tote, enjoying drinks
and supper and a disco at the end is a
sell-out each year, as 200 noisey punters
urge their horse to get to the winning post
first.
Get the date in your diary and book
your tickets early to make sure you will
get a seat. . If you do lose on the tote the
money goes to charity, not the bookies.
Collecting her £5 winnings (right) The tote in action (below).
TOP SHOWJUMPER POPS IN TO
RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Lion Ian Foster, former
Lions Club president
who adopted Hereford
Riding for the Disabled
as his special project
arranged for famous
showjumper
Nick
Skelton, who was due to
give a talk about his
career in Leominster, to
drop in on a session at
the RDA centre
at
Holme Lacy on his way
Top showjumper meets Trojan, the Lions
to show his two Gold
Medals won at the Rio horse. Nick shows his Gold medals to some
of the disabled riders.
Olympics as a special
treat for the disabled youngsters . Ian also introduced Nick to Trojan, the
horse the club bought for £5,000 for the riding centre.