On 6th of July 1976, The Lions Club of March was formed by the signing of the International Association of Lions Clubs Charter. The club then was formed of the President, Mr Gordon Furnell, the Secretary, and 39 Charter Members, brought together by their desire to serve the people of March and the surrounding area, the nation, and the world.
In the early years the club organised Conker Contests, Carnival Floats (something the Lions would later become heavily involved in), Mini-Olympics, Disabled Games, New Year’s Eve and Rock and Roll Revival dances (with the Lions Formation Dancing Team putting in a memorable appearance at a Barn dance) and even formed a ballet troupe with its members who performed Swan Lake at March Conservative Club.
The club has purchased a caravan for the St John Ambulance Brigade, sent people on holiday, bought nebulisers and other medical equipment for local health centres, and even built a house at Doddington Hospital (albeit in plastic – but the occupants were eager to move in!)
We have organised impressive motor shows (called Wheels) and went on to purchase books and equipment for local schools, equipment for the Talking Newspaper and for Riding for the Disabled (resulting in that year’s president meeting the Princess Royal). The club has run pub crawls for Children in Need, toured Cambridgeshire alongside the BBC for the same cause, provided hot dogs at the Christmas lights swich on (with fond memories of the Lions Caravan at these events). And through all of this we always aim to help local children, the elderly, and those in need.
More recently, we have raised several thousand pounds for Asthma Research through the Asthma Swim and continue to support a wide range of local charities with our Santa on Tour.
One very large part of the club for the majority of its almost 50-year existence has been the Gala. Now a one-day event as part of the March Summer Festival, the Gala (previously known as the Carnival) has involved large parades with floats from many local organisations and numerous stalls at sites across the town over the years.
So many memories, good times and bad, but always good friends and colleagues and so much to be thankful for, as club members found out on their first trip to Romania with aid in 1990 for that impoverished country. A time when local folk repaid us with their superb support – providing goods, and vehicles, and money that allowed us to go five times, and once to Croatia; and again with the shoe box appeal when our own Lion hearted Ian went to Bosnia to deliver the goods.
One club member has been with the club since day one, and has received recognition from both Lions Clubs British Isles through his invitation to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark 100 years of Lions in 2017, and Lions Clubs International through his awarding of the Bert Mason Humanitarian Award. Lion Trevor Quince was invited by the Charter President of the club, and during his 25th charter anniversary speech in 2001, said “When I agreed, little did I know what I was letting myself in for. Everything and anything from jumble sales to motor shows, bingo to banger racing, carol singing to carnivals, hot dogs to gourmet nights, and more – much, much more. I am so pleased to be a Charter Member of March and Chatteris Lions Club, but I am honoured to be a member of Lions Clubs International – none of which I could do without the support and encouragement of my family, my friends, and my fellow Lions.”
It is said that Lions do it with pride. We feel great pride in knowing that we, with over a million others, belong to a world-wide organisation that is often the first to offer aid at major disasters, that brings sight to the curable blind, that puts schools and hospitals where desperately needed and that promotes peace and understanding to all.
March Lions are always looks for new member that share the desire to join a club that raised money and helped the less fortunate. If you are interested, or would like more information, please Contact Us.