December 2009

I came back from a week in Scotland just in time to attend the Remembrance Service in Flint. It was an honour to attend and to lay a poppy wreath on behalf of the club. I can’t march, but, I paraded with pride, partly because I was representing my club but part of me was representing a great grandfather who served in Gallipolli, a grandfather who served in the Somme and a father who was at the Normandy landings. Watching the faces at the well attended service, I could imagine countless friends and relations being remembered at that time. Thanks go to Lions Alan Jones and Dennis Williams who came with me and tried to keep me in step!

I always look forward to Christmas. Whether it is the family being together for a few days, friends coming round or Lions events, I thoroughly enjoy this time of year.

I arrange the hampers. The contents for this year have been identified and will soon be bought. It’s a chance to see how prices have changed over the year. I’m sure you know that tea and coffee are the same price but chocolates and biscuits have shot up in price!

We will have eight bucket collections in various locations over the Christmas build up. The people of our district are very generous. We had our first collection yesterday and over half the collection was in £2, £1 and 50p coins. We never say “no” to the copper either! It is surprising how people react to Father Christmas and a guy dressed up in a Lion costume! The monies we collect over this period will pay for all our Christmas projects and much more besides.

During December, we will take Santa Claus to see the children of the Daffodil Club, patients at Holywell and Flint Hospitals, residents of Nursing Homes in the area and members of the Autumn Club. Members will also distribute the hampers to worthy recipients. We will be in Flint for the official switch on of the Christmas lights. So, Christmas is a very busy time for us and the club members turn out in force to ensure a successful season. We are lucky, we are a club that enjoys getting involved, the members will collect your donations with a smile. We will also get together for our traditional Christmas Dinner at a local hostelry and an informal get together at our house.

It is therefore appropriate that I use this blog to wish all of you, our visitors, our members and your families a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

With every best and sincere wish

John Gregory