Aldershot
Aldershot Lions Club formed in 2012 as a branch of the Lions Club of Fleet. Since then it has worked hard within the Aldershot Community helping those less fortunate in a wide variety of ways. This page gives a brief snapshot of some of these achievements since then.
June 2024
Each year Aldershot Lions Club support Aldershot Victoria Day, a community event when the whole town comes together in a splash of colour to celebrate its links with Queen Victoria and its history as the home of the British Army. This year the Lions ran a tombola stall in aid of a local military charity.
They also entered into the spirit of the day by entering the 'Carnival of the Animals' fancy dress competition winning first prize.
That gave them the privilege of leading the carnival procession through the town as pictured.
January 2024
On 12 January 2024 Aldershot Lions Club announced with great sadness the passing of their Club President, Lion Ian Hambleton. Ian joined the Club on its formation in February 2012 and became their first President, a role he's held for several years since. He has also been Aldershot Lions Club Secretary and the Zone Chairman was the current District Hunger Officer. The Club extends sympathy to his wife Lion Carole, and all their family. Ian will be missed by many Lions Club members throughout the south of England & numerous people and organisations he's helped in and around the Aldershot area.
As a tribute to the work Ian carried out in Aldershot, Fleet and throughout the District Lion Laura Roberts - Immediate Past President of Fleet Lions Club presented Lion Carole with the Highest Award in Lions - a Melvin Jones Fellowship at a recent Farnborough & Aldershot Lions Club social event. A well deserved award for the friendship, goodwill and hard work Ian carried out in the community through Lions.
Aldershot Lions President Ian Hambleton pictured with his wife Lion Carole at the Farnborough Classic Car Show in 2022
December 2023
Aldershot Lions Club. Food Bank Appeal 2023. Club members donated items to the Community Grub Hub Aldershot via the kind donations from members of the public at Morrisons plc Aldershot. Pictured are Aldershot club members and Grub Hub manager Simon Gornall.
September 2023
As part of the work of Lions Clubs International each Individual Lions Club helps towards alleviating hunger in their own communities and on a wider basis.
Aldershot Lion Ian Hambleton was appointed District 105SC Hunger Officer co-ordinating initiatives with all the Lions Clubs in the south of England to fight hunger.
Part of his remit is to seek out excess crops to 'glean' and harvest for onward distribution to hunger charities in the UK.
Our picture shows Ian harvesting carrots on the first District 105SC glean in the beautiful walled garden of Cranborne Estate in Dorset. Huge thanks to head gardener Mark and his team of Estate staff for their assistance together with other members of Aldershot Lions, Wimborne and Ferndown Lions and Poole Lions. Further support on the day was given by the National Lions Hunger Officer Lion Chris Hibbert and his wife Sue from the New Century Lions Club
On that day the lions volunteers gleaned over 300kg of carrots and a further 300kg of potatoes which were collected by Fareshare a few days later for onward distribution to foodbanks in the south of England.
September 2023
For a number of years Aldershot Lions in conjunction with with the Lions Club of Fleet and Hart Lions have run the Christmas Advent Calendar fundraising initiative.
Over 70 prizes were generously donated in 2023 with a value of more than £3,500 by businesses in Aldershot and Fleet. They included a wide variety of experiences, goods and discounts including vouchers for meals, fitness, gifts, festival tickets, clothing, afternoon tea and much much more. The final Christmas Eve the top prize was £250 in CASH!
This seasonal project raised thousands of pounds to help those less fortunate at Christmas and used by the 3 Lions Clubs in Fleet and Aldershot. Our picture shows the Advent Calendar stall in the Wellington Centre in September.
July 2023
Aldershot Lions have for a number of years held a successful bi annual Pub quiz at the Excelsior Club in Aldershot. This picture gives a glimpse of the October 2021 event when £626 was raised for local community projects.
Every Year Aldershot host the party of the year with a festive meal to celebrate Christmas. In 2018 they were joined by Fleet lions Club at the Chef and Brewer Restaurant.
December 2015
In December each year Aldershot Lions join with Farnborough Lions to cater for the Gateway Club Christmas Party at Parkside Aldershot & District Learning Disability Centre.
The Lions have had a long association with Parkside with a member of Farnborough Lions Club helping to build the centre over 30 years ago.
This association has continued with Aldershot Lions assisting year on year at this delightful event.
Annual Collections for the Marie Curie Trust
In February and March every year, Aldershot Lions help with the annual Marie Curie Trust Great Daffodil Appeal collection raising hundreds of pounds for this great charity.
December 2018
Aldershot Lions at the town's Christmas Lights Switch on with their hot drinks stall.
Aldershot Armed Forces Day. Hundreds of people came along to the event in Princes Gardens, Aldershot organised by Rushmoor Borough Council. Visitors enjoyed the June sunshine while they listened to the music, browsed the community stalls and took part in the family activities.
This event highlighted Aldershot's proud military history as the home of the British Army with the Lions and many local organisations coming along to the support the event.
June 2016
Pictured here is the cake stall Aldershot Lions ran for the Aldershot Victoria Day 2016 together with Lions Ian and Janet celebrating the day.
December 20144
Aldershot Lions heard of an elderly lady in Yateley who had been victim of a con when she gave £200 to as 'rogue gardener' who didn't complete the work paid for in October 2014. With the help of Yateley & District Lions Club they completed the outstanding work free of charge. The picture shows a delighted Nora Richmond accepting a Christmas Hamper from Aldershot Club Secretary Ian Hambleton.
