CLUBS AND SOCIETIES: Ilminster Lions thank people for their continued support of summer fete

THE Ilminster Lions Club has thanked everyone for their support of the annual summer fete which has now raised more than £100,000 for local good causes down the years.

The fete on Saturday (June 27, 2015) was – for a change – blessed with great weather which was crucial with most of the stalls and attractions outside for the first time in a number of years after a spell of being mainly indoors at Swanmead Community School.

This was the 30th anniversary fete for the club and during that time it has raised more than £100k for local charities, groups and organisations.

PHOTO - TOP: Members of Ilminster Lions Club at the annual summer fete.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Gillian Pavey receives a £250 cheque for the RNLI from Ilminster Lions Club chairman Roger Taylor, left, and Ilminster's Deputy Mayor, Cllr Tony Walker.

The Ilminster Lions are currently raising money to buy a piece of kit for the Beacon Cancer Centre at MusgroveParkHospital in Taunton with money raised from the fete going towards that project.

During the fete cheques for £250 were presented by Lions chairman Roger Taylor to the RNLI and Chard Scouts.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Ilminster Lions Club chairman Roger Taylor, standing centre, and Ilminster Deputy Mayor, Cllr Tony Walker, standing third right, present a £200 cheque to Chard Scouts.

A number of local groups had stalls at the fete where they were raising money to boost their own funds.

The Lions’ fundraising chairman Martin Smith said: “It’s difficult to put an overall figure  on how much has been raised in total over the years at the fete, but it is safe to say that we wouldn’t have been able to do this without the generous support of the people of Ilminster and surrounding area and local businesses. We are very grateful.”

During the fete there was a display from the newly-formed Ilminster Majorettes, while there was also a football tournament with Ilminster Youth FC.

Members of Ilminster Fire Service were on hand to give local children a hands-on tour of a fire engine, while there was also a magician and Punch and Judy show to entertain the fete-goers.

Among the visitors to the fete was Ilminster’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Tony Walker.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Ilminster firefighters Andy Miller, Barry Paull and Mark English.

PHOTO - ABOVE LEFT: Raising money for the Children's Hospice South West.

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: Story-telling fun for the children.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Football prizes being presented.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Members of Ilminster Youth FC.

Tags:
Clubs and Societies.