THE club is seeking new members to help it continue its good works in the local community.

It was formed 25 years ago when a number of members of Charles Darwin PTA were looking for another outlet for their public spiritedness, when their children left the school, and formed a local branch of the largest and most active Community Service Organisation in the world – The International Association of Lions club.

Whilst only one of those original members remains in the Club most of the Club’s current members have enjoyed membership for 10 to 20 years.

The Club holds a monthly business meeting on the 2nd Thursday of each month at The Hazel Room Haig Road, Biggin Hill and a social get together on the 4th Thursday of the month. The club has an extensive range of activities in which you may participate. It is up to the individual as to their level of involvement. In the Lions we recognize family and business needs come before Lions work.

Forthcoming events include: May 9 - Rotary Fair on The Green; May - It’s A Knockout, East Grinstead; June 20 -Beckenham & West Wickham Lions Fete; July 4 -Biggin Hill Festival; July 20 - Foal Farm Country Festival; August 31 - Bromley Lions Carnival Fair; October 9 and October 10 - Bucket Shake at Sainsbury's Otford; November 8 - Remembrance Service; December 5 - Senior Citizen's Xmas Party.

Club President Malcolm Lowing said: “New members will not only ensure the future of our existing activities but help formulate new ways of serving our local community."

The Club tries to strike a balance between helping local individuals, groups, and charities and contributing to national and international Lions projects.

A major international Lions project that we were delighted to support is Campaign SightFirst - Lions Clubs International’s ongoing effort to eliminate preventable blindness around the world.

The club’s effort was part of Campaign SightFirst II, an aggressive global fundraising initiative spearheaded by Lions.

A three-year worldwide fundraising campaign raised more than one hundred million pounds to provide funding to restore the eyesight of more than 37 million people suffering from preventable blindness around the world by supporting cataract surgeries, helping to build or expand eye hospitals and clinics, distributing sight-saving medication and training eye care professionals.

Another major Lions project closer to home is LIBRA – Lions International Blood Research Appeal.

LIBRA provides laboratory space and equipment at King's College Hospital in London, for research into, diagnosis and treatment of Haemophilia, Leukaemia, Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease.

Donations made by the Club last year include: Demelza House Children's Hospice - £1,000; Campaign Sight First - £500; Moorfield Eye Hospital - £500; Lions Sight Savers - £250; Kent Association For The Blind - £200; Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital - £200; Lions Belarus Trust - £200; Bromley Welcare £200; St Mark's PCC Holiday Club - £150; Lions International Chinese Earthquake Appeal £150; (Tenant of) West Kent Housing Association - £100; Bexhill Lions Club (Hospice)- £100; Lions International Blood Research Appeal - £50; Charles Darwin School IT Media Suite - £50; Bromley Mind - £50; Lions South East Youth Trust Fund - £50.

In addition the Club runs the following projects: Community minibus run jointly with Biggin Hill Scouts; Recycling of used spectacles and hearing aids; Shoebox appeal for Belarus; Senior Citizens Xmas Party. Lions are proud of the fact that 100 per cent of the money they raise from the public goes directly to good causes or charities.

The Club's administration costs are cover by a small annual subscription paid by members.

Membership is open to men and women of all ages. Recently retirees may have time to spare and may benefit from the Clubs social side as well as the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile for the community.

Younger members bring a lot of richness to any Lions Club, many young people today have an enormous amount to offer and could themselves gain enormously from working with us in terms of experience and having fun. Anyone interested in finding out more membership can phone Malcolm Lowing on 01959 576628 or visit www.bigginlions.2ya.com