WITH effect from July 1, Biggin Hill & Westerham Lions Club has a new president.

At a dinner to mark the change, Malcolm Lowing handed over to Charlie Carpenter, a 59-year-old mental health professional from Greenoak Rise, Biggin Hill. Malcolm spoke of the achievements of the club over the last year.

These included a successful community fundraising event for Demelza House Children's Hospice - the event in March raised more than £1,l300 for the hospice in Sittingbourne.

The summer programme had got off to a good start with £380 raised at Westerham Rotary's Fair on the Green in May and Beckenham & Westwickham Lions' fete in June.

Donations made by the club this month include: Bromley Youth Trust,Friends Of The Park Biggin Hill, St Philomena’s School Orpington, Ellenor Lions Hospices.

The club continues to run a community minibus jointly with Biggin Hill Scouts.

The club supplies the bus plus manpower for Biggin Hill Community Care's community shopping scheme. Other successful activities of the club during the year included the annual Christmas party for senior citizens, the annual shoebox appeal for Belarus and the ongoing collection of spectacles and hearing aids for recycling.

Malcolm said a growing membership is crucial if the club is to expand its work in the community.

The club welcomes members of both sexes and of any age.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the club can visit bigginlions.2ya.com or call Malcolm Lowing on 01959 576628.

Malcolm's final duty of the year was to award the Lion of the Year Award.

Malcolm awarded this to our newest member member, John Scott, for his enthusiastic participation in all of the club's fundraising, social, and community service activities. Charlie's first duty of the year will be to oversee the clubs fundraising efforts at the Biggin Hill Festival on July 4.