 I was told the best place to start a family history record is with yourself. So for a story for my Living Archive IT course I thought I would start with something from my life in Milton Keynes where I live today. I first came to Bletchley before Milton Keynes had even been started in 1965. I came on the promise of a new job in the photographic industry,and a council flat. Being married only a few years, we grabbed the opportunity and came. However within two years the firm I came to work for was taken over and moved back to London and I was made redundant! There I was with a wife,a new mortgage, a new baby to support and no job, and no redundancy payments in those days! However we survived that and I made a new career in insurance, but that’s another story.  .For the past 26 years I have been a member of the Lions Club of Bletchley. The club was formed by a then local chemist called Peter Smith in 1969 and has been going strong ever since. It is part of Lions Clubs International currently the worlds largest community service organisation with clubs in over 190 countries throughout the world including, in recent years, some in former communist states. World wide membership now around 1.4 million.This year Lions International, started in America in 1917, celebrates 90 years of service. In 1948 it spread from the American continent, first to Stockholm in 1948, and then to Gt Britain in 1950. It is said that the Queen at that time, when visiting, Canada was impressed by the community service work of Canadian Lions Clubs. On returning to Britain she was instrumental in encouraging the start of the first British Lions club called the London Host Club. The Bletchley club has always maintained about 25 to 30 active members and has always kept up the best traditions of Lionism.  .The main aims are to raise money with charity events in order to support causes such as Sight First, Drug Awareness, Water Aid, and others on an international basis. On a national and a local basis the club has annually raised many thousands of pounds for other schemes such as, nationally, for Guide Dogs for the Blind and Disabled, and locally for Willen Hospice, Milton Keynes Hospital and many individual cases. Lions not only raise cash but participate in many community service schemes and supports local carnivals and other events.
The club also has a good social programme so members and partners can enjoy outings, sometimes abroad, and visiting other clubs and social functions. Each year the club celebrates it birthday with a Charter Night dinner dance. We invite other Lions Clubs and friends, perhaps a guest of honour, a short speech or two and then we set about celebrating another successful year. All in all I have enjoyed the past 26 years in Lionism immensely and have made many lasting friendships.If you want to know more about Lions Clubs International you can contact the Bletchley Lions Club by Clicking here. It truly is a case of Ordinary people getting together to do Amazing things.  |