In Memoriam
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28th September 2022
Lion Christian Penny MJF
Lions Club of Bradford-on-Avon
The Members of Bradford on Avon Lions Club are saddened to report the passing to Higher Service of Lion Christian Penny MJF. Lion Chris was a Charter Member with 52 years of service and was President twice, Club Secretary for many years and held other positions within the Club and District. Lion Chris leaves behind his wife Monica, daughters Alison and Caroline and their extended family.
The funeral will take place at Semington (West Wiltshire) Crematorium, Devizes Road BA14 6HL on Thursday 27th October at 2:30pm and afterwards at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, Bradford on Avon BA15 2PQ.
Keith Yates
Secretary
19th September 2022
Lion Tony Lomax
Lions Club of Woodley and Earley
It is with great sadness and sorrow that I write to let you know that our dear friend Lion Tony Lomax passed away on Monday afternoon, 19 September.
Tony joined the club in May 2014, and despite battling with illness in recent years remained a stalwart and active member of the Community Services Committee.
We will miss his steadfast service, his calming and unflappable personality and his kind and compassionate nature.
Tony's funeral: Tuesday 11th October 2022 at 1130 am, Easthampstead Park Crematorium, South Road, Bracknell, Wokingham RG40 3DW.
Afterwards at The Castle Inn, Church Hill, Hurst, Reading RG10 0SJ to celebrate Tony’s life.
All Lions who wish to attend are very welcome to join Trisha and the family after the service. You are encouraged to wear a splash of colour at the service, a colourful tie or scarf would be appropriate.
Mike Kennedy
President
12th September 2022
Lion Nigel Ricketts
Lions Club of Westbury
It is with sadness that we report the passing into higher service of our dear friend and fellow Lion Nigel Ricketts, who succumbed to non-Hodgkins lymphoma on the 12th September 2022 aged just 63 years.
In his younger years, Nigel served in the Royal Household of Windsor Castle as a cabinet maker and furniture restorer and he shared many happy memories with friends of his time there. In recognition for his service, Nigel received awards and letters of appreciation from members of the royal family and it was a time of which he was immensely proud. His 'talents with timber' were never far from show, as he regularly assisted friends and local businesses making furniture and repairing all things wooden!
After his time at the Royal Household Nigel worked for over 20 years in social services, providing care and support to people living with learning disabilities as well as training and supporting others in their care.
Nigel became a very active member of Westbury Lions on joining in November 2015. Nigel took up the harmonica relatively late in life, but soon mastered it and became a respected player. With his musical background, he was always at the forefront of club events ensuring that our PA systems were loud and clear for all to hear! Members fondly recall his harmonica lessons, given free to children in the community as part of the Westbury Music and Arts Festival, as well as his band Stamp performing at our Vehicle Show in front of a huge and appreciative crowd with Nigel smashing out the most amazing sounds with his harmonicas!
Despite his diagnosis, Nigel was determined to live happily right to the very end of his life. Although he had no family of his own, he became an adoptive grandfather to a local family and in doing so won the hearts of so many who saw the gentle side of him. His kindness extended to others every day, and his determination to fight his diagnosis was clear to all. Just weeks before his passing, he once more entertained the crowds at our Vehicle Show for one more time as well as putting on a dedicated night of live music with his friends Bob and Carol at the Horse and Groom in Westbury - a night which was standing room only as so many people attended and shared their love for him and his music. That night in particular, there wasn't a dry eye in the house!
Nigel passed peacefully at home where he wanted to be, with dear friends beside him. Although he will be sorely missed, Nigel made sure in his life that he will never be forgotten by the many people who he touched along the way.
Nigel Coward
PR Officer
31st July 2022
Lion David Hitchins PCC
Lions Club of Reading
My fellow Lions
It is with a heavy heart I have to inform you of the passing of Lion Past Council Chair David Hitchins of the Reading Lions Club (CIO) on Sunday 31st July 2022, Lion David was a charter member of the club which was formed on 15th June 1965.
David’s funeral will be held at 2:30pm on Wednesday 24th August 2022, at Reading Crematorium, All Hallows Road, Reading RG4 5LP. It is the request by the family “Family Flowers only” and all donations be made to The Lions Club of Reading (cio) via the club's website please www.readinglions.org.uk. Following the funeral there will be a private family wake only.
If you require more detail please e-mail Lion PDG Patrick Hamblin or contact myself.
Dave
Dave Ebsworth
District Governor
23rd June 2022
Lion David Fowler MJF
Lions Club of Loddon Valley
It is with great sadness that Loddon Valley Lions have to report the passing into Higher Service of Lion David Fowler MJF on 22 June 2022.
Lion David was our Charter President and served as a member of Basingstoke Lions prior to setting up Loddon Valley Club in 1975. He was a much loved and respected member of our club who until very recently took an active part in all aspects of our club. Always the first to spring into action he will be very sadly missed.
David's funeral will be held at the West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Road, Thatcham RG19 4LD on Thursday 14 July at 13:00.
Bob Prevost
Secretary
8th May 2022
Lion Christine Adam
Lions Club of Henley on Thames
Details to follow
MyLCI
6th April 2022
Lion Alan Southam
Lions Club of Wareham
Details to follow
MyLCI
28th February 2022
Lion Hilary Shaer
Lions Club of Chippenham
It is with great sadness that I have to tell you all that Hilary died at home this morning.
She and Dave had contracted Covid while on a cruise on the Queen Mary and this may have been a contributory cause.
Dave was a Past President and member of our club until they moved to Devon, but they were regulars at our Charter each year and longstanding members will I am sure be just has upset as I am.
Ted has passed on the best wishes of all the club to Dave who has his son Rob living nearby to support him at this very difficult time.
Derek Angell
Secretary
28th January 2022
Lion Tony Moxey
Lions Club of Westbury
It is with sadness that we report the unexpected passing to higher service of our friend and fellow Lion Tony Moxey overnight on the 28th January 2022. A long term friend and work colleague to some of our senior membership, Tony was welcomed to the club in April 2017 and immediately got involved in Lions service and events.
He will be remembered by all for his jolly smile, great sense of humour and willingness to join in, and his support for other community services such as the local Hospital Link scheme demonstrates his commitment to improving Westbury for all. He always engaged with new members and was universally loved by everyone.
The club was especially proud to welcome his wife Barbara to the fold in March 2020, and the pair of them together brought warmth and laughter to every meeting.
Tony was laid to rest on Friday 25th February, surrounded by family and friends paying their respects. Our thoughts remain with Barbara and the family at this sad time.
Tony is pictured here on the right, on the evening his wife Barbara was badged up as a member of Westbury Lions Club. Left to right are Lion President Michelle Strout, Lion Mike Pearce, Lion Geoff 'Shorts' Curtis, Lion Barbara Moxey, Lion Tony Moxey
Nigel Coward
PR Officer
4th January 2022
Lion Eric Nixon
Lions Club of Fareham
Lion Eric Nixon passed to higher service on 4th Jan 2022, aged 93.
Eric was introduced to Fareham Lions back in 1981, following a conversation with a neighbour. He helped to provide a Fareham Lions presence at many events, such as Stubbington Carnival, Fareham Fireworks and other fetes or stalls, just so people within Fareham could be supported by Lions.
In 1986 Flight Lieutenant Eric Nixon retired from active service from the RAF after joining up at the age of 16 as an apprentice in 1944, an impressive 42 years of service.
He served many positions within the club including Treasurer and President but was not content to sit still and served as an officer within District 105D and MD between 1997 and 2012 as either Almoner, Community Service Chair or as Speech, Hearing & Medic Alert Officer.
One of the projects Eric worked on as MD officer was to resolve the issue of recycling and repairing of hearing aids. He liaised with HM Prisons where prisoners learned the skills to repair the hearing aids and put them back to use. Eric even visited the prison to see the work being done. The only problem was they let Eric out!
In 2005 Eric was presented with the Melvyn Jones Fellowship and also received an International Medal from the International President in that year, Jimmy Ross.
Eric was one for his stories, especially about his bomb disposal years in the RAF. A story shared with me was that Eric was driving Pat, his wife, Patrick Hamblin and Jo Hamblin to a Lions event. He was, to say the least, a fast driver, and they put this down to his service career when he was driving fast to get to an unexploded bomb! The thrill of fast driving never left him!
When Pat became District Governor in 2007, Eric provided a tremendous amount of support, as well as his chauffeuring skills.
Around 2009/10 Eric was diagnosed with early stages of dementia and continued his service informing clubs, schools and organisations about what it is like to live with dementia along with PDG Pat. This brought involvement with Kitbags and Berets, a group for ex service personnel living with dementia.
Eric was in Cosham Lions briefly and returned to Fareham Lions in 2017 bringing with him that same sense of fun, laughter, and stories.
In 2018, not only did Eric celebrate his 90th birthday but he was also a Citizen of Honour for Fareham Borough Council for his service to the community.
Fareham held its Senior Citizens Afternoon Tea Party (delayed) in October 2021 and on this occasion, we asked the Mayor of Fareham, Cllr Pam Bryant, to present Eric with his chevron for 40 years’ service as a Lion.
“As Lions, we hold ourselves to the absolute highest standards in everything we do. Our members and clubs are dedicated to serving others, and it shows. We champion kindness in our communities and actively work to improve the lives of all people.”
This was Eric - a Lion through industrious application; quality of service; true friendship.
Lions stands for Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations Safety
But we will remember him for his Legacy, Inspiration, Occasional Numerous Stories,
We have made a recording of the funeral service and, due to the size of the files, have uploaded them to our SharePoint account. The link below should take you to the folder that contains 2 videos, 1 audio file.
You do not need a Microsoft account to access the folder so any invitations to create one can be ignored.
htandsc-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/peter_hall_htscf_org_uk/EmWajU4yrCtPuY685xkNAbsB3GbTODGOzG8D_zcWPCDifw?e=sYfPVi
You should see the recording as a video in both Computer and HD quality, a sound-only file. The file sizes vary quite considerably.
Eric Nixon's Funeral 4th February 2022 Computer.mp4 (717 MB)
Eric Nixon's Funeral 4th February 2022 HD.mp4 (2460 MB)
Eric Nixon's Funeral 4th February 2022 Sound Only.m4a (60.3 MB)
Eric Nixon's Funeral 4th February 2022 Order of Service.pdf
Tom Armstrong-Collett
President
16th November 2021
Lion Neil Bray
Lions Club of Yateley and District
Yateley & District Lions Club are very sad to announce that Lion Neil Bray unexpectedly passed into higher service on November 16th 2021.
Neil joined Yateley & District Lions Club in 1984 and was president four times, 1997/8, 2006/7, 2012/13 & 2017/18. He regularly attended zone meetings and enjoyed District conventions through the years.
He was social chairman for many years organising a number of events including our charter anniversaries. Another office he enjoyed was being our Tail Twister, a task he took over in 2021.
He was a keen golfer and enjoyed numerous cruises visiting many countries. He had a great sense of humour and was a good storyteller. He was very knowledgeable on popular music in particular Buddy Holly and American Country Music.
He is survived by his wife Brefni, daughter Louisa, son Mark and two grandchildren, Marley and Mace.
The cremation service will be held at Easthampstead Park Cemetary & Crematorium (South Road, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG40 3DN) on Monday 6th December at 11:30am.
There will then be a funeral reception at Hampshire Lakes Bistro (Oakleigh Square, Hammond Way, Yateley, GU46 7UT) starting at 2:00pm.
The family have requested that there are no flowers but donations to The Multiple Sclerosis Society or Yateley & District Lions Club would be welcomed, both these charities were close to Neil’s heart. I believe that you will be able to donate through the funeral directors website:
www.fordmears.uk/funeral-directors/ford-mears-partners-yateley#donations
Brefni and family would love to see you, but to help manage arrangements could you please let me know if you are planning to come along to Hampshire Lakes for the reception.
Dave Myland
Secretary
