Ceremony to mark Lions Club being granted Freedom of the Borough of Great Yarmouth

At a meeting of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, members unanimously voted to bestow the honour on the Lions which will now be formally marked with a ceremony at the Town Hall on Thursday, April 18.

A motion before the council was passed saying that, in recognition of the Lions Club's dedication in helping to raise money for charity and its valuable contribution to the community for more than 70 years, Honorary Freedom of the Borough be presented to the organisation.

The Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Penny Carpenter, said: ''Over many decades the Great Yarmouth Lions Club has done a huge amount of good.

''Its charitable achievements are too many to mention, but people will be particularly aware of the Santa Sleigh it runs at Christmas that brings joy to the town and raises vital money for good causes.

''We are delighted to honour Great Yarmouth Lions Club with the Freedom of the Borough and, on behalf of the council, I would like to thank the club for its service to the community.''

Since its formation, some of the club's most significant achievements have included preparing Christmas dinners for the lonely, providing books for schools, its ambassador programme and raising awareness around period poverty.

There is even a blue plaque in Gorleston to mark the site of a holiday home which the Lions Club ran to offer sponsored breaks for partially sighted and blind people.

The club, which is twinned with its French counterpart in Rambouillet, currently has 21 members of all ages and the longest-serving member has been involved with the group for more than 50 years.