In Memoriam
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7th December 2011
Lion Elaine Davis
Lions Club of Wimborne and Ferndown
Members regret to report the death of Lion ‘Dee’ Davis following a long illness, bravely borne.
Dee was a well respected member for 5 years and was on the Social Committee, having spent one year as its Chairman.
In spite of her illness, Dee continued to assist at club activities, including a recent event in August.
Her fellow Lions send their deep regrets to her Husband Baz and Daughter Jennifer.
Godwin Micallef
25th November 2011
Lion David Hatton MJF
Lions Club of Reading
Lion David Hatton - a member of Reading Lions for nearly 25 years - sadly passed away at the Sue Ryder Hospice on Friday 25 November 2011.
David had been a plumber and lived in Reading for all of his 68 years.
David was Reading Branch Lions President in 1997/98 and his main responsibility within the Branch was the cooking of the beefburgers at all the fund-raising events - only having to forego this involvement in recent years when his Parkinsons got a hold.
Always a true Lion through and through, David was ever more concerned with other people's requirements than his own. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Janet, and his children, stepchildren and grandchildren.
All those who knew him mourn the loss of a wonderfully warm person, and a true gentleman.
Michael Day
24th October 2011
Lion Roy Fowler MJF
Lions Club of Portsmouth
Members regret to report the death of Lion Roy Fowler MJF, a member since 1971, who served as President in the Club's Silver Jubilee Year 1980-81.
In recognition of his service to the Club and community he was honoured with a Melvin Jones Fellowship.
Roy gave his all to Club activities, supported by his wife Beryl at all times. She and the family are in our thoughts.
Ken Newnham
Secretary
23rd August 2011
Lion Alan Ketchell MJF
Lions Club of Swanwick
Members are sad to announce the passing of Lion Alan (77), a stalwart member of some thirty years.
Lion Alan, twice served his Club as President and was secretary for many years. He was honoured with a Melvin Jones Fellowship in 2007.
Lion Alan also served on cabinet as a district officer for many years and visited clubs in Canada and Australia. He was also known as a champion for the mentally handicapped and the disabled and was the driving force for our club's work for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation.
Lion Alan will be greatly missed by all Lions in 105D and our sympathy goes to Irene and his family.
Address for cards or messages
The Funeral Service for Lion Alan will be held in St. Paul’s Church, Barnes Lane, Sarisbury Green, Southampton SO31 7BG on Thursday 1st September 2011 at 1:30pm.
Family flowers only.
Donation if you wish either to the MacMillan Cancer Support or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The funeral Directors are B. Matthews, 7 Middle Road, Park Gate, Southampton SO31 7GH
Barry Woolcott
Secretary
10th August 2011
Lion Peter Homan
Lions Club of New Milton
Lion Peter (aged 72) had served many years and was very active in the club, having joined in 1999.
With connections in running the Age Concern minibuses in the town and caring for many senior citizens and organising trips, he was an ideal candidate to become a Lion.
Peter set up the Countryside Trailer Unit, taking people around the New Forest and Hampshire and looked after the Club’s minibus with pride.
Always to be relied upon, Peter was a hard worker for the community and the club over twelve years. A gentleman, well respected by his many friends. A true Lion and will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Peter's wife Pam, children and grandchildren.
Martin Stone
Secretary
9th June 2011
Lion Tony Mundell
Lions Club of Reading
Reading lions are sad to report the passing of Lion Tony Mundell after a short illness.
He Joined the Club in 1988, was in turn President in 1991/92, Zone Chairman, then Region Chairman. Lion Tony was a very effective Fundraising Chairman and latterly our Press and Publicity Officer and will be sadly missed by all.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Yvonne and his family.
Peter Garlick
1st May 2011
Lion Reginald Munford
Lions Club of Gosport and Lee on Solent
Gosport & Lee on the Solent Lions are sad to report the death of Lion Reg, a member since 1989.
He was President for 2 years between 1992 and 1994.
Although unable to play an active role in recent years due to failing health he remained a loyal ambassador for the Lions.
Members extend their deepest sympathies to his family.
Carole Gratton
Secretary
30th April 2011
Lion John Howorth
Lions Club of Christchurch
With great sadness the President and members report the passing of Lion John, a member for 42 years.
John served on many committees and always took an active part in serving the community, he was President of the Club 1988 – 1989.
In his working life he was a Master Mariner, ships Captain and always attended Lions meetings all over the world.
John was a Freeman of the City of London and Chairman of “The Mission for Seamen” in Southampton. Our deepest sympathy to his wife Margaret and family.
Burial will take place at St Marks Church, Highcliffe at 2.30pm on Tuesday 17th May 2011. The family have requested no flowers.
Address for cards or messages
If you wish to make a donation to “The Mission for Seamen”, please send to:
A.V. Ridout
Funeral Directors
414 Lymington Road
Highcliffe BH23 5HE
George Jeremiah
27th April 2011
Lion Harry Ovens MJF
Lions Club of Windsor
It is with considerable sadness that the members of the Lions Club of Windsor report the death of Lion Harry. He joined Lions in 1966 and was elected President for the year 1972/3. A man of great energy and integrity. He was, until his retirement, chair of the welfare committee. No matter what hour of the day, Harry would be there serving the needs of the local community. Members send their love, affection, and sympathy to Joan and family at this sad time.
Harry Purchase
25th April 2011
Lion Iris Gough
Lions Club of Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Lions Club is sad to report the death on 25th April of the club secretary Lion Iris Gough after a long illness. Lion Iris had been a Lion for over 30 years most of it in her beloved South Africa. She joined Bracknell when she came back home to England to live near her family in August 2007. She had a wealth of stories to be told of her time as a Lion in South Africa and the major projects her club undertook at regular intervals.
Despite her mobility problems, Iris was a force to be reckoned with in fundraising or generally getting money from anyone who unwittingly headed towards her perched on her mobility scooter when she was in full salesman mode. Iris had been destined to be managing the tombola stall at the District Convention in Windsor this year but she had to pull out because of her continued ill health.
A truly caring Lion who will be greatly missed
Mike Hendy
24th April 2011
Lion Marion Williams
Lions Club of Burnham
The members regret to announce that Lion Marion, Charter Member, has lost her battle with Lymphoma.
She was an active member to the end organising our first Deaf Awareness event this year.
She will be sorely missed and our sympathies go out to her daughter Alison and son Tim.
Peter Garlick
6th April 2011
Lion Geoff Saunders
Lions Club of Swanage
Members report with very great sadness the death of Lion Geoff a Member since 1970.
He served as President in 1990-91,2001-02 and was the Club's Welfare Chairman for many years.
Lion Geoff was a most enthusiastic Club Member who was very involved in all the fundraising and social events organised by the Club and will be greatly missed as a Lion, a friend and all those who were fortunate enough to know him.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to all members of Lion Geoff's family.
Michael Joyner
Secretary
19th March 2011
Lion David White
Lions Club of Goring, Woodcote and District
I sadly have to report a third death in our Club this Lionistic year, that of Lion David White.
He died on Saturday morning 19 march. It was quite sudden. He had a minor car accident on the way to a Lions fundraising event three weeks before, only to be subsequently diagnosed with two inoperable brain tumours.
He leaves a wife Susan, children and grandchildren.
Sally Bergmann
Club Almoner
19th February 2011
Lion Carlo Policella
Lions Club of Weymouth and Portland
It is with great sorrow that we report the death of the club's last active Charter Member Lion Carlo Policella.
In his Presidential year 1979-80 he brought the swimarathon to the club, an action of which he was very proud. He has spent the last years of his life with his family in Italy but has always kept a very close watch on his club.
Lion Carlo will be greatly missed by all who knew him and our sympathy goes to his wife Velia and son Ben and their family. RIPOSA IN PACE (Rest in Peace).
6th February 2011
Lion Mike Johnson
Lions Club of Petersfield
Petersfield Lions sadly report the death of Lion Mike Johnson (80) on the 6th of February after a long illness.
He had been with the Club for 12 years and previously with Reigate and Redhill Lions from 1990.
Mike was a stalwart of the club working hard on fund raising, and was President in 2003-2004.
His speciality was the sale of second hand sun glasses and cases.
John Sheeley
15th January 2011
Lion Brian Green
Lions Club of Alton
Alton Lions Club reports the sad and sudden death of Lion Brian Green (63), a member since 1981.
Brian served the club as President in 1985-86 and 1987-88 and indeed was due to take the chair again for 2011-12. He also served for many years as Treasurer and is remembered for the sterling work he did as Carnival Treasurer, never seeing the light of day while everyone else enjoyed the occasion. He served as District Treasurer (1990-91 & 1991-92) and Youth Committee Chairman & Leo Clubs Chairman (1993-94). Many members will recall the individual and entertaining reports he delivered at conventions. His dry wit and quiet kindnesses will be remembered by all who worked with him.
Brian Lazenby
1st January 2011
Lion David Picot
Lions Club of Jersey
The Lions Club of Jersey records with great sorrow the death of Past President Lion David Picot (58).
Lion David had been a member of the Jersey Club since 1999 and served as President in 2006/7. David was always extremely active in Club affairs and latterly had been chairman of the Trustees of Maison des Landes Hotel for the Disabled, a long-standing Lions Club of Jersey project, and his application and dedication had played the key role in maintaining the hotel's fortunes.
The Club's deepest sympathy goes to his wife Anne and children Sarah, Jonathan and Alison.
29th December 2010
Lion Ray Ballanger
Lions Club of Goring, Woodcote and District
Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club report with great sadness the sudden death of Lion William Raymond Ballanger (82) on Wednesday 29th December in the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.
Lion Ray joined South Chiltern Lions Club in 1974 where he was president in 1980-1981, but had transferred to Goring, Woodcote & District Lions in 2005 being closer to home. He was very active and well loved in the local community and will be sorely missed by both the public and the two Lions Clubs which he served so well. Our thoughts and sympathy are with Mary his wife, his son John and granddaughter Beth.
Ray was born on 26th December 1928 in Gravesend, Kent. At the early age of 10 years he was the only boy in his school that year to pass the scholarship for entry to Gravesend Grammar School for Boys. However, as the Second World War started the school had already been evacuated by boat from Gravesend to Norfolk. Ray was then evacuated on 4th September 1939 to Beccles.
Having passed his school certificate at the age of 15 Ray left school and went to work at the local branch of Barclays Bank. He was called up for National Service in the RAF during the notoriously bad winter of 1947. The weather was so bad that after a week he and his fellow conscripts were all given a fortnight's ration card and rail warrants to go home until the weather improved. RAF Padgate, near Warrington, Lancashire where basic training was done, had been completely snowed up. Since Ray had been in the A.T.C. this was identified in his service number 3101825 - the beginning number 3 was unique to former A.T.C. members.
When the Berlin airlift began Ray was moved from RAF Kenley, in Surrey to RAF Alton, in Hampshire because of his job in "Equipment Accounts".
When telephoning his then girlfriend (later his wife) Mary on "Greenhithe 1" the operator would say, "One what ?". Mary's phone number really was "Greenhithe One"!
Ray and Mary had first met when he was 18 and she was 17 years old.
On going back to Barclays Bank he transferred to London and used to do "The Walks," taking cheques from one bank to another for local clearing. To save time he learned how to take short cuts through buildings around Lombard Street in the City. He had been promised a placement at South Africa House in the cashier's department, but as that would only happen in a few months time he became a bus conductor to earn some extra money.
Having become the receiving cashier at South Africa House (thereby a South African Civil Servant paying South African Income Tax) he decided to leave when apartheid was brought in.
During the 1950's Ray was the Cadet Superintendant of the St. John Ambulance Brigade based in Northfleet, Kent.
At 30 years of age he started work for the Prudential Assurance Company at Head Office. By studying at Night School and much reading on the train to and from work, he passed the Insurance Institute examinations in Life assurance to get his A.C.I.I. and after another 4 years became an F.C.I.I., which encompassed all other aspects of insurance. He took a teaching qualification and while in London taught Life Assurance at Regent Street Polytechnic and The City of London College 2 nights a week.
Moving to Reading in 1972 with the Life Department of the ‘Pru' he then taught at Reading Technical College 2 nights a week. He became Training Officer in Reading and taught staff at week long residential courses around the country.
Ray and Mary volunteered to help with proposed new Woodcote Magazine which was to supplant the Parish Newsletter. This became the Woodcote Correspondent. The first one was produced in December 1989. Ray was co-editor for a few years, then sole editor until 2001. For several years it was put together by hand using an Amstrad computer and the advertising added using cut and paste methods before being given to the printer who produced 1,750 copies for circulation.
In 1982 Lion Ray was the first Lion to be chosen with Mary to be guests of Victoria Lions in Australia, who were offering to host a Lion from somewhere in the world, for a month, who spoke English. Ever since, this has become an annual event for the Lions Clubs of Victoria, Australia to again host visiting Lions. Ray & Mary were guests of seven different Lions Clubs, spending 4 days with each Club - two days with each of two families of that Club.
When about to land in Melbourne the pilot asked for Mr and Mrs Ballanger to go to the front of the cabin as a welcoming party was waiting there to greet them. They were people who were to be their hosts for the next month! Ray commented that he had never known Mary to be so tactful!
Funeral arrangements
It will be taking place on Monday 17th January at 1:45pm at Reading Crematorium, Henley Road, Caversham in the larger Chapel. This will be followed by tea/coffee and light refreshments at Woodcote Village Hall.
Mary has requested no flowers, but those who may wish to, please make a donation to Lions Clubs International in Ray's name.
Funeral Directors
Tomalin and Sons
Anderson House, 38 Reading Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1AG
01491 573370
