What a summer it has been so far. After a very successful winter with our Quiz'n'nochilli, 4 grottoes, a collection in Waitrose, and a wonderful Burns Supper and Ceilidh (with Rotary), we have given away over £8,000 so far. The recipients have varied from organisations such as the MND Association, the motorcyclists’ group 'Wishmakers', and many more. A great result from a small club – which I am pleased to report is getting bigger with the addition of 4 new members. We would still like some more!

Our programme for the rest of the year is coming together. We have just spent a very hot couple of days at the Royal Norfolk Show, where we gave away wristbands for children. Their parent writes a phone number on it so that, should the child become lost, they can be reunited ASAP. We also have an ongoing rota system for watering our planters. These can be seen outside the Heritage Museum. We have also just had a bucket collection at Tesco Harford Bridge (many thanks to them).

Coming up, we are awaiting confirmation of our attendance at the Wayland Show, Watton. We usually man a couple of gates for them. We will be there if required.

Our next major event will be our annual quiz. It will be a bit earlier this year – Friday September 18th. £6 per person, max of 6 per table, BYOB and food. It will be open for booking soon: please email sealoft7@gmail.com for more details.

Things really start to get busy towards the end of November. The present plan is to have a Town Christmas Lights Switch-On on Thursday 26th, 4-6pm. It is hoped that all of the town's food outlets will be open to provide their famed fayre. Various hurdles need to be jumped for this. We first need a team of volunteers to put the lights up, as well as a short road closure to be organised. The idea behind this is to make the town a cheerier place with the lights on as we approach December.

Then, for the following two days (November 27th and 28th), Lions will be at Waitrose with a bucket collection. Any money raised goes towards Christmas presents for the residents of the town's care homes. On the 28th and 29th, Santa will appear at two grottoes at the Heritage Museum, and then return on Sunday 6th December, when the roads are closed for Wynterfest.

This is a major event, and thanks are due to Money Properties for the grotto space, the Business Group for their support and the Town Council for support and assistance in road closures and many other things.

We don't let Santa escape after Wynterfest. We are in the care homes on the 9th, 10th and 11th, with help from the S Norfolk Community Choir, singing carols and Santa giving each resident a gift from the Lions.

And Santa still cannot escape – Saturday December 12th sees him at Wymondham Garden Centre's annual Christmas Grotto!

Then, draw breath, enjoy the festivities with our families before breaking out the tartan for the annual Burns Supper and Ceilidh in Central Hall on Friday 22nd January.

All in all, a packed programme to see in 2027! Anyone who would like to give us a hand will be made most welcome. Come along and see us at our meetings: upstairs in The Feathers at 7:30pm on the last Tuesday of each month (except December).

We also welcome anyone who fancies a sing-along at the Care Homes. Send me an email at wildejohn73@gmail.com, and I will pass on the details.