Lions Club news

ONE of Jack Gillbard's abiding passions is his family tree which he has been compiling for nearly as many years as he has relatives.

All laid out on paper it stretches as high as a Plymouth Argyle crossbar. But Jack doesn't just keep the records, he organises get togethers and when he puts on a 'do' for the family, as he did for the millennium, they come from all over the world. Well for the Gillbard millennium soiree, distant cousin David from the USA gave Jack $100 towards expenses. Now those in the lions know Jack better than that. When he organises anything, the money is sorted before the event takes place and this one was no exception.

As the money was not needed, members of the clan attending were also invited to make a contribution on the understanding that it would be going to charity. And so it came about that £470 was donated to the Liskeard Lions charity account. For some time Jack had been looking into the needs of Gambia to where he had recommended the lions donate some money with a particular emphasis on helping the schools. What better then, than to donate the £470 to the schools of that country, with the lions going one better and rounding it up to £1,000.

It was decided to split the sum between Voluntary Service Overseas(VSO) and the West Cornwall Council of Churches as it was felt that these two organisations would spend the money most beneficially for the children of the Gambia. A buffet was organised at the home of the Gillbards and Lions at which the cheque was presented to Mrs E Horner of the West Cornwall Churches who came up from Penzance and spoke of the work being done for the people of Gambia. Mrs Horner's talk was illustrated by slides and showed the work being done by the Gambia link which includes three building projects, provision of educational and medical supplies and sponsorships of students.

The remaining £250 donation to VSO is to be spent on a specific school as stipulated by the Liskeard Lions, although the choice of school has been left to the organisation.

League at the

Long Rooms

THE Callington and district branch of The Cats Protection League will hold a Halloween sale in the Long Rooms, Liskeard on October 28 from 9am until lpm.

A monthly fund-raising event will take place at the same venue on November 4 from 9am-1pm.

Dancers help

bring in funds

FURTHER fund-raising events are to take place this month, to raise money for a special sports wheelchair for Liskeard boy, Tommy Gundry.

Tommy, aged eight, is paralysed from the waist downwards, but is anxious to have a light wheelchair which will allow him to play sports such as basketball. Dido Pengelly, of Liskeard, together with Shaun and Emma Lethbridge, are to cycle 40 miles from Liskeard to Newquay on October 21 for Tommy's fund, while a group of young children are to carry out a sponsored five mile walk during the half term holiday.

Dido's wife, Jackie, is organiser of the Liskeard Ladies Line Dancers (also known as Rock Around the Clock), and they have been busy bringing in money for the wheelchair for months, through a series of events. They have also raised money for Dean Street and Parade surgeries, for local schools and hospitals, and are currently looking for another worthy cause to support.

The Line Dancers meet on Wednesday evenings from 7-9.30pm at the Guildhall.

Exhibitions at

Stuart House

THOSE of you who visit the art exhibitions in Stuart House may remember Colin Poole who displayed some of his work a year or two ago on more than one occasion.

At first his work was almost photographically accurate, although not always to everyone's liking. Those visitors who prefer landscapes, seascapes and flowers would not have appreciated his engineering tools or a pair of walking boots.

On another occasion the whole display consisted of arrangements of circular coloured balls which for some were very pleasing. However, his ability to draw and paint was never in doubt and this has been demonstrated by the fact that one of his portraits is now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square, a place which many artists would covet. It was seen recently by two members.

Do not miss the Liskeard Camera Club exhibition today and tomorrow (September 29, 30) and the Old Cornwall Society sale which will be in Stuart House all day on Saturday, September 30 during St Matthews Fair.

The Cancer Research Committee will be holding a sale on October 2, 3 and 4 and Jenni Philips is organising an exhibition and sale of paintings and pottery on October 3-7. The members' craft exhibition will take place on October 7. . . . . Phyllis Head