Canopy Sale
On Thursday 8th September we held a sale of bric-a-brac and clothes at the canopy in Bolton town centre square. It was a dismal day, the kind that makes you want to stay in and that's what most of the sensible citizens of Bolton did. There was a good turn-out of Lions which meant that quite often we outnumbered the customers, and we took to going on the other side of the stalls to give the illusion of feverish activity, in a bid to attract customers. Because rules would not allow us to park our vehicle on the town square, we had to unload all of our merchandise at the start, and with numerous Lions in attendance it was like the proverbial "sardines in a can", under the canopy. Lion Jim Wells, ICOB(in charge of books) had to take evasive action to stop the books on his stall from becoming pulp with the driving rain determined to seek them out. Despite the conditions the Lions stuck manfully, or should that be lionfully, to the task and an amount literally described as £366.17 by our treasurer, John Fairhurst,was raised. Not for the first time, the clothes section made a splendid contribution to the total. Amongst the bric-a-brac there were a few breakages but the customers were distinctly reluctant to pay for them, especially as we were responsible for them(the breakages not the customers).
Our next canopy will be in the new year but we are in desperate need of more bric-a-brac so please contribute what you can.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Bolton Street Collection
Bolton Street Collection - 11th June 2011
Saturday morning at 8AM in the morning was cloudy and overcast, but then it is June in England, so what do you expect? Anyway I was up bright and early to participate in our annual street collection in the centre of Bolton. I arrived in plenty of time for the 9AM start, and settled into my usual position outside WH Smith.
The number of donations you receive always seems to be higher the earlier in the day it is, which I think is due to how visible you are. Although there are less people around at first, the benefit is that you can be seen more easily. This year however, our Activities Chairman Tony Foster had a cunning plan - fluorescent bibs!
The effects of the increase in visibility were definitely seen, as although donations fell away after about 11.30AM (as normal), the amount raised from the collection was the highest since 2005, when I started keeping records of our takings.
In addition, my bucket had the highest collection figure of all Lions collecting on the day, which is a first!
Thanks to the people of Bolton for being so generous, and to the Lions who collected.
Lion John Crompton
29th September 2011
Saturday morning at 8AM in the morning was cloudy and overcast, but then it is June in England, so what do you expect? Anyway I was up bright and early to participate in our annual street collection in the centre of Bolton. I arrived in plenty of time for the 9AM start, and settled into my usual position outside WH Smith.
The number of donations you receive always seems to be higher the earlier in the day it is, which I think is due to how visible you are. Although there are less people around at first, the benefit is that you can be seen more easily. This year however, our Activities Chairman Tony Foster had a cunning plan - fluorescent bibs!
The effects of the increase in visibility were definitely seen, as although donations fell away after about 11.30AM (as normal), the amount raised from the collection was the highest since 2005, when I started keeping records of our takings.
In addition, my bucket had the highest collection figure of all Lions collecting on the day, which is a first!
Thanks to the people of Bolton for being so generous, and to the Lions who collected.
Lion John Crompton
29th September 2011
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Burnden Park Asda
Asda Burnden Park Collection - 4th and 5th June 2011
Our first event in June, was 2 days at the above store, with our collection buckets, as demonstrated in the photograph to the right, by Lion Babu Roye.
My first shift was the late slot (3PM to 5PM) on the Saturday, in the company of Lion Ron Eadie. I think it is fair to say that we both enjoyed our stint, helped by being very busy, and by Ron's aim to try to get a lion's sticker on every child who passed. We also gave away plenty of stickers to older children as well! A great deal of happy banter ensued between the public and Ron and myself.
On the following day I again did the late slot, this time with Lion Babu, the difference in the two days being that the Sunday was much quieter in terms of people in the store, but it was still reasonably busy.
Two things stood out from the Sunday collection, firstly it always amazes me the number of people who try to get in the store within ten minutes of it's closing, (there were still some people trying to get in with about 2 minutes before it closed!), the second is that we were kept company for about an hour by 2 children and their father, who were waiting for the mother to finish shopping in the store.
The reason for the shopping expedition, was that it was the Birthday of one of the children, and the Mother was getting a cake. As a Birthday treat we gave the child about a dozen stickers!
Thanks to all the lions who did a 2 hour slot, and to Asda for letting us in their store, and to their customers who contributed.
Lion John Crompton
28th September 2011
Our first event in June, was 2 days at the above store, with our collection buckets, as demonstrated in the photograph to the right, by Lion Babu Roye.
My first shift was the late slot (3PM to 5PM) on the Saturday, in the company of Lion Ron Eadie. I think it is fair to say that we both enjoyed our stint, helped by being very busy, and by Ron's aim to try to get a lion's sticker on every child who passed. We also gave away plenty of stickers to older children as well! A great deal of happy banter ensued between the public and Ron and myself.
On the following day I again did the late slot, this time with Lion Babu, the difference in the two days being that the Sunday was much quieter in terms of people in the store, but it was still reasonably busy.
Two things stood out from the Sunday collection, firstly it always amazes me the number of people who try to get in the store within ten minutes of it's closing, (there were still some people trying to get in with about 2 minutes before it closed!), the second is that we were kept company for about an hour by 2 children and their father, who were waiting for the mother to finish shopping in the store.
The reason for the shopping expedition, was that it was the Birthday of one of the children, and the Mother was getting a cake. As a Birthday treat we gave the child about a dozen stickers!
Thanks to all the lions who did a 2 hour slot, and to Asda for letting us in their store, and to their customers who contributed.
Lion John Crompton
28th September 2011
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Sponsored Walk
On the following day after the Vegas Night at Dunscar, the Lions were in action again, this time meeting at Barlow Institute Edgworth for a Sponsored Walk.
Luckily we did not meet until 1.30PM, so I could have a lie in after the Vegas night. The walk was to raise proceeds for our President's Appeal - which was improving access for disabled people at St Paul's Church, Astley Bridge, and several walkers
from their Church met us at the Car park.The weather was kind to us, although rain threatened later on in the walk, it stayed away.
Thanks go to Lion Tony for leading the walk, and all those who participated, I am looking forward to next years walk already.
Lion John Crompton
21st September 2011
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Dunscar Golf Club
Dunscar Golf Club - 7th May 2011
I will direct you straight to the photograph's of one our excellent Casino Night's held at Dunscar Golf Club. A picture can say more than a thousand words, so that is 3000 words saved! On the night we ran a roulette table, 3 blackjack tables, 2 poker tables and 2 other smaller card games, which catered comfortably for the 60 people who attended the golf club's event.
A fantastic night was had by all who attended (even
us Lion's!), with food being provided at the table, to ensure nothing got in the way of the gambling!
Several millionaires were made during the evening, unfortunately the money used is not real but our own funny money, which can only be used up on the Auctions held during the evening.
It did lead to a bid of several million pounds for some bottles of beer from the Bank Top Brewery, which were apparently enough to buy the Brewery itself.
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If you require details of our Casino Nights (for a reasonable fee), please contact this website.
Lion John Crompton
7th July 2011
us Lion's!), with food being provided at the table, to ensure nothing got in the way of the gambling!
Several millionaires were made during the evening, unfortunately the money used is not real but our own funny money, which can only be used up on the Auctions held during the evening.
It did lead to a bid of several million pounds for some bottles of beer from the Bank Top Brewery, which were apparently enough to buy the Brewery itself.
If you require details of our Casino Nights (for a reasonable fee), please contact this website.
Lion John Crompton
7th July 2011
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Canopy March 2011
Bolton Canopy - 12th March 2011
It was an early start for me on a Saturday Morning, having to be in Bolton at 8.30AM, to unload the boxes of stuff from the van, for our first white elephant canopy on a Saturday.
As you can see from our photographs we had plenty of book and clothes, as well as records and other assorted bric-a-brac.
As usual I was amazed at what people were buying, but I suspose what I might consider to be rubbish and not worth buying, is useful and has value for another person - it certainly seemed so on the day.
Yet again, we had fun trying to sell strange objects with little perceived value. The prize for best selling technique going to Lion Tony Murphy, who when asked the question 'Have you got anything religious?' in mid afternoon, tried to sell a very unflattering green coloured vase that looks like a radiator. Needless to say he was not successful.
My daughter bought some LP's (even though at that point we did not have a record player!), but the covers do look good on her wall. Thanks also to Lion Tom Slattery for buying her a hockey stick, which will come in useful as protection when she goes to college!
Thanks to all Lions and ladies who were there on the day.
Lion John Crompton
6th July 2011
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Morrisons Harwood
Harwood's got bottle!
Morrison's Harwood Store Collection - 9th October 2010
As normal, I was on the late shift for Store Collections, so I arrived at ten to three for my stint, with Lion Graham Pollitt already there and collecting. Going to Morrison's Harwood is always a pleasure as it is always our highest grossing supermarket, and the customers always seem to be happier (it must be someting in the Harwood air!).
Our store collections are always from 9AM to 5PM in four stints of 2 hours each, the photo on the right shows our first team from 9AM which is Lions Tony Murphy and John Fairhurst. A 2 hour period is usually enough standing for anyone, but sometimes the period can seem a lot longer (especially if receiving few donations), but this is never a problem at Harwood, as we are constantly busy, and the time flies.
It seemed to fly even more this time, as we had taken some of our message in a bottle stock, and Lion Graham excelled himself in giving away all 40 bottles in our stint, all of which are given for free!
I did pass on several people to Lion Graham for him to tell them about Message in a Bottle, and so I am claiming so sort of credit for the 40 bottles!
Thanks go to Morrisons and the customers in their store for an excellent day, as well as to the other Lions who collected during the day.
Lion John Crompton
20th October 2010
Morrison's Harwood Store Collection - 9th October 2010
Our store collections are always from 9AM to 5PM in four stints of 2 hours each, the photo on the right shows our first team from 9AM which is Lions Tony Murphy and John Fairhurst. A 2 hour period is usually enough standing for anyone, but sometimes the period can seem a lot longer (especially if receiving few donations), but this is never a problem at Harwood, as we are constantly busy, and the time flies.
It seemed to fly even more this time, as we had taken some of our message in a bottle stock, and Lion Graham excelled himself in giving away all 40 bottles in our stint, all of which are given for free!
I did pass on several people to Lion Graham for him to tell them about Message in a Bottle, and so I am claiming so sort of credit for the 40 bottles!
Thanks go to Morrisons and the customers in their store for an excellent day, as well as to the other Lions who collected during the day.
Lion John Crompton
20th October 2010
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