Lion Peter of Northfleet & Ebbsfleet Lions Club receives his Progressive MJF

Lion Peter of Northfleet & Ebbsfleet Lions Club recently received his Progressive MJF in a ceremony that included members of his family and fellow members of the Club.​

​Peter, who turns 90 next year, has served Lions and his community for over 40 years. As well as his involvement in fundraising and welfare/social activities he can probably be recognised mostly for his humanitarian work particularly with his work in Gomel, Belarus and for the Concern for Chernobyl Children‘s Charity. For a number of years he arranged with that charity for items of need to be transported to Gomel and then was there to help the Charity with the co-ordination of visits by some 25 children to the UK over a four week period each year.​

​This visit to the UK was very important for the well-being of the children, many of whom had health problems linked to the Chernobyl disaster. He maintained a lasting relationship with the teachers and translators from the Gomel area where the children lived.​

​When the Gomel Shoebox Charity was introduced Peter continued to supply needy items for the annual lorry trip. It was a valuable contribution that he made over several years and he thoroughly deserved to receive the Bert Mason Humanitarian Award at Convention.​

​Because of memory and physical difficulties Peter has reluctantly had to leave his beloved farm in Luddesdown, Kent for a care home in Surrey, where he will be much closer to his daughters and their families. In all his activities with Lions and indeed on the farm he had a very close and lovely partnership with his late wife, Audrey. He misses her a lot and I’m sure she would have been delighted with Peter’s latest recognition.​

​The photo above shows Lion President Lesley Howes, together with Lion Mike Wilson and PDG Mike Parker, presenting Peter with his award. And includes his daughters Cheryl and Denise and their respective husbands, Robert and Paul, at the get together in the care home, where a very enjoyable couple of hours was spent reminiscing amongst some of Peter’s regalia and memorabilia.​