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July 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 39It%u2019s been a rather diffi cult year for us due to a number of factors, including our ageing membership, but we have still managed an excellent programme of Fundraising, Donations and Service Activity. We have been serving our local community for over 48 years and are looking forward to our Golden 50th Charter Anniversary, which is a source of great motivation for us.DONATIONSAt our business meeting this month, we agreed a number of donations:24-Hour Charity Football Event: This seems to tick all our boxes, so we were happy to donate %u00a3500 to support this event.Cystic Fibrosis Dream Holidays. A donation of %u00a3250 was agreed.Age UK (Milton Keynes). We agreed a donation of %u00a3200 to Age UK (Milton Keynes) %u2013 which covers our local area.LCIF Disaster Relief Fund. Lions International (LCIF) has awarded 89 disaster relief-related grants totalling US$1,742,295. Our Club makes designated donations to LCIF. Hanging Baskets: We made our usual donation to the town%u2019s hanging baskets - to help make Olney look even more beautiful.FUND RAISING EVENTSCurry Night and Fun QuizWe held our Curry Night and Fun Quiz at the NAGA Tandoori restaurant. Thank you to Ash and the NAGA team, Olney Meadows Care Home for the goody-bags, Neil Armstrong for entertainment, and all our friends for being so generous and making it a fab evening. Over %u00a3600 raised including a generous contribution from NAGA. And we had some smashing raffl e prizes, so thank you to the individuals and businesses that donated!Motorama 2025Our Motorama was a great success, with around 80 interesting and beautiful vehicles on display. With help from Olney Classic Car Club, Friends and Fellow Lions. Thanks to our sponsors, Olney Meadows Care Newport Pagnell & Olney Lions (CIO)Home and J. Garrard & Allen. And to the Community First Responders. We reckon we made about %u00a31,000 profi t on the day.SERVICE ACTIVITIESMIAB Distribution: We recently re-stocked our Message In A Bottle. These little pots contain a pre-printed form that the user fi lls in with their relevant information. The form is then returned to the bottle and stored in their fridge. We believe that this gives older or vulnerable people more confi dence about emergency treatment. It also gives peace of mind to relatives and friends that essential information will be available in an emergency. So, this month, we%u2019ve been dashing around, giving out MIAB pots to Peak Pharmacy, Age UK Charity Shop, University of the 3rd Age, South Central Ambulance Charity and also to individuals who have asked for them.MEETINGS and SOCIAL EVENTS%u2022%u2002 We met for a lovely Afternoon Tea at the Beckworth Emporium in Mears Ashby. Thank you to Lion Callum for arranging this.%u2022%u2002 We had a night of %u2018Fun and Fellowship%u2019 at a Fun Quiz hosted by Milton Keynes Central Lions Club.%u2022%u2002 We held a meeting with Caryn Cooper at Kingsley Healthcare, Olney Meadows Care Home, to discuss Motorama sponsorship. At that meeting, Caryn kindly agreed to become one of our key event sponsors for Motorama 2025!%u2022%u2002 We attended the Lions Zone Meeting %u2013 where the %u2018brass%u2019 of local clubs meet to exchange news and their recent achievements. Finally, and as usual, a heartfelt thanks to all the members of our local communities, our shops, pubs, councillors, and other businesses and organisations %u2013 and especially, to our group of Friends for their fantastic support. We really could not do it without you! If you would like to help, as a Member or Friend, please reach out to us on npandolions@gmail.comThat%u2019s all folks!%u201cReports of My Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated%u201d (Registered Charity Number 1184025)Club of the Month: Club...Two line blurbTextClub of the Month: MK U3A ChoirPopular singing group recently held their Summer Concert at the United Reformed Church in Newport Pagnell.The June event was very well received and it gave the choir a chance to showcase their new musical director and accompanist.%u201cFollowing the retirement of our musical director and accompanist in December, after 12 years of sterling work with us, we have been pleased to welcome into our midst Catherine Rose, as our new musical director, and Alan Haughton as our accompanist,%u201d says Vivienne Shaw, the choir%u2019s Group Co-ordinator.%u201cSaturday was a super afternoon, with a varied programme of songs, which was well received by our audience. As an added treat, jazz pianist Alan played an amazing Fats Waller solo number. The afternoon was rounded off with refreshments and cakes.%u201dOn that weekend occasion, proceeds from the concert were donated to Willen Hospice, and the choir was delighted to welcome to the concert a representative from the Hospice, who gave a short talk on their amazing work and the desperate need for continuous funding support.The Milton Keynes U3A Choir has been running for more than 25 years, during which time it has grown considerably, and indeed continues to grow. This year they have seen several new members join them, and have had to start a short-term waiting list. %u201cWe meet weekly at The Cross & Stable Church in Downs Barn, Milton Keynes, on a Tuesday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm, and sing a wide variety of music %u2013 including some choral pieces, songs from the shows and popular songs.%u201cWe are a very friendly and welcoming group and the ability to read music is not essential,%u201d says Vivienne. %u201cWe do not meet during the month of August. If you would like to join us, we are hoping to be able to accept new members again once we start in September.%u201dThe MK U3A Choir meets every Tuesday in Milton Keynes. Their Christmas Concert will be held at the Newport Pagnell Parish Church on Sunday 14th December. For more details about joining call: 07958 796515.