“We have fantastic volunteers at our very popular bookshop in the town centre, our members raise funds all year round with regular events such as our car boot sale and monthly quiz, and then we distribute funds to a variety of good causes through grants and hosting events such as a friendship group and guiding Father Christmas around the district. If you see Alnwick Lions about town please do say hello – we are a friendly bunch and really appreciate your support.“
Tracy Hyslop
Alnwick Lion President 2026 – 2027
Following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, Lions Clubs from around the world are already responding to meet urgent humanitarian needs.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is mobilizing funds to empower local Lions to deliver immediate relief and support long-term recovery efforts.
And now Alnwick Lions are supporting their efforts by holding a collection point at their bookshop in Bondgate Within, next to the White Swan Hotel.
Club President Tracy Hyslop said “In times of crisis, Lions unite to bring hope and help where it is needed most. Alnwick Lions Club wanted to offer an easy way for people to support the emergency appeal. Please call in between 10am and 4pm, seven days a week where we have a collection bucket for cash donations. Through the Lions International network your donation will give direct support to the people of Venezuela.
New President
Alnwick Lions Club has welcomed its new President
Tracy Hyslop was presented with her chain of office by outgoing president Linden Dodds (left) who thanked members for their support over the past year.
Tracy welcomed her vice-president Rick Beaumont (right) into office saying
“I’m honoured to become the president of Alnwick Lions and am looking forward to the next year. We are a group of ordinary people who support an extraordinary number of charitable causes in Alnwick and beyond.
Duchess of Northumberland Hails Alnwick Lions Club for 50 Years of Dedicated Community Service
Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland, Jane Percy, has officially celebrated the vital work of the Alnwick Lions Club, highlighting the group’s unwavering commitment to supporting local people and good causes for over five decades.
The endorsement comes as the Lions Club, which is celebrating 50 years of active service in the town, continues to raise significant funds through initiatives like their popular Alnwick Lions Bookshop.
The Duchess of Northumberland, who is well-known for her involvement in community and charitable work across the county, praised the volunteers for their tireless efforts.
“The Alnwick Lions Club represents the very best of community spirit in Northumberland,” she said. “For fifty years, these dedicated men and women have given their time, their energy, and their passion to ensure that support reaches where it is needed most, whether offering funding to local groups, or supporting initiatives such as the Talking Newspaper service for the visually impaired or enabling local schoolchildren to visit Alnwick Playhouse. Their impact on Alnwick and district is immeasurable, and I am delighted to offer my heartfelt support for their vital work.”
Linden Dodds, President of the Alnwick Lions Club, said: “Having the support of Her Grace is a tremendous honour for our entire team of volunteers. It validates the thousands of hours our members have put in over the last fifty years. This commitment strengthens our resolve to continue serving Alnwick and the surrounding areas for many years to come.”
“ I’m very grateful to the young people in the town who worked with My Life Productions to produce the video which shows Lions members discussing their key initiatives. I hope it will inspire a new generation of volunteers and encourage continued public support for the club.
The Alnwick Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organisation.
The Duchess’s statement coincides with the release of a short video showcasing her support for the volunteers and the positive impact of their projects.
Moorlands Community Orchard
Are you sitting comfortably?
They certainly are at the Moorlands Community Orchard thanks to a donation from Alnwick Lions Club which was used to purchase seating and a table.
The Orchard group have transformed an area of land beside Chapel Lands into a site that now contains over a hundred fruit trees, pathways and seating areas.
Alnwick Lions Club President Linden Dodds said “It was great to see the seating in place at the top of the Orchard where the public can now relax and enjoy the stunning view over the moors. The Moorlands group have created a wonderful community space, and I’m delighted to see the new seating, which is made of recycled plastic, being enjoyed.”
Linden is pictured with fellow Lion Dave Knowles and Christine Hobson, Alison James and Mike James from the Moorlands Community Orchard group.
Alnwick Crafters
A group of Alnwick crafters have been given £250 from Alnwick Lions to help them continue to support cancer research.
The Crafting For Cancer Research UK group meets weekly in the Lindisfarne Centre and creates an array of handmade items that are used to raise funds for research in the North East of England.
Alnwick Lions President Linden Dodds said “Alnwick Lions are delighted to give the group a grant to buy materials. They are supporting crucial research and it’s a pleasure to meet them and see what they make.”
All money raised by Crafting for Cancer goes back into the local community, helping the North East region of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by funding pioneering research at Newcastle University.
Linden and fellow Alnwick Lion Gordon Castle are seen with the crafters and some of the items they produce.
Alnwick Lions car boot sale raises money for our work in the community – see us at Homebase, and click below for more details
Alnwick Lions Car Boot Sales
Alnwick Lions celebrate fifty years of supporting their community
Tom Deedigan, Alnwick Lions Club President, welcomed fellow Lions from Alnwick and Morpeth Clubs together with several guests to a celebration of 50 years since the founding of Alnwick Lions Club. Over dinner at the White Swan Hotel, Alnwick, there was much laughter as members reminisced about five decades of highlights, friendships and a huge variety of activities. Many Morpeth Lions supported the event, especially as their Club was instrumental in the forming of the Alnwick Lions Club.
The photo shows (left to right) Lindsay Deedigan , Sheila Short , Geoff Watson (Alnwick Town Mayor), Tom Deedigan (Alnwick Lions Club President), Richard Short (Morpeth Lions Club President), Founder Member Len Reece, Sharon Watson and Margaret Reece.
Alnwick Lions support book reward scheme for local children
A donation of £1000 from Alnwick Lions Club will be used to support local charity BOOST to provide a book reward scheme at the Duchess’s Community High School.
Every half term all members of staff are given a token to reward a pupil of their choice – not just for academic achievement but also to acknowledge good attitude and endeavour.
Katherine Williams, BOOST Chair, explains, “This project is part of our commitment to encourage reading for pleasure – exposing children to a wide range of opportunities to read supports literacy and benefits learning in every subject. The books provided through the vending machine are just one way that we are supporting students to love reading at DCHS.”
BOOST purchases the books, which are mostly selected by the students, from the Accidental Bookshop in Alnwick which also supports the scheme with a discounted rate. Students then spend their tokens at a book vending machine which is seen pictured with Lions Linden Dodds, Dave Knowles and Club President Tom Deedigan, BOOST trustee Rosie Bush and students Lucie, Imogen and Max. The scheme gives students the opportunity to choose and own a brand new book, something that not all children have.
Alnwick Lions provide new defibrillator cabinet at Low Newton
Newton by the Sea Parish Council are very grateful to Alnwick Lions for paying for and installing a new defibrillator cabinet at Low Newton. The new cabinet was unveiled by Alnwick Lions President Tom Deedigan pictured with County Councillor Wendy Pattison, PC Chairman John Roper, and local people.
Those present from left to right were;- Alnwick Lions Club President Tom Deedigan , Clare Shiel, County Councillor Wendy Pattison, John Roper, Gillian Simpson and Linda Broughton
Dogs left to right;- Floyd, Berry and Casper
These are our main activities at present. Please click on the links to find out more information.
ALNWICK LIONS BOOKSHOP
Our Alnwick Lions Bookshop offers a huge range of fiction, non-fiction and special interest books. We have both hardback and paperback books, including fiction, non-fiction and special interest books. Fiction is sorted into alphabetical order of author to help you search easily. We also sells DVDs, CDs and jigsaw puzzles.
All the stock is generously donated by the local community and the money generated is used by Alnwick Lions in their charitable endeavours.
CAR BOOT SALES
Car Boot Sales run on the last Saturday of every month from March until October. Click below for details of the next one.
RECYCLING
We can recycle your used spectacles, mobile phones and printer ink cartridges for you – click below for how to do this.
