A CHARITY stalwart has taken over the reins as president of Lowestoft Lions Club.Keith Moore, who has been a Lion for 19 years and is managing director of local design and print business Blackwell Print and Marketing, was installed at a ceremony attended by more than 70 members, their wives and friends held at Zest Hospitality Suite at Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton.

A CHARITY stalwart has taken over the reins as president of Lowestoft Lions Club.

Keith Moore, who has been a Lion for 19 years and is managing director of local design and print business Blackwell Print and Marketing, was installed at a ceremony attended by more than 70 members, their wives and friends held at Zest Hospitality Suite at Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton.

And with the coming year marking the 50th anniversary of the Lowestoft club, it promises to be a very busy 12 months for Mr Moore who unveiled a new banner stating: 'Be a Lion - make a difference.'

He has vowed to use his time in office to work on increasing the membership of the club and to further promote its traditions of giving help to the community with support in kind as well as financial aid.

Demonstrating those traditions, the club recently teamed up with the Journal and the Ashley School's Olympic appeal to raise �10,000 to enable students from the school to go to the 2012 Paralympics.

Wristbands in the five colours of the Olympic rings - emblazoned with the LLASOA logo, which stands for Lowestoft Lions Ashley School Olympic Appeal - are being sold to kickstart this fundraising initiative.

They are available (with a minimum donation of �3) from The Journal's office, and from the Ashley School, Cook's Furnishers, Dixons Newsagents and Can-Am Travel in Lowestoft High Street.

Mr Moore added that plans were well advanced for the club's annual gala day on August Bank Holiday Monday at Nicholas Everitt Park - where wristbands will also be sold.

This year it will feature the X-Treme motorcycle stunt trials display team and the ever-popular Maiden In Distress raft race.

He thanked departing president Glyn Page for his sterling work during his year in office, during which more than �24,000 was raised for local, national and international causes.

Lowestoft Lions meet at the Carlton Manor Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 8pm.