KEIGHLEY LIONS CLUB
Visitor from Titahi
Bay New Zealand
7th June 2000
Club President Lion Dave Read of Titahi Bay Lions Club, in New Zealand, today took time out of his round the world travels to pay a special visit to West Yorkshire.
Dave was here to present an award to David Hart of the Hart Walker Foundation, based in Keighley, but now established in Canada, Australia, New Zealand to name but a few of the Countries.
David Hart designs and manufactures 'Walkers', wheeled devices to enable severely handicapped children gain some personal freedom of movement in a natural upright 'walking' position.
The contact with Keighley Lions came some 3 years ago when PDG Lion Diane Sheridan of Richmond Lions in Sydney Australia, contacted then Club President Lion David Ogden, to ask for assistance in greeting a party of children who were coming to the Clinic to be fitted with 'Hart Walkers'. Diane and fellow Lions in Australia sponsored some of the children and managed to get an MD project going to set up an assembly and fitting service in Australia in conjunction with the Spastics society. This happened and as a result it then spread to New Zealand, where Lion Dave Read comes in.
The photo above shows Past President Lion David Ogden presenting the Keighley Bannerette to President Dave Read (right) when a group of Keighley members and partners met Dave at the Three Sisters Hotel in Haworth.
Lion Dave set off from Auckland for Seattle to meet with his nephew Rick, then flew to Washington DC where, due to problems with his flight he had time to take in some of the city sights, then it was over to Frankfurt, followed by a train to Hamburg, where he met his pen friend of 45 years, Elke. He has kept in touch over the 45 years and only met her once before, about 20 years ago. He next headed for Solingen (Germany's equivalent of Sheffield) and met up with Hans, a former work colleague he met when both were working in Wellington. Hans then ran him to Dusseldorf to catch a plane for Gatwick, where he was greeted by his son, Simon and partner. Simon came to England in '95 to play rugby union for Biggar, then moved to Blackheath (the oldest club in the country?). He now works for Barclays.
The presentation to David Hart is a 'Life Membership' of a LLoyd Morgan Lions Clubs Charitable Trust (Named for New Zealands only International President in 1979/80).
Check out the 'Hart Walker' page at Titahi Bay Lions Club, click here
Now unfortunately he didn't remember his camera, but it is hoped to get a copy of a photo taken by Fiona of the Hart Clinic, so hopefully it can be added later.
Having stayed the night at ' Ye Olde Sleeping House' in Haworth, Lion Dave is spending a week in his hometown (well until 1957!) of Birmingham before having a final week with his son Simon, then its off back to New Zealand, and MEGA traveling Lions points 'to be sure'.
District IT Officer Lion Allan
Clark (left), District Safety & Insurance Officer Lion Selwyn Dewhurst,
Incoming Region Chairman Lion Michael Walton, Lion Dave, Past Presidents Lions
Cyril Isherwood, David Ogden and Neil Redman.
All members of Keighley Lions, but wait! they couldn't be let out without some
form of guidance, surely?
That's better, Front row left to right, Margaret Isherwood, Lions Josie Clark, Janet Walton and Delsia Dewhurst and Francis Redman.
Hopefully the club made Lion President Dave welcome and wishes him, his club and New Zealand Lions good luck with their Hart Walker project, now and in the future, also a safe and pleasant journey home.
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