I hope you all managed to get along to the Mintfest last weekend? If you did I am sure you found it as enjoyable as I did.

I found myself trying to explain the event to many people in the weeks and days leading up to the 29th, the fun, frolics, bizarre side shows, jaw dropping, side hugging madness is quite hard to describe to a Mintfest virgin!

I can only hope those I tried to inform came along to see for themselves and had as much fun as I predicted they would.

I would like to Thank Julie Tait and all her team of helpers for such a memorable event, quite outstanding – Well done!

Last Saturday evening also saw the second annual Kendal Lions variety show.

This event took place in the Assembly room upstairs in the Town Hall.

You must pencil the date in your diaries for next year, it was really good fun. It is a charity event, bringing together lots of local artists from singers and dancers to magicians and jugglers.

The evening was a huge success; all the performers did themselves proud and left you wanting to see more and more.

The Kendal Lions are a registered charity and were formed in 1974, they raise money mainly from the general public and every penny goes to help a lot of people and groups locally, nationally and internationally. None of it is taken up in the club administration costs. You may have seen them with their annual Christmas collection with Santa visiting homes around the Kendal area or at Easter up at the Castle with their Eggstravaganza.

Locally they have organised weekly disabled swimming sessions at the Leisure centre, maintain 3 gardens at the Hospital and have helped individuals and organisations purchase equipment. Internationally the Lions are working to cure all preventable blindness, and support water aid and helped a project in Sri Lanka to build a playground at a school.

The Kendal branch of the Lions instigated the’ message in a bottle’ which has now spread to 60% of clubs in this country and across the world from Austria to Australia!

All their good work, they do with a sense of fun and commitment to their community and to this end I thank them.

If you would like to know more about the Lions club in Kendal contact Dennis Shaw on 01539 728035, I am sure he will be more than happy to help.

The money the evening raised will go to local Lions Charities including The Mayors Youth Project, which I am greatly Thankful for. Groups such as The Kendal Lions are our community unsung heroes, Well done and Thank You.