Lions club presents certificates to reward community service

Seaton and District Lions Club gave the town two reasons to celebrate when they held a special ceremony in the town hall last week.

The first was the presentation of gold awards to three Young Leaders in Service.

Lauren Wiltshire, Nicholas Fisher and Isabella Synek Herd have completed 100 hours of community service.

Friends, family and wellwishers gathered in the town hall to see Mayor Tony Woodman present the trio with their certificates, badges, YLiS hooded tops and £10 gift vouchers.

Lion Janine Barradale applauded the three Young Leaders, telling the audience how each of them had built up their 100 hours of service in the community.

Cllr Woodman said how refreshing it was that, when so many young people received bad publicity for their actions, Seaton young people were a credit to the community and how pleased he was to see these three receive their awards. He went on to thank Seaton and District Lions Club for setting up ‘this worthwhile initiative’ to encourage the young people of the town.

Following the Young Leaders in Service awards, the audience moved into the porch to see a new emergency defibrillator donated to the town by the Lions Club.

After an attention-grabbing proclamation by Seaton town crier, David Craner, Lion president Ian Barradale said the £3,000 cost was met through the Lions Christmas Santa Float collections and other initiatives.

It will be kept in the porch in a secure tamper-proof cabinet which will be opened when a 999 call is made to the South West Ambulance Service.

This gives access to the defibrillator which can then be taken to where it is needed.

When switched on, the defibrillator ‘talks’ to whoever is using it giving them the instructions they need to operate it.

Receiving the defibrillator on the behalf of the local community, Cllr Woodman once more praised the Lions for their work in the community.