New Kingsburgh Lions president inducted
Tony was a Lions member and past president of his local club in England.
As the Lions’ new year starts on 1 July every year, usually with the induction of a new president, the induction took place via Zoom.
Moira Rigby, after three years of ably guiding Kingsburgh Lions with awe-inspiring dedication, handed over the reins to Tony Marron, 68, who has taken the local club by storm with his energy and vision.
“Having been the President of the Lions Club of Kingsburgh for the last three years, has given me the wonderful opportunity of getting to know some folks in our local community better.
Working with members of our club to help those in need, whether it be a hungry family, another charity organisation, assisting with diabetes testing, taking folks to get their eyes tested for spectacles or to raise much needed funds for the club to continue serving the community, has been truly rewarding.
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“Usually members only run with a portfolio, such as president, treasurer or secretary, for one year, but for one reason or another, my one turned into two and then three years.
Since joining our club, Tony has shown that he has such a servant heart to help the needy and serve the local community and I believe he will enjoy the challenge of being our president for the next Lionistic year, which runs from July to the following June. I wish him all the best and am sure that all our members will join me in wishing him well for the year ahead.”
Tony, who emigrated from the UK last year, was a Lions member and past president of his local club in England. As a managing director of a small computer software business, he was also a volunteer town councillor in his home town of Pocklington.
Little did he know how his life would change the day he met his wife Fiona on their first date in Grimsby, East Yorkshire in England in 2009. The first date was a success, they were married in 2015 and began to discuss what would happen after they retired.
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“I had often spoken about retiring to a warmer country and Fiona, a South African by birth, who had been in the UK for over 15 years, still had a family and grandchildren in South Africa, so we combined our circumstances and wishes, and moved last year.”
They now live just a few minutes from Fiona’s family and Tony keeps in touch with his family via the internet, and had, prior to the pandemic, planned on returning to the UK each year for an extended holiday and family and friends reunion.
When he arrived in South Africa, he sought the nearest Lions club and transferred his membership to Kingsburgh and became a member. Shortly after joining, he became club secretary.
“I am delighted to be the president of Kingsburgh Lions Club, as the club has a great 45-year history of serving the local community. We are a small club, but with a very big heart and full of energy to help where we can. Covid-19 has curtailed all our physical help within the community, so we have diverted our serving to providing money, food and whatever else we can to protect our members and the public. We are using WhatsApp and Zoom to keep in touch with each other and to hold meetings in these strange times.”
In his spare time, Tony is a keen musician and composer, and plays the keyboard and guitar. When lockdown started, he decided to keep members motivated and in good spirits by sending them a joke and tune of the day, which he composed each day. So far he has composed, performed, recorded and sent out over 100 tunes and jokes.
“I am honoured and privileged to be working with a great bunch of people within our club and I am slowly getting to know other Lions in the area. I love living in South Africa and everyone I’ve met and come into contact with has been very kind and made us feel very welcome. I will be going back to see my family as soon as regulations allow, but in the meantime the sun, my music, the people and the club will keep me busy and my mind occupied I’m sure.”
If anyone is interested in joining Kingsburgh Lions, email tonymarron@gmail.com.
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