RYEDALE Lions Club has a new president as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

David Warin, of Pickering, has taken over the post with the aim of promoting the Lions traditional role in fundraising and providing support to those in need in the local community.

“The world has certainly changed a lot since our local Lions club was founded 50 years ago, but we still have many disadvantaged individuals and deserving community groups in our area who look to organisations like ours to give them help and financial support,” said David.

David is a well-known figure in the area for his community efforts and was awarded the MBE in 2013 for his work with his wife, Janet, in promoting road safety in local schools for many years, following the death of their 17-year-old son Daniel in a car accident in 1995.

He retired 20 years ago as deputy head at Norton School. Since then he has been heavily involved in voluntary work across the wider community of Pickering, including a bereavement supporter at St Catherine's Hospice, volunteer at the hospice’s shop in Pickering, and the organisation and provision of Christmas Day meals for the elderly at St Peter and St Paul Church, where he was also a member of the parochial church council and deputy churchwarden.

Not only is it the Ryedale Lions Club’s 50th anniversary this coming year, but it also marks the centenary of the international Lions organisation.

David said: “We can certainly celebrate our success over the years and we look forward to even more in the future."

With about 50 members in the Ryedale Lions sharing a common interest in wanting to help others, the club is now regularly raising more than £20,000 a year and lending a hand at a wide range of local events.

The club also operates a fleet of more than 50 mobility scooters to help those who would otherwise be housebound to retain their independence.