The Budleigh Lions Club Gala Week finally came to an end on Sunday with the Lions Quiz Night at the Feathers Public House. 

Review of Budleigh's Gala Week by Budleigh Lion Richard Allen.

The Lions Quiz Night was hosted at the Feathers Public House.  Also on Sunday was the Family Treasure Hunt kindly sponsored by Lord Clinton's Charitable Trust.  

Gala Week is a great opportunity for the local community and visitors to Budleigh Salterton to have lots of fun and raise lots of money for local charities. 

Charities and local organisations who held or organised events during Gala Week included Cancer Research UK, Force Cancer, Budleigh Community Workshop, Salterton Drama Club, Budleigh Salterton Games Club, Budleigh Runners, Budleigh Dog Grooming, St Peter's School, Budleigh Salterton Art Club, Budleigh Salterton Carnival Club, Hospiscare, Budleigh Salterton Football Club, Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, Love Budleigh, RNLI, Little Valley Animal Shelter, Budleigh Literary Festival and of course Budleigh Salterton Lions Club.

Gala Week has once again been a great success with lots of local people and visitors to the town attending the various events. I'm delighted that so many different venues have been used this year including the Public Hall, the Green, the beach and seafront, Knowle Village Hall, the Croquet Club, the Football Club, St Peter's School, the Games Club, the Community Workshop and the Library.

We don't know all the totals of the monies raised yet but I hope the various local charities and other organisations who put on events during the week did well. 

Of course Gala Week is not all about raising money. It's a great opportunity to involve everyone in the local community. It's a happy time for families, for people young and old to meet up with old friends and to make new ones and for lots of people to have a lot of fun, including the Lions! My grandson Noah particularly enjoyed the children's beach hut book swap and storytelling on the beach organised by the Budleigh Literary Festival.    
As usual a tremendous amount of work has gone into organising Gala Week and I would like to thank all the members of the Budleigh Lions Club and their families who have helped out at the various events throughout the week.  I must also give a big 'thank you' to all the local businesses who took part in the 'Spot the Stranger' competition and those who helped sell the Gala Week Program and to the various organisations who sponsored our events.   

If there is any charity or other organisation that wishes to take part in Gala Week 2024 then would they please get in touch via our website www.budleighlions.com.

Although Gala Week has finished, Volunteers Week continues until Wednesday, June 7.