BEHIND every great man there’s a great woman, as the saying goes. And as Chester Lions Club, a male bastion, celebrates its 50th birthday, one former president’s wife remembers life behind the scenes.
Sylvia Warren is the widow of Stanley Warren, president of Chester Lions Club from 1975-1976. Stan was zone chairman the following year.
She remembers all the work that went into her husband’s year of office: “When Stan was president we hosted an International Youth Convention with youngsters coming from all over the world. They were in Chester for three days and we hosted a medieval banquet at Ruthin Castle. I remember being in the stocks that night!
“We also took them to Eaton Hall to meet the Duke of Westminster, but due to some misunderstanding he was away playing cricket.
“When he discovered what had happened he was eager to make amends, so on the final evening, when all the delegates were at the Long Room dressed in national costume, he joined us and stayed the whole evening.”
Sylvia and Stan were active members of the club for years and enjoyed many a social event to raise funds for charity.
“In all the photographs I seem to always have a pint glass in my hand,” laughs Sylvia, who lives in Queen’s Park. “We did organise a lot of beer festivals!”
