A Weymouth-based charitable organisation recently attended a national celebration in the company of royals.

The Countess of Wessex held a reception at Buckingham Palace on February 28 to celebrate the Lions Club’s ‘Century of Service’.

The countess has been the Patron of Lions Clubs of the British Isles since 2004.

Roger Hogbin, president of the Weymouth & Portland Lions Club, attended the 100th birthday celebrations with hundreds of volunteers who came together with the organisation’s partners for this special occasion.

He said: “Lions do a lot of good work around the world, and here in Weymouth, helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

“I am therefore very honoured to have had the opportunity to represent the members of the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club at what was a very memorable occasion.

“The reception took place in the ballroom of the palace, where the banquets take place, and the Countess of Wessex, the Patron of Lions Clubs in the British Isles, made a lovely speech praising the work that Lions do.”

Lion Phil Nathan MBE, chairman of the Centenary Celebrations for Lions Clubs of the British Isles said: “Let me begin by saying that during our first century of service, Lions Clubs have touched millions of lives of people that needed us.

“One hundred years of service to the community is a remarkable achievement, made possible by the selfless actions of many thousands of individual men and women, each of whom has sought to make ‘their’ community a better place.”

Lions Clubs International focusses through its Lions and Leos members upon major projects that address diabetes, youth, the environment, hunger relief, childhood cancer and sight issues affecting communities throughout the world.

As part of the Centennial Celebration, Lions nationwide accepted the challenge to serve 100 million people in their local communities.

However the clubs’ beat their target, serving over 200 million people.