The magnificent Phoenix restaurant of the Hotel Phoenicia was the venue for La Valletta Lion Club's 14th anniversary charter on March 15. Around 85 Lions and friends attended the anniversary gala dinner, including Lions provisional zone chairman Joseph Attard and presidents and spouses of other Lion clubs on the island, namely Malta Host, Sliema, St Paul's Bay and Mdina.

Lion Godfrey Muscat, master of ceremonies welcomed Lions and guests and after a brief introduction invited Mr Attard to deliver his speech.

Mr Attard said he admired the club because it attracted young members from all walks of life. He also thanked the founding members and all those who worked within the club over the last 14 years to achieve the high profile that the club enjoys today.

Recently appointed La Valletta Club president Kevin Schembri, thanked all his predecessors for their hard work in helping the less fortunate. He said he was proud to be president of the club, which bears the name of Malta's capital city and of a club with such a successful past but remarked that leadership was about action and not position.

He explained his ambitions and new visions for the club and said that as a heart surgeon he felt fortunate that he had touched people's hearts and could appreciate the gift of life. Helping his patients feel better makes him stronger in his position to extend that helping hand even further.

Mr Schembri said he intended to take the club to new horizons with fresh ideas and new projects. He expressed his wish to develop this new prospective that would attract younger people and make them feel comfortable within the club.

Three new members were inducted - Lions Joseph Borg, Jakob Kagel and Malcolm Cassar.

Formalities came to an end with Prof. Rev. Marius Zerafa, spiritual director of the club, blessing the crowd and saying a prayer before proceeding to the restaurant.