Specially for Syuan Yan, Amethyst Richardson and others:-
A group of service minded people led by Melvin Jones who formed our Lions organization and had turned it into the biggest service organization in the world of nearly 1.45 million members.
Herein our hometown of Ipoh, a group of service minded prominent people led by Dato’ Seri Chan Swee Ho, the first Chartered President of Lions Club Ipoh Host, and others like former President of Ipoh Municipal Dato’ SP Seenivasagam, former Mayor Dato’ Liew Wai Hon, famous lawyer AS Yeoh, and banker Foo Sek Kai had chartered this club – the first Lions Club in Perak and fourth Lions Club formed in District 308 B2, sponsored by Lions Club of Penang Host on 2nd February, 1966.
The Chartered President Dato’ Seri Chan Swee Ho
was a leading industrialist in the 60’s and 70’s succeeded by his son Albert Chan who is also a Lion and a successful industrialist. Dato’ Seri Chan was assisted by Mr Foong Weng Yew, the first Chartered Secretary who is still with us today.
Our Club was established with a strong footing led by some very committed Lions who were also professionals holding important positions in the society like Frank Cowie, the City Council Chief Engineer who had established our system of administration that had governed our club for the past many years;
Lewis Putra, one who had set up a foundation and obtained tax exemption status for us. We also had prominent members like Peter Chin who built the underpass in Hugh Low Street now Jalan Sultan Iskandar.
We had also made three District Governors. The first is Dr Foo Loke Lam who speaks like a machine
gun also known as a talkathon, during his years he had set up a district disaster fund to help the Vietnamese refugees and he has also started the twinning with many overseas sister clubs who are here today to join in our celebration.Then comes Dato’ Choong Chin Liang who is well known to have set up the heart fund in Lions Club of Ipoh Host. The third Dato’ Dr Foo Wan Kien, known as the District Governor for two centuries from 1999 to 2000.
During being term he created time capsule with a
monument in D.R. Seenivasagam Park where prominent Lions and friends of Lions have their palm prints embossed and was declared open by Tan Sri Dato' Seri DiRaja Tajol Rosli who was then the Chief Minister of Perak. During the celebration of the millennium time capsule the whole district carried the lights of hope to the new millennium in which 10,000 new year cards were sent all over the world to promote Malaysia under the slogan of “the glorious past and the bright future”.
Dato’ Foo also established an education fund which today stands at RM350,000.00 and had benefited many students. The Chairman of this project was Lion Dato’ Choong Chin Liang. Part of the fund was raised from donations and also by the creation of Ipoh Motor Fair. The highlight of the Fair at that time was Michelle Yeoh being crowned as Miss Lions Motor Fair and we believe that was her first crown. She later became Miss Malaysia and the famous James Bond girl.
The Club had also built a Lions Home and has lease the Home to the Ray of Hope for a nominal rental so that the Ray of Hope can utilize the same for children with special needs. The early efforts for the home were initiated by Lau Man Wah and Andy Lim Choong Soo and was finally completed through the effort of T. Sriskanda and Foo Wan Shoon.
We sponsored many Lions clubs including the Lioness club of Ipoh. The first formal meeting of the 10 Lady Lions was on the 3rd November, 1976 at Ipoh Club under the guidance of the then Dynamic District Chairman for Lioness Clubs Programme Lion G.F. Pillay, Lion President Dr. Foo Look Lam, Lions Louis Putra, Frank Cowie and Mr. Ramanathan. The 10 Lady Lions, Juliet Putra, Maggie Foo, Edith Fatimah Naburi, Yvonne Lau, Mary Cowie, Florence Soh, Saroja Chandran, Mallika Subash Rajam, Retnam and Chong Siew Lam were briefed on the Lioness Programme and it was chartered on 26th February, 1977 with Lioness Juliet Putra as its chartered President.
We have also sponsored 4 Leo Clubs namely Leo Club of Anderson Ipoh, Ava Maria Convent Ipoh, Idris Shah Gopeng and Sam Tet Ipoh with the Leo Club of Anderson being the oldest Leo Club in District 308 B2.
During the Clubs 25th Anniversary, a Green Run was carried out as a journey for the Old Folks and monies raised were utilized for the Old Folk funds. The project was initiated by Vincent Kok.
The Clubs had also organized a charity Drive to Phuket wherein Lions from our Sister Club Singapore North East joined us together with the Lioness on this magical drive to Phuket.
Fifty members and their friends had flown to Medan on an inaugural flight by the then Pelangi Air. It was a record number that flew out and this feat has never been repeated. This trip was held during the term of T. Sriskanda. In his term he also initiated the raising of funds for five (5) heart patients, another record for a term.
The Club also organized a Miss Tourism Perak during the term of Justin Khoo. The man behind the event was none other than Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Yom Ahmad a prominent member of our Club. Another prominent member, Dato Gan Tack Kong was the chief judge. The funds raised which was RM50,000.00 was given away to a few charitable homes in Perak.
The club had organized a very successful Treasurer Hunt to Danok, Thailand which till today is still talked about by those who participated.
We also had Recycled Presidents who have come forward again and again to take up the post of President. The hat trick record holder is none other than G. Kannassen. Our current President and the first lady President Emily Kong Phooi Lai has emulated the effort of G. Kannesan.
Then have been many more projects carried out over the years. Some in the 60’s and 70’ as mentioned earlier. Some in the 80’s and 90’s and of course those carried out in the 21st century by our young Lions such as Ong Teng Boon and Raymond Lau both Past Presidents.
During the last term of Emily Kong Phooi Lai, the club carried out a record of one hundred thirty four (134) projects and activities. Again another record was created. Our membership has grown during Emily Kong Phooi Lai’s term from 34 to 64.
We have recorded these ever lasting memories in the pictures elaborately displayed in our 50th anniversary magazine since as they say a picture paints a thousand words.
What we are proud of now is immortalized in these famous words of Henry Ford:-
Coming together is a beginning;
keeping together is progress;
working together is success.
Our Club was established with a strong footing led by some very committed Lions who were also professionals holding important positions in the society like Frank Cowie, the City Council Chief Engineer who had established our system of administration that had governed our club for the past many years; 
gun also known as a talkathon, during his years he had set up a district disaster fund to help the Vietnamese refugees and he has also started the twinning with many overseas sister clubs who are here today to join in our celebration.Then comes Dato’ Choong Chin Liang who is well known to have set up the heart fund in Lions Club of Ipoh Host. The third Dato’ Dr Foo Wan Kien, known as the District Governor for two centuries from 1999 to 2000.
monument in D.R. Seenivasagam Park where prominent Lions and friends of Lions have their palm prints embossed and was declared open by Tan Sri Dato' Seri DiRaja Tajol Rosli who was then the Chief Minister of Perak. During the celebration of the millennium time capsule the whole district carried the lights of hope to the new millennium in which 10,000 new year cards were sent all over the world to promote Malaysia under the slogan of “the glorious past and the bright future”.
During the last term of Emily Kong Phooi Lai, the club carried out a record of one hundred thirty four (134) projects and activities. Again another record was created. Our membership has grown during Emily Kong Phooi Lai’s term from 34 to 64.
