My Life: Keith Hindle

TO SPEND half your life dedicating your time to charity work is no  mean feat.

But for Keith Hindle, a former local government officer at  Blackburn with Darwen Council, he thinks nothing of volunteering  thousands of hours in unpaid time during his 34 years of involvement with Accrington Lionswww.accringtonlions.org.uk

The 61-year-old, who lives in Fountain Street, Accrington with his  wife Ann to whom he has been married to for the past 39 years,  talks about his passions and how allowing women into the group for  the first time has forced one member to resign.

Q. What time do you get up?

A. I am retired now so I don't have to really get up at a specified time but it's not usually late - I'm not one to stay in bed. I've been involved in the Lions since 1972 so that's always kept me busy  but it's one thing that I would never change if I was given the  opportunity do so - I've loved every minute of being involved.

Q. What's your daily routine?

A. I am the secretary of the group which involves writing and  receiving letters but there's so much more to it than that. The  carnival we host once every two years takes a huge amount of  organising but it's a fantastic way of raising money for charity  and boosting our profile. Most of the people of Hyndburn now know  who we are through the carnival.

Q. What do you love about the role?

A. My uncle was a member of the Lions and it was him that inspired  me to join. I love the satisfaction element it brings from knowing  you're doing things to help others. The friendships that I have made  over the years by being involved in the Lions has also been a good  part. I certainly still keep in touch with the friends I've made  along the way.

We recently started to allow women into the group which I'm all for  and we've now got two women involved out of a total of 27 members.  But there are still some people who tend to think rather traditionally - so much so that one member is going to resign in  June because we are allowing women to be part of the group. In t oday's day and age we can't discriminate against someone just  because of their sex. We welcome all colours and creeds into the  group.

Q. What's the strangest / funniest thing that's ever happened to you?

A. We were picking up an elderly woman who we were taking on a trip  on a Sunday to a Lancashire County Council holiday home in  Morecambe. I used to do the transport and went to a house and  knocked on the door. But when  we got there she kept saying she didn't want to come. The person I  was with kept saying 'of course you do, get your coat on you'll be  alright once you're there'. Anyway she was adamant she didn't want to  come with us. It was only when we saw the woman next door saying ' it's me that's supposed to be going on the trip' that we realised we  were in the wrong house. Looking back on it that was really funny.

Q. What has been your proudest moment?

A. I've been president of the Lions twice and to be re-elected for a  second year was a very proud moment for me. It was for the  Millennium as well which made it very special and meant I could be  president during the carnival. I'd never had chance to see the  carnival before because I'm usually standing in the fields doing  some kind of duty so that was nice.

Q. What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

A. I've been given lots of advice over the years but I'd definitely  say to somebody else not to jump into things. If your not sure  about something the best piece of advice would be to take time out  to think it through first.