THE roar of Tonbridge's most prolific fundraising group will reverberate around the borough next month – when it celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Tonbridge Lions, which has raised more than £1million for worthy causes since it was founded in 1950, will kick-start its special year with a Charter Day dinner dance at Salomons, in Southborough, on March 6.

Members of the group, the first and one of the biggest in England, are a familiar site across the town as they organise the carnival, triathlon and senior singles night.

They even proved key in getting double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes to parade the area in an open-top bus following her Athens triumph in 2004.

This is because, without their marshalling prowess, the council wouldn't have let the event go ahead.

And now the 60-strong group, whose members range in age from their mid-40s into the late-90s, is looking for more worthy causes to help and donate money to, in between marking their milestone anniversary.

Michael Adams, who has been a member for 43 years, said: "2010 is a big year for us as the Lions is a big part of the social fabric of the town.

"To help mark the year, we'll be installing six wooden benches across the borough and hosting a reception on April 16 to thank everyone who has helped us over the years."

The group was founded by town hairdresser Charles Addy who'd been inspired by the stories he heard about the Lions from American and Canadian soldiers in the Second World War.

Early fundraising events saw television celebrities such as Ronnie Corbett come down from London to play in charity football matches, pile of pennies competitions and a "win a car" raffle.

Although the events have changed as the years have rolled on, the club's motto has not altered from the "We Serve" that is pledged by new members.

And the current crop of Lions do exactly that by, among other things, helping to produce a talking newspaper and collecting recyclable paper and out-of-date spectacles.

"Another of the great things about the Lions is, when we send money to help with problems abroad, it goes directly to the Lions clubs in their country," added Mr Adams.

"When the earthquake hit in Haiti, the money went to our Lions people over there so they could carry out work. It means it doesn't get stuck in government and corrupt officials."

But those interested in joining should be warned they are not in for an easy ride.

"It's not a social club. When someone says they want to join, we explain exactly what it is we do and how much will be expected of them," he added.

"For example, everyone is expected to belong to at least one sub-committee.

"Of course, we have fun along the way. We hold a social dinner with a speaker every month, when the wives are invited.

"But what we don't want is fly-by-nights who join for a couple of years and then leave. We're after people who will stay with us for a long time."