PCC Lion Mike Cooke – 40 not out! 

Way back in 1970 a budding young architect by the name of Mike Cooke was asked to visit a neighbour’s property with a view to doing some work. The name of that neighbour was Vic Weekes, a member of the City of Birmingham Lions Club, and Mike noticed his house appeared to be full of Lions stuff. Intrigued Mike asked Vic what Lions was all about and that was it, as they say, Mike was hooked and January 1971 Lion Vic inducted Mike into the City of Birmingham Lions Club. With the demise of that Club, Mike transferred to Shirley Lions and in January 2011, celebrated 40 years not out as a Lion.

The link with Vic still exists today as Sue Luckett (nee Weekes) Vic’s daughter, is a member of Shirley Lions, as is her husband, Zone Chairman Andy Luckett. To celebrate Mike’s “40 not out ” Lions Andy and Sue held a party for Mike and Mavis at their home, where around 50 fellow Lions and friends of Lions joined Mike in a glass or two. As well as the traditional 40 years chevron, Shirley’s President Lion Martin Conlon presented Mike with a framed caricature of Mike on Shirley’s Christmas Sleigh. As Martin explained Mike is the only member of the Club who doesn’t have to wear a false white beard when taking his turn as Santa!