A member of Keighley Lions has enlisted the help of a local councillor to stop him speaking double dutch.

Michael Walton wants to make a welcoming impression in Dutch when a fellow Lion from Holland visits these shores.

His plans were going Edam-shaped until Bradford councillor Clive Richardson stepped in to help him with the lingo.

Michael explains: "I was really struggling to find someone who could teach me a bit of Dutch, and then Clive stepped in. I am using some language tapes to get a feel for the language and Clive is sending me some simple transcripts to practice with. I'm not going to say an awful lot."

As an area representative for the Lions, Michael has the honour of welcoming International Director Peter Vuurenes to the district convention in Hull next month. "It is just something I would like to do out of courtesy because good manners cost nothing," Michael says.

The former president of Keighley Lions is also donning a pair of clogs to make his welcome even more authentic.

Mr Vuurenes is making the trip over from Rotterdam especially for the convention, which will be attended by more than 200 Lions members from across Yorkshire and Humber-side.

Michael adds: "He knows our district very well and speaks very good English, but that is not the point. As an island we are very arrogant when it comes to other languages and I think it is time we changed that."

The convention will also be attended by the Government's 'drugs czar' and former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Keith Hellawell. He will inform members on how the Lions advisory council on alcohol, drugs and social education (TACADE) is progressing.

Mr Walton says Keighley Lions is still keen to hear from local women who would like to join the organisation. Since the doors were opened to women last year, three have become members of the organisation.

Anyone interested in joining Keighley Lions can contact Michael Walton on 01535 606538 or Allan Clark on 01535 670203.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.