THORNBURY Lions will be celebrating a landmark in the club's history this weekend when they host a major convention.

Around 300 guests will be attending special events at the town's leisure centre, marking the 30th annual gathering of Lions clubs in Wales and the West England.

Lions International in the UK is divided into 13 districts with Thornbury being one of more than 60 clubs making up District 105W. Almost half the clubs are in South Wales with the remainder in the Bristol area and surrounding counties.

The convention begins this evening with a host night, featuring a "pearly" theme in line with the 30th anniversary.

"We shall be majoring on Pearly kings and queens and the East End and guests will be invited to dress appropriately for the occasion," said Thornbury Lions spokesman Les Jones.

"Members of North Avon Youth Theatre group are putting on an old tyme music hall and we shall also be entertained by a group called the Pearlies."

A business meeting takes place tomorrow along with a special trip for partners and proceedings round off in style tomorrow evening with a Grand Banquet and Ball.

"We have more than 150 guests coming to each event so obviously we are in for a very busy weekend," said Les. "To demonstrate that Lions really is an international organisation we even have three guests coming from Normandy."

A lapel pin depicting the Thornbury coat of arms and the Lion's logo has been specially commissioned for the convention.