Lionism began in the Cayman Islands in 1972 with the charter of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman. It was Lion Les Ward and Lion Bernard Cridland who used to fly in from Jamaica, and Lion Peter Balls from Grand Cayman who were responsible for the club being formed. A total of 50 men were recruited and on October 6, 1972, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman was sanctioned to be duly formed by Lions Clubs International with the induction of these charter members. Lion Tommy was chosen as its Charter President.
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman adopted Lions Club International’s signature project, Sight preservation and young Caren Thompson was sponsored to receive a cornea transplant in Jamaica – which was the first for someone from the Cayman Islands.
Lions continued their work in Vision Care with the commencement of sight screening in schools throughout the islands shortly after its charter and subsequently built the Eye Clinic located at the George Town Hospital.
In 1978, Lion Wilford Ryan donated a parcel of land located on Crewe Road for the purpose of erecting a building so that the Club could have its own meeting place. The Lions Community Centre was built and the facility was frequently used for outdoor concerts until the Club subsequently built the covered structure as it stands today and the original club house is still being used as the meeting place for the Lions Club of Grand Cayman
The second decade 1982 -1992
Commenced with the building of a house for Miss Kippy valued $20,000;
The largest fundraiser to date, the Benz a Rama was held featuring Country Singer Tannya Tucker;
Work commenced on the Lions Pool and expansion of the Lions Community Centre continued. The pool opened in January of 1986 and International President J Wroblewski and his partner in service were in attendance for the opening. During this decade the Lions Club of Grand Cayman also built and opened the Lions Eye Clinic.
In 1985, the Cayman Brac Lions Club was chartered.
The third decade 1992 -2002
Saw the expansion of Lionism in the Cayman Islands with the formation of the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens on April 16, 1993.
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman donated US$51,000 to Campaign Sight First and started the Big Brother Big Sister Programme
The Club’s 25th Anniversary Celebration saw the inception of the Thomas Hurlston Lionheart Award.
During this period the Club hosted its 1st ever Multiple District Convention.
Other notable projects between 1992 and 2002 included the Lions Quest programme, which was added to the curriculum of many schools, a Melvin Jones Fellowship was awarded to a Leo for the first time, the Leader Dog programme was launched and the club held its 1st Intl Golf Tournament.
The Fourth Decade 2002 – 2012
The fourth decade commenced with the induction of the first two female Members who went on to become the first female Directors two years later.
The Club started its Lions Reading Hour within the districts; Re-established visits to elderly people; built the foundation for a Newlands House Project and Built a wheelchair ramp for a disabled person.
Also during this decade there were some historic 1st events : Cayman got its 1st District Governor when Lion John Ebanks become DG for the 2007-2008; Lion John subsequently went to also become Cayman’s 1st and only Council Chairperson; 1st Annual Fishing for Community Service fundraising tournament a joint project with the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman; Lion Deborah Ebanks became the Club’s 1st Female President; and the club held its 1st Corporate Sports Day.
Members of the Club participated in a region project in Jamaica after Hurricane Dean.
The Club hosted a LCI Film Crew who were on island to film Cayman Lions Family projects.
This decade also saw the emergence of the PACCE Delano Hislop Memorial Journey for Life walk/run.
The first five years of the fifth decade 2012-2017
This decade brought the creation of the club’s Food Pantry; a revitalised Geriatric Programme and successful Benzaramas.
On 1st July 2017 after many years of lobbying the Cayman Lions Family was granted Zone status thus becoming Zone 4C District 60B Multiple District 60 and Grand Cayman Club was the Home Club of the Inaugural Zone Chair of Zone 4C.
The Club welcomed it’s first school based Leo Club with the induction of 35 members on October 14th. The Club replaced 20+ year old eye equipment valued at US$25K to the Lions Eye Clinic.
The John Ebanks Humanitarian Award was established in honour of Lion John Ebanks, PMJF, PCC. The club installed a Charter Member Plaque in a prominent place at the front of the centre.
The Restoration Committee, which focuses its efforts on small building repairs in the community, was formed. The Ms Kippy Memorial Foundation offering an Education Scholarship was launched and the Club received its largest single donation in the Clubs’ history of US$175,000.00 thanks to the HSBC Charitable Foundation.
With an enthusiastic membership the Cayman Community continues to be the beneficiary of many notable projects by the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.