STALWART Lion, Linda Cross, is to receive a top honour from the international club when she is made district governor during a ceremony in Hong Kong.

The 60-year-old member of the Kidderminster and District Lions Club will be one of 750 new district governors to be inducted at the international convention at the end of June.

Mrs Cross, a teacher from Stourport, became a Lion nine years ago after the once male-only club opened its doors to women.

She has been a keen supporter of the club for much longer, however, as her husband, Ron, has been a Lion for 18 years and is, himself, a past district governor.

"I am very much looking forward to my year," said Mrs Cross, "I will take advice from my husband and from other past district governors and then I will make my own mind up about how to do things."

Her duties will entail her visiting the 65 clubs in the Midlands district to offer support and advice and she will also work with the district's cabinet of officers involved in particular fund raising initiatives.

In Hong Kong, Mrs Cross will undergo training to prepare her for her year in office, which starts with her induction on July 1.

Mr Cross will accompany her to the convention, after which they will fly to Sri Lanka to see how the £30,000 raised locally by Lions for the tsunami victims is being spent.

They hope to stay with Lions in the devastated town of Hikkaduwa, which Lions in Wyre Forest and surrounding areas have, coincidentally, supported since 1986 with sponsorship for the education of orphans and children from poor families.

"I have never been to that part of the world before and I am very much looking forward to it," said Mrs Cross.