THE tireless fund-raisers of the Northallerton Lioness Club are celebrating some good fortune of their own.

The group of 24 women have been re-united with their long-lost charter after it was rediscovered in an old pub cupboard.

The club was formed almost 27 years ago and during that time has held its monthly meeting at several local venues, including the Black Bull on the town’s High Street.

And landlord Shaun Orton was renovating a disused upstairs function room when he made the discovery in a long forgotten cupboard.

“The room can’t have been used for 20 years and the items I found in the cupboard had clearly been there, untouched, for a long time,” he said.

He made some inquiries and contacted the Lionesses – who were only too happy to reclaim their charter together with the Northallerton armorial arms and a certificate of appreciation from a former president of Lions International.

“It was a great surprise,” said Lioness club president Beryl Newnham, a member for 26 years.

“We had no idea where the charter was and it was very much missed – particularly when we were celebrating our silver anniversary a couple of years ago.”

The club currently meets at Rivendale in Northallerton and has raised £110,000 for a wide variety of local, national and international charities since it was formed.

And its charter will now be proudly on show at its monthly meetings and other events.