About our Club
Soroptimist International (SI) of Central and South West London, were both established as VENTURE Clubs in 1927. The first Venture Club was Bristol followed by Croydon.
The first President of the Central London Venture Club was a Mrs Florence Rutter. Her category was London Manager of the Spirella Corset Company, and a member of its Board of Directors. At that time she was also an International member of the Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.
In 1930 discussions began for the amalgamation of Venture and Soroptimist Clubs. Member of Central London were not happy with some of the proposals, and letters of resignation came from 15 members.
Mrs Florence Rutter became the First President of Soroptimist/Venture Club of Central London, and over many years, at her own expense, assisted with the establishment of several overseas clubs. These included: Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in Australia, Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand, and Geneva in Switzerland. She charted the Auckland Club.
In the early days both clubs arranged joint meetings and social events. The historical volumes identify the close association with the House of Commons and House of Lords and these included Margaret Bondfield and Isabell MacDonald (both Honorary members of SI Central), Edith Pitt, Lady Astor, Betty (later Baroness) Lockwood and Dame Margery Corbett-Ashby.
Some of the volumes are missing in respect of Central, and also of South West London, but several members represented the Central Club at regional, Federation and International level.
- Stella Lange, President, first President of London Chilterns’ Divisional Union, and FBI Federation, Hon Treasurer.
- Dulcia Hudson, an Honorary member who helped develop the Friendship Book, and lived to the ripe age of 103 years.
- Baroness Betty Lockwood.
- Rose Coombs, a Past President, and her work and publications at the Imperial War Museum.
- Shirley Hewitt, International Hon Secretary when Hilda Richardson was President.
In 1991, the Soroptimist/Venture Clubs of Central and South West London came together as one Club. The Venture links have contributed to the bringing together. In spite of some problems in recruitment, we continue the Soroptimist/Venture aims and objectives in a new Millennium. In 2007 celebrated our 80th Anniversary.
Nowadays, we meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Soroptimist Residential Club, 63 Bayswater Road, London W2 3 PH, at 7.00 pm. Generally we have a speaker followed by business meeting, ending at about 9.00 pm. We welcome all guests who want to attend our meetings.
For more information please contact us at
www.soroptimist-csw-london.org.uk
Our Federation e-mail: hq@soroptimistgbi.prestel.co.uk
Our Federation website: www.soroptimist-gbi.org
Programme Action website: www.soroptimist-ukpac.org
International e-mail: hq@soroptimistinternational.org
International website: www.soroptimistinternational.org