We served coffee and cake, and had a raffle, the proceeds of which went to 75 for 75 Appeal.

We tried on and bought clothes, shoes, hats and jewellery and made £250, which will go towards our next PA project for Carers First. I’m sure we will be repeating this format for fundraising.

Sevenoaks members also visited the ‘Monday Afternooners’ at their Bromley venue. Fiona Waite, a ‘brass specialist’, worked with the Bromley group to make their own brass rubbings.  The results can be seen in the picture below.

The visit ended with a cream tea, prepared and served by Sevenoaks members Ann Hines, Pauline Payne and Isobel White.  The whole event was much enjoyed by all, as the pictures show.

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Installed in November, Sandra’s career was in the legal profession.  She is now resposible for organising volunteers at Knole House in Sevenoaks, a well-known National Trust poroperty.  The photograph shows Sandra (left) with outgoing Club President, Ann Hines.

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Judging the speeches made by the contestants were Jan Day (Regional President SISEE) and Jacque Emery, Syllabus Manager and Chief Examiner LAMDA Examinations (also Vice President of SI Canterbury).

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In the Years 9 – 11 age-group, the winner, sponsored by Sevenoaks, was Olivia Ogunko (shown above with the judges).

In the Sixth Form category, second place went to Charlie Hall, another contestant sponsored by Sevenoaks (shown right).

Both girls are students at Tonbridge Grammar School.

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The final picture shows the successful contestants from Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells clubs, together with the respective club presidents. Also shown (extreme right) is Barbara Mitchener of Sevenoaks Club, who is a former headteacher of Tonbridge Grammar School!

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The BBQ day was an event held by Carers First for Young Carers and their families. A school in Tunbridge Wells – Sherwood Park – lets them hold the event there.

They had a lot of stalls, run by staff or volunteers. Face painters which were very popular. The event was free; the children had a card which ticked off the stalls they had been on.

A burger van supplied the food, together with a lot of salads prepared by the volunteers.

They charged £1 for Raffle tickets for the bike and helmet which we had supplied were £1 each. (They were going to give the tickets free but we thought it was better to charge.) A free raffle had lots of donated prizes.

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Everyone was told that the bike was donated by Sevenoaks Soroptimists. I drew all the raffle tickets and presented the bike. It certainly caused quite a lot of interest.

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The picnic took place on Southborough Common after 20 children, all Young Carers, had been to Temper Temper to learn how to make chocolates. We funded a picnic made on platters and set out for children. They seemed to enjoy it!

Afterwards, they had a tug of war and played rounders. So, again, a very good day - the children were all very appreciative, as were the staff. Some took home ‘goodie bags’.

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It was also nice to welcome: Jan Day our Regional President (picture immediately below) and husband;

Denise Staplehurst (Regional Membership and Federation Cllr) picture below left;

Sevenoaks Mayor, Cllr Ann Dawson (see above right);

and, from our daughter club SI Tunbridge Wells, President Ann Sayer (see second photo above right).

ANN HINES – CLUB PRESIDENT

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Soroptimists in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells showed their support for the battle against violence against women at a special theatre production at Trinity Arts Centre.

To coincide with production of Hurried Steps by New Shoes Theatre they presented the Women’s Refuge in Tunbridge Wells with a cheque for £308.

Hurried Steps by Dacia Maraini was staged to support the International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women and Amnesty International’s Stop Violence against Women campaign.

It was very fitting that the clubs supported the refuge as the movement was initiated in London by a fellow Soroptimist Erin Prizzey.

Tunbridge Wells President Ann Sayer said: “We were fundamental in helping to form the Tunbridge Wells branch and have been involved ever since.”

Sevenoaks President Ann Hines said that the group for business and professional women wanted to raise awareness and help those who had had experienced domestic violence. She said: “The production was timely and seemed an ideal place to give the money. The theatre was also collecting for the refuge. Anyone could have attended the production but obviously it attracted mainly women of like minds.”

The money was raised by a raffle at a charity bridge drive at the Kippington Centre, Sevenoaks.

This hard hitting, powerful play featured true stories about violence from different parts of the world. After the performance there was an interactive session with a panel of

experts and the audience.

Afterwards the Soroptimists presented their cheque and Ann Sayer explained how members were using their expertise for advancing human rights and the status of women worldwide and the different ways they supported the refuge.

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In house: Jackie Refuge representative, Ann Hines, President of Sevenoaks SI and Ann Sayer, President of Tunbridge Wells SI by a mosaic depicting domestic violence issues.

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Soroptimists in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells showed their support for the battle against violence against women at a special theatre production at Trinity Arts Centre.

To coincide with production of Hurried Steps by New ShoesTheatre they presented the Women’s Refuge in Tunbridge Wells with a cheque for £308.

Hurried Steps by Dacia Maraini was staged to support the International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women and Amnesty International’s Stop Violence against Women campaign.

It was very fitting that the clubs supported the refuge as the movement was initiated in London by a fellow Soroptimist Erin Prizzey.

Tunbridge Wells President Ann Sayer said: “We were fundamental in helping to form the Tunbridge Wells branch and have been involved ever since.”

Sevenoaks President Ann Hines said that the group for business and professional women wanted to raise awareness and help those who had had experienced domestic violence.

She said: “The production was timely and seemed an ideal place to give the money. The theatre was also collecting for the refuge. Anyone could have attended the production but obviously it attracted mainly women of like minds.”

The money was raised by a raffle at a charity bridge drive at the Kippington Centre, Sevenoaks.

This hard hitting, powerful play featured true stories about violence from different parts of the world. After the performance there was an interactive session with a panel ofexperts and the audience.

Afterwards the Soroptimists presented their cheque and Ann Sayer explained how members were using their expertise for advancing human rights and the status of women worldwide and the different ways they supported the refuge.

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Welcome to our new website.  So far, you will find information about the history of our club, a message from our President, details of our officers and a list of club events.

Watch this space – more will follow shortly.