HUGE Congratulations to President Eirwen and all members of SI Bangor & District who raised over £8,800 for various charities during Eirwen’s term of office 2019/2020.  Special mention of the donations of £4,000 to The Lung Cancer Ward and £4,500 for the Special Care Baby Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd, our local hospital in Bangor. Wishing our new President Diane Davies best wishes for yet another successful year in 2020.

The talk at our Tuesday club meeting was given by Commander David Seaborn Davies (Dai). He had many amazing insights and stories to tell us about what it is like to protect the members of the Royal Family as they go about their royal duties at home and abroad. He is one of the world’s foremost experts in Security and Protection with a career spanning over 45 years culminating in the Operational Commander in charge of Royal Protection for HM The Queen and the other members of the Royal Family .

The Christmas Craft Fair and the Chocolate Tombola stall were both very well supported at Ysbyty Gwynedd. An amazing £1,000 was raised for the Lung Cancer Unit at the hospital.   Thank you to all members of SI Bangor for their contributions to the stalls and their help at both events.

The buffet for our trip in November at Yr Llechan / The Slate was so nice, we were here again for our Xmas celebrations, this time with a sumptuous three course meal. What a lovely way to to finish the year.

Members of the club were hard at work to help make Christmas a happier time for women who are in refuge this Christmas. We prepared 15 food bags each containing a large box of biscuits, Christmas pudding, mince pies , carton of custard and a stollen. Our Bangor branch of Women’s Aid would be distributing them to their families in need in time for the celebrations. We also made up 30 bags containing basic essential toiletry items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, sanitary wear, towels and flannels. Women often arrive at the refuge with nothing as they escape from an abusive situation so these bags are a godsend.

A very successful Fashion Show was held at The Royal Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge on 8 October. A grand total of £1,600 was raised for President Eirwen’s charity the Special Care Baby Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd. A big thank you to Eirwen and Staff at ELSA and all members of SI Bangor for all their help and support.

Members had a very informative tour of the Aber Falls Distillery followed by a gin tasting session (as the whisky has to mature for 3 years and will not be ready until 2021). Afterwards we went to Y Llechan / The Slate nearby for a tasty buffet dinner. Leftover food was taken to St Mary’s Hostel for the homeless in Bangor.

Twelve guests from the Carers Outreach Service came to our ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ evening on 17 September.  Sonia Williams, CMB Consultant, gave us some very interesting and great ideas on make-up, hair colour, wardrobe colours and styles.  Afterwards, to celebrate Enid’s 97th birthday in style, we had a buffet and birthday cake. At the end of an enjoyable evening President Eirwen was able to present Llinos Roberts of Carers Outreach with a donation of £200.

The first meeting following the Summer break was a friendship evening to catch up over a delicious home made buffet prepared by the social committee. Members from neighbouring clubs Anglesey and Llandudno joined us and enjoyed a light-hearted fun quiz. Leftover buffet food was donated to the local homeless hostel and gratefully received.