During the last two years we have certainly learned to value the friendships that are part of being a Soroptimist and difference we can make to society. There is no substitute for meeting old friends  face to face, and sharing our projects and helping women and girls make a success of their lives. Our message now is Volunteer and Make Friends. As we start a new Soroptimist year and celebrate our Centenary, our first meeting at our new venue,  the Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel, will be on Tuesday July 6th. We care about victims of domestic abuse, food poverty, social isolation, the education of girls, the safety of women in the streets, the chance to combat racism —–and many issues common to the world.

Gay Wharton, pictured here with President Carole, was a former Mayoress and a valued member of S I Bolton. She lost her life one Friday in November as she crossed a pelican crossing near her home. Not only family mourned her death, but also do her many friends and fellow Soroptimists and the wider Bolton community. Many charities benefited from her tireless fundraising – as a Patron of Fortalice, a supporter of Community Kitchen’s food project for the homeless, and of Caritas. The evening before she died she was putting together Caritas parcels for women and babies. Gay featured in a recent book ‘100 Women’s Stories’ celebrating women who have made an impact in our town. We are the poorer for her loss, but the richer for her example as a valued member of our Club.

We have missed meeting our friends over the past year. Our Charter Dinner via Zoom had nearly sixty guests and and excellent Speaker. This is what it should have been like! The Conference in Belfast was something like this! A Book Evening gave us plenty of suggestions for lock down reading. A virtual Christmas Party kept us all together in spirit. Soroptimist International will be 100 years old this year!

Our members feeling rather isolated in lockdown were delighted to receive from the Mayor, Councillor Linda Thomas, a certificate thanking us for continuing to serve the people of Bolton as best we can. Collecting food for distribution by Urban Outreach is likely to become even more important as jobs are lost because of Covid 19 restrictions, and we will continue our support as long as is necessary. Our cheerful Cheese and Wine Party via Zoom last week raised a surprising amount of money which we have donated to two local charities CREATE BOLTON – supporting children and young people with learning difficulties, mental health conditions and life limiting illnesses through creative activities to keep them busy in lockdown. and THE ENDEAVOUR PROJECT – advising anyone suffering domestic abuse (which has become more prevalent as families are confined to their homes.           

Most of our usual social fundraising activities have ground to a halt and the many services our members do for the community are impossible at the moment. But Jane is volunteering on Wednesdays at Urban Outreach’s food parcels centre (they are distributing over 1,000 parcels per week) and collecting bags of supplies from members still confined at home. Our virtual Cheese and Wine Party via Zoom last week raised £180 ; Margaret won the Quiz by getting 60/60 marks, members brought their own cheese and wine, there were discussions about various types of cheese such as Wensleydale and Gay made an appeal for old newspapers to help someone who looks after abandoned hedgehogs. Yasmin told us how she is getting on locked down in the Seychelles. There is always plenty of chat at Soroptimist events. These are all pictures of things we are missing this