Bridgend Soroptimists were delighted to take part in the Porthcawl Rotary Christmas Tree Festival. The festival runs from 30 November until 5 December in All Saints church. The tree celebrated 100 years of Soroptimist International and, thanks to some of our crafty members, was decorated with silver 100s and blue and yellow bows.
Members enjoyed an interesting talk on zoom from Phil Pope from the charity Tools for Self-Reliance Cymru. This is an independent charity based in Crickhowell which collects old or unwanted tools from Wales, refurbishes them and sends them to Tanzania. The tools vastly improve the livelihoods of carpenters, tailors, blacksmiths, mechanics, builders, shoe repairers, plumbers and many more. Sewing machines are most welcome at all times as they enable women to produce clothing and household furnishings for their families and also to sell on at markets. The women also work in the field with the equipment Tools for Self-Reliance provide. The organisation was started 35 years ago when a British student visited Tanzania. One evening, by chance, she encountered the Minister for the Interior for Tanzania, got chatting and between her love of the country and the Minister’s keenness to develop the lives of the
President Gaynor laid a poppy wreath on behalf of SI Bridgend at the Remembrance Day service held at the Cenotaph in Bridgend on Sunday 14th November. Rayner Rees joined her with a number of other members attending services in Porthcawl and elsewhere in the area.
President Gaynor was delighted to congratulate Rayner Rees on her appointment to the Board of Trustees at Pipal Tree at our Club meeting on 10th November. Presenting her with a bouquet of flowers, President Gaynor said, “We are very proud of you, Rayner, and are sure you will be a great asset to Pipal Tree. This will also help to strengthen our links with the charity even further and we look forward to regular updates.” Rayner said, “I was delighted and honoured when Philip Homes asked me to join the board of trustees for Pipal Tree. I have worked closely with Philip and fully support the amazing work that he undertakes in Nepal. I am a proud Soroptimist and the work that Pipal Tree is doing through the Empowering Girls in Nepal programme in Kathmandu fits in beautifully with our Soroptimist aims ‘to improve the
Bridgend Soroptimists’ Club Meeting at Heronston Hotel on 10th November was a great success. Turkey Dinners and Christmas Crackers saw 20 members enjoying fun and friendship with lots of laughter. As well as the usual business agenda, President Gaynor congratulated Rayner Rees on her appointment to the Board of Trustees at Pipal Tree. Well Done Rayner.
Bridgend Soroptimists enjoyed an evening of (virtual) celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of Soroptimist International. We began with the Centenary Play “100 Years of Soroptimist Heroines” – a Soroptimist History play for Zoom, devised by Sue Challoner of SI Runcorn Frodsham and SIGBI Centenary history and website editor. The cast of Soroptimist Heroines was played by members of SI Bridgend. Through the voices of some remarkable women, the play took us on the journey of how this amazing international organisation dedicated to fighting for women’s rights and gender equality developed. The evening concluded with a candle lighting ceremony to congratulate Soroptimist International on her 100th birthday. Four candles were lit – one for Soroptimist International, one for our Federation of Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI), one for our region of Wales South and one for our club, Soroptimist International Bridgend. We were
What a powerful way to start the new term with such an inspirational speaker! Rachel Williams, founder of SUTDA (Stand Up To Domestic Abuse) and ambassador/facilitator of The Freedom Programme, told her incredible story and how it led her to set up SUTDA and become a leading advocate in the campaign against domestic violence. She campaigns tirelessly with a number of petitions to create change and is committed to ending domestic abuse. We urge you to read her book The Devil At Home and visit https://sutda.org/ and play your part in stopping domestic abuse. Rachel, you have inspired Bridgend Soroptimists to continue our work with women’s refuges and to stand up and be a voice for women against violence.
Bridgend Soroptimists support the Soroptimist International’s statement on the situation in Afghanistan. The rights of women and girls in Afghanistan must be protected – read the SI statement her https://sigbi.org/2021/afghanistan/
We are sorry to announce that our dear friend Carys Brown passed away on 5th August following a recent diagnosis of MND. Carys was a dedicated Soroptimist and much loved member of SI Bridgend and Immediate Past President Sharon Dixon echoes all our thoughts as she pays this personal tribute to Carys. As many of you know Carys Brown was a true Soroptimist – an ambassador who was always willing to go the extra mile. When Carys became a Soroptimist in 2000 who would have thought that she’d go on to such great things in the name of Soroptimism. She was definitely a leading light and a force to be reckoned with. She was SI Bridgend club President in 2005-6. She became the Regional President for Wales South from 2010 to 2011. Again I’ve heard great things about her Regional Presidency. Carys has also held
Thirty Bridgend Soroptimists were delighted to eb able to enjoy a summer outing at last. On 28th July, members visited Llantrisant Guild Hall and Museum with local historian and author Dean Powell. Dean is well known for his journalistic experience and was able to bring the history of Llantrisant to life. Afterwards they enjoyed a delicious, socially-distanced tea in the local Church Hall. This occasion was the first time Club members have been able to meet up face-to-face, having met throughout the pandemic on Zoom.
