On Monday 26th September at our Club Meeting, we welcomed two new members.   Funlola has been attending meetings for a while and we are delighted that she has now officially transferred from SI Lagos.  We also welcomed Laurence as a new member, and she is already showing an interest in the work that we do.  As is our usual practice they both told us a bit about themselves which is always interesting and helps us get to know our new members and why they want to join us. .

  At the Regional Meeting on 25th June three of our newer members shared why they enjoy being a Bristol Soroptimist   Lynda Bryan Brown What I enjoy about being a Soroptimist, is the mixture of a very welcoming, friendly and sociable environment and the charitable activities for both local and national women who are in difficult circumstances for a range of different reasons.Andrea ElsonWhen I was invited to attend one of the supper/ speaker evenings last year, I immediately felt the friendliness of everybody and was given a warm welcome. I am so happy and honoured to have been accepted to join such a worthwhile organisation as Soroptimist International. I hope in the future I will be a useful member and will do my best to strive to make sure this happens. Jess Amey Watch this space for Jess’s comments.

On the 17th May 2022, Lizzie C, our Communications Officer and Webmaster, was awarded the Lord Mayor’s medal for extraordinary longstanding and selfless volunteering. The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Steve Smith read the citation and gave Lizzie her medal and certificate.     Lizzie has been a very active Soroptimist since 2008. As President of SI Bristol in 2013, she rose to the challenge set by SIGBI when they sought support for campaigning (in conjunction with the Prison Reform Trust) to reduce women’s imprisonment. She organised several events, finding her connections with Magistrates invaluable especially as the Lead Magistrate involved with the Eden House Women’s Project. She was also the principal organiser of the Gift Box in support of the charity Unseen. Her other voluntary activities include involvement in Redland Junior High School including involvement with the annual surf camp.  She was

On the 18th May we visited the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity emergency base in Almondsbury.     Teams of Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care & Critical Care Doctors provide incredible care using emergency care cars & helicopter.  On the 8th February 2021 we welcomed Joe who spoke at our Speaker Meeting please look at our post as there is lots more there for you to see.

On Tuesday 10th May, six members from SI Bristol and three members from SI Weston-super-Mare met at Christ Church Clifton and participated in a tour around a small section of Clifton Village. The 90-minute walk was led by Marion. A colourful map of Clifton was handed out. We learnt several interesting things, including that there was a riding school, owned by Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company on Clifton Road, which in its heyday housed 250 horses. And, when Boyce’s Building was built it was located on a breezy plateau with amazing views looking to the north west. The walk was enjoyed by all present and ended in a congenial lunch out-of-doors.  

Sue, coming to the end of her third term as President of the Soroptimist Club of Bristol was chosen to be one of 96 women to receive Maundy money at a traditional service held on the Thursday 14th April prior to Easter at St George’s chapel, Windsor .       She was chosen by the Bishop of Bristol, and approved by the office of HM in recognition of significant roles within the local and wider community, including chairing of the quadrennial Soroptimist International Convention in Dublin in 2023 and support of her parish church.   For the first time, the two leather purses were given at the service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor by the Prince of Wales on behalf of the Queen.