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Trees are Planted Around Bristol to Celebrate SI Bristol’s Centenary

Trees are Planted Around Bristol to Celebrate SI Bristol’s Centenary

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As part of our centenary celebrations we have had various tree projects during the year mainly led by Ivete and a further tree project led by Maureen. The first tree was planted following a television documentary “The Queen’s Green Planet”.  The Queen and David Attenborough invited the public to plant a tree to contribute to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy https://queenscommonwealthcanopy.org/  Ivete and her husband Reg, donated an English Oak tree to contribute to this venture and also as part of our centenary activities. The tree was planted in the autumn in the Muller Road Recreational Grounds, a relatively deprived area of Bristol. The second planting was organised by Maureen through the Forest of Avon Trust.  SI Bristol dedicated 32 native trees to community woodlands.  One tree for each of our members and to celebrate our 100th anniversary.  In March President Marion, President Elect Sue P

Speaker meeting 8th March 2021:  Tyntesfield Trees – Chris Watts

Speaker meeting 8th March 2021:  Tyntesfield Trees – Chris Watts

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Chris started by telling us a bit about the history of the Tyntesfield Estate.  The house was built for William Gibbs and completed in 1884.  The estate was purchased by the National Trust in 2002.  There are 37 labels from the original trees planted in the late 1800s.  There is a huge selection of trees with beautiful foliage and flowers and look stunning when they are at their best.  Some parts of the estate are the same as they were originally including some of the tree walks.   A few of the trees in the laurel walk have been replaced by taking cuttings from the original trees.  The holly walk is 140 years old and some of the hollies have also been replaced. He told us about ancient, veteran and champion trees.  They have an oak which is an ancient tree. Ancient trees are very old

International Women’s Day 8th March 2021

International Women’s Day 8th March 2021

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International Women’s Day 8th March 2021 Once again Soroptimist International of Bristol join Bristol Women’s Voice to mark International Women’s Day. Across the world thousands of Soroptimists will mark International Women’s Day with hundreds of activities and events on and around 8th March.  In some countries just gathering puts women’s lives at risk. Events highlight the economic, political and social achievements of women, and raise awareness of work still to be done to build a better world for women and girls. Due to the pandemic members of Soroptimist International of Bristol are marking this very special day in a different way to that originally planned.  Below is the link to a  short video (1.35 minutes) we have made to support  the rights  of women to equal treatment, their right to respected and their achievements in society with the theme “We Choose to Challenge”.  If you can’t open the

Speaker Meeting February 8th 2021: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity – Joe Hughes

Speaker Meeting February 8th 2021: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity – Joe Hughes

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The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is a registered charity providing the Critical Care and air ambulance service across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. Joe opened by telling us that the air ambulance brings the patient to the hospital and the hospital to the patient – a flying emergency department.    He captured our interest and told us of “Chris’s Story” in two parts.  This is a simplified version.  In the first part when Chris had a cardiac arrest his wife Sue performed cardiac massage in the first instance and then a number of emergency services attended but unfortunately Chris did not survive.  Later he gave the second part – the real story.  This started the same way but in this scenario the air ambulance took over Chris’s care from Sue and he made a full recovery and

SI Bristol Supports Mary’s Meals and a big “thank you” also goes to ‘double the love’

SI Bristol Supports Mary’s Meals and a big “thank you” also goes to ‘double the love’

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We reached our ambitious target and raised £1,590.  Donations were made by Club members, but read on!  This included their participation in a virtual event (in place of a porridge fundraising event on the Downs) as part of International Porridge Day (10th October) and the Christmas ‘lay a spare place’ appeal. By sending the money before January 31st 2021, the £1,590 was matched through the UK Government’s ‘double the love’ funding programme. Thus, SI Bristol’s donation instead of only supporting 100 children supported 200                children for a school year.  Well done indeed.

Speaker Meeting January 11th 2021: City of Bristol Archives, Allie Dillon City of Bristol Archivist

Speaker Meeting January 11th 2021: City of Bristol Archives, Allie Dillon City of Bristol Archivist

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We welcomed our speaker Allie Dillon our first speaker in 2021.  She started by describing the purpose and importance of the archives which are based at the Create Centre in B Bond Warehouse close to Cumberland Basin. The team of 19 maintain the archives of the City of Bristol and surrounding areas, as well as the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection.  Some are stored as hard copy and some have been digitised.  It is both an historic and cultural resource. The public have access free of charge and the records are used for many reasons including accessing records for public enquiries.  Bristol Archives was established in 1924 and it was the first borough record office in the United Kingdom and holds documents going back to the 12th century.  There are many valuable documents such as the Royal Charter circa 1190 (this is still a valid

Jen’s Walking Challenge: To Raise Funds for Charity from June to November 2020

Jen’s Walking Challenge: To Raise Funds for Charity from June to November 2020

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Jen Challenged herself to raise funds for SI Bristol’s Club Charities and for Methodist Women in Britain, Bristol District.  She has achieved her goal, many thanks goes to Jen for a very  successful fundraiser.    Jen Said:  “It doesn’t seem possible that I have finished my six months walking challenge, which started in June 2020 and finished in November 2020.  Donations were still being made into December so my charity account wasn’t finalised until last week when JustGiving paid into my charity account which is £1715.  This is an amazing result and well over my original target of £1000. I want to take this opportunity to say a very big ‘thank you to all my supporters.  I knew no one when I came to Bristol two years ago and I feel very humbled by all your support.  I couldn’t have achieved it without your generosity. There

#WhoIsShe? Sue Perry, Addison Phillips, Elizabeth Ralph and Elizabeth Casson OBE

#WhoIsShe? Sue Perry, Addison Phillips, Elizabeth Ralph and Elizabeth Casson OBE

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Soroptimist International is almost 100 years old and is celebrating the lives and contributions of  members who have made a difference.  Our current member Sue Perry was the first to be published (see post 4th September 2020). Quote from SIGBI: “As  part of  SIGB’s the celebration of the first centenary of Soroptimist International in 2021, more than 100 Soroptimists have been selected to be commemorated as part of the #WhoIsShe? Campaign. The centenary of the organisation seemed a fitting opportunity to recognise and celebrate the professional and personal commitments made by these outstanding members through the years. These #WhoIsShe? campaign members, both past and present, from Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland have all been nominated by Soroptimist Clubs for their noteworthy contribution to society in the furtherance of the aims and objects of the organisation.  We will be Showcasing 12 Outstanding Soroptimists each month.” The

Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion: Published in Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society’s (CHIS) December 2020 newsletter

Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion: Published in Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society’s (CHIS) December 2020 newsletter

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  We are delighted to see that Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society’s (CHIS) December newsletter  features our article about SI Bristol’s book “100 Years of Sisterhood: Bristol Fashion”. It tells residents that it was “written by Clifton resident Dr Marion Reid, it describes the 100-year history of the Bristol Venture/Soroptimist Club.” The article goes on to give a taste of the book  and Marion says “for anyone interested in the history of Bristol and the people who live here, this book is a must”.  It can be purchased from www.redcliffepress.co.uk or through sibristol@hotmail.co.uk.

St Mary Redcliffe Treefest Christmas 2020

St Mary Redcliffe Treefest Christmas 2020

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This is the third year that SI Bristol has participated in the St Mary Redcliffe Treefest. Until this year, it has been a spectacular festive display of Christmas trees in the gothic church of St Mary Redcliffe.  This year, due to the restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic, it was an online event.   The Treefest Gallery consists of 35 trees decorated by resourceful people in local charities, schools, businesses and other organisations.  SI Bristol’s entry is the first one in the Gallery.  Thanks go to Denise, Ivete, Jen, Sally and Yvonne for decorating the crab apple tree and to Ivete for taking and submitting the photographs.  As of 15th December, SI Bristol’s tree had secured 5% of votes. Check it out and vote.  There is an opportunity to donate to this year’s charities: Treeaid (www.treeaid.org.uk) and St Mary Redcliffe Community projects.