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The SIGBI Day of Action: Litter Pick on  Durdham Downs 18th July 2020

The SIGBI Day of Action: Litter Pick on  Durdham Downs 18th July 2020

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The theme for this day was originally Climate Change, but with the situation we have been in since the beginning of the year, the theme is now #SoroptimistsConnect. We were asked how we are you connecting with each other and with your local community during lockdown? Also to use this opportunity to let the world know what we are doing to help during the pandemic, using  the hashtag #SoroptimistsConnect.  Of course Ivete has already done this on Facebook and Twitter Since Lockdown we have been connecting with each other on a regular basis.  This includes our Zoom meetings (Club and Committees) talking on the telephone for those unable to connect to Zoom, social distancing in members gardens and joining  Marion on her fundraising walking challenge “100 miles for 100 years”. To mark the Day of Action,  ten of our members (Yvonne, Marion, Sue P, Liz

Teddy Bears lead the way and go to Children at Southmead Hospital

Teddy Bears lead the way and go to Children at Southmead Hospital

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In advance of our Teddy Bear’s Picnic these teddys lead the way. As part of our centenary celebrations and in support of Covid-19 patients a collection of  Teddy Bears was handed over to staff at Southmead Hospital who were delighted to ‘adopt’ them. We hope it will go some way towards bringing a smile to children being looked after at the hospital.  Watch this space as more teddys are handed over.

Six Budding Authors wrote a story for SIGBI’s “The Big Story Challenge”

Six Budding Authors wrote a story for SIGBI’s “The Big Story Challenge”

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These six members of SI Bristol each wrote a story for SIGBI’s “The Big Story Challenge”. This was in support of SIGBI’s project ‘Empowering Girls is Nepal’.  Collectively, they donated £200, which together with Gift Aid and matched funding amounted to £450. Well done ladies.  We received nice ‘thank you’ messages for Daphne Dowsing on behalf of the SW&CI Region and Philip Holmes the Founder of ChoraChroi.

A Tribute to Margaret Skerrett

A Tribute to Margaret Skerrett

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A Tribute by  Susan Greenwood on behalf of the Club It is with sadness, affection and respect that we report the death of our only Honorary member Margaret Skerrett. She died peacefully in hospital on 12th June after a short illness at the age of 95. Margaret, as Miss M. Holgate, joined S I Bristol in 1958 in the days when most members wore hats and gloves to meetings, smoking was the norm, with ashtrays provided, and members addressed each other formally. Most of the members at that time were in full employment, and when they reached retirement age they might be invited to stay on only if they were thought to be useful! Margaret enjoyed the aims and projects of the Club although at first found the formality quite daunting. (above) Margaret is cutting the cake at our 90th anniversary in 2011. Her category

Knitting and Sewing during Lockdown

Knitting and Sewing during Lockdown

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Nurses at Bristol Royal Infirmary launched a ‘Heart to Heart’ campaign to connect families with their loved ones who are unable to be together due Coronavirus restrictions.    Club members have taken up the challenge of knitting these hearts in addition to making teddy bears, draw string bags for scrubs, theatre hats, and tubes to help hold intravenous needles in premature babies.  St Monica Trust has also welcomed some of the many scrub bags we have made.  We will continue to help provide more items as they are needed.  

SI Bristol’s Centenary Quilt: An imaginative use for “upcycled “ materials.

SI Bristol’s Centenary Quilt: An imaginative use for “upcycled “ materials.

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As part of the activities to celebrate the forthcoming Centenary year of SI Bristol , a small group of interested members decided to design and make a quilt using “ upcycled “ materials.   Vice President ( now President) Marion sourced unwanted upholstery material from a variety of outlets in the city for free ( they are simply thrown away at the end of each season to make way for new stock. The group discussed the purpose, size, design and colours, being mindful that some of the group were not familiar with quilting techniques, or experienced with a sewing machine.  We agreed on a simple log cabin design which could be machine or hand sewed and provided a pattern to ensure uniform sizing of each block. The sashing is made from an unwanted tablecloth and beautiful glass buttons were donated for embellishment.  The backing is

AGM April 27th 2020

AGM April 27th 2020

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On April 27th we held our first Club Meeting and our AGM since the lockdown due to Coronavirus. President Denise and incoming President Marion ran the meeting.   We started with 19 club members and after exchanging pleasantries and then President Denise called us to order.  As usual Secretary Lucy had circulated everything in advance and so there were no surprises.  We were able to vote on all the necessary items and President Denise had circulated her speech in advance.  Of course we were unable to see the exchange of insignia and badges but we still enjoyed the event.   Incoming President Marion told us about  her challenge to walk 100 miles a month during her year to raise funds for our two Club charities during our 100th  year.  This is the second year of our  two charities:  National Centre for Integrated Medicine and Lifeskills

Supper Meeting March 9th: Sustainable Development and Bristol Zoo

Supper Meeting March 9th: Sustainable Development and Bristol Zoo

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At our Supper Meeting Dan, from Bristol Zoo Gardens, came to give a talk about Sustainable Development and Bristol Zoo. He was very engaging and a most enthusiastic speaker who showed a real passion for the job. Dan explained that Bristol Zoo Gardens is the fifth oldest zoo in the world and was founded on 22nd July 1835, by Henry Riley, a local physician, who led the formation of the Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society. Henry Riley, and a number of other prominent local individuals, gathered with the mission to facilitate ‘the observation of habits, form and structure of the animal kingdom, as well as affording rational amusement and recreation to the visitors of the neighbourhood’. Shareholders at the time included several famous Bristolians, including Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society opened the Zoo’s doors to

Treefest December 2019

Treefest December 2019

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Again in December we we joined many others at St Mary Redcliffe Church who again hosted another Treefest.    Our Christmas tree was decorated with items all made by club  members.   They limit the number of trees for Health and  Safety reasons and time taken to put up the trees and to take them down, whilst maintaining the Christmas services. There were 84 trees on display that were made by local charities and organizations and again the trees were available for viewing.   In total there were 5,019 visitors and so great exposure for SI Bristol.

Supper Meeting February 2nd: Bristol’s Industrial Schools – Shirley Hodgson

Supper Meeting February 2nd: Bristol’s Industrial Schools – Shirley Hodgson

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At our Supper Meeting on February 2nd we enjoyed listening to Shirley Hodgson, a retired headteacher talking about some of the hidden history of Bristol’s poorest children in Victorian times and the rise of Bristol’s Industrial Schools. Shirley Hodgson herself devoted her working life to Bristol children, teaching in various schools. For ten years she was head of Victoria Park Junior School. As the 19 century progressed there were organisations run by charitable and philanthropic individuals – often religious – which improved the lot of some. They would be taken in, fed, clothed and educated and taught skills to fit them for adulthood and work. These were mostly run by well-meaning people of whom Mary Carpenter was a leading light of the Reformatory School movement and founder of Red Lodge Reformatory School for Girls, as well as an Industrial School for boys at Park Row.