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Christmas Workshop at Eden House

Christmas Workshop at Eden House

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Staff and clients at Eden House were so pleased with the 2015 Christmas Workshop given by two of our members last year that they requested a repeat one this year unfortunately only one of us was available this year. Denise repeated her limited repertoire which involved making a simple table arrangement with fresh foliage, a candle and a few glittery items and a simply sown hanging tree decoration using felt or material and more glitter. About half a dozen ladies attended including staff that joined in. Although they were initially reluctant, all completed both items and seemed very pleased with the outcome.  The staff were very grateful for the afternoon’s activity and seem keen to repeat the workshop during next year.

Railing Against Abuse

Railing Against Abuse

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On 25th November 40 Soroptomists from throughout the south west joined SI Weston-super-Mare club in their initiative to raise awareness and support the United Nations Day for the elimination of violence against women. Soroptomists travelled by train to Bristol Temple Meads station (“railing”), many wearing distinctive orange clothing (including wigs) and distributed “Loves me /Loves me not” bookmarks and cards to other passengers. This publicity material has been carefully produced to define in clear and simple terms the difference between good and bad relationships. The group then walked with banners and a loudhailer from Temple Meads to the Lord Mayors Chapel at the bottom of Park Street, in a very orderly fashion whilst continuing to distribute the bookmarks and cards to the public. Those who were unable to walk caught the bus or went direct to the Lord Mayors Chapel. En route we visited Next

14th November 2016 ‘South Bristol Youth’

14th November 2016 ‘South Bristol Youth’

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At our supper meeting on Monday 14 November 2016 we had an informative presentation given by John Lee about “South Bristol Youth” (SBY), a charity using a new approach to working with young people in south Bristol. We learnt how and why the charity was formed, what it had achieved in its three years of working and the hopes for the future. South Bristol is a diverse part of the city that has benefitted from significant capital investment over the past few years. However there are large areas of deprivation, relatively low but recently improving levels of educational achievement and the second lowest level of participation in higher education in England. SBY has brought together six secondary schools, community organisations and the two universities in the city to tackle the lack of progress that many young people in south Bristol make. The schools work with

“Voices Unruffled”

“Voices Unruffled”

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Our concert “Voices Unruffled” in aid of Off the Record on the 5th November at Oatley Hall St Monica Trust was a great event.  Special guests, friends and family all attended. The entertainment for the evening commenced with Tim Lewis presenting a Flanders and Swann repertoire, oh such fun!  We enjoyed their well-known songs such as The Gasman Cometh, Have some Madeira M’Dear and Slow Train. Tim was accompanied by Sheila Furneaux on the piano with a backdrop of comic illustration to accompany each song whilst Tim narrated the history of Flanders and Swann, sometimes very funny and sometimes extremely sad. The performance was really well received, and on discussions later took us all back to the early 50’s. A fantastic trip down memory lane. For the second half we were thrilled by the University of the West of England Showstoppers Choir, 27 strong included students

10th October 2016 The History of Halloween

10th October 2016 The History of Halloween

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On October 10, Professor Ronald Hutton gave a talk at the supper meeting. Professor Hutton is Deputy Dean of the Arts faculty at the University of Bristol, Commissioner for the Heritage Society and Chair of its Committee for the award of Blue Plaques, as well as Vice President for Life of the Sealed Knot Society. He has written 16 books on Early Modern Britain and Pagan Myths and Legends. He is an inspiring and very well informed speaker and gave us insights into the origins and traditions of Halloween, and discussed the facts, theories and mystiques which have been the subject of academic research and debate between prominent historians over many years. The traditions of Halloween go back to early Celtic Britain and to the ceremonies for celebrating the Dead at the beginning of the winter season. The idea of Trick and Treat comes from America

Great news from the Learning in Lima Project

Great news from the Learning in Lima Project

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This Summer Soroptimists received a welcome visitor from Lima.  Sylva Von Bomsdorff brought with her many photos and news of the progress of the latest project for a library at the School we have been supporting in Lima, Peru. This has been made possible by extending upwards on the original roof/play area. Work was well underway when we saw her and Sylva was presented with a cheque by SI Bristol to assist in the purchase of books and other educational items for the pupils at Padre Pio de Pietricina. This month we heard that the work was completed and the children had been present when a blessing was given to the School library by the local Priest.  Fitting out with bookshelves continues and the room is also capable of using modern technology for the benefit of the teachers and their pupils. This is an important extra

Visit to Bristol Port

Visit to Bristol Port

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  On Tuesday 13th September 4 members of S.I. Bristol ( and 2 Soroptomisters) joined S.I Weston-super- Mare on their trip around the Bristol Port. The group gathered outside the Priory Inn in Portbury and were transported by coach to the H.Q. of the Port at St. Andrews House to collect our official guide. There has been a port in Bristol since Roman times. The original Avonmouth Dock was opened in 1877 and The Royal Portbury Dock in 1977. Private investors bought the dock in 1991 to create the Bristol Port Company. It employs 600 people and over 10,000 jobs in the South West depend on the Port and businesses on Port land. A wide variety of imports and exports pass through the docks (apart from 600 thousand cars per year), including coal and wood pellets, animal feed,grain, food and drink, paper and wood products,