The annual Regional AGM and Conference held on the last Saturday of June was a lively and friendly occasion.   It was attended by Ann Hodgson, our Federation President Elect, and provided an opportunity to meet up with friends from around our large geographical region. A very good video about the charity, Unseen, about trafficking was shown – though unfortunately the speaker was ill and unable to join us.   But for me the highlight of the conference was an inspiring and moving talk by Helen Young, a member of Bath Club about the charity ACROSS which runs Jumbulances.   These are specially extended and equipped coaches with full facilities to take sick and disabled passengers on 10 day trips to Lourdes and the South of France where they stay in a specially selected hotel near the Grotto. We had the opportunity to have a guided tour round

At our meeting on June 27th Bristol Soroptimists were delighted to be able to present representatives from the Charity ‘Special Friends’ with a cheque for £4415.00 raised by our many events in 2015-16. Special Friends Trustee Jo Davies and the Treasurer Maya Vaitilingam gave us the news that their Charity is expanding their Club to continue giving support to young people up to the age of 25 . One of their special social events is to visit Bristol Hippodrome for the ‘informal’ Pantomime performance each year and Jo and Maya thanked the Soroptimists for their generosity which will help them enable these plans in the coming year.

On Tuesday 10th May I had the privilege of attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace. I had been invited to represent SI Bristol with Jo Davies from Special Friends Club (our charity last year when I was President) and our husbands. We queued outside the front entrance and, when the front gates opened, we walked through the entrance hall of the Palace along the red carpet and entered the gardens. Tea was served from a marquee, cucumber and mint sandwiches, of course!, and dainty cakes and scones and cream. Shortly before 4 pm the Yeoman of the guard organised the crowd so that there were clear lines for the Queen and Prince Philip to walk along. The Queen stopped about ten feet away from us to talk to someone and we had a good view in spite of the umbrellas. We were delighted to

Andrea Ryan is presented with her award for 35 years as a Soroptomist at one of the clubs regular lunches for retired and current members.  Many thanks to Susan Greenwood for organising these lovely occasions.

Bristol Soroptimists celebrated its 96th charter (10th May) last evening by welcoming its youngest member to the club. Megan Grace with her mother Laura and husband Rowan attended her first meeting and enjoyed all the attention she received. President Pauline said she was delighted to welcome such a young member to the club especially on this occasion when it was celebrating its 96th year.