Our last Speaker meeting featured a talk by Sue Stops about Hotwells Pantomimes and Panto Dames.     The Hotwells panto is a long-standing community tradition in Bristol, typically staged by the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association. Formerly held at the Hope Centre, the tradition continues with the group performing at the local Hope Chapel since at least 1981, even after the Hope Centre closed in 2001. The panto productions by Hotwells are known for their community spirit, a blend of humour suitable for both children and adults, dramatic sets, lavish costumes, and live music. The pantomimes are created, written, designed, produced, and performed entirely by local community members, including volunteers from the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association. Sue Stops also spoke about her brother, Chris Harris, and his involvement with Hotwells Pantomimes. Chris Harris was a prominent Bristol actor and pantomime dame

    On Monday 13th October we were delighted to welcome Helen Powell to our Speaker meeting.     Helen is a lawyer and a prominent founder member of We Love Stoke Lodge, a local community group composed of former and current residents for whom the last green space in Stoke Bishop is very important. Their work aims to protect the area for future generations. Helen took us on a fascinating journey through the rich history of Stoke Lodge and its surrounding green space.  Stoke Lodge is a Grade II listed house located in the heart of Stoke Bishop and is surrounded by 23 acres of beautiful parkland. The grounds are  known for its collection of magnificent, protected, and historic trees, with many champion and notable trees on the national register, as well as a wide variety of wildlife, including bats, foxes, badgers, and deer. The arboretum is

            On Monday evening, Soroptimist Bristol hosted the first of our Autumn Supper & Speaker events. We were delighted to welcome Jen DeKalb-Poyer from Age UK Bristol, where she leads on communications and fundraising. Based in central Bristol, Age UK Bristol is a locally run charity with a dedicated team of 45 staff and over 70 volunteers. While independent, they work closely with Age UK nationally, following the 5 Ways to Wellbeing: Connect-Be Active-Take Notice-Keep Learning-Give Age UK Bristol supports older people through key life stages, offering everything from financial advice to fitness activities. Their local centre is a vibrant hub for community events, activities, friendship, and support — helping to reduce loneliness and promote ageing well. Their focus? Fun, friendship, and ageing better — something especially important for women, who often live longer than men and may take on