We were delighted to present a cheque for Off the Record to Simon Newitt at our Business Meeting on June 26th.  We raised  £4800.00 during the year for our Club Charity mainly through our annual Duplicate Bridge Day and Concert (the money raised at the concert was matched by “The Big Give”).  Thank you to all those who supported this worthwhile charity (see charity of the year 2016/17).  

The memorial plaque commemorating Elizabeth Ralph’s extraordinary service to Bristol was replaced on Sunday June 25th 2017.  Julian Warren City Archivist and Susan Greenwood, who had discovered that the plaque was missing and then organised the replacement of the plaque, spoke at the event.  The group then had a very enjoyable celebration brunch at Lockside Restaurant, Cumberland Basin. Amongst other things Julian said “In the winter of 1991 Miss Ralph planted the London Plane tree close to the city archives, donated by the Soroptimists International to mark her 80th Birthday.  A grainy photograph recording the ceremony was printed in the Bristol Record Office newsletter at the time which is currently on display in the search room foyer.  At the same time the city’s archives were moved out of the Council House and Bristol Record Office opened for business in B Bond warehouse, where the Archives continue to be

As Daphne Dowsing, current Regional President, is a member of SI Tiverton, the AGM, Conference and friendship weekend was held there. There were inspiring and impressive speakers including The Right Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, DBE, Bishop of Crediton in the diocese of Exeter, the first female Bishop in the West Country who was consecrated (alongside the Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek) as 4th female Bishop in July 2015. She had started her working life as a nurse and rapidly rose to the heights of her profession, experiencing sexist attitudes along the way, especially when appointed Government Chief Nursing Officer for England. She was ordained in 2001, taking up full-time ministry in the C of E in 2004. She experienced and commented on different styles of leadership between men and women with excellent stories to illustrate her point.   She is keen to find ways to encourage

  Philippa Rose Hampshire born 9th June 2017 a sister for Megan now our second baby born to Laura and Rowan. Congratulations to you all we are delighted.  Thank you for bringing her to see us she is a delight.

We are proud to announce that one of our Soroptimists has been presented with one of the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s prestigious medals. This took place at a ceremony held at the Mansion House on the 21st April.  Medals are awarded to people who have been instrumental in improving lives of people in Bristol. Liz N was honored for being a selfless, good egg. Liz was recognised for, among other things, her fund-raising efforts for the Lord Mayor of Bristol Children’s Appeal and other charities embraced by SI Bristol, as well as time freely given to various activities, including:  Eden House Garden Project, St. George’s Heritage Project, Ambra Vale Garden, sharing produce from her allotment, and being the best neighbour.  For over 30 years, Liz ran the Orthoptist Service at Bristol Eye Hospital where she was a favorite of staff and students.  She used these

On Saturday 11th March 2017, three members (Gill, Sue and Marion) attended the regional Development day in Taunton. The information provided was interesting and stimulating. It was clear that most SI clubs face challenges similar to those identified by SI Bristol, namely: succession planning, changes in communication methods (e-mail, website, social media), how to break the ‘best kept secret’ mold, and recruiting new members. Also the concept that SI clubs have moved (or are moving) from an ‘invitation only professional’ group to a ‘women from all walks of life; even retired’ group was mentioned. Succession planning was deemed important as SI clubs face [or embrace] the move from the model of operating under a rolling annual basis to one having longer term plans with sharing of duties club wide. To aid in the transition, practical tools, in three categories, were described: Growth Plan, Easy Stage

Early in February 12 Soroptimists and 4 stalwart Soroptimisters visited London for a few fun days. The first evening was spent in the usual Italian Restaurant that is behind and close to Number 63 Bayswater Road. For the second evening, most enjoyed the energy, talent and nostalgia of Half A Sixpence at the Noel Coward Theatre. The camaraderie over breakfast was very agreeable and the rest of the time everyone did as they pleased, which was easy to do in London. Many thanks to President Pauline, Jeanette, Ruth, and Susan W for being instrumental in making it happen and run so smoothly.

On the 11th November at Whiteladies Road memorial Past President Liz Corrigan laid a wreath on behalf of SI Bristol. This is the 4th  year we have joined the local schools, the armed forces, Avon and Somerset Constabulary to remember those who have laid down their lives for us.  

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

  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,