Once again Cannock Soroptimists volunteered, both as bag packers and as race marshals, at the annual Staffordshire Ironman 70.3 race. Two days before the event, June Bould, Trish Mellor and Jackie Prince spent a day bag packing; they worked hard to ensure that all 2,500 competitors and those who marshal on the day of the event had everything they needed.  They learned a lot about the hard work and complex planning that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for an international event of this scale. Early on Sunday 9th June, 4 other members of Cannock Soroptimists: Val Jones, Jill Gooch, Dawn Pope and Olivia Lyons were in position near to Chasewater to marshal the first part of the bike ride section of the race. Competitors had already completed the 1.2 mile swim when they began the 56 mile bike ride on their way to

Cannock Soroptimists held their AGM in April.  One of the final tasks out-going President June Bould undertook was to acknowledge the years of service to Soroptimist International – and the Cannock & District club – that two members in particular have given. Lynne Tuckley joined the Club in 1999 and so has given 20 years of service to SI Cannock & District.  To mark the occasion President June presented her with a long service certificate. Lynne has held the role of President within the club and has often served as a member of the Club’s executive committee.  She is known now as the Club’s “Hospitality Hostess” as she looks after everyone’s meals and payments at each meeting at The Barns! Lynne is an accomplished embroiderer and has designed and made a beautiful cloth and a wall hanging to mark the Club’s 50th and 60th Anniversaries.

SI Cannock & District held its AGM at The Barns on 23rd April.  The meeting marked the end of a busy year with President June Bould at the helm.  President June said: “Just a year ago I said although we would be busy with Programme Action, our service work, it’s important to remember we are a voluntary organisation and must enjoy ourselves too. I believe we have achieved both during the year. Improving the lives of women and girls has been at the centre of our programme action projects. We have also had fun and friendship at events held during the year”. The year had seen some special events: a visit from Lesley Smith as Peggy Knight; an Open Garden weekend at the homes of the President and another Club member, a summer celebration lunch at Mitton Manor and Christmas celebrations at The Barns as

Your Body, Your Rules is the anti-sexting project launched by SI Cannock and District in 5 local high schools last September. The Ambassadors, Y12 and Y13 students, who completed the training have been delivering the project to Y8 pupils as well as advertising their presence throughout the rest of their schools. It has had tremendous success, resulting in students having a much greater understanding of the consequences, often emotional, of sexting, or sending nudes, as well as the legal aspects – it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to either request, send or distribute a nude photo. Schools report much more openness, youngsters in a position to refuse to take and send such a photo, even to ‘sexting’ now being a ‘dirty word’. Sue Arnold, Deputy Police Crime Commissioner has supported the project from the beginning and invited Soroptimists and school Ambassadors

Over 80 Cannock Soroptimists and their guests welcomed the return of Lesley Smith, the curator of Tutbury Castle who has entertained us many times with her enthralling re-enactments of characters in history. This time she brought to life a woman from more recent times; a true heroine of the Second World War, Peggy Knight. Peggy joined the Special Operations Executive, SOE, in 1944 having been recruited because of her ability to speak fluent French. Although brought up in England she had been born in Paris of an English father and a Polish mother, and both French and English were spoken at home. Peggy had a typical London childhood, which Lesley brought to life brilliantly. She then trained as a shorthand typist before being recruited into the SOE at the age of 24.  She was warned that she had only a 50% chance of surviving her

President June Bould welcomed 50 members and guests to their event to mark International Women’s Day 2019.  President June explained that after women gained the right to vote in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. In 1975 the UN began celebrating the day as a way of recognising women’s achievements and since then celebrations of IWD on March 8th each year have spread globally, becoming a rallying call for support for women’s participation in politics and economics. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Balance for Better and we can all work to build a gender-balanced world. Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive; it is needed in boardrooms, in government, in wealth, sports – everywhere.  Everyone enjoyed striking the pose of #BalanceforBetter – an excellent way of reminding us of the need for balance. Soroptimist

Dickie James MBE, CEO of Staffordshire Women’s Aid was the guest of Cannock Soroptimists at their February Business Meeting.  She was invited along to update the club on new, exciting developments and projects within SWA. Dickie began by telling members and guests how much she loves being with women’s groups – seeing the evidence of women supporting each other to improve their lives and make the world a better place – the underlying aim of SWA. She told a little of their background – Staffordshire was one of the first Counties to provide a refuge for women, a safe place where those suffering Domestic Abuse could go. This was in the late 1970s and for over 40 years SWA has worked to build and provide services locally in Cannock, Stafford and South Staffs. There have been many cuts in resources over the last 10 years,

Cannock Soroptimists recently celebrated the 64th Anniversary of their Charter, the club was formed in 1955.  This year’s Annual Dinner was held at Brocton Hall Golf Club and was attended by members and friends from Cannock and from other clubs within the Midland Chase Region. President June Bould welcomed special guests Amanda Milling MP; Jan Gray, President SI Midland Chase Region and speaker for the evening Anna Turney, paralympic ski racer.  Amanda Milling MP made the toast to Soroptimist International; the organisation is almost 100 years old.  She praised the organisation for the work it does to improve and enhance the lives of women and had looked at all that women in Parliament have achieved in the last 100 years, from Nancy Astor, the first woman in Parliament in 1919, through to today when there are 208 women MPs and the second woman Prime Minister. 

At the first speaker meeting of 2019 members were deliciously entertained by Jackie Smith. 12 years ago Jackie turned her back on education to start her own business: www.novachocolates.co.uk giving her the best job in the world, a real life Willy Wonka. Whilst researching the history of chocolate she found that it has health benefits! It is rich in nitric oxide and has anti inflammatory properties with the good news being that eating a small amount each day will not pile on the pounds! The Cacao bean was discovered in the Amazon in the time of the Mayan people. The beans were used as currency and they had a higher value than gold. Once the pods are harvested, the beans which at this stage are pink, are left to dry for 2 – 8 days which turns them brown, then they are sent for processing;

Cannock Soroptimists were delighted to support people locally and abroad over the Christmas period. Members made donations amounting to £135.25 to international project “Women, Water and Leadership” in lieu of sending cards to each other; they donated Christmas gifts for the women and children who were living in the refuge run by The Pathway Project for women victims of domestic abuse and funded and prepared a 3 course Christmas meal for almost 60 people who regularly use the Soup Kitchen in Mill Street, Cannock. Cannock Soroptimists are continuing their work with local schools involved with two of their projects “Your Body, Your Rules” and the Loves Me/Moves Me Not bookmarks. The speaker at their Annual Dinner to be held on February 8th at Brocton Hall Golf Club is paralympic snowboard champion Anna Turney. They will be marking International Women’s Day this year by holding a