Pre-owned Bras are needed! SI Cannock is continuing to work with the Purple Teardrop campaign to support women victims of trafficking.  When trafficked women have been rescued it is vital to enable them to start to earn a living and secure their place within the community and also minimise the risk of their being trafficked again. Soroptimists, through Purple Teardrop, are working to help women and girls in Mozambique, Uganda and El Salvador to start businesses selling used bras – bras are seen as a status symbol and sell for a good price in these countries. On Saturday July 2nd members of SI Cannock will be present at St Luke’s Church Fayre and will be accepting any donations of bras – which need to be in a reasonable and clean condition – to send on to help the women victims of trafficking start a new

The new President of Soroptimist International Cannock & District is Carole Holdcroft.   She was given the chain of office by out-going President Lynne Tuckley at the AGM held in April. In her final words to the Club Lynne reminded members of the highs and lows of the year: two of their much loved and well respected members had died, bringing sadness to the Club, but one member had married and others had become grand-parents, bringing much happiness.  She thanked everyone who had worked to make the year such a success and enable the club to send donations amounting to £1,200 to Cannock Friends of St Giles and to Pathway, the local project helping women victims of domestic violence, as well as the lobbying about trafficking and FGM and the service given to aid local groups.  She ended with her motto for the year: “Carpe Diem”

S I Cannock & District invite you to join them for A Tudor Day with Afternoon Tea at Tutbury Castle In aid of Pathway Project supporting women victims of domestic violence Sunday June 12th Castle gates open at 11.00am See & speak to Lesley Smith [curator]                                                                   and others  dressed in Tudor costume Listen to Tudor musicians Enjoy many more activities in the castle and the grounds Full afternoon tea with a glass of Pimms                                                          served in the marquee at 3.00pm Cost: £18.50 Tickets available from:        Trish Mellor – 07971 597406     trishmellor@yahoo.co.uk A raffle will be held in the afternoon

  Lilian Hyde has been a member of SI Cannock & District for 25 years and to mark the occasion she was presented with a long service certificate.  At the AGM, out-going   President Lynne Tuckley was pleased to acknowledge the years of service to Soroptimist International – and the Cannock & District club – that Lilian has given. Lilian has always been involved in many aspects of the Club’s work supporting women locally and throughout the world, joining others in raising awareness of many issues, in fund raising and providing support.  One of the things Lilian is particularly well known for in the Cannock club is the wonderful comfort bags she makes and helps to fill for the women victims of domestic violence who use the refuge provided locally by Pathway.  Many of the women enter the refuge with only the clothes they are wearing

 On Friday 27th May at Calf Heath Village Hall, Straight Mile, Wolverhampton WV10 7DW at 6.30pm Soroptimist International of Cannock & District are holding a free event for ladies of all ages.The event will enable ladies to receive information on topics such as health, wellbeing, nutrition & fitness in a friendly & relaxed atmosphere. There will be many stands from various women’s organisations.An exciting programme of speakers will commence at 7pm. There will be refreshments and a free prize draw.Soroptimist International of Cannock & District is an organisation for ladies whose aim is to improve the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment or enabling opportunities. They also support local charities and good causes.To find out more information about this free event contact: 07971 494510, to book in email s.i.cannock@outlook.com  or you can just come along on your own or with friend

Cannock Soroptimists were joined by June Pickerill who gave us a fascinating talk with the intriguing title ‘one and eightpence in my pocket’. June told us the life story of her ancestor John Pickerill and the incredible good fortune she had in discovering some previously unknown letters.  It was finding these letters which changed the entire direction of her life and started her on a twenty year quest to find out more. Over twenty years ago June was faced with clearing out the home of an elderly aunt. By sheer luck she found a rusty old tin and on opening it discovered it contained nine letters. These letters were written in the years 1853-1864 and told of John’s adventures as he left his Hednesford home and travelled to South Australia in search of a better life. He wanted to be his own master and was

SI Cannock & District Annual 61st Charter Dinner at Cannock Chase Golf Club was attended by over 90 members & their guests including Soroptimists from other clubs in the Midland Chase Region.President Lynne Tuckley welcomed everyone and the Mistress of Ceremonies, President Elect Carole Holdcroft, introduced Maurice Partington, Past President of the Rotary Club of Cannock who gave the toast to Soroptimism. Regional President Alyson Green gave the response to SI Cannock. While the Past President of SI Bilston, Pat Cross gave thanks on behalf of the guests.  After an excellent meal  Lesley Smith, Curator of Tutbury Castle, provided the evening’s entertainment  She gave a highly entertaining performance dressed as Nell Gwynne, the long time Mistress of King Charles II of England.  She told many humorous & informative tales and everyone in the audience was enthralled by Lesley’s performance as she recreated the turbulent life

3 members of S I Cannock and District recently attended a conference at the County Show Ground, Stafford: the subject was “Modern Day Slavery”. There were a number of high profile speakers who addressed over 500 delegates made up of police officers, fire service personnel, volunteers and criminal justice agencies. Amongst the speakers were Sue Arnold, the deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Staffordshire and Jane Sawyer, Chief Constable of Staffordshire and a member from the UK Human Trafficking Centre of the National Crime agency. The message from them all was: There are more people enslaved in the world today than ever before. The Modern Day Slavery Act came into force in July 2015 and the high caliber of the speakers shows that whilst it is a major problem, many agencies are working together towards helping to stamp it out. Nigel Osman from Hope for Justice

President Lynne Tuckley led members of Soroptimist International Cannock & District in a minute’s silence as they remembered with affection long serving member June Hardman who died very suddenly in the latter part of 2015. This was the first time the Club had met since June’s death. June was 81 years of age, she was an active person, walking from her home near to Shoal Hill into Cannock own Centre many times each week. She sadly died whilst on her way to St Luke’s Church for a Wednesday communion. June had been an active member of the Club for over 37 years, following in the footsteps of her mother, Vi Bowen, a Soroptimist for 42 years. June’s daughter Debbie followed in the family tradition: between them these 3 women had worked to enable, educate and empower women through Soroptimism for 107 years. Members remember with

Each Christmas, SI of Cannock and District get involved in several projects to support others locally. One of these projects is the Christmas Lunch at the Warming Welcome Soup Kitchen, at Mill Street Church. A number of ladies from the church run the soup kitchen on a weekly basis throughout the year, providing a hot meal for those who otherwise wouldn’t have one. At the beginning of December club members, led by Soroptimist Carole Holdcroft, join them to provide a three course Christmas Lunch and tea and mince pies which is partly funded by the Soroptimist club. This year was no exception – Carole and several other club members prepared, cooked and served a meal complete with Christmas Crackers and all the trimmings to over 50 people. So many who joined in with the Christmas Lunch made a point of thanking the Soroptimists who had