Cannock Soroptimists front row l to r: Pat Stanley, Trish Smith, Caryn Hewitt & Tracey Stokes with some of the items for the Buddy Bags; behind them Buddy Bag Foundation Ambassador John Wilson.   Cannock Soroptimists have supported the Buddy Bag Foundation for many years. They were pleased to welcome their Ambassador John Wilson to their July meeting to update them on their work. They help children all over the country who have to leave their homes because it isn’t safe for them to stay. These are emergency, unplanned situations when mothers and children leave home with nothing more than what they are wearing at the time and are taken into Refuge care. Each child is given an age appropriate Buddy bag which contains pyjamas, underwear, toiletries, note book and pens/pencils,  a book and book mark – and the very important teddy bear.

  Lead Team President Carole was very pleased to award long-standing member Jill Gooch with her 40-year certificate of dedication to Soroptimist International of Cannock and District. Jill has been a very active member over the years, especially using her artistic and organisational skills to arrange many of the club’s annual dinners. In her forty years of service, she has been Club President twice as well as minutes secretary. Jill has always embraced and supported the many projects of the club over the years and everyone at the club is looking forward to many more years of friendship and service from our dedicated sister! Photo above: l to r: Jill Gooch receives her certificate from Lead Team president Carole Holdcroft

Cannock Soroptimists recently collected items of clothing for women in need at New Cross Hospital Maternity Unit.  The club set up the campaign which was advertised on Social Media, in the press and of course by word of mouth from all club members.  Some members of the Club had donation boxes outside their homes whilst other members were happy to collect donations if needed. They were simply overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of local people who not only donated nearly new items which had been requested but also many brand new items as well as cash donations. Tracey Stokes, the Club’s Programme Action Officer, has been liaising with Rebecca Emery who is part of the Specialist Midwifery Team. Rebecca said:  “The specialist midwifery team support women with complex social needs.  The women are referred to the team for a variety of reasons including substance

 The new Soroptimist year began in April and for the coming twelve months Cannock Club members are sharing chairing the meetings.  The most recent meeting was chaired by Tracey Stokes, the Club’s Programme Action Officer.  Tracey had the privilege of inducting two new members into the Club, ably assisted by Membership Officer, Jill Mason. Anne Bumford and Chrissy Whereat have been to several Cannock Soroptimist events with friends or in their roles within other Voluntary clubs in the area and have become more and more interested in all that we do – so much so that they said they would like to be considered for membership! Chrissy has a background in Accountancy whilst Anne had a career in nursing.  Both are members of other clubs where they have taken on many roles between them, including Chair and Speaker Secretary as well as organising many events

Members and friends of S.I. Cannock and District passed a fun filled Saturday evening recently enjoying a Beetle Drive followed by a fish and chip supper. The evening was planned to help raise the final funding required for the marble plinths being made to support the 2 Rosie’s Plaques that were made by club members last year. One of the plaques celebrates Ethel Powell of Cannock Hospital League of Friends who worked tirelessly to bring the breast screening unit to Cannock Hospital . The other commemorates and honours the work of Cannock Soroptimists over the last 70 years since the founding of the club. The plaques will be positioned on the plinths in Cannock Town Centre, near to the clock A raffle was held on the night made up of bottle bags filled with mystery items, not all of them bottles! A prize was also awarded

Last week, SI Cannock & District welcomed Helen Fisher – recently retired Staffordshire Deputy Commissioner for Police, Fire Rescue and Crime – to their meeting. Born locally, Helen has served her community for many years as a Town, District and County Councillor before she took up the role of Deputy Commissioner in 2021. Helen recounted the different phases of her life; as a teenager her musical prowess on keyboards lead to her performing in local venues and working in the musical instruments department in a local department store. She later taught music at home before setting up a successful car repairs business with her then husband that is still trading. Always interested in politics and inspired by Margaret Thatcher’s election as Prime Minister, Helen joined the local Conservative party in the late 90s and in 2007 was elected to Burntwood Town Council where she served

Cannock and District Soroptimists held their Annual Charter Dinner this month at the Moat House Hotel, Acton Trussel. This year was particularly special as the club was celebrating its 70th Birthday.  Guests enjoyed a wonderful meal in beautiful surroundings, followed by entertainment provided by the fabulous Lola Lamour. Club President Carole Holdcroft welcomed guests from other clubs within the S I Midland Chase Region, Cannock Rotary and Probus. She extended a special welcome to ladies who had travelled from S I Port Talbot with whom Cannock has strong friendship links. Speakers who proposed toasts to the club highlighted the dramatic changes which had taken place over those 70 years, particularly for women. In 1955 women generally stayed at home and had traditional roles and did not have the educational and career opportunities they have today. Soroptimists around the world have contributed to those social changes

Cannock and District Soroptimists enjoyed an excellent talk this month given by Jess Boyden – Juckes based on inspiring stories of women in the RAF. The meeting was organised and presided over by club President Carole Holdcroft. Jess works as a Historian on the RAF’s Centenary Project, RAF STORIES, begun in 2018. This is a digital and online project which aims to collect and share historical, contemporary and very personal experiences of real people related to the RAF. The presentation focused on the role of women in the RAF. Today there are many women carrying out a variety of roles within the RAF including piloting aircraft; but this has only been possible because of the pioneering work of the women who went before them. Jess shared the stories of three women. Katherine Du Plat Taylor volunteered for the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) aged eighteen

Each Christmas Cannock Soroptimists give gifts to women who they feel need a little boost at this time of year. This year their thoughts turned to those women who support other women at a particularly emotional and potentially vulnerable time in their lives – our wonderful midwives who are present before, during and after childbirth.   Working in partnership with two of our other clubs in Midland Chase Region, SI Bilston and SI Wolverhampton, gifts of hand cream and lip salve were wrapped and labelled then taken to New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton and presented to the midwives, Health Care Assistants and support staff there to thank them for the care and compassion they have shown to the women of this Region this year.   Working in the delivery suite can be emotionally and physically demanding and the Soroptimists’ gifts, given to each member of the delivery suite,

Cannock and District Soroptimists were treated to a very entertaining talk by Jo Golby entitled “The Laura Ashley Story.” The evening was chaired by Club President Carole Holdcroft. Many of us may remember a time when our dress may have matched our wallpaper, which may have matched our cushions and lampshades! This was undoubtedly the influence and work of the talented Laura Ashley. Jo Golby’s talk was lively and passionate; Laura Ashley had been her hero for as long as she could remember. She related an amusing story about meeting Laura when she was a child and asking for her autograph. Jo’s talk was illustrated throughout with photographs and vintage Laura Ashley garments, Jo herself wore a lovely burgundy pinafore dress. The talk was detailed and well researched, presented in an amusing style. Laura Ashley became famous and popular for her distinctive style: pintucks, flowers,