A talk about Shakespeare may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, think again. To Celebrate International Women’s Day, Cannock and District Soroptimists were treated to a superb presentation by Jennifer Rigby entitled “Shakespeare’s Women.” Jennifer began her talk by pointing out that we tend to put Shakespeare on a pedestal and forget that he was just an ordinary family man. We frequently hear famous quotes from plays normally spoken by men. But where are the women in Shakespeare? Who were the women in Shakespeare’s life? Jennifer believes the strong women in Shakespeare’s family had a big influence. He was brought up on his mother Mary Arden’s farm. His plays reflect a love of the countryside, plants and nature, as well as a love of food and animals. He grew up with sisters who gave him a unique insight into emotions such as love, loss,

This year, SI Cannock & District celebrated International Women’s Day by handing out STOP cards to women in the area’s three town centres. The cards that demand an end to Violence against Women and Girls contain information on websites and apps that offer ways to help women stay safe and prevent violence and details of organisations that can provide advice and support to women suffering abuse. Over three mornings, members of SI Cannock visited Rugeley, Cannock and Hednesford town centres and gave out 50 cards at each location. They were very well received and generated a number of conversations. Sadly many women still don’t feel safe in some situations and many women live with abuse – Soroptimists will continue to give these women a voice by doing whatever they can to improve the situation. Photos attached:1. Members of SI Cannock in Cannock Town Centre 2.

5,404 – that’s how many pre-loved children’s books Cannock & District Soroptimists have been able to deliver to Beverley Ricketts who runs Rotary Books4Home. This incredible number is due to the generosity and kindness of numerous families within the Cannock Chase – and wider – area. We are grateful to those who provided collection points; there were many libraries, including   Brereton, Burntwood, Cannock, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Norton Canes, Penkridge and Rugeley; many of them have said they will have a collection box permanently! Other collection points were Nina Charles Beauty Salon in Cheslyn Hay and Teddies Hair Salon in Cannock. In addition, groups and individuals got in touch to say they would like to donate and Soroptimists arranged to go and collect books, in many cases forming contacts that will continue. Rotary Books4Home provides pre-loved books to children who otherwise would not own a book

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of their club in 2022 S.I. San Fernando of Trinidad  asked every Soroptimist club within  Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Federation to create a ‘Peace square’. The squares could be created in any medium – knitted, crocheted, quilted or embroidered, but their theme must be peace. They also had to be 12 inches square and include the name of the club that had made it. All of the squares would be sewn together by SI San Fernando to make a peace quilt. The squares were collected at the 2022 SIGBI conference in Belfast, so that the quilt would be ready to be displayed at the Soroptimist International conference in Dublin in July 2023. S.I Cannock member Lynne Tuckley, an experienced cross stitcher, designed a square showing 2 doves with an olive branch and a border of multi coloured

Cannock and District Soroptimists celebrated their 69th Charter at a dinner with members, family and friends – many from other clubs within the Midland Chase Region – at The Barns, Huntington. Almost 100 enjoyed the evening, hosted by Lead Team President Carole Holdcroft who thanked all club members who have been part of the Team of Presidents for the last year– they had either led a meeting, organised an event – or both!  She welcomed everyone to the Annual Dinner and Lynne Eagle, President of Cannock’s mother club, SI Bilston responded on behalf of the guests. The evening was organised by Soroptimist Jill Gooch and her team with club members being involved with many aspects of the evening. The Chairman of Cannock and District Ladies Probus Anne Bumford made the toast to Soroptimist International with Region President Michelle Daws responding and praising Cannock club for

For many years Cannock and District Soroptimists have supported local Food banks – and like others they are very aware that the need is becoming greater and particularly so at Christmas. Soroptimists are also very aware that generally, women will do without themselves in order that their family can receive, whether that be food or gifts. Soroptimists worldwide Stand Up for Women, enabling, educating and empowering women in any way they can, which is why this year they decided to provide as many gifts for women as they could. Thanks to the amazing generosity of members and friends, which included donations from a pharmaceutical company, they have been able to provide 150 gifts – one for every woman who will be in need to help from local food banks this year! Nine Soroptimists spent a festive afternoon wrapping all of the gifts which they then

Cannock and District Soroptimists welcomed back local Historian Paul Bedford for their recent Speaker Meeting. The meeting was led by Team President Lynn Bedford; his talk this year was based on his book “Not Just Names” which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers of Cannock Chase. Paul explained how he had always been fascinated by the Great War 1914 – 1918 and had studied History at University. He became curious about the real people behind the names of the fallen soldiers and what their personal stories may be.  His research so far has taken over ten years and is made so much easier now that there are sites such as Ancestry and Find My Past. Paul gave a taste of some soldiers’ stories – many of course had been miners. Sapper Thomas Brough was born in Calf Heath and later lived in Chadsmoor with his

On Sunday morning, ten members of SI Cannock and District met at the bandstand in Cannock Town Centre as every year they mark the start of the Global 16 Days of Activism campaign that aims to end violence against women and girls across the world.  The campaign runs from 25th November until 10th December and calls for collective action to prevent and respond to gender based violence. During the 16 Days, Soroptimists encourage people across the globe to orange the world. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls. This year the theme is ‘Wired For Change’ focusing on how technology can be used as a force of good or bad in gender based abuse. To highlight this, members of SI Cannock have decorated the Bandstand with orange ribbons and messages that support those women who are living

Three Soroptimists from the Cannock & District Club dedicated their time in collecting donations for Cannock Food Bank for World Food Day on 16th October 2023. For three weeks, Jill, Adrienne and June collected items generously donated by the general public.  Posters were made and placed outside their homes for donations to be made. The response was overwhelming: in total a huge amount of 535 items were donated. Included was: tinned vegetables, meat, soup, fish, baked beans, fruit and puddings; pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, milk, coffee and tea. These items were delivered to the Food Bank on Monday 16th October by our three Soroptimists. Vicky from Cannock Food Bank said, “This help from the Soroptimists is just wonderful”. The food bank hands out up to a ton of food every single week.  Pre-Covid, the food bank held approximately 12 tons of food at any one