This is how Sue Baumforth sees her role as a Forensic Investigation Manager. Sue was the guest speaker at this month’s speaker meeting presided over by Team President Jill Gooch. As well as a career in Forensics, Sue is also a Soroptimist and member of SI Wolverhampton Club. The talk given to her fellow Soroptimists was fascinating and demonstrated the passion she has for this important work in West Midlands Police. Sue was born and grew up in Cheshire but studied for a degree in Religion and Ethics in Birmingham. Her first job, surprisingly, was in a remote part of Shetland on a salmon farm. She was responsible for exploring the ethics of salmon farming in a humane and sustainable way. Later Sue returned to the Midlands as a Scene of Crime Officer. SOCO’s are called in to examine and collect forensic material which could

On 7th September, one of the hottest days of the year, 3 members of SI Cannock & District joined members of SI Stafford for a visit to Wedgewood Pottery. The visit started at the home of a Stafford member, with morning coffee and then went onto Wedgewood Pottery for a factory tour. When the factory was opened in 1759 by Josiah Wedgewood approximately 1600 worked there, they even had their own railway stop. Today there are just 74 potters and artists. The larger vases are made in pieces and then put together with the potter putting their initials on the bottom of the piece. These are only made to order and can cost upwards of £10,000. Some of the decorations are transferred onto the items but the gilding is hand painted by the amazing artists. Numerous generations of local families still work at the factory.  

SI Cannock & District have decided to organise more social get-togethers where members can meet in a less formal setting and socialise more. Our first get-together was at the Great War Hut at Marquis Drive on Cannock Chase. The hut shows how soldiers that fought in the First World War lived whilst billeted in the training camps on Cannock Chase. Cannock Soroptimist Lynne Tuckley, one of the volunteers at the hut kindly arranged the visit. Built in Autumn 1915, at its height it was the largest training camp in the British Empire; housing 40,000 men at a time who were brought to Cannock for three months to learn how to fight. At that time the population of Rugeley was 7,000 so that gives some idea of the amount of infrastructure that needed to be put in place. Power was tapped from the nearby colliery power

Bishton Hall and Gardens was the venue for this year’s SI Cannock & District Summer Celebration.  Soroptimist Jackie Prince organised a fabulous morning in the Orangery when club members and friends enjoyed a morning cream tea and the company of auctioneer and TV personality Charles Hanson. Charles and his staff were so welcoming and friendly and many club members took along items for Charles to value. As he did this, he demonstrated his amazing knowledge of what seemed to be all areas of antique and vintage items – though he told us that he has many specialists working with him who he will refer to for confirmation or additional information.  He told the story of a Chinese vase he was asked to auction many years ago.  He correctly told the owner the date and the artist and valued it at £25,000.  His specialist examined it

At their last meeting, SI Cannock & District were delighted to be able to celebrate 25 years of membership with one of their most committed members. Trish Mellor joined the club in 1998 and since then has been a tireless supporter of Soroptimist International. She has led on projects that have improved the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally. These include the White Ribbon campaign and SI Cannock’s award winning ‘Your Body, Your Rules’ project. Trish has held various posts in the club including being President in 2004/2005, Club Secretary, Region Representative and is currently joint Programme Action Rep and Press Officer. She is known and well respected at Club, Regional and National level having attended many SI conferences in those 25 years. On behalf of the club, Team President Trish Smith congratulated Trish and presented her with a Long Service Award

Since Easter members of SI Cannock & District have been going to West Hill Primary School in Hednesford every Wednesday to listen to some of their children read. Following a donation of books from the Rotary Books4Home charity, a charity that SI Cannock has close links with, the club heard that the school desperately needed volunteers to help them to improve the literacy of many of their children who missed so much school time during the pandemic. They wanted particular help with the pupils in years 1, 2 and 3. After receiving the relevant training and security vetting, the seven volunteers were eager to get started and have been attending either Wednesday morning or afternoon all term. It has been such a rewarding experience! One of the volunteers said “It is a privilege to hear children read” which is so true. The teachers have said

The new Soroptimist year started on a very positive note when three new members were welcomed into the club. Lead Team President Carole Holdcroft said she was honoured to induct Alison Murray, Caryn Hewitt and Julia Kenny as members of SI Cannock & District. Together with Jill Mason, part of the Membership Team, the three ladies were officially welcomed and presented with their badges. All three have already shown that they will be excellent Soroptimists by getting involved with events and projects: Alison, a secretary with HMCS and schools, is a member of the team of West Hill Readers; Caryn, a bank clerk, has got involved with the Women’s Safety group and Julia, Business Analyst and HR manager with a national transport firm is involved with the Books4Home project. Alison, Caryn and Julia all said they had found the club very friendly and welcoming and