It was with a very heavy heart and so much sadness that our club announced the passing of our dear friend and Soroptimist, Penny Veness, who died struggling to fight COVID-19 on Friday 7th June 2020. She joined our club over 30 years ago and in that time had been club President, South East regional President, ADP of social development for Soroptimist SIGBI federation and introduced fair trade to clubs in the South East region to name but a few of her achievements. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2001 and last year took part in a sponsored bike ride of 300 miles through Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam – in support of Multiple System Atrophy Trust, the illness which struck down her husband. She was upbeat and optimistic and lively – a wonderful person with such a big heart who will be missed terribly.