With guest speaker Gerry Hendry Former Prison Governor who spoke on Women in Prison? Proceeds went to Just For Women.    

  SI Durham, Platinum Jubilee Dinner and 75th Charter Anniversary On Friday 10th June SI Durham hosted a Platinum Jubilee Dinner with a very special guest of honour:  Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Durham, Sue Snowdon. We were joined by sister Soroptimists from other clubs around the region, and even a member from Northern Ireland!   There was a celebratory atmosphere at the Ballroom, Ramside Hall. Our event committee had made a superb job of dressing the venue, with balloons, bunting and beautiful table decorations! Favours for guests included a commemorative Platinum Jubilee brooch and a crown shaped chocolate truffle, from local chocolatiers Chocolatrice. (their delicious chocolate can be purchased online at www.lachocolatrice.co.uk !)   After a superb three course meal Sue Snowdon gave her after-dinner speech. Sue explained the role of Lord Lieutenant as the Queen’s representative in County Durham.  She is the first woman to hold

On Saturday 2 June, five members of SI Durham represented Soroptimism at the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving marking the Platinum Jubilee of HM The Queen at Durham Cathedral.  The service was attended by representatives of many local organisations who had been invited to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event.  The service was led by The Dean of Durham, and he was joined by an official party including the Queen’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, Sue Snowdon, accompanied by the High Sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham, Shona Harper-Wilkes, The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Durham accompanied by his Mayor’s Bodyguard, and the Bishops of Durham, and Hexham and Newcastle.  The service included readings by a number of people and included a concluding prayer written by Ava Park, who won a competition held by the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Educational Trust, and a new composition

5 Members met at Bishop Auckland Town Hall and attended 4 fascinating and inspiring talks from 4 incredible women who each had a story to tell of their journey through life. Celebrate and be inspired as four successful women take the stage in our theatre to discuss and inspire with their individual stories. Speakers include the first female Lord Lieutenant of County Durham since 2013, Mrs Sue Snowdon. Sue was a primary school teacher in Chilton and Ferryhill she later served as a magistrate in County Durham and Darlington for 23 Years and devoted much of her life to supporting and fundraising for charities. She will be joined on the panel by one of the women featured in the First Women UK exhibition, Jane Atkinson CBE, who began her career in 1990 with British Steel. Jane was recognised in the 2020 Queens Birthday honours with