Soroptimist Prize for Service and Leadership awarded to Maddie Richardson at Presdales School, Ware. Rebecca Huntsman was the Guest of Honour and gave the address. She was the Disputes Lawyer at Hogan Lovells International LLP and was Head Girl in 1991. Soroptimists Ann-Marie and Pam with Maddie

We held our annual Quiz Night on 15th. November at Wodson Park to raise money for The Living Room, a charity helping those with an addiction, and Safer Places, providing services for those fleeing from domestic violence. It was a very successful evening with interesting and informative questions on a variety of subjects put together by one of the members. The eventual winner was the table led by the Mayor of Hertford, Councillor Rosemary Bolton. A total of just over £1200 was raised and we thank all those who participated. The Quiz next year will be on Friday 13th November so book your table now! A selection of photos from the evening.

On 4th November we enjoyed an evening listening to Everjoy and “what do I do?” I think as Everjoy came to the end of her talk we were all feeling somewhat exhausted just listening to all the things she does and places she goes. As usual we had a meal beforehand which you can see from the photo was much enjoyed.

Sharn Tomlinson is a systemic family therapist, supervisor and trainer. She now works at Mind in Mid-Herts as the CEO for the last 4 years prior to that she set up and managed the counselling service for 6 years. Sharn has experience working in the NHS, both with children and adults, as part of the mental health ream, as a family therapist. Sharn has an MA in teaching, training and supervision and has experience teaching Systemic Psychotherapy, Post Graduate and Master’s Level programmes, as well as running workshops and Introductory courses in Counselling and Systemic Practice. Sharn talked about Mind in Mid-Herts’ services and their emphasis on prevention. They deliver their services in 4 town centres: Stevenage, Hertford, St Albans and Welwyn Garden City. They run different workshops and courses ranging from table-tennis to arts, counselling sessions and peer support groups which are vital for

We were delighted to welcome Dr Zoe Jeffrey from the School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire to speak at our July meeting. Her talk on “Exciting Careers in Engineering” was refreshing and yet so disappointing to hear that our home grown female students are not encouraged to consider the diverse engineering jobs and we were told that there are jobs! We do need more role models and Zoe Jeffrey was the perfect role….as her introduction shows Dr Zoe Jeffrey is a full time senior lecturer in the School of Engineering and Technology at University of Hertfordshire. She received her BEng in Electronics and Computer Engineering and MSc in Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronics Devices at University of Surrey, UK in 2006 and 2007 respectively. She then completed her PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University of Hertfordshire, UK in 2013. She is a

Mark Wiseman spoke to us about The Living Room in Hertfordshire.  They are a free, abstinent-based, daytime addiction group therapy treatment service for people living with all types of addictions – drugs, alcohol, shopping, disordered eating, relationships etc.  They also support the Carers or Family Members of a loved one with an addiction. Unless supported, addiction will remain a chronic condition for people, incorporating cycles of relapse and recovery. The impact on families and communities can be devastating.  The Living Room provide non-time-limited peer support therapy, facilitated by trained counsellors, with lived experience of addiction. A few years ago now, our club visited The Living Room and we were privileged and humbled to listen to women telling us of their experiences, including how their addictions would have led to a custodial sentence without the support of The Living Room. The Living Room is one of

On May 6th we were treated to a talk by our very own Ann-Marie Parker. Ann-Marie showed us old black and white photographs from the archives telling the story of Hertford and Ware in the late nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century and how the lives of those who lived then in our two neighbouring towns were so different from our lives now.  For most of the photos she asked us from where we thought they had been taken.  Those of us not from the area were completely lost!  But many of our members and Friends were able to provide the right answers!  It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and a lovely insight into how the towns looked not that long ago.  Sadly no photo!

On 12th April we held our rather belated Diamond Engineering Award Supper.  This supper should have happened in August, but our members travel so widely and so frequently that April was the first time we could get a reasonable number of us together.  This supper is held to raise money (by donations) to fund our award to a local girl who is studying engineering.  Once again thanks to the generosity of our members we exceeded the amount we hoped to raise so are well in hand for next year.  Hopefully we can revert to August for our supper. A selection of pictures gives a sense of the occasion.    

ON the 1st April we should have had a meeting at President Sarah’s a gentle quiz and a glass of wine, however that was not to be. So instead a not quite so gentle but enjoyable evening.  One of our friends from St Albans Club Jane Slatter, and who has and still is very much involved with SIGBI communications, talked to us about the use of our website, Facebook and twitter.  Twitter may be a step to far for us at the moment but a number of people do have Facebook accounts so possibly we might venture to do something with Facebook. Everjoy one of our newest members then spoke to us about the charity she has set up to support Women in Zimbabwe.