Well clearly not for the 8th March, International Women’s Day 2022!   Thanks to Richard Dickson on the Town Council, we got the ‘go ahead’ from Warwick District Council to Purple the Park benches in Abbey Fields.   We’re not sure that the park benches have ever looked so amazing!

It’s safe to say that for one day only, Kenilworth woke up to a thoroughly ‘Soroptimised’ Abbey Fields.   Purple park benches with powerful prose from inspirational women.

Club members gathered and made decorations in all shapes and sizes and shades of purple.   Pom-poms, crocheted hearts, knitted pieces, ribbons, bunting  – you think of it, we made it!

Over a cuppa and with much laughter of course!

Put together with the poems and quotes from amazing women we created a fabulous ‘pop up’ display for International Women’s day.

The feedback on our Social media and the local Kenilworth Vibes was fantastic.   So many people commented on how uplifting they found it.   How much it cheered them up and how much they enjoyed it.    And in some case it reminded them of their Mums – ahh.

However, we are all struggling to understand what is happening in Ukraine.

Although purple is the colour for International Women’s Day, we decorated the new Memorial bench in blue and yellow, and sunflowers to show our support and love for the women and our sisters in Ukraine.   Because of this, Town Mayor, Peter Jones, very kindly gave us permission to keep this display up for a few days longer.   Again, the feedback on social media was particularly strong for this bench.

Our organisation Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland has already given a statement of support to our Sisters in Ukraine.   And sent a donation to the Red Cross. – To read more please click on this link. https://sigbi.org/2022/sigbi-statement-on-women-in-the-ukraine/

So what was your favourite bit of prose?

Perhaps one of the these?

The High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Min, Lady Willoughby de Broke came dressed in purple as befitted the day.   She was delighted to find the following quote to use for a speech she was making that evening –

Here’s to strong women.  May we know them.  May we be them.  May we raise them.

Club members continued the celebrations of International Women’s Day with an afternoon of poetry in praise of our Sisterhood.  Accompanied by cake and tea of course.   Town Mayor Peter Jones and his wife Jenny joined in the fun.   Jenny contributed with this poem by another Jenny – the perfect way to end our International Women’s Day.

Warning by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.