Kenilworth and District enjoy formal friendship links with the following clubs:
Cardiff and District, Wales https://sigbi.org/cardiff-and-district/
Leicester, England https://sigbi.org/leicester/
Mulhouse, France http://mulhouse.soroptimist.fr/
Remscheid, Germany http://www.clubremscheid.soroptimist.de/Soroptimist_Club_Remscheid/Club_Remscheid.html
Arnhem Oost, Holland http://www.soroptimist.nl/html/index.php?clubID=20
Lower Hutt, New Zealand http://www.siswp.org/Lower-Hutt-Inc/
Portadown Northern Ireland https://sigbi.org/portadown/
Mother Club: Coventry, England https://sigbi.org/coventry/
August 2014
The Friendship weekend presided over by President Georgie was a huge success with visitors from France, Germany, Netherlands and our sister clubs in the UK.
On Friday morning our French friends had a splendid brunch – a ‘full English’ with blueberry muffins and maple syrup – followed by a trip to Compton Verney to see the permanent Art Exhibition and have a guided tour of the sculptures of Rodin and Moore.
On Saturday morning we took our visitors to Stoneleigh Abbey where we were joined by our Dutch members. Following coffee, we embarked on the ‘Jane Austin’ tour and given insights into the little known world of Jane Austin and her ties to Stoneleigh. This was followed by our 45th Charter Lunch at the Warwickshire Golf Club. The tables were beautifully decked out with flowers arranged in the soroptimist colours. A traditional meal of lamb and fruit crumble was served which was heartily enjoyed and wonderful entertainment was provided by the ‘Celtic dancers’ – a brilliant entourage of young girl traditional dancers and one sweet little lad who was straight out of the mould of ‘Billie Elliot’! We were also joined at lunch by our town Mayor and honorary member Felicity Bunker, Regional President and fellow club presidents.
Two of our members each hosted a supper evening on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday morning we took our guests to the Barn Museum in Abbey Fields followed by a tour of Kenilworth Old Town. This was nicely rounded off by a traditional English pub lunch at the Clarendon Arms. Our German, Dutch and UK visitors then departed for home.
On Monday morning we took our French visitors to Baddesley Clinton: the tour of the house followed by lunch in the restaurant. Then it was time to leave for Coventry and the bus to Gatwick.
Our visitors were full of praise for the organisation, activities, and for the warm welcome and friendliness shown to them throughout the weekend.
2015
In the evening we had a very informal and relaxed meal at Pien’s home and then back to our hotel! On the Saturday, we were joined by our Remscheid sisters and enjoyed a tour of Castle Middachten which resembled a beautiful grand stately home. We were given a guided tour and were able to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the vast grounds. Following this, we visited the very old city of Doesburg and had coffee outside one of the oldest pubs in Holland. In the evening we were treated to a lovely meal in a beautiful countryside setting along with our friends from Remscheid.
On Sunday, after an inspiring walk through Sonsbeek Park it was time to depart. Many thanks to all our hosts and in particular Joke and Loes who looked after us so well!
Tricia W.
2013
Following an invitation from our friendship link club in Cardiff, Bronwen joined 20 clubs from SI Wales South in a sponsored coastal path walk from Cardigan to Chepstow on May 18th 2013. Each club was allocated a section and these were divided into smaller walks for members to complete. Walkers were divided into professional and apprentice groups and completed separate walks accordingly. Bronwen enjoyed a beautiful day in bright sunshine walking from Porthgain to St. Justin Whitesands – a distance of approximately 4 1/2 miles. Amongst the varied wildlife spotted on the walk was a seal and a couple of snakes! The day was finished off wonderfully with a sumptuous afternoon tea provided by SI Haverfordwest. Proceeds from the sponsorship was divided equally between SIGBI’s Big Project and local club projects.
2013[new_royalslider id=”2″]
Four members of Soroptimist International of Kenilworth and District recently enjoyed a three day visit to their Friendship Link Club of SI Remscheid in Germany. It was an opportunity to strengthen the friendship between the two clubs that has existed for many years.
We were treated to great hospitality and visits to the local places of interest in the vicinity of Remscheid.
On Saturday we were joined by members of another of our Friendship Link Clubs, SI Arnhem Oost from The Netherlands. We toured the Wulfing Museum at Radevormwald, a textile museum located at the site of Johann Wulfing and Sons cloth factory, which was founded in 1774 and produced high quality cloths for over 200 years until 1996.
In the afternoon we visited the Church at the Abbey in nearby Beyenburg. The Church was built in 1497 and is home to a monastic order who continue to serve their local community. The afternoon was rounded off by sampling the local delicacy of waffles, cherries and cream.
On Sunday we visited the town of Remscheid-Lennep birth place of Wilhem Conrad Rontgen, whom discovered X-rays. We toured the modern Rontgen Museum which had displays of his life and work, as well as more modern applications of X-rays.