Kenilworth SI hosted a casino evening in aid of the NSPCC on February 18th 2012 and raised £780! A great night was had by all and many millions (of play dollars) were won and lost. Champagne was awarded to the guest with the most winnings at the end of the evening – double bonus!
The Club is proud to announce that we were nominated for a ‘Best Practice’ award for our recent study day which focused on violence against women. Professor Rebecca Probert (above, left), who organised the day at Warwick University, accepted the second prize at the recent SIGBI (Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland) conference in Brighton earlier this year.
Our Christmas Fayre this year was held again at St Francis’s Church Hall on Saturday 26th November. Stalls included those selling poinsettias and cyclamens, gifts, crafts, homemade cakes, preserves, new-to-you, books, DVD’s and CD’s. Our efforts raised in the region of £1,800 which will be split between the NSPCC and Relate. Many thanks to everybody who helped before and on the day, and most of all a big thank you to everyone who came to the Fayre and did some Christmas shopping!
The exhausted team rest on their laurels after an amazing effort at the SI Leamington and Warwick Swimathon in October 2011. This year the team beat their own record and managed 45 laps (each lap is two lengths of a 25 metre pool). They also raised in the region of £600 in sponsorship for Myton Hospices and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
Kenilworth & District field their team for the 2011 Swimathon! Some familiar Swimathon faces, some new, but all ready to swim as far and fast as they can for this year’s Swimathon (organised by SI Leamington & Warwick). This year the charities supported will be Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulances and the Myton Hospices.
‘Pretty, witty Nell’ TALISMAN THEATRE, KENILWORTH TUESDAY 10th MAY 2011 at 7.30pm An event staged by Kenilworth & District SI as part of the Kenilworth Festival, 2011. Nell Gwynn was the mistress of Charles II and for many that is all she is known for – other than for selling oranges! The real Nell Gwynn was a victory for English womanhood, showing great courage and against all the odds she became a star of the London stage and beloved of the King of England. Nell Gwynn was recreated by acclaimed historian and TV celebrity, Lesley Smith.
Congratulations to our Swimathon team, who recently raised a record £418 to be divided between the Alzheimers Society and Help the Heroes. These energetic ladies completed an impressive 43 laps in their allotted hour. Well done.
SI Kenilworth and District were pleased to welcome new member Marge O’Leary at our October meeting. Marge, pictured on the left with President Rebecca, is a Graduate of Law from Warwick University. She is currently simultaneously reading for the Bar and a masters degree in International Development Law and Human Rights. Marge is research co-ordinator of a student led project, Femin Itjihad (http://feminijtihad.com/the-team/) , a research initiative designed to provide activists and N.G.O’s with legal and literary information on Muslim women’s rights in the form of easy-to-read summaries, podcasts and an online helpline. Marge was introduced to Soroptimism when she was asked to contribute to the recent study day at Warwick University where she gave a talk on ‘Applying strategic techniques to reviewing the Draft Afghan Family Code.’
President (Professor) Rebecca Probert organised a Study Day in conjunction with Warwick Law School, at the University of Warwick on 26th June 2010. The day was intended to highlight research being undertaken at the University of Warwick that is of relevance to the key objectives of Soroptimism. The range of topics covered is set out below. Objective: Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights Topic 1: ‘Gender and the Law’ Speaker: Ann Stewart, Reader in Law Topic 2: ‘Applying strategic techniques on reviewing the Draft Afghan Family Law’ Speaker: Marge O’Leary (Femin Ijithad: http://www.feminijtihad.webs.com/) Topic 3: ‘Staying on the catwalk – help women need’ Speaker: Winnie Chan Objective: Enable women’s advancement in management, politics and decision making Topic: ‘Gendered ritual in Parliament’ (for background information on this project see http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/research/gcrp/) Speaker: Objectives: Meet the needs of women and girls during
Queen Elizabeth I returned to Kenilworth Castle on Wednesday 12th May 2010, as part of the Kenilworth Festival. The Virgin Queen, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was recreated by acclaimed historian and TV celebrity, Lesley Smith in an event organised by Kenilworth and District Soroptimist International. Lesley brought Elizabeth back to life in The Stables at Kenilworth Castle to a sell out audience. To the audience’s surprise and delight she was joined by Sir Robert Dudley, played by a fellow historian. Lesley said she was thrilled to be playing the role of Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle which has such strong links to the former Queen. There was an opportunity to take pictures and ask questions of the regal pair after the formal event as they mingled with the audience. Lesley’s skill as an entertainer and educator was greatly appreciated by all.
