INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY SEPTEMBER 2009 Soroptimist International supporting Book Aid International During September, help to raise money to send books to sub – Saharan Africa. For every £2 you collect, Book Aid International can send a book to a school or library How much value do you put on your ability to read and have access to a huge range of literature and information? If you live in sub Saharan Africa you do not have this opportunity of access as books are a luxury that very few can afford. Book Aid International state; ‘Books Change Lives’ Literacy is a basic human right, it opens the door to education and helps to lift communities out of poverty, however without books and reading materials, literacy is extremely hard to achieve and maintain. How can you help? During September, put a value on every thing you read and

FRIENDSHIP, FUN AND FOOD were certainly on the menu for our afternoon at Linda and Bede’s home. A group of some 22 members enjoyed the sunshine in Linda’s delightful garden on Saturday 22nd August.  She refreshed us with different flavours of tea served with scones (to die for), clotted cream and jam, beautiful sponges and homemade shortbread. WONDERFUL! Thank you Linda for giving us the opportunity to discuss ways of improving friendship, what a great example the afternoon was.  

Kenilworth & District Soroptimists took part in one of the group’s favourite pastimes in August – eating! This time it was breakfast at an event organised by Carole and Nick Nicholson. Guests were invited to enjoy traditional breakfast fare, including kedgeree and kippers, whilst enjoying a rare sunny Sunday in the Nicholson’s award-winning garden. Funds raised will go to one of the charities supported by the President this year.

Members Rebecca Probert, Di Carter & Sally Wilding put their best feet forward on the Sunflower walk in June in aid of Myton Hospice.

    The annual plant sale was held on June 6th in torrential rain much to everyone’s disappointment. There were so many plants left over that we decided to take the remainder to the next car boot sale (see picture above) at Leamington RFC. Thankfully, this was far more successful (weatherwise and also regarding plant sales). Some of the plants were donated to a local lady andshe is pictured with members Andrea Kingston and CaroleNicholson (Jane Beckett was wielding the camera) who planted up her patio pots for her. In total, the plant sale made £670, 50% of which will go to the Cotton Tree Children’s Trust and the remainder to the President’s chosen charities.

Kenilworth & District celebrated their 40th year this weekend (17th to 19th April).  The celebrations commenced on Friday evening with a civic reception in the company of the mayor and mayoress of Kenilworth.  Guests were welcomed from friendship link clubs in Remscheid, Mulhouse, Arnheim Oost, Cardiff, Leicester and Coventry. On Saturday we were treated to a preview tour of the Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle (due to open to the public in May 2009).  A formal dinner was held at Kenilworth Golf Club where the menu was sixties themed.  Sunday started with coffee at Milsom’s hotel before a guided tour of the Abbey ruins and Barn.  This was followed by lunch at Haigs Hotel in Balsall Common. The picture shows founder member Hilda Sparkes with Mayor Spencer Harrison and his wife Daphne Harrison, also a member of the Kenilworth club.  They are joined by a visiting Remscheid member

Pupils from Kenilworth School provided their time and effort on Saturday March 7th in local service projects organised by Kenilworth and District SI.  The youngsters pitched in to plant up tubs in the garden at Newlands Nursing Home and spent some time socialising with the residents there.  In a separate project over at Abbey Fields much hard work was done to clean up the information plaques which are scattered over this historic site.  The pictures show what one of the plaques looked like before and after its makeover.  The chilly conditions were bravely borne by a cheerful group of volunteers who certainly weren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty.