On September 12th to 14th 2025 we held our Friendship Weekend in Kings Lynn. A weekend of events to mark 50 years since the club’s founding. The weekend was an occasion for strengthening friendships and a chance to celebrate our historic town and its women past and present. The Friendship Weekend was also an opportunity to meet guests from our linked clubs in Lubeck, Germany and Waterland in the Netherlands. Several members of which had made the journey over, hosted by Kings Lynn members. New to Soroptimism (I joined in May 2025) I’d looked forward to the weekend with a mixture of excitement and a little apprehension. There was so much happening and, as a new member, I was still learning names and understanding how Soroptimism worked. I needn’t have worried. From the moment the weekend began (an evening  gathering hosted by Corinne at her

The Saturday evening of the Friendship weekend  offered the chance to make a special long service presentation to the club's longest standing member Rachel Seakins. Rachel has been a dedicated member of the club for 50 years after becoming a member in 1975 shortly after the club commenced. Fifty years ago, Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher became the leader of the Conservative Party, the first commercial oil was pumped from the North Sea and Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft at the age of 19. Inflation and unemployment were at record highs and Fawlty Towers made its first appearance on TV. 1975 also saw the birth of David Beckham, Jamie Oliver, Kate Winslet …….and, on 12th July, Soroptimist International of King’s Lynn. Rachel Seakins, our longest serving member, joined the club later that year. Membership was by invitation of the Executive Committee. The club initially

Soroptimist International of King’s Lynn recently held their fourteenth annual public speaking competition for Year 6 pupils. The event was held at The College of West Anglia, with nine teams from local primary schools competing for the Benita Haynes Trophy, named to remember a past member. Topics discussed ranged from the importance of preventing food waste, through to whether children need to learn handwriting in this digital age.  Grimston's Holly Meadows School took the honours, winning with their talk on whether younger people would be better suited to lead, or whether the experience that older people bring is more valuable The Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Councillor Andy Bullen and his consort, Jane Jestice attended, with Cllr Andy Bullen presenting the prizes.  The judging panel was made up of Cathy Cottridge from Soroptimist International. Cathy is Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland's Immediate Past

Home-Start Norfolk is one of Soroptimist International of King’s Lynn charities of the year for 2025, thanks to the passionate advocacy of returning member, Bea Knights. Bea is the King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Family Services Coordinator, and she presented to the June meeting with two of her 16 volunteers, Rita and Sarah. Home-Start supports struggling families with children up to 5 years old with home visits, telephone support, referrals and signposting to other services. The families Home-Start supports often have complex needs and circumstances. The children might have special educational needs and disabilities. Parents might be experiencing poor mental health due to suffering from domestic abuse, previous substance misuse, general mental illness and post-natal depression. There are many military families in the area, with a lack of wider family support from their own parents and friends. The biggest issue is rural isolation. Local support

At a recent meeting we were pleased to welcome Katy Muller from the Court Witness Service. She gave us an informative talk which gave rise to a lively Q&A session. The Witness Service was founded in 1994 by Victim Support after research showed that witnesses needed help to testify in court. The service is now funded by the Ministry of Justice and Citizen’s Advice run the service.  The Witness Service supports witnesses who are attending criminal courts to give evidence relating to perpetrators and victims.  Support can be provided to children, vulnerable adults and support animals. Because the Witness Service is an off-shoot of Citizen’s Advice, help can extend beyond the court case.  Volunteers for the Witness Service often build a rapport with the witness, with conversations taking place which can lead to witnesses and their extended family being able to receive help or signposting

Soroptimist International of King’s Lynn recently thanked their outgoing President Karen Wadham at their AGM held at Marriotts Warehouse. President Karen’s year had been very successful, during which over £2000 was raised for club charities. Fundraising events included a Shanty evening, a Literary Afternoon Tea and a Colour Consultation and Fashion evening. The club also won a prestigious award for their annual public speaking competition. During the meeting cheque presentations were made to the charities for which funds were raised during President Karen’s year: –   Ho School Project – Anna Cottrell;   19th Reffley Guides – Pat Pinnington on behalf of Rangers Ella and Maddie who are fundraising after being selected for trips abroad in 2025.   A donation has also been made to Soroptimist International of Krakow to help support their project work with Ukrainian refugees. During the meeting the club was very

At our meeting in March we were entertained by designer and milliner Pat Brown. Pat is the owner of The Extraordinary Hat Company based in Fakenham. Pat told us about her career and how she came to be a milliner. As a service wife posted to Germany she assisted in a middle school. On return to the UK she became a teaching assistant where she thoroughly enjoyed the craft activities.  She discovered a talent for maths, gaining a place at a teacher training college, and this resulted in a 33 year career as a primary school teacher and head teacher. Pat moved to Norfolk to be near elderly parents and took up a head teacher post in Thetford. She retired and then returned to teaching part-time for 6 years. During her pre-retirement phase she was able to spend one day a week learning about silversmithing