With great sadness, Lichfield Club say goodbye to Avril Commons, a key figure in the club for many years. Avril is a past presaident as well as carrying out the roles of treasurer and secretary with vigour and exactitude. Avril has also served on the Regional committee and has been the respresentative on the Arboretum Committee. Indeed it was Avril’s design that has been used in establishing the garden there. Avril has given tirelessly of her time and has the will to ‘get things done’. She established the fundraising for the Salvation Army every December and participation in the Rotary Santa Sleigh each year. She has been a staunch supporter of St Giles and the Lichfield Pathway Project. In her village of Elford, she has left even greater legacies of a new village hall designed with ground breaking features and has just achieved another grant

This is President Lesley’s Dad who has been a lifelong member of the choir with his own father before him.  The choir brought music and mirth to the Guild Hall – a wonderful evening of entertainment.

Once again, we were invited to present our cheque at the Salvation Army Christmas Carol Concert at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.  Club members Avril Commons and Jackie Jones were delighted to be there.  David Newstead is coming to talk to Club members about the variety of work that is undertaken for local people.

Another great day of fun and frolics that has raised £920 for the Salvation Army Homeless at Christmas Appeal.  The Christmas Fair inside had a vast array of goods for sale or to win and the refreshments were welcome on a cold day!  As you can see, Tweedledum and Tweedledee were back by popular request and the new Santa (or rather the real one) was a hit with the youngsters and their parents.

At last I have taken the make-up that you all kindly donated to Pathway.  It filled the whole hamper and a toilet bag, all new, and a lovely variety of items.  I’ve said that we’ll collect more as some members have been away over the summer and we haven’t had their donations.  The gift was most welcome as with 14 residents, it takes a lot of items to run the evening.  At the same time, I was able to deliver a large bag of bedlinen and towels that have been donated.

Five Lichfield members attended the regional AGM with President Lesley.  It was a convivial evening with good food and conversation.  The committee has a full complement of officers going forward with Vice President post filled by Judith Healey of Wrekin Club and Treasurer post filled by Elizabeth Fruer of Sutton Coldfield.  Both of these were nominations from the floor. Lichfield ‘Keyring Services’ project was mentioned  in the Programme Action report as were Bilston’s camels!!  President Lesley presented Bilston Club with yet more camels, they have now asked us to stop finding them.  We are now on the lookout for balloons for them instead!!

A wonderful day at the Georgian Market where, once again, by popular demand, we played ping pong balls into jamjars.  This particular version, using a plastic swimming pool, was oft reported in newspapers of Georgian times.  This year we were lucky enough to be able to throw uphill so collection of missed balls was easier.  This year, we covered our non-waterproof gazebo with a waterproof groundsheet so prizes did not get wet.  This year, ex mayor, Mark Warfield spent the whole day helping winners choose their prizes – well done to Mark. Loads of helpers, plenty of sunshine, a little bit of rain and we raised our highest total ever for charity!  It doesn’t get much better than this!!

President Lesley and her husband Mark were part of the Lichfield contingent that attended SI Tamworth Dinner.  They are pictured with Regional President Pauline at her own Club event.  Wendy and David Sherratt, Angela Reynolds and Margaret Galuzska accompanied the President for this interesting evening.  The centrepieces were balloon flowers and part way through the meal, balloon sculpture at each table meant fun and laughter.  The evening was rounded off by a comedian from Sheffield – I expect he has gone away with more awareness of what Soroptimism means to those of us in the Midland Chase region.

  This was a lovely photo taken at President Lesley’s Charter Lunch – just received it and thought it might as well go on the website!! 

President Lesley and 9 Lichfield Soroptimists attended this event hosted by Sutton Club.  Ann McDonald was invited to talk about her study trip to Sierra Leone in February.  She spoke from first hand experience about the difference that Soroptimist donations are making in the area.  She encouraged us to send money raised as soon as it became available rather than to wait till the end of year.  President Lesley has decided to dedicate Georgian Market funds raised to this very worthwhile cause.  Please go onto the Project SIerra website for further information.  There was a cheese and wine buffet and raffle with one of the winning tickets for Wendy Sherratt.  We were complimented on being our usual joyful selves……