Soroptimist International Hertford & District organised a wonderful celebration of their 70th Anniversary on Saturday 25 April. It was a lovely sunny day and the Three Horseshoes at Hooks Cross was the perfect venue for a lunch. When looking at the photo albums from previous celebrations you can see how these events have changed with the times, and become more informal and friendlier as a result.
There were guests at the event from many other Clubs in the Region including Bedford, Greater London, Milton Keynes, St Albans and Thames Valley, as well as partners, friends and supporters of the Club and one “Soropti-mum” too! There was time for greetings and chats before everyone sat down for lunch. Conversations over lunch were lively, friendly and varied at all of the tables, something that happens at all Soroptimist events!
Pam Robertson (pictured here) welcomed everyone and kept the event on track throughout the afternoon.
SI Hertford Club Member Anne Miles (pictured below) gave a short speech and thanked Pam for “master-minding” and organising the lunch. There is a summary of Anne’s speech here, which gave an amusing and proud reflection on the past and brought the audience up to date with the Club’s current successes.
Anne started by saying how much the Club appreciates the support of Soroptimist International London Chilterns Region. She said it has helped Members, especially new ones, to realise that the Soroptimist world is bigger than just the Hertford Club when attending the Region’s well organised meetings with amazing speakers on a wide range of subjects. Three of SI Hertford’s members have been Region President, namely Sylvia Mear, Pam Robertson and Kate Belinis.
The Club was started 70 years ago by a group of illustrious ladies from Hertford, Ware and the surrounding districts. Anne moved to Hertford in 1972 and met Soroptimists running a stall at Hertford Carnival Day selling cakes, garden produce and jams – she says they were a cheery bunch of active ladies. Then, one day a letter came through the post from Sheila Purdue-Bargemaster, inviting Anne to become a Soroptimist and to join them at the 40th Celebrations at Pearce House, Ware. She felt that she had “made it” because those were the days of being invited, making sure your occupation was different from all the other Members, with Ann being a Massage Therapist.
Anne said that the Club had some real characters. Here are just a few:
Sylvia Mear, champion of the elderly, was friend of Barbara Cartland and organised dress shows of Barbara’s dresses and hats. She was an amazing Soroptimist Member, full of knowledge of Soroptimist International, and who made sure that the club was recognised by Hertford Town council. You can read more about Sylvia here: https://sigbi.org/london-chilterns/history/ – Sylvia was named in 2021 as one of the 100 Soroptimists selected to celebrate the centenary of Soroptimist International.
Valerie Cole, who ran the famous café, Christine’s , in the town centre, and produced not so frugal Frugal suppers.
Mary Sherratt, a great educator and meticulous organiser.
Audrey Randall, the badger lady who looked after baby badgers who had been injured or rejected, gave advice to the builders of the Ware by-pass as to where the wild life tunnels should go under the A10, arranged for members to go to the local hide to see badgers and took us on a memorable evening walk over Waterford Heath to see and hear bats.
Jean Clowes, practical, kind, artistic and another good cook.
Veronica Chapman, who gathered together a musical group who entertained at town Christmas events and even in a pub in Ware.
The Club’s Friendship Link clubs have been Enniskillen, Gaziosmanpassa, Dinant and Hamar (which was chartered in the same year as Hertford). Exchanges have been made and a great reminder of how women can work happily together, exchanging ideas and enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, Dinant and Hamar have closed but personal friendships are still maintained.
Anne said that throughout the thirty years she has been a Soroptimist the Club has worked tirelessly to provide help, support, transport, a variety of articles and goods and financial support at home and abroad.
Events and activities have varied over the years, and Anne remembers particularly the sponsored walk in aid of the Missing Persons’ Helpline, walking from from Berkhamsted to Rickmansworth along the Grand Union Canal. It was a lovely day and a great group of walkers with Anne as the support vehicle. Jackie Paling from SI Slough Windsor & Maidenhead was doing the whole walk from Glasgow to London with support from many Soroptimist Clubs along the way. The annual quiz is a great annual fundraiser for the Club with lots of support and money raised for great causes.
To enable girl students in their studies a prize is awarded to a Presdales School year 12 student, ‘Who has shown leadership skills and has contributed to the wider community’, and an annual prize, the Diamond Engineering Award, to a student going on to Higher Education, wishing to study engineering in its widest sense.
The Club supports local charities, such as the Isabel Hospice as well as National and International ones, for example Water Aid. It also has two special charities, The Living Room – a centre to support people living with an addiction, many of whom are women, and Safer Places, the local Women’s Refuge. Pam’s car is often filled with toilet rolls, bleach, coffee, etc and sometimes washing up bowls with all the things you need in a kitchen for women leaving the Refuge to start up again on their own. At Christmas the Club collect presents for the children to give to their mothers.
Club Members enjoy sharing time with each other. Following one creative social evening making tiles, the artist learnt more about Soroptimists. This has now led to a project to offer women at the local refuge an opportunity to have some creative fun in a warm and safe studio environment. The Club is funding this and it is happening very soon.
The Club is delighted that their Member, Kate Belinis (pictured above), is Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland President Elect and takes over the Presidency in October 2028. The Club wishes her well and will support her.
Anne ended by saying “Over the 70 years, we hope that what we have contributed has made a difference, especially to the lives of women and girls, locally, nationally and internationally, and we value the fun and friendship enjoyed along the way.”
The ”formalities” concluded with a short speech of thanks, congratulations and a toast to Soroptimist International from Regional President Rita Beaumont (see photo above). This was followed by an acceptance of the toast by Kate Belinis.
Anne had created the lovely display of chocolates (see photo above) and made posies of flowers in Soroptimist colours for every guest (Jane Slatter is holding a posy in this photo).
After the short speeches, coffee was served and the chocolates were passed around. Conversations continued until everyone drifted off home agreeing that they had all had a most enjoyable Saturday afternoon in great company.