Saturday 28th March was the date chosen by Soroptimist International Manchester to formally celebrate our Centenary, marking 100 years of dedicated service from women improving the lives and status of women and girls and also celebrating friendships that stand the test of time both country and world-wide.
Months of meticulous planning from our Centenary Committee and club members culminated in a superb evening of celebration and friendship at the Novotel Hotel, Manchester West. SI Presidents and members from 19 clubs, along with family and friends, were joined by Friendship Link sister Soroptimists from SI Essen Victoria in Germany and SI Fort de France Alizes – Sud, Martinique. Special guests included Yemisi Opanye, President of our mother club SI Greater London and Molly Byrne Robinson also from London, Helen Gazzard and Hannah Martin from the Contact Hostel in Chorlton and the Lord Lieutenant of Manchester Diane Hawkins. Guest of Honour was Helen Pankhurst CBE.
As the evening got under way we were most ably entertained by a young Harpist, Millie Huang from the Royal Northern College of Music.
Speeches and toasts followed a delicious dinner.
President Fiona delivered an interesting and informative speech based on the history of Manchester, a city of firsts with women at the forefront of social change throughout. The Lord Lieutenant again focussed on women and Soroptimist’s support for women over the last century. Helen Gazzard from the Contact Hostel (one of the beneficiaries from our Centenary Fund) complimented SI Manchester and our work with them saying “You don’t just talk of change, you make it happen”. Yemisi, despite having lost her voice, praised our club and wished us well!
Following the cutting of an impressive 100th Anniversary cake, our guest speaker, Helen Pankhurst was the subject of an informal interview with President Fiona with questions ranging from what it was like to live and grow up in a Pankhurst household to her current work with Care International UK and Greater Manchester for Women 28 (GM4Women28)
An informative display of archive material from the past 100 years of SI Manchester included the Charter and a list of founder members, illustrations of memories from the past alongside our current projects and a look into the future.
At the end of the evening, Club member Rosemary Stevens’ husband, Gus – a proud Scot, resplendent in kilt and full attire led us all in singing Auld Lang Syne. A highly appropriate way to round off an evening of celebration, reflection and positivity for the years to come.
Hilary Dodd
