We are looking forward to celebrating the club’s centenary in 2026.
The first meeting of S I Manchester was held on 18th February 1926 when Lady Falmouth, founder member of S I Greater London – our ‘mother’ club – was present. On 16th June that year an inaugural banquet was held and the Charter was presented.
To celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Club in 1976 an annual prize was established at the Royal Northern College of Music to be awarded each year to the outstanding student of composition or conducting. During the Golden Jubilee year the Daisy Cross Trust was established.
The Diamond Jubilee project in 1986 was for the NSPCC Special Families unit in Fallowfield.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Club in 1996, £7,000 was raised to furnish and equip a multi-sensory room for children at a local assessment centre. The Club’s 80th anniversary was marked by donating £8,000 to St Mary’s Sexual Assault referral centre for a new paediatric room.
Act4Africa, a charity the club still supports, was the recipient of £9,000 raised for the 90th anniversary in 2016.
A Centenary Committee met regularly to plan celebrations and fund raising events, and to raise awareness of the work we do. The aim was to raise £10,000 for our charities – within six months we had raised over £12,000. We agreed to make centenary grants to six local charities – Contact Hostel, The River Manchester, Early Essentials, Manchester Women’s Aid, WomenMatta and Manchester Action on Street Health.
Members are hosting Centenary Suppers to raise funds for the 100th Charter Dinner in March 2026 at which Helen Pankhurst will be the special guest.