Good Morning to all my sister Soroptimists in Northern England
I hope that on this August Bank Holiday weekend that you are all engaging in some rest and relaxation – out in the fresh air and meeting friends and family. It is wonderful to think that we can now start to plan to meet face-to-face and some of these club reports in this Newsletter demonstrate to joys of being able to do just that. However, please do continue to be careful as COVID infection rates are still significant and we may come into contact with unknown people from different places.
My first club report brings a real smile to us all. You may remember the short presentation given by S.I. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District back in March when I asked a few clubs to outline their plans for this 
Centennial year. We were all dazzled by the twinkling diamond which promised a future summer funding raising event for the Diamond Education Grant. I have now received this report from them :- “At the Belfast Conference in 2020, President Johanna challenged clubs to raise £100 for the Diamond Education Grant. S.I.Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District rose to that challenge on 9th August by holding an event, appropriately called “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend”. The evening began with an explanation of the work of the Diamond Education Grant by Pat Jefferson, formerly Secretary of the Diamond Education Grant, during which she paid a lovely tribute to President Johanna. Members then enjoyed good company and fabulous food and were entertained by live music. We also welcomed special guests Marilyn Munro and Neil Diamond ! Six lucky members won a bottle of champagne each in our raffle. After so many months of virtual meetings, it was a joyful occasion filled with much laughter and we raised £425 for the Diamond Education Grant.” This photograph below certainly proves that you had some very special guests there with Marilyn and Neil ! Well done for raising such a wonderful sum and for doing it in such stylish fun.
S.I. Darlington & District report that one of their newest recruits, Carol Marchant, recently organised an Afternoon Tea in aid of Breast Cancer Now – a research and care charity. There were two sessions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. 50% of the club’s members were able to support this event, along with Carol’s W.I. and USA friends. All like minded women ! Apart from the delicious cakes, there was a raffle and a book stall. Many of the books were donated by Soroptimists. The total amount raised was £387.17 + Gift Aid, which was well above Carol’s target so she was absolutely delighted.
S.I.Middlesbrough are also looking forward to raising funds for the Diamond Education Grant with an Auction of Books at the home of President Geraldine Nuttall. There will be a range of titles from fiction to reference which will include a few biographies of notable women whose lives and work have inspired others. They hope to combine literary pursuits with fun, as the event will also provide an opportunity to catch up socially and enjoy President Geraldine’s hospitality. Talking about biographies of notable women whose lives and work have inspired others, S.I. Newcastle upon Tyne have sponsored a nomination
for a ‘Blue Plaque’ for Dr.Ruth Nicholson and on Friday 27 August, this plaque was formally unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr Habib Rahman. In Newcastle City the plaques are dark grey not blue as you can see in the photograph. There are over 100 Commemorative plaques in the City but only 4 are for women so our Past President Vera Baird challenged our members to address this gender inequality. Dr Ruth Nicholson was born at 32 Kenilworth Road, Elswick in the west end of the City in 1884. Ruth attended Newcastle Church High School and in 1904 she enrolled at the City’s College of Medicine ( then part of Durham University) aged 19. She was the only female graduate in 1909. Her career began in Newcastle and Edinburgh, before missionary work took her to a field hospital in Gaza where she worked until the outbreak of the First World War. The British Army rejected her application to work in the male dominated British Military Hospitals but she joined the all female hospital supported by the French Government at the Royaumont Hospital. She served as their Principal Surgeon and second in command to their founder Dr. Frances Ivens. From December 1914 to March 1919, she shared the bulk of the major surgical workload and played a pivotal role in tending to soldiers injured at the Battle of the Somme. Over an 8 day period, she managed just 16 hours of sleep. The all-female team developed and used new treatment methods that had very successful recovery outcomes and of the 8,752 patients treated, the death rate was only 1.82% – results that were widely acknowledged to be spectacular. For this service in treating French soldiers, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre. After the war she began a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology becoming a founder member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College two years later. Ruth Nicholson was appointed Clinical Lecturer and Gynaecology surgeon at the University of Liverpool in 1930 and later she became the first woman President of the North of England Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She passed away in 1963 aged 67.
The photograph shows ( from the left ) Professor Alison Murdoch who represented the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Newcastle Club President Christine Tomkins, The Lord Mayor of Newcastle and Baroness Joyce Quin who ( together with Moira Kilkenny ) wrote about Ruth Nicholson in their book ‘The Angels of the North’ . We were honoured to have such eminent guest speakers at this unveiling – and were fascinated by the black and white giant rosette that covered the plaque until the actual unveiling. Newcastle members have already submitted their proposal for another commemorative plaque to a notable woman in the City – so watch this space for more news. Another news item today is from S.I. Penrith & District who have reported on their summer holiday duties at the Calvert Trust.
S.I.Penrith members are pleased to be able to help again, making beds on change over days, at the Calvert Trust at Keswick now that it has opened up to residential courses for people with disabilities after the very difficult 15 months when they have been closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID pandemic, SI Penrith & District carried out Personal Challenges to raise money for the Calvert Trust, a charity which Penrith club have supported for over 20 years. The club have donated over £2,000 to the charity from their efforts and the photograph shows four SI Penrith members at the Calvert Trust with
some of the new bedding which has been bought with the money raised.
S.I. Carlisle continue their support of the homeless women’s hostel in Water Street, Their latest donations have included 6 pairs of pyjamas and 15 pairs of socks as well as 3 sets of joggers and tops together with a supply of long life foods. The tea, coffee, long life milk and sugar are absolutely essential items to give all new
residents on their arrival. A familiar cuppa helps to ease the trauma most of these women would be feeling. Close contact is kept with Sharon who is the Hostel manager so that the club’s donations are always appropriate and needed. Sharon has told of a lady who had arrived that very
morning with only the clothes that she was wearing, and nothing else. We all feel for these women who are brave enough to flee domestic abuse and the subsequent upheaval in their lives. Thank you Carlisle members for being there for them in their hour of need. Photograph of the pyjama s and joggers sets donated to Water Street Hostel
Please don’t forget to sign up for the next Regional Coffee Gathering on Saturday 4th September from 10.30am for an hour. Please contact Margaret Ayton on margaretayton40@gmail.com who will send you the Zoom link to join us. All members are very welcome to join this very sociable and chatty group. Please do remember to include your furry friends, especially Tobi, Harry, Daisy and others as I think we will have a special guest joining us on this date who loves cats !
The next Regional Newsletter will be on Sunday 12 September. Please do continue to send me club and member news to include.
Don’t forget to book for the next virtual Regional Council Meeting ( on Zoom ) on Saturday 18 September in the morning. We will be following the AGM with the
presentations of the short listed Programme Action Awards for this year – and then announcing the winners of the ‘Reach for the Skies’ award and the ‘Connie Dawson Plate’
for the project work with the most sustainable theme. We are also planning a different introduction to the meeting with a rolling picture gallery of
the various wonderful President’s Regalia from all of the clubs. In a year when we have not met up and seen these historical emblems in face-to-face meetings we hope that you
will enjoy being reminded of a little more of our history in this Celebratory year. Enjoy the rest of your late summer bank holiday and look forward to a fine autumn and a
re-start for the many clubs who have had a break over the summer.
In friendship Christine Lumsdon – your Regional President
email: christinemlumsdon@gmail.com