Good Morning all my sister Soroptimists in Northern England
This will be my last Regional Newsletter as your Regional President and I thank each one of you for the complimentary feedback that both Joyce ( who started this form of inter-club communication with her weekly emails ) and myself have received from so many of you. It certainly has been a very useful tool during these times when communication between us has certainly been different and innovative. After discussions with President Elect Pam, I am going to continue to be the writer and editor of this bi-weekly Newsletter with Pam sending us a message with her contribution. So, please do remember to continue to send your club and member news to me and we will continue to enjoy reading of your activities and seeing photographs of smiling, active Soroptimists.
Many of us joined in the annual event of the Inter-club Dinner which was hosted by S.I. Durham on Monday 4th October. The ballroom at the Ramside Hotel was a spacious and airy room where about 70 of us gathered to enjoy the meal and listen to the guest speaker who was Gary Bankhead, Honorary Research Associate of the Department of Archaeology at Durham University. His story of how his hobby of sub-aqua diving turned into a remarkable quest for ancient relics in the river Wear was a fascinating account of life in this City over many centuries. I don’t think that any of us had realised what a notable
centre Durham was for weaving and fabric trading as well as enjoying looking at his photographs of pilgrims tokens and other personal items that had fallen into the river many, many years ago. This was no ‘dry’ talk but a ‘fluid’ (sorry ! ) account of how history can be bought to life. Thank you Durham members for arranging such an enjoyable evening.
I was invited by S.I. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District to their tree planting event. Here is their report and photograph :- “On Saturday 9th October, members of S.I. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District, with
guest Regional President Christine, gathered to plant our tree as part of the celebrations for the centenary of Soroptimist International. Our tree was planted in Holywell Dene, an ancient woodland which runs between Seghill and Seaton Sluice. On the advice of the Friends of Holywell Dene, we chose an English Oak, a tree which fits well into the existing landscape. The Friends of Holywell Dene also kindly agreed to allow a plaque to be erected to mark the occasion and we were very grateful to them for their advice and support, and to member Linda Johnson who nurtured our sapling until it was ready to plant. The tree is in a wonderful location, overlooking Seaton Burn which runs through the Dene, and is close to a bench where visitors can pause to take in the view. Holywell Dene is a wonderful place for a walk and we hope you’ll be able to visit to enjoy a walk and see our Soroptimist oak tree.” As their guest, I can confirm what a dignified occasion it was with a wonderful poem about an Oak tree being read out to the assembled group. As usual, the event was an excuse for more Soroptimist fellowship with a lunch at the local golf club after the planting. The photograph shows Joint President Anne Gunning watering in the 5’ sapling which had been carefully protected and staked with its plaque clearly identifying it. Long may it grow and long may we be able to visit it to watch it grow.
S.I. Middlesbrough member Shirley Bond first started knitting teddies in 2020 when she read about the suffering of children who had experienced trauma in places like Afghanistan. More recently, SIM members heard about the Bungalow Partnership whose Director, Marie Blythe spoke at a club meeting about the distress of the young people and families they care for, who themselves had experienced traumatic events. Since then, Shirley has provided the Middlesbrough charity with a constant supply of 
teddies, which have been a source of comfort to children as part of their emotional healing process.
Shirley says “ I have kept knitting teddies because the Bungalow Partnership always needs them, which is very sad”.
I am delighted to receive this news from S.I. Darlington & District who are celebrating with this report of one of their long time members – Gypsy Nichol. “Celebrating her 90th birthday on 31st October, S.I. Darlington’s Gypsy Nichol has been an active member since 1964. When she joined, membership was by invitation only and Gypsy, then working for Paton’s & Baldwins, with shorthand typing and book-keeping skills, was ‘head-hunted’ by founder president, Nora Fenby. Gypsy was the youngest in the club by 15 years. Within three years she was Regional Secretary – though in those days the Northern Region was called 
the Northern Divisional Union. 1973 – 1974 she was our D.U. President and so the 25th DU Conference was held in Darlington. One of the highlights of her early years as a Soroptimist was being a member of the organising committee for the Federation Conference in Newcastle in 1968. Southern Soroptimists had been reluctant to come north, claiming there wouldn’t be enough hotel rooms. Gypsy was instrumental in removing their doubts and supplied delegates with detailed local information once they’d ventured up to Newcastle. Gypsy was involved in the launch of Abbeyfield in Darlington in 1970 and in the opening of the Women’s Refuge in 1976 when the club equipped the kitchen. As President 1970-71, she led the club as it learned about developments in science and technology ( use of pesticides & causes of pollution ). Members were also concerned that the use computers in record-keeping could lead to misuse of personal and private information. Plus ca change !! Gypsy was also DU rep and held the post of club treasurer three times. She has vivid memories of the 1975 International Convention in Sheffield, where the NDU was responsible for organising a very successful Friendship Lounge. In 1977 Gypsy “took a back seat” – though still an active member – when she married her dear John. After ten happy years together, John sadly died. Since then Gypsy has unfailingly supported the club and taken part in activities. She enjoyed the visit to SI Soest ( Germany ) and the 2013 SI European Congress in Berlin. Wherever she goes, people remark on her resemblance to the Queen ! On a cruise
beside the Mohne Dam children were all keen to have their photos taken with her.
In March this year Gypsy was a vital member of the Tree-planting team, able to dig the holes herself and leaving at least one younger member feeling very feeble ! During the first Lockdown Gypsy was quick to use Zoom – playing bridge and attending French lessons online weeks before the club had its first Zoom meeting. Gypsy knows that she has been lucky to keep her health, and she lives according to the
motto “Use it or Lose it”. Darlington club is organising a tea party in her hour because, as one member put it, “ Some of us might not be here when she’s 100”. All members of S.I. Northern England
send their love and birthday wishes to Gypsy Nichol a very happy 90th birthday on 31st October 2021 ❤ ❤ ❤
I hope that many of you have registered for our SIGBI Federation Conference which begins with the Federation Programme Action meeting on Thursday 28 October and finishes with a Centenary party on Saturday 30 October. It is being streamed from Llandudno Conference Centre and will see our Federation President Cathy Cottridge leading our members in this very special year. It will be entirely different from the Soroptimist International 100 years celebrations and may be easier for us to engage and follow the speakers and debates. I can see from the programme that it is certainly more convenient hours to sit and view. I know that in-coming President Pam has organised some reporters to feedback during November so it will be interesting to hear views on the speakers, events and how well it was received this year. Throughout the Conference many of us will be thinking of Johanna Raffan and the role that she should have played in leading this year’s event but let us celebrate all that she held dear in our global organisation.
I’m about to leave ( on Saturday afternoon : 23 October) for the Afternoon Tea Party to celebrate S.I. Middlesbrough’s 75th Charter anniversary. I hope that I will see many you there and we’ll take some pictures to show you next time. Lastly – don’t forget to continue to send me your news of club events and members for us to share and celebrate our activities as we will continue to be cautious in our meeting face-to-face as infection rates continue to urge restraint in social interaction. Keep safe and look after yourselves in friendship.
Christine Lumsdon – your regional president ( until 30th October 2021)