The Connie Dawson Plate
Mrs. Constance ( Connie ) Dawson joined S.l. WhitIey Bay in the 1960’s and was Club President from 1972-73. She moved to S.I. Tynemouth in the 1980’s and resigned in April 2000 when she become unable to attend meetings.
Connie was a woman of intellect, innate decency and had an amazing work ethic.
Early in her married life, she and her husband owned an Antiques Shop in
Station Road, Whitley Bay. Connie was a woman of action and proved it when they packed up their shop within three days of an American offering to buy it.
Connie was a regular attender at Regional events and was keen that women reached their true potential. She was a person who was greatly respected, and on her death, her family received ‘warmest condolences’ from the wider Soroptimist community. This silver salver was presented by her son Chris and daughter-in-law to Shirley Hallam (S.I. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District ) to commemorate Shirley’s friendship and support of Connie and her family over 25 years. When Shirley became
S.I.Northern England Regional President in 2018-19, she felt that the time had come to award this salver as the Regional President’s Personal Award. The intention is for the Regional President to decide what is a remarkable project special to her during her year of office.
The first two awards went to clubs for their sustained support for projects over many years.
Winners of the award
2019
S.I. Stockton-on-Tees for their support over 43 years of members of the local Physically Disabled Club by providing a meal and raffle prizes twice a year until the club’s closure.
2020
S.I. South Shields & District for their sustained support for the local charity “Hospitality and Hope”. They provided donations of food, clothing and toiletries for many families in the local area.
2021
S.I. Darlington & District for the celebratory planting of 100 trees within the 6,800 trees planted as part of the Darlington Forest Project. These were planted by a large number of club members along Tornado Way – the route of the original Stockton and Darlington Railway which commemorates its Bi-CentenniaI in 2025. The club also assisted in developing a Tree Nursery to aid with future tree planting needs.
2022
S.I. Penrith – Coronation Garden who won a Cumbria In Bloom RHS Gold Award – Community Project
2023
S.I. Stockton-on-Tees – For the substantial amount of projects they where able to complete report forms in the year: Food Bank, Baby Bank, Purple Rose for Asylum Seekers, New Start Bags for Trafficked People and many others.
2024
S.I. Sunderland – for The Shipyard Women Statue on the River Wear – “MOLLY”
2025
S.I. Tynedale – Campaign Against Domestic Abuse