SI Richmond and Dales were delighted to host an evening with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson at the Scotch Corner Hotel on Thursday 24th March. This was a really long-awaited event, as we originally planned this prior to the pandemic. After several postponements, we were very pleased the event was finally able to take place. This was despite an road accident just below Scotch Corner an hour before the event, which closed the A1 Southbound, and caused traffic chaos around the junction and the hotel. Luckily, Baroness Tanni arrived early. Sadly, many of our guests were delayed, and our fellow Soroptimists coming south from Darlington and Durham were unable to make it in time to hear her speak.
The event was organised in support of International Women’s Day. SIGBI’s theme for International Women’s Day was Breaking the Bias and Baroness Tanni inspired us to seek a world where difference is valued and celebrated. She was a delightful and entertaining speaker. She told of her childhood, and her parents fight to ensure she had a mainstream education despite her disability. Born with Spina Bifida, she was paralysed when only a child due to the collapse of her spine. Despite this, she decided that what she wanted to be was an athlete – and what an athlete she became! After graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Politics, she became a full-time international wheelchair racer. She amassed a remarkable medal haul over 16 years and five Paralympic Games of 11 gold, 4 silver and a bronze and 30 world records, was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and made a Dame for services to sport . She was generous in thanking the support she has had to enable her to pursue her racing career, but her extraordinary achievements are a tribute to her dedication and determination.
Since retiring from competitive racing, she has worked in sport, including the successful London Olympic bid for 2012. After being appointed Baroness Grey-Thompson of Eaglescliffe she has developed a second career in the House of Lords. She continues to demonstrate her dedication and hard work ethics as a cross-bench peer working on a range of issues, including disability. In fact, she was whisked away after her talk by her husband to catch a train back to London so that she could speak the following day in the Lords on a measure to give legal recognition to British Sign Language. What an inspirational woman!
Fellow Soroptimists from a number of other Yorkshire Clubs as well as North East, Cumbria and Manchester attended. After Baroness Tanni’s departure, guests were served a very tasty “pie and pea” supper, and indulged in considerable chat and networking for the remainder of the evening.
Baroness Tanni kindly asked that we donate the profits of the event to a charity of our choice. As a ‘thank you’ we have donated a cherry tree to be planted in Baroness Tanni’s name in the new Rufus Wood in Richmond which is being planted in celebration of 950 years since the building of the castle. Including a tombola and raffle, we were able to raise the magnificent total of £1276 at the event. Donations are planned to Riding for the Disabled and Marrick Priory Outdoor Education Centre.
