We are having quite an eventful November!
Sharron Davies Evening
Last night we held an event at the Scotch Corner Hotel featuring the great Olympic swimmer and campaigner for women in sport, Sharron Davies. The evening was a fundraiser on behalf of the Richmond Dales Amateur Swimming club, to help fund equipment for their girl swimmers. This is one of our charities for 2024-25. Before the event, Sharron attended their training session, meeting their young swimmers and putting them through their paces: what a privilege! In the evening, over 120 people had supper followed by a talk by Sharron about her career and issues in women’s sport. She was a terrific speaker, and very inspirational. After the talk she spent lots of time talking to attendees, especially the youngsters, and let everyone examine her Olympic torches and her medals. An outstanding evening with an outstanding woman!
Remembrance Day
Join President Lin accompanies by member Jan Beeton attended the annual British Legion Remembrance Day parade and service as our representatives. As is our custom, they laid a wreath at the Richmond War Memorial in memory of the fallen. Being a military town, this is always an important event, with many community organisations playing their part alongside the military.
SIGBI Conference in Edinburgh
The SIGBI Conference took place in Edinburgh at the beginning of November. A group of seven members from Richmond & Dales attended, with 3 going for their first time. Conference is an important opportunity to meet with fellow Soroptimists from all over the world, and to share in the ceremony in which Regional Presidents hand over their regalia to the incoming new Presidents. This time one of our members, Judith Clark, was inducted as Joint President of Yorkshire for 2024-2025. Highlight of the conference was the keynote speaker – Baroness Floella Benjamin, the actress, TV presenter, writer of children’s books and active member of the House of Lords. Dame Floella has received many awards in recognition of her work for children, immigrant communities and other charitable groups. Two of our members were lucky enough to meet her at the conference.
