13 December 2013
RICHMOND & DALES SOROPTIMISTS CHRISTMAS CONCERT BY CANDLELIGHT
in aid of two local charities
The110 singers of the three community choirs that make up the Richmond’s Station Singers gave a delightful concert conducted by their director, Carol Gedye to an audience of about 300 people in St Mary’s Parish Church.
The choirs, which meet each week in separate locations and come together for concerts are aptly named, Platform 1, Platform 2 and Branch Line. Each choir sang items separately before singing in unison. Many members of SI-Richmond and Dales are also members of the Station Singers.
The programme included old and new carols, other well known songs and enjoyable audience participation. The concert, which was in aid of the Richmond Food Bank & Family Activity Breaks for Bereaved Service Families, was a joint event between SI-Richmond & Dales and the Station Singers. It was a huge success.
Refreshments of canapés, mulled wine and soft drinks for the 400 people at the concert were provided by Club members and several of the singers.
A total of £2,400 was raised from ticket sales and raffle prizes of generous proportions, the proceeds being divided between SI-Richmond and Dales and the Station Singers.
It was an interesting logistical exercise for club members to assemble the refreshments, heat and maintain the temperature of the mulled wine in a building with a very tiny kitchen and then serve everything to the seated audience.
The photograph shows the Branch Line choir rehearsing before the concert.
Thursday 21 November 2013
A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS with BARONESS HARRIS OF RICHMOND. DL.
To a capacity audience of Club members and guests, Lady Harris gave a fascinating insight into the work of the House of Lords richly illustrated with anecdotes and humour. She was on home ground, having lived in Richmond since the late 1970s and had travelled up from a busy day in Parliament to join us in the evening.
Very soon after arriving in North Yorkshire Lady Harris began her long political career when she was elected as a Richmond Town Councillor and a member of Richmondshire District Council during which time she served as Mayor of Richmond and Chairman of the District Council. In 1981 she was elected to the North Yorkshire County Council and in 1991/92 became the first woman to chair the authority. From 1982-98 she was a Justice of the Peace and, from 1994-2001, Chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Authority. Appointment as Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire was followed in 1994 by appointment to the Court of the University of York. Created a Liberal Democrat Life Peer in 1999 Lady Harris is a Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords.
It was a most enjoyable evening and was an opportunity for several Richmond & Dales members, who had known Lady Harris from the early part of her political career, to discuss old times.
Tuesday 24 September 2013
A VERY UNUSUAL EVENT IN CATTERICK GARRISON
The presentation of awards to winners of the Richmond and Dales Soroptimist’s well-advertised Writing Competition really was an unusual and highly successful event!
The Garrison’s Wavell Primary School Choir opened the evening with two of the school’s favourite songs. The second of these, We’ll Meet Again, was very moving and had been written by children at the school. It told of their feelings, hopes and concerns when parents were away from home and overseas for lengthy periods; it had been set to music by Wendy Arrowsmith.
The special guests for the evening were two very well known authors and speakers, Gervaise Phinn and Ann Fine. To the delight of the packed audience, winners in the various groups: Adult; Juniors 11 -18yrs; Juniors, 7-10yrs and a special Soroptimist Award category, received their prizes from Gervaise Phinn who captivated everyone with his humorous anecdotes. Anne Fine, a previous Children’s Laureate, gave a personal account of the ups and downs of writing with vivid examples that were stimulating and encouraging to everyone of all ages.
Both Gervaise and Anne spent time at the end of the evening signing books and talking to the excited children, their families and teachers. A compendium of the stories and poems written by the prize winners had been printed locally and was on sale.
Club President, Elaine Walton was brought up in an army family and spent part of her childhood at Catterick. Because of that experience, the wives and children of service families based at Catterick Garrison have been the focus of several of the Club’s events this year.
Particular thanks are due to the Catterick Library staff for their generosity in making the library available and for their help at and after the event. Refreshments were provided by Club members.
The photograph shows winners with Gervaise Phinn, Anne Fine and Elaine Walton
Friday 13th September 2013
VISIT TO NORTHALLERTON ‘S MAGISTRATES COURT
SI-Richmond & Dales Club members joined members of the prospective Northallerton club at an evening visit to the local Court House. It was a most interesting visit during which court procedures were discussed followed by members taking part in role play to enact a hearing using an established script.
Members took the part of the Bench Chairman, Magistrates, the Accused, Legal advisors, and Witnesses. R & D Secretary, Judith Clark took the part of a wayward and rebellious teenager accused of various misdemeanours. She/he was found guilty and was led down to the cells. According to feedback, she won an Oscar for her performance!
The evening ended with a convivial meal with prospective members and R & D members, including the prisoner who was released for the occasion.The photograph shows the unrepentant prisoner behind bars.
Saturday July 20 2013
JOINT GARDEN PARTY WITH FRIENDS OF THE BEACON [SIGBI Day of Action]
The successful Garden Party for colleagues and friends of all ages from Richmond, the Dales and Catterick Garrison was held at the Presidents home in weather completely suitable for such a pleasant occasion. The tea was provided by Club members and a raffle raised a considerable amount for charity.
The Beacon is a 31-unit housing, training and support centre at the edge of Catterick Garrison and near to Richmond that provides temporary accommodation and specialist support for single, homeless male and female veterans. It is part of a national support network provided by Riverside English Churches Housing Group (ECHG) in partnership with the Ministry of Defence.
Wednesday 7 August 2013
A VERY SPECIAL EVENT
BARONESS HALE OF RICHMOND, DBE, QC, PC, FBA. Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the UK
t was a splendid event in every sense. The King’s Head Ballroom was filled to capacity to hear Baroness Hale of Richmond give members and their friends an insight into the work of the most senior Court in the United Kingdom. It was an enthralling evening,
Lady Hale lived and was brought up in Richmond, educated at Richmond’s High School for Girls and at Girton College, Cambridge where she read Law. In 2004, she was created a life peer as Baroness Hale of Richmond, of Easby in the County of North Yorkshire, a member of the Privy Council and was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, the only woman to have been so appointed. Lady Hale is the most senior female judge in the history of the United Kingdom and in June 2013 was the first and only woman appointed to hold the office of Deputy President of the Supreme Court. Distinguished in many fields, Lady Hale lectured in Law at the University of Manchester while working as a part-time barrister. She was the first woman and youngest person to be appointed to the Law Commission in 1984, was appointed Professor of Law at Manchester in 1986 and was made a QC in 1989. She is Chancellor of the University of Bristol and Visitor of Girton College, Cambridge.
The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal for all United Kingdom civil and criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, concentrating on cases of the greatest public and constitutional importance.
Cited as the fourth most powerful woman in the UK, Lady Hale explained that power was associated with the position held rather than the person. She gave many examples of the work of the Supreme Court and the issues on which judgements were made in an unassuming way. On the question of the relatively low number of senior women in the judiciary, Lady Hale’s view was one that she has stated in the media, i.e. that merit and diversity are not mutually exclusive criteria and a more diverse bench is a better bench with members of equal merit.
THE 2013 MARY HILLARY AWARD
Richmond & Dales members were taken completely by surprise when it was announced during the regional council meeting at Askham Bryan College that the Club had been awarded the Mary Hillary Award for its Sharing our Skills project
The project, now in its second year, works with three, self-selected senior students from Richmond School who, with full support from the school and in partnership with Club members, gain experience in developing their skills in leadership, group work, presentations and volunteering. The students attend Club meetings and small group discussions on specific, relevant topics. The Club is appreciative of the continuing support of the school staff.
The Mary Hillary Award is given to the project that best reflects Soroptimist International’s vision and mission of helping women and children through advocacy, action and awareness. It was presented by the Yorkshire regional president, Julie Thompson,
Saturday 22 June
THE BIG PROJECT – (Birthing in the Gambia)
A ‘RAISING AWARENESS’ MORNING & LUNCH AT THE STATION, RICHMOND
The BIG Project is a SIGBI project in partnership with MCIA [Maternal & Childhealth Advocacy International]. The 20th July has been designated as the SIGBI Day of Action. Clubs worldwide are holding special events on or around that date to raise awareness and funds for the project.
At our Morning & Lunch Event at The Station, Richmond, it was a great pleasure to welcome members from Darlington, Durham, Harrogate, Ilkley, Leeds and Middlesbrough Clubs. The 60 Soroptimists and one or two husbands more than half-filled the cinema to hear an excellent presentation from Rita Allan, a Northern Ireland Soroptimist, who is a health visitor and midwife and also the liaison officer for the project. She had flown in to Newcastle that morning from Belfast having left her home at an unearthly hour!
Rita explained that the Gambia is bisected by a large river which, combined with an undeveloped road network, adds significantly to the difficulties experienced by pregnant women in need of urgent care. She gave a graphic description of the difficulties faced by pregnant women in the Gambia in circumstances where trained staff and facilities for providing emergency care at and after childbirth are virtually non-existent outside the country’s few hospitals. Because women tend to be married while still very young their pelves are undeveloped with consequent high risk to themselves and their babies during and after childbirth. The relatively few local birth attendants have minimal training but with 66,000 births each year, maternal and infant mortality rates are shockingly high although there has been a small reduction in both over the last five years. Birthing units are being developed in a few parts of the country’s interior in renovated buildings rather than building expensive new units.
To gain a flavour of the situation in the Gambia, other Clubs could do no better than to hear Rita Allen’s powerful talk and visual presentation.
The photographs show Soroptimists on the upper level at The Station. Rita Allen is in the centre, front row in a blue, patterned tunic.
11 May 2013
MARKET DAY PUBLICITY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF SOROPTIMIST PROGRAMME ACTION PROJECTS
Based on the successful experience in 2011 and 2012 of running a stall on three Richmond market days to raise awareness for specific programme action projects, enthusiastic Club members were to be found at 8.30am setting up their stall against the tower of the 12th century Holy Trinity church in the centre of the market place. The only difference on this occasion was the lowering grey sky, the howling west wind and the promise of rain!
Despite the weather, the stall, displays boards and boxes of leaflets were arranged and secured, a protective gazebo was put up, its legs weighted down with hefty sandbags provided by the Town Council, and the Club was in business. As the wind gusted, one or two members showed Olympic-like fitness chasing large, laminated posters that bowled across the cobbles towards the fish and vegetable stalls and the few shoppers hardy enough to be out and about.
Fortified by coffee and hot chocolate and a good deal of humour, we carried on. As the wind strength increased to near gale force and a market stall lost its canopy, it was obvious that the stall had to be dismantled for safety reasons – Mary Poppins came to mind! Disappointed but undeterred we shall be back but, once again, SI-Richmond & Dales had made its mark.
April 2013
CONGRATULATIONS FOR A VERY SPECIAL AWARD!
Richmond and Dales members are delighted to have established a Friendship Link with SI-Harare in Zimbabwe. SI-Harare was established in March 1955; it was the first Soroptimist Club in the whole of Africa and has 24 members. There are now five Soroptimist Clubs in Zimbabwe and, in the summer of 2012, Chris Bowran and three Yorkshire colleagues visited Zimbabwe to meet their fellow Soroptimists.
Although the rate of literacy is high poverty is the norm for the majority of people because of the economic situation in the country. But despite the many physical and financial limitations, the five Zimbabwean Clubs have funded, and continue to support and monitor the progress of a very large number of educational, health and welfare projects.
These include: support and mentoring for pregnant women with HIV/Aids; residential care for the aged and destitute; hostels for lost, orphaned or abandoned street-children; latrine blocks for schools; play-areas at clinics; youth work of various kinds; improving inadequate living accommodation for teachers at one school; cervical screening clinic.
Chris took with her the £1,000 raised by SI-Richmond & Dales from running three CallMyBluff evenings. The money provided £200 for each of the five Clubs to be spent on specific, ongoing projects. She says that the range of work supported by Zimbabwe Club members is truly astounding and it was humbling to hear how even the poorest of the population are themselves involved in community work.
The photograps show some of the SI-Harare members.
12 April 2013
PRESENTATION OF A CHEQUE TO TARGET OVARIAN CANCER’S FUNDRAISING MANAGER
Target Ovarian Cancer was one of Sandra Frier’s charities during her presidential year; the year’s programme started with a talk given by Target Ovarian Cancer’s Fundraising Manager, Amy Cartlidge. In one of Sandra’s last duties as president for 2012-13, she presented a cheque for £3,536 to Amy Cartlidge at the charity’s London office.
Club members are delighted to have been involved in the many activities that went towards raising a significant amount for the charity’s work to improve early diagnosis by raising awareness with women about the symptoms and providing training for GPs to update their knowledge. The charity fund the only national support programme for all women affected by ovarian cancer in the UK. The photograph shows Amy (on the left) receiving the cheque from Sandra.
30 March 2013
RICHMONDSHIRE LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM – SPECIAL EVENT
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Back in 1974 the Richmond & Dales Soroptimists made history by founding a local history museum in the ancient market town of Richmond. Club members called a meeting of local organisations and interested people and a small working group was set up to find a suitable building and to plan for the future. Four years later, in 1978, the Richmondshire Local History Museum was opened by its first Patron, the Marquess of Zetland. It has never looked back and local Soroptimists are still involved in its management and activities!
The original building had an earth floor and had been used as a carpenter’s workshop and store. Since its opening the Museum, which is run almost entirely by volunteers, has been enlarged and is a veritable Tardis – small on the outside and amazingly spacious within. Its galleries and displays provide the opportunity to explore Richmondshire’s history at first hand from Romans to Railways! Just one minute from the Market Place, the Museum is a treasure not to be missed.
A very special event took place on Saturday 30 March 2013 when the Museum’s new Discovery Centre Gallery was opened by the writer and broadcaster, Gervais Phinn. In recognition of the Museum’s founding by SI-Richmond & Dales, Club President, Sandra Frier was an honoured guest.
The Discovery Centre is an interactive resource based on life in Victorian Richmond in which visitors come face-to-face with characters from an 1870 painting of Richmond Market Place. The Discovery Centre is a valuable educational resource for schools and a fascinating ‘hands-on’ resource for visitors.
8 March 2013
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY IN RICHMOND
Despite two lovely sunny days earlier in the week, IWD 2013 arrived wet, overcast and chilly. But did that did deter the 69 women and young people representing nine local organisations who gathered at 5pm in the Friary Memorial Gardens alongside the exit road out of the town? . . . . Of course not! As the weather grew gloomier our enthusiasm increased to greet Richmond’s home-going rush-hour cars and buses, many of them hooting in support of our waves, banners and cheers. The word on the street is that we’ll be back next year.
After a group photograph in near darkness many of the group, in an attempt to thwart dampness and wind-chill, enjoyed refreshment in a nearby café/bar.
6 February 2013
SI-RICHMOND & DALES AT A TRY (Transition Richmond Yorkshire) EVENT
Several Club members ran a stall at the local TRY Open Evening in Richmond Town Hall that displayed information about Soroptimism in general and the range of programme action work undertaken by the Club. Our stall was one of many provided by local organisations and attracted the attention of a considerable number of local people.
TRY is a not-for-profit organisation, formed in 2009, that promotes sustainable living. Its purpose is to reduce our energy needs and develop Richmond as a more resilient and sustainable community
