Orange the World – UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls 25th November 2023 “SI Sevenoaks have been Oranging the World again, this month at the Bullfinch pub in Riverhead, Sevenoaks – they kindly let us in early for coffee and we could serve our own cakes!  We wanted to make this one special as it is the actual UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.  We had extra balloons and posters and most of the members and guests who attended are pictured here enjoying a friendly chat and, of course, the cake!  We left posters and leaflets for the staff and other guests at the pub; we are hopeful that the Bullfinch Social Media Manager will put an item on their website to help spread the word!” Club Member Programme Action Officer Sandie

Novembers meeting began with a very interesting talk on Powerful Women at Knole by Curator Samantha Bailey. President Pauline and club members welcomed and enrolled Barbara Ropek and Jean Bright as new SI Sevenoaks members. We were delighted that Regional President Alison Driscoll could join us.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING On Friday 29th September SI Sevenoaks held a coffee morning in aid of the Macmillan Cancer charity. Our hostess, Sandie Higgs, made us very welcome and those present, some forty members and guests, were able to enjoy her lovely lakeside garden on a beautiful late summer’s day. Special thanks go to incoming Regional President Alison and SI Bromley for helping us raise the grand total of £556.

ROCKDALE 1948 – 2023 On Monday 4th September, a glorious early autumn day, seven members of SI Sevenoaks joined residents and guests for a “forties” themed garden party to mark seventy five years of Rockdale retirement centre. As usual the grounds looked immaculate. Speeches were made by Rockdale Chairman Ian Grattidge, Sevenoaks Mayor Claire Shea{included in our group photo} and the High Sheriff of Kent, Nadra Ahmed. Tea and cakes were served and musical entertainment provided by Henry’s Big Band. As pointed out in his speech by Mr Grattidge, our club has a special connection with Rockdale, since it was established by Beatrice Wilson, a founder member of SI Sevenoaks. It is our privilege to hold our monthly meetings in the room which bears her name. Pauline Payne {President SI Sevenoaks)

SI Sevenoaks were looking forward to a planned historical walk of Otford – a pretty village just north of Sevenoaks.  Member Valerie Caton had organised it and member Margaret Nicholson, an Otford resident, had prepared an informative talk for us.   We went ahead with our walk, even though it was raining hard as we set off!  Undaunted, we followed Margaret, trying not to spike each other with our umbrellas, and had a really interesting  time, including learning some hitherto unknown facts about the duck pond and the Royal Palace there.  We spent a little time in the pretty church of St Bartholomew and finished up in the Olive Branch Café, which is part of the Hospice of Hope charity shop in Otford High Street, where we enjoyed some more chat and a delicious cream tea!  The photo shows us in the field in front of

SI Sevenoaks club member Tina Fenner has been fostering desperate asylum-seeking children for over 20 years; she has fostered more than 30 youngsters during that time, some for 2 years or more.  The children, girls as well as boys, often arrived at Tina’s home traumatised and scared, sometimes with no reading or writing skills and no spoken English.  Tina has provided sanctuary, care and support including teaching them literacy skills and has seen her young charges go on to successful and worthwhile lives.  One young woman, who had been trafficked, needed to stay with Tina beyond her 18th birthday, which the authorities permitted, to enable her to overcome the trauma.  Tina is still in touch with her as she is with many of the others.  Here she is redecorating one of the bedrooms in her Sevenoaks home for the next young asylum seeker. Tina only

SI Sevenoaks have a special relationship with the Rockdale Centre, a wonderful facility in Sevenoaks combining housing for the elderly with assisted living and residential care. Rockdale is set in the heart of Sevenoaks but has extensive gardens to which the residents have access. SI Sevenoaks are privileged to meet there, in part due to one of our founders, Beatrice Wilson, being a prime mover in setting up Rockdale back in 1948. To celebrate 75 years, the Rockdale Management invited members to a guided tour of the grounds, which have many features and wonderful plants, followed by a chance to view residents’ art and craft work, and some tea and delicious cake! Eight SI Sevenoaks members attended, led by President Pauline Payne (in the centre of our picture); our new Town Mayor Cllr Claire Shea and other Councillors were also in the party together with

Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts (SDAC) – How Special Are They? Starting in 2017, the aim of this project is to provide an independent review across England of how Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts should be improved for victims of abuse, the majority of whom are women. The project has been carried out by Soroptimists across England and involved c4,000 hours of volunteer time in observations and in excess of 1,000 questionnaires were submitted in relation to observations made at over 30 courts. The final report (of four) is now available and the collective reports together come very close to being a comprehensive report on the way in which the Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts are working on a national basis. Soroptimists stand up as advocates for all women, especially for those who have no voice. We have worked as independent observers to give the public confidence in our courts, but

On Sunday 25th June, probably the hottest day of the year so far, SI Sevenoaks went to the café at Coblands Garden Centre in Riverhead for an Orange the World event.  5 members, 5 prospective members and 3 past members gathered for a chat and a coffee or a cool drink, before going among the plants for our photo shoot.  Coblands staff had kindly displayed our poster and then took the photo for us;  we were also able to hand out a few leaflets, including to a young police officer who was very interested in the project as she and her colleagues are focusing on the problem of violence against women and girls.  Some of us then headed off to buy some lovely plants – all in all a successful afternoon! Sandie Higgs Programme Action Officer SI Sevenoaks

At SI Sevenoaks club meeting on 9th May Treasurer Margaret Nicholson presented Pat Downing with flowers in appreciation of her dedicated service as President during the past year. Pat handed the chain of office to Vice President Pauline Payne, who extended a warm welcome to newly-enrolled member Tina Fenner.