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Local clubs celebrate International Women’s Day

Local clubs celebrate International Women’s Day

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The 100th anniversary of the celebration of International Women’s Day was certainly a special occasion. Jackie Paling, Programme Action Officer of SI Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead, made sure that it was a day to be remembered. She worked with two other SI clubs – Thames Valley and High Wycombe – to organise a meeting of various women’s organisations in the area including Inner Wheel, Towns Women’s Guild and Womens Institute amongst others. They met for tea at the York Centre in Maidenhead on Sunday 6th March and heard speakers from the Girl Guides and had a talk entitled ‘Granny flew Spitfires’.  Of course such a special anniversary requires a cake and Jackie provided that too.

Plenty of suspects for Murder Mystery Evening

Plenty of suspects for Murder Mystery Evening

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The cast of the Agatha Christie style ‘Murder on the SS Olympic’ really entered into the spirit of the 1920s with a splendid array of costumes to suit the period at the Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 15th January.  The evening was split into three acts enabling all the participants and guests to partake of a leisurely meal of lasagne followed by apple tart and custard whilst deliberating on who had done the deadly deeds. The event was held at the WRVS York Centre in Maidenhead.

Christmas Party at the Copthorne

Christmas Party at the Copthorne

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A happy Christmas meal was enjoyed at the Copthorne Hotel on 1st December as members tucked in to their first turkey of the season.  A large turnout enjoyed a splendid meal and a festive glass or two!!  There were plenty of crackers and party poppers to make the evening a fun event together with a Christmas raffle.  The raffle together with donations in place of sending Christmas cards raised £131 for the ‘Loos for Lynn’ appeal organised by Soroptimist International in memory of SI President Lynn Dunning who died earlier this year.  As is usual at this event, the Mayoresses of both the Royal Borough and Slough were in attendance and are shown here with President Sally. 

Meeting up with Friendship Links

Meeting up with Friendship Links

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One of the special aspects of going to the Annual Conference is the chance to meet up with old friends.  This year it as a great pleasure for members to meet their Friendship Link colleagues from Grenada and The Gambia as well as a past member of SI Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead, Caroline Alison who has moved to South Wales.  A dinner for all the group was organised on Friday night in Manchester and was a very convivial affair.  The photo shows President Sally presenting a cheque to SI Grenada for their charity which helps orphans.  Four members of the club visited this charity after the Federation Conference in Barbados in 2008 so have a personal interest in keeping in touch.

President Sally and members head to Manchester

President Sally and members head to Manchester

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Eleven members of the club including four ‘first timers’ made it to Manchester this year for the SIGBI Annual Conference.  In the splendid surroundings of Manchester Central they were able to hear some fascinating key note speakers including BBC’s Bill Turnbull who gave a whole new meaning to being a Busy Bee. One of the club’s projects – the Sheila Rooney Travel Scholarship was nominated for a Best Practice Award and although it did not win it was satisfying to be in the top three of several hundred nominations.

Kelly tells of gap year work

Kelly tells of gap year work

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Kelly Carpenter was the winner of the Travel Scholarship for gap year students for 2009 and as part of the award came to the club meeting in September to talk about the work she undertook.  Kelly travelled to a remote village in Ghana where she helped to organise supplies for a new medical centre.  She told the club that she was very shocked by the very basic nature of the centre and was delighted to help with getting it set up even though she found communications quite a challenging situation.  She showed considerable determination to get supplies moving before she had to return home.  In addition she helped with the teaching of reading which she found very worthwhile.  Kelly told the club that she really enjoyed the experience but was also delighted to return to the comforts of home! The photo shows Patrick Rooney, who

Hats on for Ascot

Hats on for Ascot

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The latest fund raiser was a tea party at Ascot so the word went out that hats were obligatory and members certainly took this seriously!  A gorgeous array of hats were donned and a happy tea party was enjoyed despite the rain falling.    President Sally and Immediate Past President Judy were amongst the elegant participants,  as well as enjoying the opportunity to dress up, over £150 was raised for the President’s Charity.

Sun makes it for Garden Party

Sun makes it for Garden Party

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After such a lot of glorious sunshine there was a distinctly grey look to the skies on Sunday 18th July for the Annual Garden Party in Pat and David’s garden by the river.  However, by lunch time when over 70 guests arrived, the sun made its appearance and a very happy afternoon was enjoyed by everyone.  Between the tombola, raffle and book stall there were plenty of opportunities to indulge some retail therapy and the buffet lunch was a delight as always.  The event was most successful with over £800 being raised for the President’s Charity.

A special party for a special lady

A special party for a special lady

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When long-standing member, Joan Cox, reached her 90th birthday, it was certainly felt that it was time for a party.  Members brought along appropriate party food together with flowers for the retired primary school headmistress at the beginning of June.  Jackie made a particularly amazing cake to celebrate.  The photographs show the cake and President Sally and Past President Judy presenting Joan with flowers and a present from the club.

An Evening of Song

An Evening of Song

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Tickets have been selling well for the Evening of Song which will start the fund raising for the President’s Charity the WRVS York Centre in Maidenhead.  Eight singers will be providing music from a varied group of composers including Bizet, Gilbert & Sullivan, Irving Berlin and Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Holy Trinity Church in Windsor on Saturday 15th May at 7.30 pm.  Tickets are available at the door.