The theme for our Christmas Dinner this year was Midnight in Monte Carlo and all the members and their guests tried hard to match their outfits to the fabulous surroundings.  Following a sparkling reception everyone settled down to a superb three course dinner finishing up with mince pies and coffee.  The raffle raised over £150 which is destined to be sent to Sierra Leone to help deal with the ebola crisis.

Eleven members of the Club attended the SIGBI Conference in the renovated Harrogate Convention Centre this year.  In all there were some 1300 women from almost all the countries of the Federation so it was an international gathering with some wonderful head dresses brightening the scene.  The splendid opening ceremony when the flags of each of the participating nations were paraded was moving as always.  A particular highlight was the brass band accompaniment – a Yorkshire speciality of course. The three keynote speakers were very effective in quite different ways and there was plenty of information about the highlights of the Programme Action activities.  We heard about the problems that the ebola outbreak is causing in the Kori project in Sierra Leone and £7,500 was raised to enable rice and essential items to be sent out immediately.   President Angela represented the club at the

At the Annual General Meeting held at the Copthorne Hotel on Wednesday 16th April, the new committee was elected and Mrs Angela Leslie was installed as President for the forthcoming year.  Mrs Irene Brooks was presented with vouchers for plants on behalf of club members.  Irene was delighted to report that over £3000 had been raised during her year in office which she would be handing over to the Thames Valley & Chilterns Air Ambulance Service in due course.  The photograph shows Irene on the left with Angela and one of the plants destined for Irene’s garden.

SI Slough enjoyed a wonderful Christmas meal at the Sun & Stars in Fifield with a large turn-out of members and partners.  The festivities went with a swing.  The group also met up for carol singing and mulled wine at the home of Jeanette in Wexham just before Christmas. In January members enjoyed a delightful talk by the student who had been sponsored by the Sheila Rooney Travel Scholarship.  At the end of January members got together to welcome the Year of the Horse with a splendid feast at Kai’s restaurant in Cippenham.  A coffee morning was also held in January for the Birthing in Gambia project supported by Soroptimist International.

  Ten club members attended the Federation Conference at the Sage Centre in Gateshead this year.  President Irene was delighted that there were so many members present at the Change of Insignia event when Penny Dmoch received the chain of office as she took over as President of London Chilterns Region.  Incoming Regional President Penny hosted a party at the Premier Inn for over 50 members of the Region which was greatly enjoyed by everyone.

At an event to mark the UK’s national Anti-Slavery Day, SI Slough member Jackie Paling  has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the fight against human trafficking.  Home Secretary, Rt Hon Theresa May MP presented her  with a Marsh Award, where she also outlined the provisions of a new Human Trafficking Bill, which includes tougher sanctions for those convicted of human trafficking. “Although the award has Pauline and my names on it, it really belongs to all the Soroptimists in the UK (and the Federation) who are working tirelessly on antislavery issues”, said Jackie Paling, SIGBI Federation’s Assistant Programme Director for Violence and Conflict Resolution .

The wonderful summer weather has proved a great boon for fund raising this year.  In July a Garden Party was held in the riverside garden of Pat and David in Windsor.  70 members and guests enjoyed a superb lunch and participated in the tombola, raffle and ‘Guess the Position of the helicopter’  Over £800 was raised. On 1st September a Tea Party was held in Jeannette’s lovely garden where guests over indulged in cakes, tea and scones with jam and cream! Bad for the figure but good for fund raising!  

Around 50 members and friends were able to enjoy a delightful lunch in the grounds of Jeannette’s lovely home on Sunday.  The timing could not have been better as the sun shone and the rain waited until everyone had eaten lunch and had a chance to visit the stalls dotted around the garden.  The raffle took over £100 and provided some happy winners.