In 1976, there was no Internet, no Wi-Fi, no email… but it was the year that the Woking Club of Soroptimist International was founded. Forty years on, the members of Soroptimist International of Woking & District, had an opportunity to look back on their combined experience of forty years of social action during a special Anniversary Charter Lunch held in Sutton Green Golf Club, Woking on 31st July 2016. A particularly welcome guest was Diana Porter: she attended the very first Charter Lunch and has been a Soroptimist ever since (now as a member of the Epsom Club). There were also many Soroptimists from clubs across Southern England – Gosport & Fareham, Guildford, Weybridge and Yeovil. Appropriately for a fortieth anniversary, ruby-red was the colour of the day – guests were encouraged to wear red, the floral beautiful table decorations (the creative work of member and Past President Elaine Evans) were red, and even the prizes in the raffle were red – raising £220 for Woking Street Angels. The event was a time for reminiscences – and there were many – giving newer members and guests a fascinating insight into the activities and achievements of longstanding and former members. Guest speaker Ruth Healey, the SI Southern England Regional President, also began by recalling the events of 1976 – when inflation was at sixteen percent, Concorde flew and Abba sang ‘Dancing Queen’, when the sun shone endlessly during the “long hot summer” and Woking Soroptimists were beginning their journey. But then she went on to look forward to the future. “Globalisation has picked up pace,” she said, “and more people are on the move in a fast- changing world. So will there still be a role for Soroptimists in the next forty years?” Her answer was a definite ‘yes’ – ongoing global changes will not soon bring an end to the problems Soroptimists seek to address, such as refugees, trafficking, slavery and sexual exploitation. We can expect to see a need for Soroptimist clubs in every country in the world, and if Mars becomes habitable, there too!
Cutting the cake, Jan Perrot IPP SIWD (foreground) and Jennie Cracknell, President SIWD.
Foursome l to r: Jan Perrot, Marlie Roes (m SIWD), Ruth Healey, Jennie Cracknell.