SI Winchester & District member Beatriz Chadour-Sampson, who is also an internationally renowned art and jewellery historian and author, is launching two new books in London and New York in early November: Barbara Cartlidge and Electrum Gallery: a Passion for Jewellery ‘A remarkable woman’ says Beatriz of Barbara Cartlidge, a celebrated goldsmith and later gallerist at the Electrum Gallery. For the first time, the current publication honours the life’s work of Barbara Cartlidge, who as head of the Electrum Gallery, as an author of standard works on art jewellery and as a lecturer definitively informed the auteur jewellery scene, prompting London to become a centre of contemporary art jewellery.       Rings Around the World Here is a link to the order form:les-enluminures-order-form-rings-around-thw-world-eu    

SI Poole linked up with SI Thames Valley and SI High Wycombe at an event on Saturday 15th October.  The event, celebrating the International Day of the Girl, was organised by Thames Valley Police, and aimed to inform the multicultural population of women and girls living in the High Wycombe area about facilities available for them.   The event attracted hundreds of participants and we were kept very busy distributing leaflets and information about the Purple Teardrop Campaign, and Soroptimist International. The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Millie Soames, spent a long time at our stand, learning about our initiatives. Another important participant was Angie Sarchet, who works for Buckinghamshire County Council, and who have a really excellent presentation about ‘Exploitation’, covering topics such as slavery, child sex abuse, and trafficking.  I gave her samples of Purple Teardrop materials and she promised to get in touch. The

Winchester & District members are supporting SI Poole’s project to knit baby hats for Nepal and have found an ingenious way to save postage through Soroptimist networks.  Dr Rosa Matheson, who lives in Swindon and is involved in charity work projects in Nepal, offered to take 1 kg of babywear in her luggage on her next trip at the end of October.  These are being delivered to her, relay-fashion, Winchester to Salisbury to Swindon, involving all three clubs.  Valerie from Swindon and Wendy from Winchester are shown at the handover, holding the two vacuum-packed bags of 12 newborn baby hats and several jumper and hat sets for older babies that have been donated by knitters at a local sheltered housing complex.  The handover was an occasion for a tasty lunch at Liz’s workplace, the Salisbury Art Centre.

SI Reigate and District are holding a Quiz Night on Tuesday 27 September. The Quiz is to be the big fundraiser for the club’s Presidential Charity – East Surrey Hospital – One Stop Breast Clinic. (Click on image for details)