The last meeting of President Carol Cookson’s year celebrated our fund-raising efforts. Heather Shulver and her team prepared a wonderful West African buffet and gave us an update on the Don McMath School in the Gambia. For a number of years, our club has sponsored girls at the Don McMath School to progress their education through both primary and senior schools. It is always rewarding to read the girls’ reports – and to receive some lovely photos.           We invited as our guests the recipients of our fund-raising activities. Cheques were presented to Riding for the Disabled, Samaritans, Alzheimer’s Society and Compassion Acts . The last presentation was made at the May meeting to the Learning Rooms, Southport. They gave an excellent presentation in the form of a video and then answered questions from SI Southport members. Well done to the team

Superdrug are committed to recycling the waste from all of their activities. When they announced that they would be collecting and recycling empty medicine blister packets, SI Southport members sprang into action. Boxes and bags have been placed in the clubroom and members have been collecting blister packs by the score. Periodically, PA Chair Heather Shulver and IPP Rosemary Moore collect the bags and deliver them to the Superdrug Pharmacy in Southport. The most recent delivery was last week – Heather, laden with bags, paid a visit to Superdrug.               Superdrug have dedicated collection boxes in every pharmacy – for more information about Superdrug’s recycling commitments, please click here.

In early December, we celebrated International night with a Danish theme to celebrate our longest standing friendship link with SI Horsens. We were delighted to welcome guests Denise Parker, President of SI South Lancs, Carol Tynan, President of Southport Inner Wheel and Eleanor King from SI Widnes.          

Our Bra Bank project is still in full swing. Organiser Bernie Reynolds is delighted to report that the Against Breast Cancer Bra Bank Campaign in October, which was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, has been a great success. There are 53 KG of bras waiting for collection to be sent to the Recycling Company.                   Bra banks have been positioned at over 20 sites. Some sites have been more successful than others and we are very grateful to Creative Hub in Cambridge Arcade, Holy Trinity Church and the One Vision Housing Complex ‘Mill Spring Court’ in Bootle. Many of the sites are happy to ‘host’ again for us next year and some sites are happy to keep their ‘banks’ for the time being. New sites have come on board which is also heartening. Currently there are ‘banks’ at:-

The annual Remembrance Sunday service was held on a beautiful sunny day at the Southport Cenotaph. Following  the Exhortation from the Chairman of the Royal British Legion and ‘The Last Post’, a two-minute silence was observed by all present. Wreaths were then laid, beginning with a Representative from the Merseyside Lieutenancy and The Worshipful, The Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Clare Louise Carragher on behalf of the townspeople of Sefton. President Carol Cookson laid the wreath for Soroptimist International of Southport. The Presiding Minister led the act of commitment: – To commit to responsible living and faithful service – To strive for all that makes for peace – To seek to heal the wounds of war – To work for a just future for all humanity Following a blessing and the National Anthem, the contingents from the armed forces, cadets and many other groups marched down

Everyone is  very welcome to SI Southport’s Christmas Fair, which will be held on Saturday 19th November from 10.00am – 12.00 noon at Baverstock House (entrance in Preston Road). There will be some great opportunities to stock up for Christmas, with craft, bric-a-brac and the ubiquitous cake stall – our members are super bakers! Entry is £3, including coffee/tea and mince pie. All proceeds are in aid of local charities.

At the start of October, we celebrated Friendship Night with our friendship links across the world. We joined on Zoom with our links in Dhanmondi in Bangladesh, Caserta in Italy, Horsens in Denmark and Gdańsk in Poland. Unfortunately, our friends in Lisburn, Northern Ireland could not join us this year as they had their own meeting. We heard from each of the friendship links about their club, activities and projects and it was wonderful to learn about the impact that Soroptimists are making in their local communities. As is our tradition, we lit a candle of friendship for each of our links and this was reciprocated. President Carol Cookson then lit a candle for Soroptimist International. SI Southport have always celebrated Friendship Night with the exchange of greetings with our friendship links. Since lockdown, with the advent of improved communications technology, we have been able

Our Programme Action project – Supporting Against Breast Cancer with the collecting of bras via ‘Bra Banks*’ – is launched! With grateful thanks to the Imperial, we hosted an informal gathering of our bra bank ‘hosts’ with SI Southport President Carol Cookson, Bernie Reynolds, who instigated the project, and other members of the club. Bernie explained the background to the project and the wonderful contribution made by local businesses and organsiations to champion and promote the cause. NO BRA IS TOO OLD OR TOO WORN OR TOO UNLOVED – the Bra Banks would like them all! Bra Banks are appearing all over Southport and the wider Merseyside area. We are so grateful to local businesses and organisations for hosting a Bra Bank, including: All Saints Church Creative Hub, Cambridge Walks The Imperial Mandala Yoga Poundstretcher Queen Bees One Vision Housing in Merseyside Brooks Court –

Members of Soroptimist International Southport are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen dedicated her life to the service of the nation and held fast to that promise. We are grateful to Her Majesty for a lifetime of devoted service to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this very sad time.