{"id":2003,"date":"2014-11-21T17:56:32","date_gmt":"2014-11-21T16:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/st-albans-and-district\/?page_id=2003"},"modified":"2022-02-19T17:16:30","modified_gmt":"2022-02-19T16:16:30","slug":"hilary-ratcliffe-obe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/st-albans-and-district\/about-our-club\/inspirational-members\/hilary-ratcliffe-obe\/","title":{"rendered":"Hilary Ratcliffe OBE for Promoting Gender Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2004″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Hilary Ratcliffe, was made an \u201cOfficer of the Order of the British Empire\u201d (OBE) in the UK Honours List<\/a>\u00a02014, for services to “promoting Gender Equality Overseas”<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0Hilary Ratcliffe is pictured here collecting her OBE from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on 21 Nov 2014.<\/p>\n

After the excitement of the day Hilary said “It was a lovely day – a very very special day – I am so proud. The ceremony at Buckingham Palace is perfect. Meeting Prince Charles and having travelled to Sierra Leone I was able to talk about the wonderful work Soroptimist International is doing there and we agreed on the horror of the current ebola crisis. The day was a celebration – not just for me but for the work of so many of the women who work so hard as volunteer Members of my organisation.”<\/em><\/p>\n

A Soroptimist since 1980, Hilary was an active member of the St Albans and District Club until 2017 when she moved and transferred to the Sheffield Club. She has been Club President, Regional President, Chair of the\u00a0Soroptimist UK Programme Action Committee<\/a>,\u00a0SI Great Britain and Ireland\u00a0<\/a>Federation Assistant Programme Director for Education, Federation Programme Director and Soroptimist International (SI)<\/a>\u00a0Programme Director 2011 – 2015.<\/p>\n

Alongside her voluntary work as a Soroptimist, Hilary is active in her local community, she works as a freelance tour guide in London and the South East of England; she is a trained City of London Guide, Blue Badge Guide and St Albans City Guide. Before this, she spent many years as a teacher of history in secondary schools and further education colleges and was also responsible for providing pastoral support and personal and social education to sixth form students.<\/p>\n

Hilary has inspired countless Soroptimists around the world to get involved in local, national and international projects to improve the lives of women and girls.<\/p>\n

As International Programme Director, Hilary led Soroptimist International\u2019s advocacy and policy work at the UN and other international forums, speaking up for women and girls and representing the voices of around 80,000 Soroptimists in 130 countries and territories worldwide. She provided guidance and inspiration for thousands of on-the-ground Soroptimist projects to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls, helping to share good practice across the world, while developing global policies and position statements based on the experience of Soroptimists worldwide.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the tributes:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful accolade for you, for your commitment to this cause and for the work undertaken by the International Programme Team\u201d<\/em>, writes International President Ann Garvie in a message of congratulation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Hilary takes to the stage at conferences, Soroptimists are moved to get up and do something to change the world\u201d<\/em>, says SI\u2019s Head of Programme and Advocacy, Reilly Dempsey. \u201cShe is truly an agent of change, working both behind the scenes and in the public domain to improve the lives of women and girls all over the world\u201d.<\/p>\n

SIGBI President\u00a0Margaret Oldroyd,\u00a0said, \u201cIt is a fitting\u00a0tribute to your\u00a0unstinting hard work\u00a0and the leadership\u00a0which you have given to our members over\u00a0many years at all levels of Soroptimism. The fact\u00a0that so many members from so many countries\u00a0contributed enthusiastically to the supporting\u00a0papers shows in what very high regard and\u00a0affection you are held across the Soroptimist\u00a0world.\u00a0I know that you will be delighted with the citation\u00a0which emphasises your long held passion for\u00a0gender equality for all women. On behalf of the\u00a0Federation, thank you for all that you do and\u00a0continue to do to improve the lives of women and\u00a0girls. We are so proud of you and hope that you\u00a0and your family enjoy an extremely well deserved\u00a0celebration when you go to the Palace.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Hilary was also able to celebrate with Members of her Soroptimist Club, SI St Albans & District when she got news of her award\u00a0www.sigbi.org\/st-albans-and-district\/2014\/hilary-obe\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n

To celebrate the<\/strong>\u00a0centenary of Soroptimist International in 2021 more than<\/strong>\u00a0100 Soroptimists were selected to be commemorated as part of the \"\"<\/a>#WhoIsShe? Campaign – including Hilary Ratcliffe OBE.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>The centenary of the organisation seemed a fitting opportunity to recognise and celebrate the professional and personal commitments made by these outstanding members through the years. These #WhoIsShe? campaign members, both past and present, from Soroptimist International of\u00a0\"Soroptimist<\/a>Great Britain and Ireland have all been nominated by Soroptimist Clubs for their noteworthy contribution to society in the furtherance of the aims and objects of the organisation. For more see\u00a0www.sigbi.org\/soroptimistcentenary2021\/a-brilliant\/showcasing-one-hundred-soroptimists-for-the-centenary-100-4-100\/whoisshe-soroptimists-for-the-centenary\/showcases<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hilary was showcased in April 2021 www,sigbi.org\/soroptimistcentenary2021\/showcases\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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