Johanna Raffan celebrating her appointment as President of Soroptimist International with members of her club Soroptimist International Thames Valley. Soroptimists were saddened by the sudden death of Johanna Raffan, founder member of SI Thames Valley club and President of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland. She was also the first Chair of Kori Development Project Ltd. This led to the proposal to plant a Memorial Orchard in Kori District and villagers there have kindly donated the land for this project. Soroptimists everywhere have been celebrating their 100 year anniversary by planting trees and many also kindly donated money towards creating this Orchard, for which we are very grateful. The land has been cleared by local people and many fruit trees planted – mangoes, sugar plums, guava, avocados and pineapples. Would you like to donate to the Memorial Orchard or perhaps towards a bursary for

SI Thames Valley is supporting the campaign Soroptimists Orange The World 25 Nov for 16 Days of Action to End Gender Based Violence, by wearing orange on 25 June. Club members plan to continue wearing orange on the 25th of each month up to the start of the 16 Days of Activism which leads up to Human Rights Day on 10 December. The Global Orange the World Campaign is 16 days of activism to end gender based violence from 25 Nov to 10 Dec 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. The club is planning a range of activities locally to support this campaign.

Since SI Thames Valley launched the appeal, it has received funds from other Soroptimist clubs and individuals. Their generosity has enabled the club to start to build a memorial orchard in Kori in memory of our dear sister Johanna Raffan who sadly passed away in June 2021. She was a founding member of SI Thames Valley, and Federation President at the time of her death. The land has been ploughed and cleared, and different fruit trees were being planted towards the end of May. We will continue to post updates. Our sincere thanks to all who have made this possible. The appeal will close at the end of June 2022. If anyone wishes to donate before then, please contact SITV Treasurer for bank details at admayall@gmail.com   The Kori Development Project Ltd. https://koridp.org/

After talking to a Polish friend, one of our members contacted SI Krakow to ask how we could help. She learned that the main reception centre for Ukrainian refugees in Krakow is at the Bus Station. Thousands of mainly women and children are arriving hungry, thirsty and literally in the clothes they are wearing, without luggage. Every day, members of SI Krakow are in attendance and providing a welcome and refreshments at the Bus Station. To support this work, we are sending a donation from SI Thames Valley.

Our speaker at our March 2022 meeting was Richard Poad, from Maidenhead Heritage Centre.   He gave a very informative talk on the women and men involved with the Air Transport Auxiliary in WW2 entitled ‘Grandma Flew Spitfires’.   We were surprised to find out the there were 2 air pool stations totally run by women (at Hamble and Cosford).   Out of approximately 1255 flying staff there were only 168 women (ratio of 1:6).   By September 1939 there were over 1000 men signed up for the ATA, but the first women were only signed up in January 1940. It was not until 2008 that the ATA personnel were given a commemorative badge. They couldn’t be given a medal as they were civilians and not in the air force. For more information, visit the Maidenhead Heritage Centre website or go straight to the Air Transport Auxiliary website. https://maidenheadheritage.org.uk

  In their on-going support of their local Women’s Refuges , SI Thames Valley have recently responded to a new request for toilet rolls and teabags. The photo shows the current car load for the latest delivery to the Wycombe Women’s Aid Office. Contributions are always gratefully received! https://www.wycombewomensaid.org.uk/