Club members stood on Lowman Bridge on a cold and at times drizzly day to recognise International Women’s Day 2016. We would like to thank the WI; Tangent; Girl Guides Association; past members and friends who came to support us and in particular the members of the public who generously donated £125.93 for Children’s Hospice South West.  

Round of applause for a very interesting, enlightening and interesting talk by Martin Stephens at this week’s club meeting.

Five members of Tiverton and District Soroptimist will be visiting the clubs Friendship Link in Gouda in the Netherlands. They are planning to stay with sister Soroptimists in the area. There will be a planned visit to the Keukenhof Gardens and to the Ann Frank House Museum. A highlight of the stay will be a concert in The Royal Concert Hall in Amsterdam. This will be to support National project for the Soroptimists in the Netherlands in conjunction with UNICEF. The Project is called Syria Back to School. This is close to the heart of all Soroptimists world wide as they strive to Educate, Empower and Enable women and girls to reach their full potential.

  A lovely meal was enjoyed by Tiverton & District Soroptimists at the Best Western Hotel, Tiverton.  

Why “Fish and Chip”? Many of the babies born at the maternity unit are sent home wrapped in newspaper due to a lack of clothing. So these wonderful jumpers will mean many can now go home warm and cosy. Some of these lovely jumpers are knitted by people in Tiverton as well our club and our friends. Other clubs and friends of those clubs from St Austell, Brixham, Bridgwater, Yeovil  and from all over have also been knitting. Daphne says “Some I have no idea where they come – they appear at the Regional Meetings and even in the post direct to me from older ladies keen to knit and help. It has been amazing, but I need long sleeve ones now” These jumpers are sent to the Nyalkinyi Charity supporting a small village in Kenya. Take a look at http://www.jnccharity.org/ for more details.

We are supporting a Bristol Soroptimist, who is collecting socks for a friend volunteering on the front line in the Greek islands to help refugees. Chris Firth, Tiverton Pannier Market manager, has kindly put a box on a table just inside the main doors so please bring along any unwanted warm, clean socks, both old and new, for men, women and children.

 Tiverton Soroptimists send greetings to everyone this Christmas and wish you all a happy and peaceful new year.   Tis the season to be jolly and we were with the Singing to Remember dementia group at Knightshayes Court and again St. James Church.  At Knightshayes the rafters rang with carols while hands were warmed by colourful twiddle muffs. At St. James Jenny (Club President Elect and a founder of the Singing to Remember group) joined Rudolph (AKA President Di) and Singing to Remember members enjoying mince pies and Christmas nibbles.                       Singing to Remember is a club for people with dementia and their carers started by SI Tiverton club members, Jenny & Bridget, and supported by SI Tiverton.

Front of card from Gouda Inside the card sent from the Soroptimists in Gouda Front cover of card from Kobe Signatures of the Japanese Soroptimists in Kobe