An afternoon tea to remember Our afternoon at Barbara’s turned into something a bit special, the bunting was up, the tables laid and we were served a traditional afternoon tea of cucumber sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and sumptuous cakes. We were able to soak up the sun and enjoy a refreshing cuppa – that very British tradition, with friends and family, alfresco style. Over £100 was raised that afternoon. It has been suggested we that perhaps we can make this an annual event.  How about a Mad Hatters’ Tea Party next year?

Members met socially one summer evening at the Babbacombe Inn a local restaurant renowned for serving good food.  The Babbacombe Inn has become a favourite dining place for the Torquay Soroptimist’s once again I think we all found something to suit our palates. During the evening we were delighted to give a long service award to Shirley Wilkey who has been a member of the Soroptimist’s for 45 years. Two other members had previously been given their awards Jessie Crofts 30 years and Veronica Prowse 40 years – well done girls!

Veronica Prowse gave us the perfect chance to catch up with friends and family over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious for a great cause by holding a Coffee Morning at her house in Paignton.  Members were busy baking for the event, raffle prizes were donated and tickets sold. The total money raised was £103.00 which will help the Macmillan charity make sure no one has to face cancer alone.

Members took part in the Poppy Appeal by collecting and selling poppies during a wet & windy Tuesday at Sainsbury’s Torquay, all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion, each £1 donated for a poppy, goes towards a wide range of services and support for our veterans, serving personnel of the British Armed Forces and their families.  The Poppy Appeal would not happen without volunteers and many veterans would not be able to get the help that they need. Gaynor Raisey and Gill Wood, represented the club to show respect for the servicemen and women of Britain and the Commonwealth who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, on Sunday 8th November 2015, at the Remembrance Sunday Parade which took place at the War Memorial, Princess Gardens, Torquay.

Claire Farley from LiNX Christian Youth Trust spoke to members with great enthusiasm and commitment about the role her team play in enabling Torbay young people to reach their full potential through their work in secondary schools and within the local community. The LiNX Christian Youth Trust work with young people in Secondary Schools throughout the Bay running lunchtime clubs, leading assemblies, teaching lessons in religious education and health education, supporting Christian unions and creating new opportunities for young people to develop and thrive. They also work with young people outside of school running after school clubs, organising youth events and supporting church youth work. Claire explained that they work in partnership with churches, schools, the local authority, volunteers and other organisations and the work is financed by donations from churches, trusts and individuals.   She was thrilled to accept a cheque from President Mrs May

The Soroptimist’s were inspired to donate funds after being invited to attend the Cultural Feast Assembly recently. Over the past year, three of the Combe Pafford School teachers had set up a Connecting Classrooms link with the Eva Adelaja Junior Girls School in Nigeria.    Connecting Classrooms is a global education programme which equips pupils with a deeper understanding of other countries and cultures, their rights and responsibilities as global citizens, the skills needed to work in a global economy and build a fairer, more sustainable world. The teachers have recently returned from a visit to Nigeria and recounted tales of the trip to pupils, parents and Soroptimist’s at the Cultural Feast Assembly. The audience was invited to taste the African food and view the Year 7 & 8 pupil’s classroom displays and work that had been done.  On returning to the school hall a SKYPE

  Cheryl Rider & Gill Wood took part in the 2013 Sleepwalk raising well over £200 between them for the Rowcroft Hospice. Thank you to all our sponsors.

Recently the Devon Freewheelers co-ordinator for Southern Region, Les May, gave a presentation to the members of Torquay & District Soroptimist International. The Devon Freewheelers are a group of advanced riders who have come together to offer their time, skills and expertise, free of charge to provide an out of hours emergency response courier service to the NHS. They transport various urgent or emergency items by means of specially adapted marked motorcycles.  Some of the important supplies they transport include Blood Platelets for transfusion, blood samples for testing, human tissue samples, urgent or emergency medication between hospitals and pharmacies, small items of medical equipments for surgical teams, any service that may benefit the South West Transplant Services which may even include patients notes on CD ROMS.  These supplies must be transportable by motorbike and be of an urgent or emergency nature. This service is provided

The ladies and guests of Torquay & District Soroptimist International were entertained at their annual InterClub fund raising evening by Tony Beard the accomplished entertainer known as  ‘ the Wag from Widecombe’.  The evening which was held at the St Marychurch Precinct Centre consisted of a buffet supper and a very entertaining talk by Tony on the ‘Relics found on Dartmoor’. Tony is a true Devonian, born and bred in Widecombe on the Moor who spent many years working on the family farm.  He talked about the many interesting facets of Dartmoor’s natural history, archaeology and history.  His  interest in collecting prehistoric remnants began in the 1940’s and he brought along the first flints and flint arrowhead that he found on his own farm for us all to see. Our previous fund raising events have always proved very popular and this evening followed in suite.