In 2018 Soroptimist International Sunderland is 80 years old! Sunderland is one of the oldest clubs in the Northern Region of England. It was formed in 1938, only one year after the first Northern club (Newcastle upon Tyne in 1937). At that time, one year before the outbreak of the Second World War, Sunderland was famous for being the largest shipbuilding town in the world. Our first President was Emmeline Wright who served for two years, from 1938 to 1940.
Over 80 members from the Northern region joined in the celebrations in their 80th Charter Year with a celebratory lunch at the Grand Hotel, Seaburn, on 23 March 2019. The guest speaker was best-selling author, Nancy Revell whose work includes the Shipyard Girls series: these books tell the stories of the amazing women who lived and worked in Sunderland’s shipyards during the Second World War.