SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District have a reputation - thanks to Anne, each year we have a knitted brooch - starting off with POPPIES in MALTA - WHITE RIBBONS in CARDIFF & now ORANGE FLUFFY FLOWERS to Orange the World for Liverpool. The ACC is a modern purpose-built Conference centre with ample space for the Exhibition and coffee area. Terry Waite, CBE, who became known when he was held a hostage in the Lebanon for five years. These days he is president of the charity Y Care International, the YMCA’s international development and relief agency. Sally Kettle is an ocean rower and the first woman to row the Atlantic Ocean twice from East to West. International President, Mariet Verhoef-Cohen Mariet, from the Federation of Europe, took up her post in July 2017.. Recognised as an expert on the topic of water and how it

A statue of a suffragette famously trampled to death by the king’s horse has been unveiled in her home town. Emily Wilding Davison, from Morpeth, was killed when she stepped into the race track at the Epsom Derby in 1913. Northumberland County Council commissioned the statue which was unveiled in the town’s Carlisle Park. It was made by Durham sculpture Ray Lonsdale and its unveiling marks the 100th anniversary of the first women getting the right to vote in the UK. The statue shows Ms Davison while on hunger strike in prison throwing her food on the ground, knowing she would be force fed.

Regional President Linda  welcomes ‘BLOOD BIKES’ to the Regional Meeting inside the Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner Northumbria Blood Bikes is a registered charity established by local volunteers to deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies, out of hours, between hospitals and other healthcare sites in North East England. Northumbria Blood Bikes’ funding comes entirely from charitable donations, and the service is provided solely by volunteers, giving their own free time to help others. In critical situations, blood or other medical items need to be delivered urgently in order to save a patient’s life. Blood bikes, with their distinctive livery, emergency lights, and narrow profile, can quickly get through busy traffic to reach their destination. Work to establish the group started in September 2012, and the team of dedicated volunteers, with live operations commencing in February 2014.  By the end of that year they were supporting hospitals across the

                  There are four Regional Meetings per year and our club hosted the September meeting, celebrating ‘Votes for Women’.  It was also the opportunity to showcase the varied PROGRAMME ACTION carried out by our club in the past year.

 

Our first of hopefully many visits to the Green Bean Community Market at Whitley Bay Metro station. The Green Beans Market takes place at Whitley Bay Metro Station on the last Sunday of each month between 10am and 3pm. The community-led market focuses on healthy food, local produce, gardening and upcycling. WE ARE BEING RECOGNISED AND NOTICED IN OUR COMMUNITY!! W

Following on from a most successful Safari supper last year to raise club funds the fun continued as we acknowledged the lengths our Suffragette Sisters went to get the vote for women and although there is still a journey ahead we are with them every step of the way. Music, laughter and some good food with friends on a summer evening in the sunshine at the coast, weather permitting!  Our suggested dress code: Suffragette colours, hats, sashes -or full Suffragette ensemble – with a prize for best dressed.  With a huge thanks to chefs and hosts for amazing hospitality.  With guests from Newcastle Building Society and the induction of three new members the evening was another success and with £287.60 raised for club funds to be used when club member Shirley Hallam succeeds Linda Johnson as our Regional President for another ‘bit of a do’

Regional President Linda’s neighbours and friends are always up for supporting the terrific work of our club and have generously contributed to a final huge total of £1185

A wonderful morning was spent at Bradley Hall Gardens with members from SI Sunderland, SI Tynedale, SI Newcastle, SI Middlesbrough and SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District, all clubs from the East of the SINE (Soroptimist International Northern England) region who got together to support SI Cockermouth in raising awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research on Thursday 2 August. Members, as ever,  were very generous with a huge £203 raised through donations for BrainTumour Research in memory of two lovely members from SI Cockermouth, who recently lost their lives to this disease.They were the founding President Wendy Dempster and treasurer and past club President Diana Clark; both had more than 30 years service each. A message from Jane Inman, IPP of Northern region At our Friendship Coffee morning and Open Garden yesterday we had  a super turnout with more than 40 members and friends enjoying chat

MANZINI – trustees of the Manzini Youth Project provided tuition, materials and guidance for the girls to cut and prepare the several layers needed to stitch together to make re-usable sanitary protection for the students in Manzini, ensuring they can attend school during menstruation. Harbour – the aim for our working day was to make cotton bags for the mothers and children of HARBOUR, a local refuge. They will later be filled with toiletries and treats.