Soroptimist International Yorkshire Region Newsletter

WINTER 2020 OfficersLead Story Headline 2020-21 Who is She?

• Yorkshire members Elizabeth Hughes and Thelma de Leeuw were featured in November and October list of 100 notable Soroptimists. Immediate Past President President President Elect Vice President Rita Leaman Linda Davis Lindsay Green & Membership Officer Jane Glendinning • To find out more go to the SIGBI website, Sign in to members, Scroll down to Soroptimist Centenary 2021. then click on Who is She

Secretary Treasurer Development Officer Minute Secretary Judith Clark Susan Mendoza Sam Lawson Sally Kendall

Inside this issue:

Communications Joint Officers Programme Action Joint Chairs Mary Hillary 2 Sue Butler Liz Lyle Lindsay Green Susie Westwood Award project

SIY Presidents 2 Remembrance 3 Tributes Clubs news 4-5

Benevolent Fund Rep Federation Councillor Diary Dates 6 Hilary Putman Angela Edwards Obituaries 6 Page 2 Yorkshire Region Newsletter

Mary Hillary Award Winning project SI Sheffield An Introduction coverage, raising over £1000 clubs, gyms, surgeries and for ROTHACS (Rotherham clinics, sports clubs, cafes, bars SI Sheffield emulated Richmond Abuse Counselling Service) and restaurants, local Programme and Dales’s idea of sharing the they went on to embrace SI businesses, the Town Hall, The transferable skills used to run Sheffield’s main Programme Children’s Hospital and the our club with young women. Action Project Action project for 2019/20, City Hall. The toilets are We approached a Sheffield namely to make Sheffield the twinned with ones in Malawi, Senior School, King Edward VII, 2019-20 first Toilet Twinned City in Pakistan, Cote d’Ivoir, Uganda, and have since developed an Yorkshire. Sierra Leone, Tanzania, amazing connection with Year Nicaragua, Zambia and Congo. 12 and 13 girls and staff there.

By passing on these workplace The project skills to girls, they gained a Once the Club had agreed to The success valuable addition to their CVs make Toilet Twinning a focus The result is that Sheffield is and UCAS applications forms of its Programme Action work now a ‘twinned city’ (only the whilst getting enjoyment out of we set up a steering group, got third one in UK), and we raised their projects. The girls came in touch with our local MP and the sum of £2,600 to add to along to meetings, participated raised awareness across the the total of £17,000 raised in in our projects and even led city through events and the Sheffield overall during the year some themselves. They media. we ran the project. developed marketing knowledge, had opportunities to grow ideas for projects, gained confidence in running a group, and became more aware of the many problems facing women and girls in the world today and the work of the Soroptimists do to help solve these. In return we learned The girls did not only support about Social Media, apps and our various publicity events, video presentations. they also set out to make their own school the first Toilet Twinned School in Sheffield. The girls had so much fun and They had stalls at Open learned lots. They now never Evenings, organised bake sales take toilets for granted. They and other fundraising events, are delighted to have been published articles in the school educated, empowered and newsletter and delivered enabled along with helping girls presentations in school around the world to do the assemblies. They even same. SI Sheffield members are persuaded the Head and the delighted to have won the Following a very successful year Deputy to purchase a whole prestigious Yorkshire in 2018-19 when the girls twinned school block. Soroptimist Mary Hilary Award organised and held an for 2020. extremely vibrant Fashion Together, the girls and the Show with much media Soroptimists got 42 toilets Daphne Cawthorne twinned in schools, youth Presidents Past & Present meet up SIY President Incoming President Linda Davis was installed as part of the Linda recent virtual SIGBI conference with everything at extreme social distancing. Following the conference Linda was able to meet up with IPP Rita and present her with a gift and receive her chain of office.

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nt Linda laid a Yorkshire Preside sident Kathleen & s Pre behalf of member e Park, Mirfield, on reath at Ings Grov w Maureen, Jackie, District. Members of SI & attended. Helen and Pat also

Harrogate and District C fallen thr lub remembe oughout the red the quiet district. A so day as Presid mbre and P ent Sandra la oppies at Sto id a wreath o nefall Commo f Graves. So nwealth War many young m Canada, en, mostly fr Australia and om serve New Zealand d in their Cou who far ntries Royal A from home. irforce. So Lest We Forget. Presi dent Sandra a lso laid a wre Cenotaph i ath at the n Harrogate. laid w Club member reaths in Rip s also on, Knaresbo Wetherby rough and

Yo r k s h i re Soroptimists attended previous years I Selby have in d a Members of S y Abbey and lai Pay Tribute On Service in Selb Remembrance presentatives the al with other re at the Memori tions. This wreath untary organisa ilitary and vol tric- from civic, m e pandemic res Armistice Day e, because of th was not possibl

tions, this year. SI Selby on aid on behalf of a wreath was l by Lind- Instead, 11 November, ay, Wednesday na- Armistice D oroptimist Inter ident Elect of S he say Green, Pres , Treasurer of t , and June Bryan al of Yorkshire ice, held be- tion sent at the serv ne was also pre Weetman, club. Ju by Canon John morial and led side the Me ilence. Two Minutes S followed by the Page 4 Yorkshire Region Newsletter

Notable Presentations SI Beverley & Happy 90th Birthday Toilet Twinning Certificate SI Beverley & District celebrated the 90th Last year SI Beverley & District members saved a District birthday of Honorary Member Barbara Newton. penny every time they used the loo, as a Barbara is a founder member and was the reminder of the problems faced by too many second club President in 1967. Barbara still takes women and girls around the world who do not a lively interest in club activities and attended have access to sanitation. Soon they had the £60 outdoor events over the summer. The picture needed to twin one of the ladies toilets at their shows President Myra LeVine presenting her meeting place, the Beverley & East Riding Golf with a cake, card and flowers from the club, all club with a new latrine in Zambia. socially distanced of course.

After Christmas, followed by the first Covid lockdown the certificate was at last presented to the Lady Captain at the Golf Club by President Myra.

Planting, Plaques and P in a Pot

In September members of SI SI Dewsbury & Dewsbury and Wakefield planted 100 trees at Dewsbury District Country Park, with a little help from Pete & Jill from . Pictured below

They also planted 100 in Sarah and Andrew from the gardens socially distanced, and October, pictured right. Refreshment Rooms at also collected for local food Dewsbury Railway Station. This banks and made Christmas is one of five the Club raised shoeboxes for Samaritan’s funds for through donations in Purse. Twiddle muffs have been 'loo' of Christmas cards last presented to three local care year. homes, and bedding provided for the local refuge Members are kept up to date with events (or non-events) by A recent programme action the weekly news sheet sent out project was ‘P in the by member and Yorkshire Pot’ (Great minds think alike in President Linda Davis. Local this issue , Ed) with 155.00 Julie Thompson handed over a area groups of 6 have met in raised for WaterAid. Toilet Twinning plaque to

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Anna is the Best Girl Improver

SI Harrogate and District Club President Sandra Anna’s mum Katie said, ‘Anna was very happy Frier was delighted to present Anna Burgess with and excited to receive the Soroptimist award. SI Harrogate & the Gill Smith Shield for Best Girl Improver at Our family are all keen tennis players, so we are the Harrogate Spa Tennis Centre on 10th proud to see Anna improve her game and District October. Anna started playing tennis when she receive this award’. was five years old and has always enjoyed playing. Matt McTurk, head coach at Tennis Harrogate said that, ‘Anna was worthy of the award because of her hard work in tennis lessons. Her game has improved over the last year and she has a nice attitude on court’. Harrogate Spa Tennis Centre has six outdoor courts and a coaching programme provided by Tennis Harrogate for juniors and adults, A new 4 court indoor facility will start construction in Spring 2021. The award is presented annually in memory of Club member Gill Smith. Gill loved tennis and was a former member of Harrogate Spa. Meeting up to ‘Orange the World’ A group from SI Ilkley was able to meet in SI Ilkley approved social distancing fashion at a community centre in the town. When Sue Butler (top right) had finished helping to get 46 Yorkshire Soroptimists on to a What’sApp list so they could share messages and comments there was still a 20 minute pause before the virtual Belfast conference went live. In this pause Sue and Margaret Cook (top left) began making decorations for a tree which Bradford council are allowing them to decorate in the town car park for November 25th. Young people from a local church will join up with SI Ilkley on this day to ‘Orange the world’ and push home the and white wine was consumed as we listened! It message about the terrible behaviour to which was great to be with Soroptimist sisters and so many women are subjected. share conversation and comments as we listened Margaret Cook commented “Nine of us were at to an excellent conference. Zoom is great but---- the Clarke Foley community centre. Both red - to be with Soroptimist sisters was a joy!” Spectacular Projects

President Rita's third RCM Over fifty spectacles were Money is coming in and collection was to have been collected and these were members are hoping that this SI Wakefield spectacles. So members of S I intended for a project that time the club will be able to Wakefield decided they would sends glasses to Africa. twin a toilet block, in a school take part in the collection, even Unfortunately due to or village. The photograph if they could not physically COVID19 this project has been shows S I Wakefield member's attend the scheduled RCM. temporarily suspended, but as toilets that will be twinned. soon as it is reinstated the glasses will be delivered. Meanwhile they are being safely stored by IPP Judith Alce. Toilet twinning 1p 2p A few years ago S I Wakefield members took part in a toilet twinning project called 1p 2p. (1 penny to go to the toilet) However, due to inflation this Autumn's project is now 5p 2p! Diary Dates - 2021 Soroptimist International Yorkshire Region January Saturday 9th Officers meeting A Word from the Editor March Saturday 13th RCM at The Bridge Inn An eventful time since the last newsletter with the virtual RCMs and April Conference. Best wishes to incoming Saturday 24th Officers meeting President Linda and congratulations on a May very different year to IPP Rita. Saturday 22nd New Presidents Lunch Wishing all a Happy Christmas and June Saturday 19th RCM Askham Grange Prison (with President Johanna) a safe and ‘normal’ New Year July Liz Hayes Wednesday 7th Officers meeting August Newsletter Submission Guidelines Sunday 1st SI Yorkshire 85th Charter, a boat trip with tea in News Reports: maximum of 400 words in September a Word document or email Saturday 18th RCM at Holiday Inn Barnsley Obituaries: maximum 150 words October Photos: Unmanipulated original images of high resolution sent as an attachment not Saturday 2nd Officers meeting embedded in a text document. No 28th - 30th SIGBI Conference collage/montages. PLEASE CHECK ALL EVENT DETAILS DUE TO CURRENT RESTRICTIONS NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE - February28th 2021

Obituaries Anne Stokes Hilary Ibbotson Trust to date, she sang in a Our healthy eating project, choir, enjoyed keep fit and which we ran with one of the SI Sheffield SI Richmond and Dales went to the local church. inner city primary schools; Anne died very suddenly in Hilary had worked in the children prepared fresh fruit, September 2020, a great shock Foreign Office, then, a woman sold it to their fellow pupils, to everyone, as she has been a in a man’s world . and counted the money raised. very active member of our This also became a school Hilary will be sadly missed by club ever since joining over 30 gardening project, in which her many friends and her sons, years ago. She became Club Long serving (35years) Cath had particular expertise. to whom the club sends love President 1997 to 1998, and member Hilary Ibbotson died She had taken up bee-keeping and sympathy. then went on to be club suddenly on October 16th. in her retirement, and brought treasurer: latterly she Hilary served as Secretary SI Richmond and Dales will a demonstration hive to show coordinated the club supper several times, Minute remember her as a good and and teach the children, much meetings. She was also a very Secretary, Programme Action faithful member. May she rest to their delight. active member of “Friends of Convenor, member of the in Peace. At Cath’s initiation, SI Prior Bank”a committee which finance committee and was involved in supporting the supports a local care home Regional Council rep. She was Cath Turner Arts Project for the new and she has also been a Club President in 1993. Bexley Wing, the Cancer SI Leeds Director of Sheffield Hilary had a warm, cheerful, Centre for the Leeds Soroptimist Housing personality. Always optimistic We are very sad to report the Hospitals. Company, when she served as which stood her in good stead death of Cath Turner, a Cath was a keen advocate for treasurer. during lock down. She was member of SI Leeds since the establishment of the SI Anne will always be welcoming and encouraging to 1977. Cath held most of the Leeds Literary Prize, which remembered for her new members. offices in the club, including started in 2011, and now goes fundraising events for the Club Hilary was a past Mayor of twice being our President - the from strength to strength. with barbeques or coffee first time round she got Richmond, serving on the We will miss her very much mornings always accompanied married, inviting many Town Council for many years. for her enthusiasm, her by a swim in the indoor pool members to her wedding! She helped to set up the local wicked sense of humour, and at their house. talking newspaper and still Cath was a key driver of many her unfailing loyalty and Anne will be sadly missed as a read for them. Hilary was of our Programme Action support. Soroptimist and a good friend. Secretary to Richmond School initiatives, including: