Stourbridge Soroptimists
Candles, Canals, and Music, were the happenings for Soroptimist International Stourbridge and District Club (SI Stourbridge) as they celebrated 70 years of service, educating, empowering and enabling women and girls in the community and wider.
Soroptimist International has special consultative status with the United Nations to its Economic and Social Council and our Programme of activities supports the UN’s goals.
Following a legacy being left to SI Stourbridge by Rosemary Carter, who herself was a local educationalist; and long-time member of the club; members commissioned via Dudley Performing Arts, a suite of four songs for Primary School Children in the borough. The songs will be available free of charge globally. Children from three Primary Schools contributed to the creative process and have recorded the songs. Members of SI Stourbridge went along to the first performance of them. Club member Ann Middleton reported that the words and music were really beautiful and worthy of Rosemary’s gift.
The celebrations continued with a candle lighting dinner at the Hagley Golf & Country Club where 133 candles were lit to represent all the countries where there are Soroptimist Clubs. Su Roxburgh who chaired the meeting said that this was a reminder that we were an international organisation.
The dinner was attended by Federation President Ann Hodgson who congratulated Stourbridge club on their wonderful achievement of service for 70 years. Also attending were two of the clubs friendship link clubs SI Bootle and SI Wrekin.
During the proceedings a memento was given to every which was a specially commissioned stamp which had the Soroptimists’ “S” symbol and which was on a specially designed and commissioned envelop, denoting the 70 years of inspiring action and transforming lives by the Stourbridge club. Postage stamp number 1 was presented to the Federation President by Anne Rogers who had developed this idea and designed the stamp and envelop; a framed set of stamps were then presented to Su Roxburgh as the chair for the club; and the number 70 stamp was auctioned by John Chapman and was bought by club member Jane Flint Bridgewater. Jane was thrilled to be the owner of this prestigious commemorative stamp.
Rounding off the week-end members and their friends travelled on board a canal narrow boat. Travelling down the Stourbridge arm to the Stourbridge canal and enjoyed a fish and chip lunch.
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