Club history
Bangor, a Cathedral City with three colleges, was an obvious choice for a Soroptimist Club, and it was not surprising therefore that on November 22nd 1947, eight members of the Chester Club met the Ladies of Bangor and petition with 17 signatures was signed and approved.
The Bangor Club was formed under the Presidency of Mrs Gladys Emyr Humphries with Lady Artemus Jones and Miss Marion Beaumont as Vice Presidents, Mrs Wartski as Treasurer and Dr Gwenda Hughes as Secretary. Miss G E Holloway, Principal of Alexandra College, Dublin, and Vice President of the Federation presented the Charter on March 17th 1948, at the Castle Hotel, Bangor. Badges cost 15 shillings and members bought their own ribbons and ivorines (badges to be bought later) to be worn at their Charter Dinner.
It is interesting to note that they were immediately “in action”, Mrs Wartski receiving permission from the President to obtain signatures on a petition “that women be allowed to sit in the House of Lords”. The Club made a gift of a second-hand rocking horse costing £4.00 to the Children’s Ward at the C & A Hospital, discussions ere held on “the saving of electricity, gas and coal - the export drive, the price of things and the New Health Service”. The first job talks were by Miss Rhoda Lewis on Fashions and Miss Colgrove on Ballet, and in that year there was an International Conference at Harrogate and members entertained two Dutch Soroptimists. The first Annual Dinner, held at the Castle Holtel, Bangor was confirmed to members and a most enjoyable evening was spent playing party games. Their first DU get-together was on June 28th 1949, under the Presidency of Miss M A Perrott, MA (Wallasey Club), the first sub committee having been formed twelve months earlier and a sister club link formed with the Cumberland Soroptimist Club in Australia. In July 1949 there was controversy within the Division over a resolution submitted by the Wrexham Club abhorring the decision to change the name of the Divisional Union and immediate steps were taken for the formation of more North Wales Clubs. No mention is made of the charge for earlier dinners but in March 1950 the charge was 10/-.
At their meetings in 1951, the Bangor Soroptimists were giving full support to the call for equal pay for men and women doing equal work and also at that time formed a Standing Conference of Women’s Organisations which was later disbanded in 1963. They submitted questions for discussion and action, namely: clean air - smoke in Bangor; improvement of Public Library facilities; provision of litter baskets; improvement of behaviours in cafes (with special reference to the combing of hair in public); improvements in types of ashtrays; and the cultivation of civic pride in schools and youth clubs.
In 1952 the capitation fee was £1.11.0 for a full member and £1.2.0 for a past service (retired) member. In May 1954 the charge for the Annual Lunch was increased to 15/-. At this time the new links with Ontario and California were made, with a a request being received for English Toffees. A link was also established with Albi, France, two members visiting the area, but unfortunately the link was broken.
At the AGM in 1956 the President asked the Club to consider the formation of a Hospital Group of Friends Jointly with the Standing Conferences of Women’s Organisations. April 1959 saw the introduction of wom3en Radio Operators at sea, and women were encouraged to put names forward for Regional Hospital Boards. The Club presented two table lamps for use at the Welsh Room at Headquarters. Charities supported included the World Seed Fund, Old Age Benevolent Funds, Dogs for the Blind and Cancer Research. In 1964 a sum of money was sent to America on President Kennedy’s death.
In 1964 Mrs Wartski became the first Honorary Member and remained so until her death. She had celebrated her 90th birthday in 1979. Five members of the Club attended the International Convention at Lausanne and a letter was read from the Secretary of the National Union of the Netherlands advising of a new Soroptimist Centre in Amsterdam. Twenty one members bought shares in Soroptimist HQ. The Club called for a state pension for all persons at age 60 for women and 65 for men, irrespective of income.
Steps were taken to establish a club in Anglesey, which was chartered in February 1965, Mrs I Henry, Honorary Member of Anglesey Club and now member of the Bangor Club, being the Founder President. December 1965 showed attempts to form a club in Dolgellau - finally chartered in 1984. In 1965 steps were taken to establish an Abbeyfield House in Bangor and support was given to the UCNW students, culminating in a donation of £100 in1968. Today’s members are still involved in the administration and there are now two houses in Bangor, but Miss M Beaumont, an Honorary Member of the Club who died in 1979, was the king-pin.
In 1971 we had a most successful weekend to celebrate the Jubilee under the Presidency of Miss Joan Hunt. Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral Division Union and Club members were hostesses and many friendships were formed. May 1972 saw the formation of the South Caernarfonshire Club, Bangor having successfully launched them through the services of one of their members, Mrs Buddug Rowlands, DU Extension Officer. Also in 1972 an international link was established with Bari in Italy. Honorary Membership was conferred on Mrs P Deuchar Murrie who had served the Club excellently as Secretary for many years. In 1977 Mrs Gwen Davies participated in the Travel Fund set up by Ontario and Upland, California, strengthening our link with them.
On March 21st 1978 our 30th Birthday Celebration, Dr M T Martin reminded members of the early days of our history, and of Miss Beaumont, Mrs EE Price, Mrs Buddug Rowlands and Miss Pentir Williams, senior members of the Fifties, who contributed so much to the Society over the years. The Bangor Club have sponsored young students - Elizabeth Gronow, now well-known in musical circles - and a young horticultural student, and have contributed through their services to the Llangollen Musical International Festival each year by manning the hospitality tent and the Welsh National Eisteddfod Tent, when in North Wales. Several members have been featured as successes in their own fields and have also been recognised by the Community as leaders in the various areas in which they have interests, and are continuing to do so. Two member, Miss Lucille M Hughes and Miss E M Williams, have served as DU Presidents and acted on National Federation Committees.
Charitable organisations were supported locally, nationally and internationally, these are too numerous to mention in our history, but examples are £300 to the South Wales Flood Fund, a parcel of goods to Poland, a cheque to Bari towards the Italian Disaster Fund and a cheque to the Blaenau Ffestiniog Fund. The Club has also supported practically and financially a young Vietnamese family who have come to live in the area.
Friendship plays an important part in our club, not least the annual joint meetings of the three clubs of Anglesey, South Caernarfonshire and Dolgellau.