Those choosen were told their muster point and to be there at 13:00hrs . When we were checked off we were given a sticker to put on our coats , with our name on and the time we were to light our light.

 Afer lunch we were shown how to erect the gas lamps and light them also how to use the hand flares.

  Coaches then took us  to access point along the wall , were we waited for our equipment  ( rather a long wait in my cells case)

Then we walked to our lighting points.

All together there were 515 points of light along the wall.As the time came nearer to light up the excietment grew,

Gas lamps were lit first as they had a longer life, those who had flares had to wait till they could see the helicopter coming closer to them, then set their flares off.

 I will remember the moment forever ”it was  magic”

I wanted to do it in memory of  everybody who had lost their life to Breast Cancer.

Everyone suffering from Breast Cancer.

And all who had survived Breast Cancer

As a club we have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by our organisation nationwide. President Maureen has been contacted far and wide by individuals and presidents at every level who have all been so kind and caring in many different ways. The love and friendship shown to us has been wonderful.

But this letter is sent particularly to the Region of Northern England, to the clubs and to individual members who gave such generous amounts of money, particularly at the Regional Council Meeting. You have made such an amazing contribution to what was initially a very small pot of money that we wanted to donate to the flood fund.

We have not yet made our donation because we were aware that the Flood Fund was well stocked and as a club we met and decided that we would really like at least some of the money to go directly to women and children, mainly those who were particularly stranded on the North side of the river where getting to a school, a doctor or a shop was a major problem every day.

So to date we have made links with the Food-bank and the Churches together group who are targeting the worst affected cases. Some of our members have been able to work practically with these groups doing some very active programme action.

Two days before Christmas we were able to give a generous donation to a grandmother who shares her home (which was flooded) with her own 4year old, her adult daughter and her baby. They had lost everything in the flood and whilst her basic needs were being met there was absolutely nothing to make Christmas special. Our donation allowed her to make the difference and she was tearful and grateful that she could now replace her child’s bike which had been washed away. The little one could not sleep because of the horror of losing a special toy. – Yes in the scheme of things a bike is a luxury elsewhere but you cannot explain that to a child in the U.K. who has lost everything it hold’s dear.

We plan to meet again shortly to see where else we can help both practically and financially and we want you all in Northern England to know that your money will be used wisely..

President Maureen and all the members of S.I. Cockermouth and District have been shown how wonderful this organisation is and we send our love and thanks to each and every one of you.

In friendship

Doreen

The water in the North Tyneside Council leisure pool turned pink on Saturday 24 October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The pool is believed to be the first in the country to turn its water pink as part of the initiative.

 During the month of October members of SI Tynemouth and Whitley Bay helped turn the area “pink” for breast cancer awarness, events included;  St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay beening illuminated pink by the council for the campaign, which encourages people to wear it pink and raise funds for Breast Cancer Campaign’s vital research.

 Cllr Glynis Barrie, North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “We’re delighted to help raise awareness for such a good cause.

 “We hope turning the water pink at Waves really grabs people’s attention and helps raise funds. Certainly, we believe we’re the first council to do something like this for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

 Rebecca Guy, wear it pink Events Manager said: “This is the first time a swimming pool has turned pink for our charity! It’s a fantastic way to take part in wear it pink and we are very appreciative of the leisure pools efforts.

 “There is however a serious reason for wearing it pink during October. Some 46,000 are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and wear it pink helps to fund vital research into a disease which affects so many.”

 As well as turning the water pink, the reception area and café at Waves will be decorated pink. There will also be a raffle and collection on the day.

The initiative is one of a number of activities taking place in Whitley Bay in support of the Breast Cancer Campaign. The events have been supported or organised by Shirley Hallam, president of Soroptimist International Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and District.

 Runner up this year was SI Durham for the Knit One Save One Campaign.

On the evening of May 12, 2009, Mrs. Josephine Chexal was awarded the Cross of Merit (Knight’s Cross) of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Consul General of the German Consulate, Edinburgh, Mr. Wolfgang Moessinger. The award was presented at a dinner held at the Mansion House in Newcastle upon Tyne in front of invited guests including civic dignitaries and representatives of business who have supported the work of the Honorary Consul.

The Order of Merit was instituted by the German government in 1951 and is the only honour awarded in all fields of endeavour and the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. The Order of Merit may be awarded to Germans as well as foreign nationals for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm. Mrs. Chexal was presented with the Cross, along with a document signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Koehler.

Mrs. Chexal, a Tynedale resident, was appointed German Honorary Consul on April 28, 1999, following her proposal by the Head of the Siemens UK group of companies and the Director General of the German British Chamber of Commerce. Her office in the Regent Centre, Gosforth, is shared with the French Honorary Consul and provides services to German nationals and British/other nationals including birth registration, pension, legal and personal identification certifications. She also undertakes representational duties on behalf of the German government, including at the recent celebrations of 50 years of German studies at Newcastle University. In addition, Mrs. Chexal contributes to the enhancing of Germany’s standing in the UK and assists the Regional Language Network and Routes to Languages programme which encourages young people to take up the study of the German language to improve their future employability.

 Currently working as a consultant, Mrs. Chexal held senior positions within the regional development agency, One NorthEast and predecessor organisations over a period of 26 years, in the attraction and retention of international investment into the NorthEast of England. She previously worked in the USA and Switzerland in universities and a multinational pharmaceutical company and speaks German fluently. She is also the Chair of the German British Chamber of Commerce in the NorthEast and Cumbria and is a Trustee of a number of charitable organisations, as well as being the Regional Programme Action Chair of Soroptimist International Northern England.

 According to German archives, there has been a German consular presence in Newcastle, covering the wider region, since 1871 and possibly prior to this during the Prussian era. The German Honorary Consul is a member of the Consular Corps of Newcastle upon Tyne which celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year and has consular representation from across Europe.

Action was the key to the work being undertaken by the Banardo’s SECOS (Sexually Exploited Children on the Streets) project, which has been developed through close contacts with the police and social services to help reduce and prevent the exploitation of young people involved in prostitution in Middlesborough.

The afternoon looked at how three of the regions police authorities are dealing with the prevention of violence against women, prostitution and child exploitation.

During the day clubs and local organisations exhibited the work and projects being undertaken in their areas.

The afternoon finished with a “sleepy raffle” for Project SIerra.