Richmond and Dales

The Fabulous Fifties

richmond-and-dales — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:55:55 +0000

The Fab 50s return to Richmond

Dressed to kill at a fancy cocktail party, over a hundred ladies and a few gentlemen were shown what the girl about Richmond would have looked like fifty years ago.

It was the night that the History Wardrobe revisited the Kings Head in Richmond and entertained the audience with a demonstration of the clothes warn by women in the 1950s. In addition to the glamorous fashions, we were reminded of the undergarments that caused so much hassle, the sugar-starched petticoats, and others that caused so much discomfort, the girdles, and itching, the liberty bodice.

The show was hosted by Soroptimist International of Richmond and Dales and the photo shows Club President Angela Edwards appreciating the look of the Fabulous Fifties! The evening raised over £500 for the Stop It Now! UK campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the needs of children who have been sexually abused and to support ways to prevent it.

Families First

richmond-and-dales — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:17:55 +0000

At the meeting held on October 16th, club members were treated to a stimulating presentation made by Suzy Kitching, Team Manager of Families First, part of the Joint Children and Adult Services, in Middlesbrough.
Suzy told us of the work of her team in Middlesbrough and the chaotic lives that some people live. The aim of her staff is to support the vulnerable parents of children, who may otherwise be taken into care by social services. For these parents substance misuse is often a problem but this behaviour does not preclude them from the help of the team, both for themselves and their children. However, underpinning the work that they do is the fundamental principal that the needs of the child are paramount. The work of the team is undergoing full evaluation to determine whether its outcomes warrant expansion of the service model elsewhere.
Suzy showed us a DVD of several families and professionals working with the Families First team, illustrating what she had told us in an accessible, clear and professional way.

Preserving the past

richmond-and-dales — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:07:35 +0000

Our Guest Speaker on 18 September was Julie Biddlecombe who is a Museums Officer and spoke to us about conserving our “family favourites” such as photographs, wedding dresses, christening robes and letters. Members were given many useful tips including the great efficacy of acid free tissue paper and the avoidance of photograph albums with plastic film covering the photos.

POTATOES ARE THE THEME FOR THE EVENING

richmond-and-dales — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:26:43 +0000

POTATOES ARE THE THEME FOR THE EVENING

An unusual and highly successful event was held at the Kings Head Hotel in Richmond on Friday 5 September. This was a joint venture between Soroptimist International Richmond and Dales and the Rotary Club of Richmond. Around 170 guests gathered to celebrate the UN Year of the Potato 2008 and to raise money for Food Aid and for the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Guests were able to enjoy a special “potato-based” menu created by Nigel Alexander, Head Chef at the Hotel. This included Potato Tart Tatin, savoury and sweet Boxty, and Sweet Potato Muffins. A variety of potato-related entertainment took place during the evening, and all enjoyed music and readings by Warnock Kerr and Friends, two plays about the History of the Potato, which were very funny, and some brilliant juggling by Tom Rolfe.

There were lots of “freebies” also available – crisps, Potato recipes; and some lovely tea-towels and aprons, and greeting cards for sale, all of which proved to be popular.

“It was a fantastic evening – very different to our usual nights out”, said President Angela
The evening raised £2000 for Ethiopiaid to be directed to the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa.

Chief Constable of North Yorkshire talks to the Club

richmond-and-dales — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:10:32 +0000

Soroptimist International Richmond and Dales

Report on meeting held on Thursday 2 0ctober 2008.

Members of Soroptimist International Richmond and Dales, and 3 guests from other Yorkshire Clubs, were shocked, fascinated and enthralled to hear the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Grahame Maxwell, speak at their meeting about his role in working towards the prevention of Human Trafficking. Mr Maxwell explained how much progress has been made in the last 7 years to raise awareness of the plight of women who are sold into the United Kingdom from many other countries. Progress has also been made in achieving an increase in the number of rescues of these women across the UK, and an increase in the number of prosecutions and convictions of the men involved in this lucrative modern day “slave trade”. One of his main achievements has been the setting up, in 2006, of the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre in Sheffield., which offers excellent services to women in need.

Mr Maxwell was an inspirational speaker, whose commitment to tackling this problem was extremely impressive.

The next meeting of SI Richmond and Dales takes place on Thursday 16 October. Any woman who is interested in becoming a Soroptimist can contact Angela Edwards, President, on 01748 824240, or Judith Clark, Membership Secretary, on 01748 331421.