About our Club
Welcome to the web page of the Wallasey Club of
Soroptimist International.
Wallasey is located on the north eastcorner of the Wirral peninsula, bordered by the Irish Sea and the Mersey River estuary. In his book ‘The Wirral Peninsula,’ Norman Ellison (1958) states that the name Wallasey is originally from the Norse word ‘Wealase-ey’, the island of the Welshman or strangers’ (p7).Although Wallasey was never strictly an island as there was some land linking it to the rest of Wirral, it was a fairly isolated settlement for a Celtic tribe.
Wallasey has a chequered history with tales of ship wrecking and smuggling on its shores, often attributed to the settlement of the Noresman (Danes) - the Vikings (Sea Kings) (Ellison 1958), and this even continued up until the early 19th century.
The most well known area of Wallasey is New Brighton. Once a thriving seaside resort, the decline of the late 20th century is now being reversed. A new theatre will rise like ‘a phoenix from the site of the old building’. With efficient trains, busses, the Mersey ferry, Kingsway tunnel to Liverpool and motorway network, Wallasey readily links with the rest of Wirral, Liverpool and the UK.
Club meetings
Although a small club we are very friendly and productive. We enjoy social gatherings and outings, often with other clubs. Our meetings are twice a month at the Hollins Hey Hotel New Brighton: one buisness meeting on the 2nd Tuesday; one dinner and social event with an after dinner speaker on the 4th Tuesday of the month. We welcome both visitors and prospective members at our monthly dinner and speaker events. For further information contact onen of the following:
President Sue on buffybron@aol.com (see president Sue’s message for details of her aims)
Membership Officer Jackie on jandk1@waitrose.com
Press Officer Stella on stella.mckm@btinternet.com
Charter luncheon 2009
Our annual celebration of our Club charter will be a luncheon this year on Sunday 25th October at the Hollins Hey Hotel in New Brighton. Fellow Soroptimists and their guests will be welcome.
Club activities
Friendship link
Solihull club is our friendship link which is going from strength to strength. We have enjoyed some very pleasant get togethers which have included 4 membersstaying overnight with a Solihull member to attenda dinner dance, followed by some retail therapy the next day.Six members enjoyed another delightful day visiting Solihull with an enjoyable lunch with Solihull club members, that was followed byafternoon tea with the mayor of Solihull in his chambers.Solihull members have visited Wallasey to enjoy socialising and visiting places of interest.
Pictures 1 & 2 show ‘the 2 Jennys’ - President Jenny of Wallasey (front row brown jacket) next to President Jenny of Solihull - with Club members from Wallasey and Solihull about to take tea with the Mayor of Solihull. Picture 2 shows the group in front of the trophy cabinets full of silver ware; picture 3 is a visit to the local park.
Beach watch
In 2005 the Club adopted a section of beach in New Brighton as part of the scheme organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Every 3 months a group of members, led by Barbara, collect litter on the 120metre section of beach, log the type of material and then bag it. Results are notified to the MCS to be collated with results from around the country. Barbara and the team featured on page 8 of the Liverpool Echo newspaper on Monday June 9th 2008. Following this they were featured on national television on the Sunday Politics show. Barbara was additionally featured on Granda Reports on 8th April 2009.
Social events & fundraising
Our concert in 2008 featuring the Wallasey Choir was attended by a small but appreciative audience. No one was disappointed with either the entertainment or the tea and cakes during the interval. We raised over 300 for the NSPCC: one of President Jenny’s charities for her presidential year. Recent events have included running a charity shop for a week (a real experience); a garden party (the weather was very kind); and a visit to a local farm.
The top picture shows President Jenny introducing the Wallasey Choir; the bottom pictures shows that Stella & Helen obviously enjoyed taking the money at the door!