SI_Harrogate

President Sylvia with the winners at St Peter's School in Harrogate in April 2004. The winning design will be on the leaflet telling local traders about how they can support the Christmas Lights and Market.

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Dr Mary Polson arriving in true 50's style accompanied by Sandra Griffiths

Dr. Mary Polson given Honorary Membership of Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District

It was 50 years ago on a dark January evening in 1954 that Mary Polson joined the Harrogate Soroptimists. Mary, a Harrogate girl and proud Yorkshire woman, studied medicine in Leeds and was returning to Harrogate to take up her position in Public Health. Soroptimists were quick of the mark and invited Mary to join them. Mary being one of only two members to own a car in those days was quickly engaged in ferrying people to the fortnightly meeting. Mary was soon on the Executive Committee and was President in 1964.

Dr Mary Polson and President Sylvia Purser toast Mary's fiftieth year as a Soroptimist in Harrogate

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Fifty years later Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District gave Mary Honorary Membership in recognition of her commitment to the club. Mary arrived in style in a 1954 Morris Minor to be greeted by members, very suitably accessorised in hats, gloves and pearls. The evening started with mulled wine and then Mary was shipwrecked with a CD payer and eight pieces of music, which brought with them hundreds of memories, some of these Mary shared with us. Fellow members were able to contribute to the stories, of taking cucumber sandwiches at the British Consulate in Istanbul, and the local Russian band who gave a new interpretation to “My Bonnie lies over the Ocean”. By visualising the tight rows of seats that the ladies of the club occupied, a number of current members were able to recall the names of the entire club at the time. The evening concluded with cake and champagne, whilst we tried to recognise each other from our photos in 1954.

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President Sylvia Purser and club members shine a light to highlight a new campaign to support lighting up Harrogate town for Christmas 2004

Harrogate and District Soroptimists are on a mission to work with businesses in Harrogate to ensure that Christmas 2004 is a festival of lights. Harrogate, unlike other local places such as Ripon and Knaresborough does not have a co-ordinated light display in its main shopping areas. A group from the club is already meeting with Harrogate Borough Council and local businesses to raise interest and money for the future.

	Raising funds for Breast Cancer Care and Harrogate Homeless Click on photos for the bigger picture
Soroptimist Events Coordinator Janet Morrow and Rona Parker, Manager of Viyella Branch, Harrogate	Soroptimist model Val shows the latest Viyella fashion	Models Suzanne and Val Viyella Manageress Rona Parker	Suzanne Kelman, Val Long, Issan Holm, Rona Parker and Jackie Clint

Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District joined forces with the Viyella Fashion shop in Harrogate to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care and the Homeless in Harrogate. The event, held at the Viyella Shop, 5 Prospect Crescent, Harrogate raised over £120. Soroptimist Val Long took to the cat walk with Suzanne Kelman to show the seasons latest fashions. The event, organised by Soroptimist Janet Morrow and the shop manager Rona Parker is one of a number events held by Viyella in Harrogate to raise money for Breast Cancer Care..

HOMELESS IN HARROGATE

After the summer break, Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District met in September at the White Hart in Harrogate for an informative and at times disturbing talk on the situation of the homeless in Harrogate now and in the future. President, Sylvia Purser, is on the steering group looking at homelessness in Harrogate, and provided facts on the Homelessness Act 2002 and the figures on the current situation in Harrogate plus the projections for 5 years out.

President Sylvia has nominated the Harrogate Hostel as her charity in this her presidential year.

Liz Mackenzie of the Harrogate Homeless Project and manager of the Harrogate Hostel explained the initiatives they undertaking in the hostel, providing emergency accommodation for local, single, homeless people, and also some medium term supported accommodation. How they are developing the services they have available to give help in other areas because homelessness may not be the only problem. Liz also spoke of the need for more volunteers to work with the project to listen to those in need and help them make informed choices about their situation and help plan how to move on in their life, and practical skills in coping with every day tasks. Hands on help for maintenance jobs and housekeeping are also welcome. Liz can be contacted at the hostel on 01423 566900.

In memory of Pat Carpenter

President Sylvia Purser meets with the Supporting Older People Group at Harlow Carr Gardens

S I Harrogate & District have spent 2 years since the
death of Pat Carpenter selling poetry books to raise
money for Supporting Older People. Nearly £800 has
been raised and to present the last cheque for £360
President Sylvia Purser and Club members joined the
Supporting Older People Group at Harlow Carr Gardens.

President Sylvia presents cheque to Supporting Older People

S I YORKSHIRE - DOWN UNDER

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Sydney provided the perfect backdrop for a fantastic Quadrennial Convention of Soroptimist International. Soroptimists from all over the world met to hear excellent speakers. Workshops provided the opportunity to share and learn together how to raise awareness, act as advocates and take action in areas as diverse as water management to trafficking of women and children. Twenty Soroptimists from the Yorkshire Region travelled to Sydney including four from SI Harrogate and District.

Suffrage to Flapper in 25 years

Lucy Adlington and Gillian Stapleton demonstrate and entertain.

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Harrogate & District Soroptimists' respect for the Suffragettes increased at our meeting this month, for not only were they passionate in their cause and willing to take the consequences of their actions, but imagine campaigning in tightly laced boned corsets, boned bodices to the dress and boning in the collars to hold the head in a perfect posture. Then of course there was the heavy padded coiffure, the hat and tortuous hatpins. Lucy Adlington and Gillian Stapleton of The History of Wardrobe opened our eyes and ears to the dress and discomfort of the Edwardian lady campaigning for "Votes for Women". With a collection of wonderful snippets from the journals of ladies and gentlemen of the time, we heard how ladies felt and gentlemen perceived us. At the same time we saw the lady in front of us being laced and tightened into under and outerwear, and then encumbered with furs, neck lace, muff, handbag and umbrella.

The 1928 flapper, off to vote, looked very unencumbered, slim and svelte with slender legs. Freedom unfortunately not, for the tightening undergarment is just moving south to slim those hips and thighs.

For more information of the history of costume visit Lucy's website at www.centuryadventures.co.uk

Sharing a Wonderful Evening of Sunshine and Friendship - a visit from SI Arlon
	A beautiful setting overlooking the River Nidd provided the perfect evening to meet up with our friendship link club SI Arlon from Belgium. Our guests enjoyed a busy week with visits to Fountains Abbey, Betty's Tea Rooms in Harrogate and visits to Nidderdale. It provided great opportunity for our friendship link to see and meet with Soroptimists from the Club, Region and Federation.
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A CELEBRATION OF ROMANCE

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Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District prove the adage that everything comes in three's. This summer three members of the club will be getting married. Christobel Spink, Sheree Pickavance and Meriel Sinclair will each be celebrating a special day. Having three club members getting married in the same year is a unique event in the club's history; it is probably a rare event in Soroptimist clubs across the world. The club chose to celebrate the event in style by organising a special 'Evening of Romance' on the 7^th May at the club meeting at the White Hart, Harrogate. Hats were the order of the day, as Buck's Fizz flowed and members entertained us with poems by Pam Ayers through to Shelly on the joys of love and marriage. A Wonderful evening to celebrate a very special event. Click here for more photo's

Nicola presents Chain of Office to Sylvia

Nicola, President Sylvia and President Elect Sue Williams

Vice President Christobel and President Sylvia

Nicola presents Chain of Office to President Sylvia

President Sylvia with Immediate Past President Nicola and President Elect Sue

President Sylvia with Vice President Christabel

Sylvia Purser became the new and first inaugurated President of S I Harrogate and District at the AGM on the 16th April. President Sylvia thanked Immediate Past President Nicola Harding for all her hard work over the last year. President Sylvia then presented Sue Williams and Christabel Spink with the President Elect and Vice President badges of office. The AGM provided the opportunity to hear all the activities that have taken place in the club over the last year. Over £3000 has been raised for various charities. This includes Breakthrough Breast Cancer & Intermediate Technology. The emphasis on fun while taking action and giving service has been a theme throughout the year. Club members have walked to raise money for Missing Miles, Race for Life and a Bicycle Ambulance. Active lobbying of MP Phil Willis to raise awareness of Trafficking resulted in excellent press coverage. Phil Willis continues to inform the club of action taking place in Parliament about trafficking.

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Lighting the Way!

SI Harrogate & District Celebrates 70 years of Soroptimism

Raising funds for Breast Cancer Care and Harrogate Homeless

HOMELESS IN HARROGATE

In memory of Pat Carpenter

S I YORKSHIRE - DOWN UNDER

Sharing a Wonderful Evening of Sunshine and Friendship - a visit from SI Arlon

SI Harrogate & District Celebrates 70 years of Soroptimism
	Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis gave the after dinner address at the Annual Charter Dinner on the 18th October. President Sylvia Purser welcomes the Mayors' from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Ripon. In all over 100 people attended the event held at the White Hart Hotel, Harrogate.