Region President Wendy’s Blog
August Bank Holiday Weekend a trip to Scotland to spend some time with my youngest son. We visit the countryside just north west of Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Loch Long and Gare Loch. Camilla Duchess of Cornwall was there too, commissioning a nuclear submarine The Astute at Faslane. We then went on to visit the Hill House at Helensburgh. It is a fascinating house built at the beginning of the 20th century for the Blackie family (the famous publisher) by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. On Saturday we took the train to Edinburgh to see the fringe activities on the Royal Mile.
August 15th I take break from gardening and join fellow Sorops on a Fal River Boat trip from Truro to Falmouth and back to Malpas, what better way to spend a summers Sunday afternoon.
Saturday August 14thYo Yeo is worse and I take him for his last trip to the vet who is very kind. We find a nice spot in the garden to bury the cat.
Yo-Yeo our ederley cat has virtually topped eating, we have been to the vet but he is unable to help.
August 12th, The club holds another quiz night, this time Bevereley was quiz mistress. I am part of the 3 Spires Team, Carolyn, Fiona & Alan, we came our usual second place. We made a lot of silly mistakes but would never have challenged the winners.
Sunday August 8th a change of route, this time as I head up the A39 for 85 miles to have a BBQ lunch with SI Taw & Torridge. It was held at the lovely home of Susie McCrum in the village of Bradiford. I took great interest in the garden of course. I have a special relationship with T&T as I visited them before they were even chartered and is nice to see them doing so well after 5 years. I met joint Presidents Lyn and Linda and old friends Founder President Angela (looking good) and her family, Caroline Chugg and two new members. It was glorious weather so after lunch we needed a dip in the pool.
Susie’s dog has a clever trick, not a dog with two tails, but a dog with two balls.
August 5th Thursday evening finds me at Bath Racecourse with SI Bath for a picnic before watching the races. Situated on Landsdown Hill, it is the highest racecourse in Britain, it is known for being intimate, relaxed and friendly and very cold even in August! Not many winners only Janet Diffell made a profit, she managed to recover her entrance charge, as befits a Treasurer I suppose. I had supper with President Gillian, the Club Vice President, their husbands and friends from Cyprus. Gillian and Mike also kindly gave me a bed for the night too, I was up and away early on Friday morning to get back to Cornwall and work before the roads got too busy.
Picking a winner with Gillian?
August 3rd a working lunch with Club Secretary Sue before she heads off to Spain for a holiday. We work our way through the Federation mailings sorting out what is really important.
AUGUST 1st Just a Sunday afternoon drive up the A30 M5 to Taunton to the home of SI Taunton President Christine Briggs for a walk around the pretty village of Staplegrove. It stopped raining as I left Cornwall. It was very pleasant weather for a walk and nice sunshine for delicious cream tea and cakes in Christine’s back garden. Her son made an exceedingly good carrot cake, The event was really well supported by club, friends and family. I was able to network quite well meeting up with some old friends and making new contacts.
July 24thThe club has a pitch at the Pirate FM Garden Party , something I have hoped we could organise to raise our profile in the county. Ailie and the new PA Committee accepted the challenge and we put on a fine display. Proving again what a small world it is, I bumped into Plymouth Soroptimist Mayne Hopkins. She was President of SI Plymouth in 96/97 when I was President of SI St Austell. Today she was at Wadebridge representing the Devon & Cornwall Lupus Group. I have a special interest in Lupus.
July 20th, and the weather lets me down. A severe weather warning is given out for the South West. I have been invited to join SI Bridgwater for a BBQ in the pretty garden of the beautiful home of Beryl and Philip Pyne in the Somerset levels. I went there many years ago 1996, I think, when I was club president, I remember the sun shone. I drove up to Taunton after morning surgery, had lunch, then a stroll around Hestercombe Gardens as I missed seeing them last year when the AGM was held there. It didn’t actually rain. On to Fordgate and I meet up with joint Presidents Jean and Pat. I managed to chat to various club members in between the showers. Jean was very brave, only having had a hip op 2 weeks previously. We sheltered under gazebos and ate some lovely food provided by the members and the BBQ meat from Philip. Optimistically there was Pimms to drink but as I was driving home I stuck to the fruit cup. A 275 miles round trip and I was home by 11.15.
July 15th Andrew hosts our visit to Bodmin airirfield, the weather is dreadful, so no flghts but we get the tour of the hangar, the talk and the supper.
JULY 13th The club PR committee meets over lunch, we are always looking for opportunities for publicity. The Bra collection and Pirate FM Garden Party stand are top of the agenda. Great news from Caroline that we will be in Women & Home in September or October. It is at this meeting that I first hear about the sudden death of John Vian, so very sad.
RACE for LIFE Truro Sunday 11th July. I am a finish line volunteer, actually getting to hold the tape with my new friend Mary from Truro Lions. All the Lions were very friendly and we worked as a team. I wore my badge and they had heard of Soroptimists and Jenny one of the Race organisers remembered the Sorops (favourably) from Eden. Club member Jean Oswald came through and I presented her with her goody bag. The T-shirts are a hideous colour this year!
Saturday 10th July UKPAC STUDY DAY Reading. Because of the distance I leave home at 8pm on Friday, sleep at mothers at Winscombe and up at 6.30am to get back on the Motorway. The University was tricky to find as there were considerable road works at J11 and the Sat Nav didn’t have a clue. The meeting started at 10.00 am, over 200 keen and committed Sorops. I met up with lots of old friends. Hilary R, Margaret Cook, Ann Dawson and Pat Black. There were a lot from our Region, Region Rep Ann Lamswood, Bath, Brixham, Barnstaple, Cheltenham, Jersey, Yeovil & Weston at least. The day before, one of the keynote speakers and one of the workshop leaders cancelled, but being Sorops, they just moved things around and filled in. The main theme was VAWSIN Violence against Women Stop it Now. I most impressed by the girls from Stop the Traffic, they had a slightly different slant on trafficking, broadening the subject, not just sex workers but Nigerian nannies, east european farm workers, Bangladeshi boys in curry houses, the Vietnamese boys trafficked to grow cannabis and girls in nail bars! The message was that communities should be aware that is happening and report such things to the authorities and Sorops can help raise awareness. Leaving at 4.30 there was very little traffic and I was home by 9pm. 526 miles!
JULY 8th I attend the disabled parking day photo opportunity,good to see both spaces are being used.
Sunday JULY 4th Alan kindly offers to take me to Cirencester, a 390 mile round trip, for lunch. I don’t know this part of the Region very well but I recognise a few familiar faces. President Margaret Rickman had invited her son in Law Nick Harvey MP to be the after lunch speaker. He is a Liberal democrat and is now the Minister for Armed Forces. We stop off on the way home to visit mother in Winscombe.
I had run out of space on the website because of all the photos, Sally at Federation Office has given me some more megabites so I can carry on!
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Alan arrives with my posh frock at 6pm and at 7pm we go down to have our photos taken with the VIP’s. My daughter kate and son in law Dan are our guests. The older Sorops remember when she was born. I love my dress and feel good in it, it came from Caroline’s shop and I have been waiting for such an occasion to wear it. The dinner was great fun, we sat with Sue and Ralph, he gave a very good toast, nicely tailored to the audience. Jackie on my left responded in her now professinal manner. We were able to interact with Brenda who was nearby. After speeches, singing and dancing we had drinks with Andrew, Kay, Brenda & Carole till 1.30am before staggering to bed.
On my walk I meet up with some VIP Sorops Jackie, Sue and Mary
After checking into my seaview room, I go out to explore and wind down. I meet members of SI Brixham having a pot of tea and an ice cream by the hotel’s outdoor pool. I join them for a chat after a swim in the pool. Then I take a stroll down to the crowded Fistral beach for a paddle. I am delighted to see that dogs are allowed on the beach, most of them are cooling down by enjoying a swim too.
Fistral beach 
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And on the top table, Region Secretary Jackie Webb, President Wendy, Region Treasurer Vanessa Billing.
Saturday 26th June 2010,the day Kay and I began planning 2 years ago finally arrives. The weather is glorious the hotel looks magnificent with its red brick and fantastic cliff top setting. The club members all have their jobs and I leave them all to get on with it. Libby has been superb and is control of everything. The goody bags are bulging with intetesting and useful things. The AGM goes well, Carol Jennings and Federation President Jackie deliver, lunch is good. The afternoon speakers really kept everyone awake, so different in their topics but both passionate about their jobs, Xenia is a real live wire and very funny. The Prof manages to make dentistry interesting and present dentists as sympathetic human beings.
Friday 25th June, the dogs go into kennels for the weekend and Federation President Jackie arrives to share supper and catch up and a bed for the night.
June 18/19/20th our old friend George came to stay for the weekend.We were all at King’s College Dental School together with his late wife who was also a soroptimist. We shared the misery of the England Algeria no score draw. Saturday we had a walk with the dogs around Predannack and Mullion Cove, then a stroll to the top of Godolphin Hill to eat our pasties listening to a cuckoo. Sunday was a bit more energetic both for us and the dogs and it was an even hotter day. We did a circular walk starting at Lamorna Cove along the cliffs, past Tater du Lighthouseand down onto St Loy’s Cove. It was tough on the greyhound. with her bad leg and tiny paws she found negotiating the boulders pretty tricky- think stilletto heels. She had to be lifted over all the stiles! We went on to Tregiffian Burial chamber which dates back to an astonishing 3000BC and the nearby Merry Maidens gearing up for the summer solstice. Father’s Day lunch was taken at the Lamorna Wink Inn!
PORTHPEAN - but not the golf club this time. The club had been invited to a croquet evening. We were shown how to do it by a very nice lady called Pat. Alan and I played against Joan and John Hermes, To keep things friendly we stopped at 7 all, the men as always were very competitive. I forgot to get someone to take my picture, so here is Ann looking as if she has played it all her life!
TUESDAY JUNE15th a trip to the Novotel Marsh Mills Plymouth for a membership meeting with FMB member Margaret Oldroyd, and Region Officers Mary, Irene and Penny.
SI JERSEY 60th Anniversary Friendship weekend- June 11th 12th & 13th.
It was great to have Kay and Andrew along to share the weekend. Andrew was all ready to fly the plane if needed and was not impressed with the bumpy landing in Jersey. Kay and I were glad to have our chains around our necks at the reception at the Governor’s place as there were a lot of medals and posh focks on show. Plenty of free drinks for all! The 21 gun salute was a bit of a shock. Afterwards we had supper in the parish hall nearby, it was prepared and served by the WI, I can’t image that happening the other way round. Joint Presidents Carole and Janet had worked hard to get everything just right. We had lovely food, more free drinks, soroptimist chocolates and they had even produced some fun soroptimist table mats. Saturday morning everyone gathered in the gardens for a photo shoot next to the Club’s floral display. It has only just been planted so it will be few weeks before you can read SI Jersey 1950-2010 in flowers. Kay and I took a taxi, she couldn’t walk there in her heels! Alan and Andrew found a pub and watched the rugby. The rest of the day was shopping, lunch and a sleep by the hotel pool. In the evening two coaches took all the guests to a fabulous bayside restaurant, the Boat House at St Aubin, the celebrity chef is called David Cameron (no not him), the food was magnificent. We were on the top table, I was next to an SI Jersey President (they swapped over after the main course) and Mrs Ridgway the wife of His Excellency. She is just plain Mrs. Alan was at the other end of the table with the glamerous Joy, the proposer of the Toast to SI. and the other President. Federation President Jackie was there too, His Excellency keeps bees, so they had a lot to talk about. I didn’t have to do anything, it was just more food and drink, meeting old friends and making new ones. Again the President’s had thought of everything the menu card was decorated with a diamond, every guest had a gift, there were musicians playing in the background and the football score was relayed to the anxious guests. The evening finished with a firework display! After a Sunday morning lie in, and the sun still shining, Alan and I had a stroll around St Helier before were collected and taken to St Ouens Bay for lunch and a walk on the beach with Celia and her dog and a lift back to the airport. We noticed that the lady frisking the women passengers was the same one who had been our driver when we arrived! Andrew had trouble getting through security and after a delay with the flight, we were finally home at 9.30pm, our couple of days felt like two weeks but we had a great time and can’t thank SI Jersey enough for their friendship and hospitality.
June 3rd Club business meeting. Beth demonstrating her Ta Kwon Do gives me the chance to take an action shot. The last meeting before the AGM/Conference & Annual Dinner on the 26th, so much to organise and we want to get it it right. I hope the club will turn up in full force and enjoy the day and that a lot of delegates from all over the Region come too, it is a day for the Region after all.
I put in a plea for members to wear their name badgesat Business meetings and a Soroptimist badge when they are doing things, like at the Race for life, collecting for the Red Cross & Precious Lives. I think the point got lost as it descended into a discussion about if and how much we should fine members for not wearing one!
I also tell the club about IOMInfant Oral Mutilation and the Dentaid campaign to discourage it. www.dentaid.org 
My garden, the iris bed is looking at its best.
JUNE 1st, the second meeting of the new club sub committee for public relations, we meet over lunch, very civilised, very pleasant. We have lots of ideas, for raising the profile of the club. The business cards are approved and should be ready to distribute at the June BM.
May 20th, Club visit to Churchtown Farm Lanlivery, The club visited many, many years ago , but we were really impressed with the facilities they have to offer now and Gabby who is in charge and showed us around was delightful. Good job they can cope with any disablitity, we didn’t exactly look like the vibrant dynamic organisation we claim to be with all those walking sticks in evidence!
May is the month for the Du Maurier Festival in Fowey. This year I went to an audience with June Whitfield and a talk by Alison Bevan, Director of the Penlee House Gallery & Museum Penzance on Dame Laura Knight. She was a really good speaker, might be useful for the club?
The main spire of Truro Cathedral is covered in scaffolding as a lot of the stonework needs repair. It still looks magnificent even with its blue cladding.
Nether Stowey 15th May, my 3rd Region meeting.I met with Hilary Ratcliffe on Friday night, we are old friends from UKPAC days, we watched the 20/20 cricket Australia v Pakistan then had supper together and caught up on our lives since we last met. The meeting went very well, again all the clubs in the region were represented. Hilary was a star, I knew she would be, she was my secret weapon. No one even thought of nodding off after lunch, she kept them hanging on her everyword, even the IT worked and she made us all feel that what we do is really worthwhile, is noticed and does make a difference and not to worry about the WI, the logo, the name, incorporation, the constitution and all that other stuff. Just remember that we are an International Women’s organisation working to improve the lives of Women and girls worldwide.
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A bit of light relief, a girls night out with family and Sorops to see Calendar Girls at the Hall for Cornwall Truro.
kristy has not after all broken her leg, just ligament damage, rest is rescribed and walks on a lead.
MAY 9th 2010 Kristy my retired Greyhound breaks her leg, so Ben the Boxer comes with me on the Race for life in Falmouth. Jo and Mary and Monty the Bichon came too. It was a lovely day and the coastal route is beautiful. We had a pleasant stroll and chat and continued the Soroptimist tradition of having a picnic afterwards. Jo’s friend Pauline came too for the trip out, but didn’t take part in the race. I ‘raced’ for Lynn Dunning 
April 27th, the first meeting of the new club sub-committee for Public Relations. We met at the newly opened The Cornwall Hotel in St Austell for lunch. Our verdict was that the decor and furnishing were beautiful but the service and food needs to improve. The meeting room only seats 20 so it is not likely that we will use the hotel for events, even if we could afford it. We shared our ideas for getting maximum publicity for the club.
April 24th Another excuse for a new oufit, the New President’s Evening at Kingswood. Alan and I were on the top table. The food was very good. Kay had invited Marion Richards who had been one of her sponsors, it was nice to see her again, I always got on well with her. The representatives from the Mermaid Centre were also on our table and Sarah gave a very interesting talk. I think this President’s Charity will be very well supported, breast cancer affects so many. I was surprised to hear that only about 50% respond to the invitation for their first mammogram appointment and it’s free! The photo is of the Maids from the Mermaid.
April 22nd Club AGM, Barbara hands over to Kay. I am really lucky to have such nice, enthusiastic and conscientious women as Club Presidents durimg my year of office. Looking at the club accounts when I got home, I realised how much money we had donated last year, on top of the £3000 to The Radio Cornwall Appeal, a further £3000 went to other Charities. We supported all the SI & SIGBI ones. Individual members as Soroptimists also raised over £2000 for Charities such as Shelterbox, the Hospice and Breast Cancer charities. It is a pity that the Programme Action report had not been read out at the meeting as well as being sent out in advance. Members forget how much we had done in the year and PA is our reason to be here. It was funny seeing Kay stepping into choir mistress mode as she taught us to sing the grace for Saturday and the Charter Dinner.
April 18th Grand Tea Party for the SIGBI £75 for 75 appeal. I offered my house for the fundraising event for Federation President Jackie’s appeal that each club celebrate SIGBI’s 75th Anniversary by holding a Tea Party, Daphne and Jean organised everything, Alan and I just had to get the house clean and the garden tidy and Alan had to get the dogs out of the house for the afternoon. It was a glorious day tea party was really well attended with the members looking fabulous in their best hats.
EASTER 2010 We attended Club member Brenda’s 60th birthday party, there was a lovely mix of Soroptimists, golfers, guiders, church friends and neighbours. We have known Brenda and Carole for over 30 years, Carole Gardner is a another founder member. Easter Mondy we walked the 7mile Goss Moor Trail, a bit bleak.
March 18th Almost the final event of President Barbara’s year, where has that time gone? After a fine supper at the Bosuns Diner in Charlestown, Barbara Presented a’ big’ cheque for £3000 to Daphne Skinnard, she had to leave early so I was asked to draw the winning raffle tickets.
SOROPTIMIST NEWS My copy of the March issue has arrived, delighted to see one of the photos that I took is on the front cover. Sheila has used many more to illustrate the write up on the trip andthechartering of the new clubs, she promised to make some acknowledgement, but I can not find anything in the magazine, shame! I have sent copies of the magazine onto my mother, my boys and my soroptimist friendConnie in Florida, andEllen my friend in Denmark,
Sunday March 7th SI Bristol Lunch. I travelled up to Nailsea with President Barbara (the driver), Fiona and Carolyn (ladies in waiting) on a sunny but very cold day. On the top table were President Sue Perry, Mrs Mary Prior , Lord Lietenant of the County and City of Bristol andher husband, Guest Speaker Andrea Leeman, cookery and food writer Federation President Jackie Mosedale, President Elect Sally Tullett of SI Bristol andher husband.
FEBRUARY 2010 SI PLYMOUTH & DISTRICT 80th Anniversary Dinner.
The Guests- Baroness Janet Fookes, Federation President Jackie Mosedale, The Lord Mayor of the City of Plymouth andhiswife (wearing the diamonds), SI Plymouth President Marjorie Sayer and me!
FEBRUARY 2010 My mother’s 90th birthday, not a Soroptimist event, but a big day for me and the family.
FEBRUARY 2010 Region Meeting Taunton, Kate Moore MBE Director of Membership addressed the meeting. She covered topics from Landmine Action, the Cluster Munition Coalition and their change of direction to a call for a ‘reduction of armed violence’. Kate was part of the SI delegation to the DPI/NGO Conference in Mexico City in October 2009, the theme was For Peace and Development : Disarm now. She spoke too on membership issues, such as the way members sometimes behave inappropriately to one another. She too had been disappointed by the conduct and result of the Cardiff AGM and members were pleased to hear this year there will more time allotted for the AGM, the whole of Friday afternoon and our opinions will be heard. Kate spent some time explaining the ‘Proposals on the Future Mangement of the Federation’ that has recently gone out to clubs from Margaret Oldroyd. Kate also started the Soroptimist Chatline, she was asked what she did in her spare time!
Like me Kate has been a Soroptimist for just over 30 years and has enjoyed every moment of her membership ( well almost all ). In the 80’s she spent some time working in Cornwall as the dairy in Lostwithiel was closed. She remembers attending SI St Austell club meetings, later she worked in Barnstaple and joined that club for a time.
FEBRUARY 2010
The photo shows Subha Kumar and Founder President Nisha Ghosh of SI Pune Gateway, Subha works for an Envionmental Charity, the International Climate challenge, managed in Indiaby the Centre for Development Education and sponsored by Barclay’s. She is involved in Gardens for Life which promotes partnerships between schools, in Cornwall, Kenya and Pune. It is co-ordinated here in the UK by the Eden Project and Subha has travelled each June to Cornwall staying at Charlestown and visiting local schools. Maybe this June she can visit our club?
This photo is of one of the elderly residents of Shivganga Senior Citzen’s home, the Pune Metro club helps by proviing extra nutritious food. I gave her a late of food.
The other picture show me with a group of school girls who welcomed us and later danced for us during our visit to Kolke Village. A whole programme had been devised for our entertainment entitled ‘Women Awake, Arise and Act Programme’. Watching the village women in their beautiful saris going back to their village in a cattle truck with a bag of rice, lentils anda length of fabric was a humbling experience. We followed them back to a typical village, down a rough track, a pump for water , no sanitation, and roughly made huts. SI Bombay North’s dream is to built a Communiy hut and toilet block for them.
We also had an inteesting day with President Pushpa of SI Pune, visiting Sangise School developed in 2006 by the club and the LokhandeTrust, with an orphanage for 28 children on site. The school is building a reputation and results continue to improve. We were invited to dig hole with a pick axe to begin the building for the new orphanage. Pushpa arranged for me to visit her dentist -for a chat. Later I was able to have much needed hot shower in her beautiful flat. Some young ladies arrived for henna painting, most of had our hands done , but one Turkish/German sorop had her shapely calf decorated.
JANUARY 2010
Travelling to India to visit the projects under taken by the clubs in Bombay and Pune was a unique ‘Soroptimist Experience’. wherever we went we were treated as special guests, wonderful hospitality and generosity. Jackie was there to Charter two new clubs SI Gateway South and SI Pune Metro East. There was a large gathering of Sorptimists from other clubs in India, from Europe, Dutch, Swiss and German clubs who have friendship links, Danish Sorops with International President Hanne. NASI Extension Officer Annette Mascerenhas was our hostess and masterminded the programme for the visiting Sorops and the two Charter ceremonies a tremendous acheivement by a very nice lady, who never lost her equanimity. 
My trip to India with Federation President Jackie has been confirmed, passport and visa, flight tickets ready to depart on January 26th to Mumbai. The following message was sent out to clubs on 19th January 2010
Dear Clubs , I am sure you will be interested to learn that I have been fortunate to be invited to join Federation President Jackie on one of her overseas visits (don’t worry, I am paying my own way!!) We fly to Mumbai on Monday 25thJanuary as guests of SI North Bombay. Our itinerary includes visits to their projects, a toy library, a crèche and a nutrition programme in a school. Also planned are visits to the tribal areas, to a centre for terminally ill HIV/AIDS patients, new toilet blocks in the villages and a scheme where over 300 women take bead jewellery classes. I shall be present at the Chartering of two new Clubs SI Bombay Gateway and SI Pune. I will convey to them best wishes from all of us here in the South West and Channel Islands Region. I have a small gift for each club. You can be sure that I shall be taking my camera and will report at the February meeting and on our Region Website, yours in friendship Region President Wendy
Dressed for the conditions in early January 2010, Region President Wendy andKristy the greyhound.
December 20th, a walk in King’s wood and a check on our ‘Soroptimist seat’, placed in 1989.
December 17th our Club Christmas party, this year was held in the unusual but totally appropriate venue of St Blazey Church. Warm ,welcoming and decorated for Christmas. We had great food, a quiz (our team won) andcarols. I was disappointed that Gary Tucker ( my favourite tenor) could not make it this year to sing with sister Kay, however nephew James was more than an adequte replacement!
Club December Business meeting, As our Club President was not available, I got to welcome a new member to our club, our third this year. We hope our new members will come bursting with new ideas and that they will like us. 
Hotel Bristol Sunday 22nd November A really big day for me and the club - our Annual Lunch andIhave to respond to the Toast to Soroptimist International proposed by Lion Jim Jiwa. We have close links with the Lions and I have known Jim for many years. Sue and Ralph Curr were also on the top table so it was a really friendly affair. The club members were out in force andit was good to see our two most recent members present with their husbands and visitors from other clubs in the Region. A great day and I didn’t have far to travel!
My first Region meeting in Taunton Saturday 14thNovember, I invited an old friend, Margaret Cook, from my UKPAC days to be a speaker. Margaret from SI Ilkley drove down on Friday night to Taunton andI had an equally dreadful journey through wind and rain up to Taunton. We had a very nice supper, catching up on personal things and putting the world to rights over a bottle of wine. As an SI Officer Margaret spoke about the Strategic plan and how it will affect clubs. She will be closely involved in the organisation and introduction of the long term plan which is hoped will raise the profile of Soroptimist International. I presented Norna with her IPP badge and gift from the clubs and badges to President Elect Mary & Vice President Shirley.
My first function, to join SI Brixham at their dinner, a visit to the Harbour to see the mosaic celebrating 60 years of SI Brixham 
The Change of Insignia Ceremony was hugely enjoyable, glittering is an apt adjective. The South West and Channel Islands were seated at tables near to the stage and cheered loudly when Norna, Jackie andI were on the stage. I was very fortunate to be invited to sit for the banquet with Jackie and her family, International President Hanne, SIA President Cathy, SIE President Elaine, Past Federation President Jane Barrie and Federation Vice President Maureen Maguire. What a wonderful opportunity that was!