Cumbrian group says goodbye after 64 years in community

It was announced earlier this month that Penrith Soroptimists, a group which has raised awareness, lobbied and made a difference for women and girls at home and abroad since 1961.

The group held an EGM on Thursday, March 14 2024, and unfortunately, members felt they were no longer able to dedicate the necessary time and resources. 

However, they will continue to maintain the coronation garden in Penrith, while they will also help to produce the Eden District Talking Newspaper every five weeks. 

On Sunday, April 21, members from soroptimist groups across the north of England met at the Roundthorn Hotel to pay tribute to the work done in Penrith since 1961.

Former club secretary Pat Newsham said: "It was a really nice day. We had over 60 people there, with representatives from all the 12 clubs in the northern region. That was really good, the fact that people had turned out from every club to be with us and support us.

"Everybody seemed very happy to be there, we had a lot of former members. People travelled quite a distance, and it was lovely to see old friends and new. We had photographs of all the programme action work we've done and display boards with other information.

"We were absolutely delighted that people made the effort to come and it shows that Penrith club has always been held in high esteem, which is really nice to know."

Remaining club funds were distributed to various charities across Cumbria and the UK, including Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, Refuge at Carlisle and Kendal, Eden District Talking Newspaper, Tiny Lives Trust, Eve Appeal and Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust, while regalia and memorabilia will showcase their work over the past six decades in Penrith Museum. 

Pat added: "Our regalia will all be going to the museum, together with lots of the photograph albums. They said they'd be happy to have it, we feel that is really nice, because we're staying in Penrith."