PRESIDENT of Ilkley Soroptimists Lynne Frisby, a former Leeds social services centre manager, is heading up the club's planning to celebrate their 80th anniversary.

Established in March 1944, the club has attracted a cross section of women, from the UK's first partnership of women solicitors to the first black matron. Regionally, members are still actively involved in the campaign against modern slavery, domestic abuse and helping vulnerable women through the Together Women Project based in Bradford. Through Soroptimist International, Ilkley has had representatives attend the UN on the Status of Women and has well developed projects and friendship links with other Soroptimist clubs on five continents. Fun and friendship will be at the core of the celebratory year.

President Lynne hopes the community will both enjoy and support some of the events planned in the coming year. A Garden Wander of eight gardens in Ben Rhydding is on Saturday (July 1) from 1pm to 5pm. Tickets, stalls and cream teas are available from St John’s Church Hall, Ben Rhydding. The Garden Wander is in aid of Zarach, a Leeds charity committed to helping children and families who are living in poverty crisis.

Famous Women from Bradford is the title of the speaker meeting on July 13 at 7.30pm in the Clarke Foley Centre. Ilkley’s International Friendship Weekend is planned for April 2024. President Lynne welcomes anyone to come along to a speaker meeting, to find out what we do, or simply to support a particular event contact soroptimistilkley@gmail.com.