SI Barry and District

The Money Path

On Thursday 22nd March, members of SI Barry and District created a money path on King Square in Barry in order to raise awareness of World Water Day. Passers by were encouraged to place a coin on the money path.

Members were joined throughout the day by the Regional Programme Action Officer,the Deputy Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan and the Barry Town Mayor and her consort.

Club President Judy James welcomed a group of 6th form pupils from Bryn Hafren school who engaged enthusiastically with members of the public, explaining the major problems experienced by developing countries in their quest for accessing clean water.

Support from the public was excellent and a total of £275 was raised for Water Aid.

The event received excellent coverage in the local press raising the profile of Soroptimist International and Water Aid

Celebration of the Centenary of Wales’ greatest female composer - Grace Williams

Three members of SI Barry & District joined the steering group set up by the Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, Councillor Margaret Alexander, to plan a weekend of celebrations to mark the Centenary of Grace Williams (1906-1977), who is seen as Wales' greatest female composer.

Grace was born in Barry and returned to live there in her later years, using the sea and her love of Welsh culture as the inspiration for much of her music.

When it was suggested that an exhibition on her life and work be put together members of SI Barry rose to the challenge and undertook many hours of hard work researching evidence and collecting artefacts.

The result was a very successful exhibition, officially opened by the Mayor, which ran for three weeks in the town library. At the end of June the exhibition transferred to the Gregynog Festival near Newtown in Powys.

At the instigation of Jane Hutt, Welsh Assembly Member for the Vale of Glamorgan, the exhibition will transfer to the National Assembly of Wales’ new debating chamber, The Senydd, in November.

The opening of the exhibition at The Senydd, will include a special reception which will be attended by invited guests including members of SI Barry & District. It is hoped to raise the profile of Grace Williams, a woman in a largely male dominated profession.

Grace Williams was featured as Composer of the Week on Radio 3 in August.