Club members avoided the snow for our first speaker meeting of the year and were told of the ‘golden threads’ that led Denise Carson from her native Wales to Kidderminster. A member since 1998, Denise has been President three times, Secretary and currently is the Club’s Programme Action Officer as well as Secretary for the Midland Arden Region Clubs. Her role in Programme Action is very much an extension of her own social awareness, which she attributes to her father’s influence, and determination to help those less fortunate and who suffer social injustice.

Expecting to live in Kidderminster for two years, she finds herself 32 years later having trained in nursing when she joined Lea Castle Hospital, then specialising in psychiatric nursing and opening a new service for Shropshire. Denise also spoke about her journey with her faith which has led her to being an Elder at Baxter United Reform Church which is very satisfying but does present some modern day dilemmas. She chooses to lead services and relates the teachings to real life situations.

Through her involvement with Baxter, Denise is a very active member of the team running the Kidderminster Food Bank. She is the main contact for the Club’s support for Nightstop in Kidderminster and leads our work for Birchen Coppice. There are numerous other organisations locally that benefit from Denise’s enthusiasm and skills – she is a lady that finds it difficult to say ‘NO’ but as she says she is thoroughly enjoying it all and it beats housework!

Our February speaker and supper meeting is on Thursday 21 at La Brasserie Restaurant, Kidderminster at 7.30pm.

For more details regarding the activities and membership of the Club, please email on kidderminstersorop@gmail.com or look at our website link on www.sigbi.org/kidderminster-and-district.