The Club's November speaker was Keith Turley who spoke on his artistic work painting numerous portraits of entertainers and comedians and has over the past 20 years been providing the Heritage Foundation with works for their commemorative events raising money for good causes. It all started with a portrait of Tony Hancock exhibited at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading. The Hancock Society in Birmingham then commissioned a number of portraits which were sold to raise funds for the Society.

Other popular entertainers and comedians captured by Keith on canvas include Norman Wisdom, Les Dawson, Leslie Phillips, Frankie Howerd, The Goons and Morecombe & Wise, to name a few. He has provided illustrations for a book on Dad's Army and tries to capture something a bit different from the stock images often associated with celebrities. Keith recounted the occasions he mixed with the stars and saw a very different side of the entertainment world, including selling raffle tickets to 'Darth Vader'. Recently he has been painting portraits of people in their work environment or in interesting settings. Judging from the pictures Keith bought along to illustrate his talk, he has a real skill in being able to capture the animation and expressions that make up an individual's personality bringing the portrait alive.

Kidderminster Club members welcomed amongst their guests, Mayor of Kidderminster Councillor Anne Hingley, Soroptimist Midlands Regional President Ruth Longville, and Presidents of Stourbridge and West Birmingham Clubs, Anne Middleton and Mary McCurry together with members from their Clubs.

Joint President Shirley Bonas said: 'We were delighted to welcome our guests, especially Councillor Anne Hingley who took time out from her busy schedule to join us and learn more about our activites during the evening. We always enjoy the company of our sister Soroptimists from neighbouring clubs'.

The Club's Christmas Supper is on Thursday 15 December at La Brasserie Restaurant, Kidderminster at 7.30pm. The next speaker meeting will be in the New Year on Thursday 19 January 2012, when Joint President Stephanie Ainsley will welcome Hannah Escott who will be recounting her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar.

Visitors and guests are always welcome and for more details regarding the activities and membership of the Club please email on kidderminstersorop@gmail.com or look at our website link on http://sigbi.org