Durham’s Inner Wheel Club held its annual Inter Club Meeting at Ramside Hall Hotel this week. It marked the first official civic engagement for the new Mayor of Durham, Councillor Les Thomson and Mayoress Lucille Thomson, who were guests of honour alongside Lady Elsie Robson.
The celebratory lunch was an opportunity for Inner Wheel Clubs from across the region to join the ladies from Durham along with other women’s organisations from the area including Tangent, the Women’s Institute and the Soroptimists.
Lady Robson was pleased to accept a cheque for £1,400 which was raised by the Inner Wheel Club of Durham over the last year for her husband’s cancer charity. A further £375 was raised on the day through a raffle for a beautiful hand-made quilt.
Vice President of Durham’s Inner Wheel Club, Doris Dobson, presented Lady Robson with the cheque on behalf of President Judith Turner who was sadly unable to attend due to bereavement. The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was Judith’s chosen charity for the year.
Lady Robson said: “I’m very grateful to the ladies of Durham’s Inner Wheel Club for this wonderful donation.
“They were so hospitable and I was very interested to hear how they keep their charitable fund-raising going throughout the year. They have a fantastic feeling of belonging which is very worthwhile and I appreciate their efforts on our behalf.”
Since its launch in March 2008, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised £3.3 million to help find more effective treatments for cancer. The charity funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, which directly benefit cancer patients from across the north east and Cumbria.
Commenting on the Inter Club Meeting, Vice President Doris Dobson, said: “It was a very enjoyable afternoon and we were pleased to have so many ladies join us for our lunch. Our President, Judith Turner, was sadly missing due to bereavement but I think everyone coming together like that would have pleased her more than anything.
“We are proud to support the work of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and it was a pleasure to welcome Lady Robson and the new Mayor and Mayoress of Durham on their first civic engagement too.”
