Latest News
Did you see “Trash to Cash” on 2nd December?? If you had, you may have seen the Stourbridge Ladies helping Chrissy raise £350 for Toilet blocks for girls in India, this was the chosen International Charity for Ladies Circle. This was filmed a while ago but was great fun and all in a good cause.
December
How can December come and go without an impromptu visit to the German Markets in Birmingham. This started out very sedately wandering around the stalls and a few pounds spent, but as hunger pangs started to kick in, the food had to be sampled. Of course this then lead to the inevitable glass or two of alcohol. Sometimes, just a suggestion is all it takes for a great night out.
October and November
Well there was lots of laughter and tears when the girls went to see Calendar Girls at Wolverhampton. Plus a bit of flesh on display as expected!!!!
Then it was a chance to have a relaxing girly night in with a make-up demonstration from Virgin Vie where we pick up some good hints and tips. This was great way to get a head start on the Christmas Pressie shopping.
November will go down in history as we decided to do a DIY wine tasting. It all started off very sedate with sparkling rose wine. By the time we had gone through the white and rose wine the level of noise was increasing, and then we still had the red and dessert wine to tackle. All I will say is there were a few bad heads the next day, although a fab night was had by all, including new comers.
News – July & August 2011
During July and August our ladies have been busy promoting Ladies Circle. Julie and Marion held a stall at Stourbridge Carnival where they promoted Ladies Circle along with putting £70 into the Charity fund ‘Brain Tumour’. A good day by all was had by all and great start to the pot!!!!
We met socially in July for an all you can eat Chinese Buffet in, then in August a BBQ where the rain did keep away for a while. Mind you it was more amusing seeing the National President cooking the food holding an umbrella and of course her favourite tipple of White Wine!!!!
You may also have seen Vicky promoting her post as National President in the Stourbridge News, Chronicle and Express and Star.
Upcoming news
September is due to be a very busy month for us all. Sharon has been collecting sponsorship for ‘Brain Tumour’ as she intends jumping out of plane!!! One brave lady – Good Luck.
Then there is the National Presidents Black and White Ball, which has been a fantastic sell out... 450 tickets sold. The ladies from Stourbridge are part of the Ball Committee so will be making sure everything is perfect for all attending.
Forward Planning Proves Productive for our Ladies!!!!
A request to increase membership has been taken very seriously by Stourbridge Circlers.
They have been very ‘productive’ in the last few months and have celebrated the births of three babies in the past three months.
Julie, our Chairman, said ‘We are so very proud, it’s the next generation, but the rest of us hope it’s not catching!’
Kate has had a beautiful baby girl, Constance, whilst Karen and Becky have had boys, Nathaniel and Jack – clearly working side by side with Table to help increase their membership!
So cute!
News – June 2011
In May we held our handover meeting where Julie took over the role as Chairman for this year. We were also pleased to say that Vicky Perry our National President inducted her first member Ballie at the meeting. The first of many for her and us we hope...
Then in June, we held a joint meeting with our Stourbridge Tangent Members for Salmon and Strawberries which was very well attended and enjoyed by all. Julie also invited Francesca who made a speech on behalf of Brain Tumour. This is Julie’s charity for the year and will be raising money for them at various events.
News – May 2011
We are proud to announce that our own Vicky Perry became the new National President of Ladies Circle, Great Britain at the National AGM in Blackpool on Saturday 7th May.
Vicky is delighted to be the new National President of Ladies Circle.
“I’ve been a member of Circle locally for 12 years, and re-launched the new Stourbridge club four years ago. Circle is my passion! We are the best kept secret in the northern hemisphere. My purpose in life is to spread the word that Ladies Circle is the best young women’s club on the planet and I’m shouting it from the rooftops!
My role includes representing Ladies Circle at events in the UK and abroad kicking off with visits to Manchester, Cambridge and Lancashire’
Vicky is also looking forward to hosting the national celebrations of 75 years of Ladies Circle at her President’s ball in Birmingham in September.
Vicky has chosen Parkinson’s UK as the Circle national charity this year.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to raise awareness and vital funds for Parkinson’s’ UK. My grandad, George Woodall, suffered from Parkinson’s and died when I was two. I am fundraising for Parkinson’s UK to help find a cure, because I feel I missed out on so much by not having a grandad around. I’m aiming to raise £20,000. So far we’ve raised £2,000 which is a great start.”
If you spot Vicky driving her ‘I Love Ladies Circle’ car around town, give her a wave.
For more information please see: www.iloveladiescircle.co.uk and www.ladies-circle.org.uk.
Festive Barn Dance
Stourbridge and District Girls were delighted to welcome the National Team to our Area 27 Festive Barn Dance in December. A great way to keep warm as the snow fell outside, we had to call an early end to the evening when someone pointed out that we were in danger of getting snowed in!
More photos in the gallery.
Girls Ride The Big One
Our very own Vicky Perry headed to Blackpool on Friday 24 September to join Ladies Circlers from all over the UK when they rode the Pepsi Max Big One – in their bras and pink tutus – to raise awareness of The Genesis Appeal dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer. The girls weren’t worried about the speed or height of the ride, they were worried about staying in their bras! Luckily, there were no wardrobe malfunctions.
We’d like to congratulate Vicky who also swam a Sponsored Swim for Parkinsons UK after a very busy weekend at the National Council Meeting– swimming in Salford Quays and raising over £2000 for her chosen charity.
Latest News – September 2010
In September a group from Stourbridge Ladies Circle went to “closer to the edge” at Baggeridge Country Park – for a high up adventure.
The afternoon involved a 30 foot high trail, a long Zip wire, and climbing a pole to balance on top as a team, and leaning back holding hands, before “falling” back to rely on a rope descent.
The rain came as everyone reached the highest point, but the smiles didnt stop, even the forced ones!
More photos in the gallery.
Latest News – August 2010
We had a Chocolate Tombola at the Stourbridge Carnival raising money for Barnardos Time for Me project. Thanks to generous circlers, friends and our local Sainsburys for your donations.
The weather didn’t melt the chocolate, and the rain held off until the stand was down, so a good day was enjoyed by us all.
Latest News – June 2010
Adele welcomes New Member Karen to Stourbridge & District Ladies Circle during the Salmon & Strawberry party at Justine’s house.
BREAKING NEWS....Our very own Circler Vicky Perry is National Vice President!!
Our very own Stourbridge Circler has been given the post of National Vice President. A group of us travelled to the AGM in Harrogate in May, and Sharon handed her a wonderful bouquet of flowers from us all to congratulate her on her success!
Latest News – May 2010
Stourbridge Girls are awarded for Doing Something Different.
At the National AGM in Harrogate Sourbridge girls were awarded the Anthony Nolan Prize for “doing something Novel and Different – For inviting the 2009-2010 President – Niki Stocken to skydiving”. (www.bodyflight.co.uk)
We took family and friends for a remarkable afternoon enjoying the experience of “free-fall” without needing to jump out of an aeroplane.
Stourbridge Circle BARE ALL for Channel 4 Embarrassing Bodies Breast Cancer programme
When Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies asked us to get involved with the filming of their breast cancer awareness special we thought ‘why not?’
30 Circlers, Tangent & friends gathered for a ‘Think Pink’ night hosted by the rather gorgeous ‘Dr Christian’.
Circle badges & t-shirts everywhere, we started with a breast cancer quiz – standing on the ‘real’ or ‘falsie’ boobies on the floor depending on our answers.
Then came the hard bit! The TV company had mentioned that they would like to film us learning how to examine our boobs – without our tops on! The caveat being this was going to be done ‘calendar girl’ style (well I had to insist!!).
To our amazement Mandy agreed to be examined on camera by Christian then a dozen other girls volunteered to bare all, BUT hidden behind cake stands & gerberas!
It was a somewhat surreal experience – stood with my circling friends, boobies out, while the cameras did their thing!
This was a great opportunity to raise the awareness of breast cancer.
Watch out for us on Friday (26th Feb) at 9pm for our TV debut!
Ghostly Goings-On In Stourbridge
A ghost hunting trip – great, it’s Halloween – how appropriate, in the underground canal tunnels under Dudley Castle – GULP!
The intrepid Stourbridge Circlers set off on a canal barge to hunt down the spirits of the men, women and children killed in the underground mines of the old Earl of Dudley. These tunnels literally stretch for miles and open out into massive caverns where the lime stone has been taken away.
Although there were no actual sightings, Catherine’s camera stopped working which apparently is a usual occurrence in these tunnels and there were some odd people on the boat!
Trip over, the Stourbridge girls decamped to the pub to calm their nerves!
Latest News – September 2009
The Stourbridge girls have been busy have fun locally and nationally!
June saw a visit from the Ladies Circle National President, Niki Stocken. The French Hen did us proud with fine food, wine and of course we supplied the company! July saw us pottery painting (great try Sharon) and a night out with our sister organisation Tangent. August – always a quiet one – was the annual summer BBQ and this gave us chance to catch our breath for the forthcoming Autumn months!
September kicked off with a trip to Laser Quest. Playing ‘shoot em up’ with the girls was great fun, but not so great when a bunch of boys joined our second game and trounced the lot of us. To make up for it we headed across the road for a much deserved Chinese.
The next day, Vicky took the plunge and went onto Bridge Radio to talk about what a fab organisation circle is.
Our September planning meeting was a great chance to catch up on all of the social and fundraising exploits we’ve been up to and get some more dates in the book. We also welcomed three new members, Faye, Sally & Emily.
Then Sharon, Jill, Julie, Becky & Vicky headed off to Middlesborough for the National Gathering and President’s Ball. CRUK is the national charity of Circle and the council meeting saw the organisation ‘Join the Fight for Women’s Survival’ – the new CRUK campaign. Resplendent in pink a great meeting was had discussing national circle business. 
Business over and off to the President’s Masked Ball! The girls partied the night away to ‘Re Take That’ a band that truly sounded like the real thing – but looked better!!
Having organised the last regional lunch Sharon, Adele, Faye & Vicky decided to head to the North East to join their Regional Lunch. The ‘Art of Friendship’ was the theme and great fun was had drawing our live model Paul! The guest speaker was the slightly wacky professional artist, Beryl Maile who had travelled up from Oxford and I quote “in her shag wag” with her “little Fanny and black Willie”. She had come dressed for the occasion in an amazing red hat which was actually a toilet seat cover!
She kept us entertained with her stories and original innuendos. Beryl made painting look so easy and her completed picture was auctioned, making a staggering £380 for National President Niki Stockens’ charity – The Meningitis Trust.
Latest News – Stourbridge Ladies Circle do lunch – in STYLE! – June 2009
Stourbridge Ladies Circle hosted the annual Midlands and Wales regional lunch at the Copthorne hotel, Merry Hill at the weekend. 110 girls from around the country dressed up in their best frocks and hats and came out to party as only Circlers know how.
Whilst enjoying pre luncheon cocktails, shrieks of laughter filed the room as our ‘butlers in the buff’ walked through the reception area. What pert bottoms they were displaying!!!
The ‘Navy Boys’ then joined us for lunch and despite what everyone thought they were NOT strippers! They were our dinner escorts!!
The main entertainment for the afternoon was the drag queen, Daisy Chainsaw! Daisy got the room on its feet (or the chairs!) singing along to our diva favourites. She had better legs than some of us!
The afternoon was rounded off with our DJ playing top tunes to dance what was left of the afternoon away.
In the midst of all this we also signed up a new member Marion!
Great food, wine, entertainment and company meant this really was the ‘Ultimate Girls Night Out – in the middle of the afternoon!’
Stourbridge Ladies Circle Rowing Team
Four intrepid Stourbridge Circlers decided to field a novice rowing team at the Bewdley Regatta and Fun day on Saturday 30th May.
Jill, Lesley, Becky & Mandy set about weeks of intensive training both in the gym and on the water – none of them ever having rowed before. Duncan the ‘cox’ assured the girls they were good and a potential podium finish was in the offing.
A week before the regatta disaster struck when Mandy ‘caught a crab’. This is the technical term for getting your oar stuck in the water and not being able to move it whilst the boat carries on and you get caught by the oar. Two cracked ribs later, Mandy’s hopes of rowing were dashed and the girls were left without their ‘Bow’ woman.
A last minute replacement was found but the team just couldn’t compete having lost their valuable team member and having to get used to rowing in different positions.
Jill said “I was gutted that we got knocked out in the heats, even thought the other team were awesome. We will be back next year stronger and faster than ever, we’ll give those girls a run for their money”.
Watch this space.
News – December 2008
Where has 2008 gone? A Candle Party, CRUK Think Pink Night in Telford, a trip to see Blood Brothers at the Theatre, the Area get together @ Four Stones Clent, an Indonesian meal & of course the crimbo party!!
Lots of great food eaten, fine wine drunk, new friends made and tons of fun. Roll on 2009...
The Stourbridge Ladies Alternative Slumber Party!!!
Stourbridge Ladies Circle joined others from around the country to enjoy a fabulous ‘girls night in’.
Stourbridge however opted for a slumber party with a difference. The girls donned their pyjama’s on Friday and settled down for the evening in the shop windows of Kashoff Beds in Stourbridge.
Thirteen ladies enjoyed wine, pop corn & chick flicks whilst waving at the traffic on the Hagley Road. They were supported by the chaps from Round Table who stood in the cold collecting money for Mary Stevens Hospice. A fantastic £200 was raised from the event.
What a great night!!!
News – August 2008
The summer months have flown by and despite the weather we still managed to have a BBQ, play croquet at Himley and go canoeing!!
Further afield, Jill ventured off to Bromsgrove for a Scalextric night and upheld the honour of Stourbridge with a podium finish of second and a medal. She then hot-footed it to Bicester for an ‘Aunt Sally’ competition, having met the girls at the 1st birthday bash.
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A crowd of us went to the annual regional luncheon, this year hosted by Wales in Chepstow. Ascot has got nothing on our crowd!! We were entertained by ‘Dean Martin’ and had a really great afternoon.
The highlight of the month must be the trip to Ladies Circle International. Every year Circlers from around the world gather in exotic places such as India, Estonia... this year Aberdeen for a right good party. The Scottish girls did us proud and we had a ‘Highland Fling’. The four day gathering includes a welcome party, gala dinner, home parties and last but definitely not least, the parade. Aberdeen was amazed by 600 circlers in national dress parading through the town centre. We’re Circlers and proud of it!!!
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If you would like to see more of what we are up to Stourbridge Ladies Circle is now on face book. Sign up and take a look.
News – April 2008
April has come and gone and we’ve had a great month.
AGM season is upon us and Stourbridge Circle enjoyed the culinary delights of the Bell & Cross in Clent. Jo took over the Chair for the forthcoming year and we welcomed four new members to join us.
The new group has not only survived this year but we have thrived.
Also this month a few of us decided to go and get involved in Trinny & Susannah’s Great British Body experiment.
The fun started at the Birmingham Town Hall where we were all weighed, measured and got to explore what we liked and didn’t like about our bodies. Trinny & Susanna were great and looked as good in the flesh as they do on TV. There were all sizes and shapes at the event including the current Miss England competitors and a troup of Morris Dancers (!?!?!?!). Watch out for us on the forthcoming TV series!
Unfortunately we only managed to get a picture with the cardboard Trinny & Susannah but as you can see a great day was had by all and well worth making the effort to spend the day in Birmingham.
The month wrapped up with the West Midlands Area AGM in Wolverhampton. These get togethers are great for catching up with old mates from other groups and making new ones too! Sharon & Cath have stepped up again to help run area this year. Well done girls.
Well that’s the first year over for the NEW Stourbridge & District Circle. We look forward to many more great nights out and of course our 1st birthday bash in June.
