About Sluice Women
Like many successful enterprises, Sluice Women began almost by accident.
In 2007, following the death of her husband, Jackie Murphy was visited by an old friend, Jan, who belongs to a red hat chapter in Dorset and she suggested that the formation of a Downham chapter would provide new friendships and new ways of socializing. So, Jackie and a few friends talked about the pro’s and con’s of instigating a club where ladies of 50 or more wore distinctive purple dresses with silly red hats and called each other by daft royal titles.
The idea was an instant success!
Jackie – as instigator – became the “Queen” and called herself Drama Queen. She was immediately joined by Ros Turner (Lady Stitchery-Pokery), an invaluable “Vice Queen” and Mim Scott (Madame Mimosa) as Treasurer. We were later joined by Coral Manley (Countess Sew’nSew), who bravely volunteered to be our membership secretary.
From this small beginning in 2007, Sluice Women grew in leaps and bounds and by their first anniversary in 2008 there were over 50 members.
Sluice Women meet regularly on the last Thursday of every month at the Conservative Club in Bridge Street. Members who want a meal arrive at 7pm while those who don’t want to eat come along at 8.00.
Each month we enjoy a lively and entertaining meeting, sometimes with a speaker, or a quiz or other event of interest always leaving time for members to socialise and suggest future events. Future events can be in the form of a trip to the theatre, to the races, the cinema, a garden show, bowling, a meal at a restaurant, etc etc etc. The only limit is the size of our imagination. Sluice Women also have a thriving Book Club, Quiz Team and Bowling team
In 2007, following the death of her husband, Jackie Murphy was visited by an old friend, Jan, who belongs to a red hat chapter in Dorset and she suggested that the formation of a Downham chapter would provide new friendships and new ways of socializing. So, Jackie and a few friends talked about the pro’s and con’s of instigating a club where ladies of 50 or more wore distinctive purple dresses with silly red hats and called each other by daft royal titles.
The idea was an instant success!
Jackie – as instigator – became the “Queen” and called herself Drama Queen. She was immediately joined by Ros Turner (Lady Stitchery-Pokery), an invaluable “Vice Queen” and Mim Scott (Madame Mimosa) as Treasurer. We were later joined by Coral Manley (Countess Sew’nSew), who bravely volunteered to be our membership secretary.
From this small beginning in 2007, Sluice Women grew in leaps and bounds and by their first anniversary in 2008 there were over 50 members.
Sluice Women meet regularly on the last Thursday of every month at the Conservative Club in Bridge Street. Members who want a meal arrive at 7pm while those who don’t want to eat come along at 8.00.
Each month we enjoy a lively and entertaining meeting, sometimes with a speaker, or a quiz or other event of interest always leaving time for members to socialise and suggest future events. Future events can be in the form of a trip to the theatre, to the races, the cinema, a garden show, bowling, a meal at a restaurant, etc etc etc. The only limit is the size of our imagination. Sluice Women also have a thriving Book Club, Quiz Team and Bowling team