The sun shone and the flower displays around Harrogate were beautiful. The venue was special and the programme an excellent mix!

Heather Sheerin, our Association President with her Council and Conference Committee really pulled out all the stops. The AGM was informative, there were lots of stalls and all the speakers were inspiring. The variety of entertainment, with a world-class brass band, a school choir and the two ’girls’ leading 400+ ’older girls’ mingling and dancing in an evening of 60s, 70s, and 80s music was not to be missed!

Keynote speakers Angela Rippon and Gill Castle stood out for me. While Angela’s journalist and broadcasting story is more widely known, Gill shared her incredible journey of overcoming PTSD and childbirth injuries that led to stoma surgery in 2011. Despite being medically retired as a front-line police officer and having a significant fear of open water, she became a record-breaking channel swimmer, raising £50,000 for her charity supporting women adapting to stoma surgery or childbirth injuries in the UK and Kenya. So much to think about!

Next year, March 2026, the Conference is in Llandudno – Our clubs are the heart of Inner Wheel but these three days are special, fun, and well worth a glimpse of the bigger Inner Wheel picture. Best wishes, June T.