From left: Julia Lewis, Sarah Endersby, Lorraine Reed-Wenman, Emma Watson, Alison Fremantle, Heather McIntyre.
From Emma Watson, Middlesex News editor
The March 2022 issue of Middlesex News marks the 33rd issue since I took over production of our monthly newsletter from Lorraine in May 2019. I couldn’t believe Lorraine would be editing the newsletter while carrying out the duties of Chair—so raised my hand to help out. It’s been a journey!
Whilst you see Lorraine’s Chair’s Chat each month, she is there behind each issue with ideas, checking and proofreading, and most of all providing much-appreciated moral support without fail, when we’ve both been busy with other commitments or occasional flagging energy at deadline time.
Thank you so much Lorraine for your support, friendship and (never-ending!) humour as we piece together this l’il archive of activities of our Federation. It’s been a joy to work with you on it and whilst I will miss our little team, I feel certain you will enjoy a break from this aspect of your MFWI role. Thank you, and best wishes Lorraine!
From Sarah Endersby, MFWI Treasurer
When the 2018 MFWI Annual Council meeting finished, and the Board of Trustees met to vote in a new chair, little did we know what a challenging role Lorraine would be taking on.
During her tenure as chair, a new technology, Microsoft 365, has been introduced, to make our roles more streamlined, new trustees encouraged to join our Board and we’ve had two years of uncertainty with enforced lockdowns with no Federation Secretary in place. Lorraine has continued without faltering to be responsive to all of our members, has promoted MFWI at every opportunity and most importantly has been incredibly supportive to her fellow Board members.
I know Lorraine will welcome the time to spend with her family, without having to deal with WI issues at short notice however, I am positive she will miss the network of colleagues and friends she has frequent contact with, but not as much as we will miss her.
On a personal note – thank you Lorraine for not only being our chair for an amazing four-year rollercoaster but for being a true friend.