NWR connect ISSN 2978-395X
NWR Connect Reg charity no 295198
Quarterly Magazine for the National Women's Register adsadsadasQGQQood
AUTUMN 2026
Letter from the Trustees Our Chair, Deirdre McCarthy, reflects on her first year as Chair of NWR - and what a year it’s been!
s I approach my first anniversary as Chair of NWR, I have Afound myself reflecting on both our past and our future. Earlier this year, I was pointed in the direction of Virginia Nicolson's excellent book Perfect Wives in Ideal Homes. It was my first time reading it, and I was fascinated by the section describing how Maureen Nicol came to establish what would eventually become NWR. The story is both inspiring and moving. It reminds us of a time when many women found themselves isolated, disconnected from intellectual companionship and searching for ways to build friendships and meaningful connections. Maureen's simple idea of helping like-minded women find each other grew into the organisation we know and value today. Looking back at those early years also reminds me just how much the world has changed. This summer has brought unprecedented heat in many parts of the world. We have watched communities trying to cope with wildfires, damage to homes and the loss of precious natural habitats. Change on that scale can feel overwhelming. The world around us continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace, bringing both opportunities and challenges. Against that backdrop, organisations also need to adapt. Whilst the changes taking place within NWR are of a very different nature, they too are significant. We are constantly asking ourselves how we can continue to meet the needs of women today whilst remaining true to the values that have always defined us. The women who join NWR now often have very different lifestyles and experiences from those of our founders. Many of our members are newly retired or enjoying retirement, while others may be adjusting to life after divorce, bereavement or other significant life changes. Many are looking to build new friendships, develop fresh interests and become part of a supportive community. The need that inspired Maureen Nicol remains as relevant as ever. What is changing is how we help women find that connection. Across the organisation we are developing new models for groups, with many choosing to meet in coffee shops, pubs, garden-centre cafés and free community venues. These locations can be flexible, welcoming and accessible while still providing everything that makes NWR special.
Continued overleaf
1
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
Letter from the Trustees
NWR UPDATE
venue may look different from those early meetings held in members' homes, but the Tspirithe remains the same. We continue to bring women together through discussion, curiosity, friendship and mutual support. None of this would be possible without the commitment of our volunteers, who organise meetings, welcome new members and help groups flourish across the country. Their enthusiasm, generosity and willingness to give their time continues to be one of NWR's greatest strengths. We are also finding new ways for members to engage beyond their local group. Claire and the office team work incredibly hard to develop fresh ideas and new opportunities that help members connect with one another and with NWR as a whole. One exciting example is our new Curiosity Corner, launched in September. This new feature reflects something that has always been at the heart of NWR: a love of learning and the sharing of ideas. Alongside this, we have our programme of online talks which offers members the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects from the comfort of their own homes. I recently attended the talk on DNA Fingerprinting presented by Dr Ian Goodall and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was engaging, informative and a reminder that it is never too late to discover something new. The talks are also available through the website, allowing members to watch them at a time that suits them and revisit subjects that particularly interest them. The more I learn about NWR's history, the more I appreciate that adaptation has always been part of our story. Maureen Nicol responded to the challenges facing women in her time. Today we continue that tradition by responding to the needs of women in ours. The methods may change, the technology may change and the places where we meet may change, but our purpose remains remarkably consistent. As we move into the autumn and look ahead to the future, I feel optimistic about what lies ahead. By embracing new ideas whilst holding on to the friendship, conversation, support and curiosity that have always defined NWR, we can ensure that our organisation continues to thrive for generations of women to come.
Deirdre
Into the golden season 2
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
Chris Flexen @ Unsplash
NWR CONFERENCE National Conference review: Ideas, experiences and connection in Norwich From headline speakers and living history to handbells, dancing, wellbeing and a journey through Norwich’s streets, this year’s gathering offered something to spark every curiosity
M ore than 160 NWR members travelled from far
and wide to gather in Norwich for our 2026 National Conference designed to inform, entertain and bring people together. The experience began on Wednesday evening in suitably atmospheric surroundings with dinner at the Maids Head Hotel, reputed to have welcomed guests continuously since the 1090s. Its remarkable story reaches from the palace of Norwich’s first Norman bishop, Herbert de Losinga, to associations with Horatio Nelson, Edith Cavell, Edward the Black Prince and Catherine of Aragon.
The evening then took an unexpected turn as Magic Circle member Brian O’Leary captivated the room with skilful illusions, lively humour and unmistakable Irish craic. It was a warm, sociable opening to a conference built around discovery and shared experience. The following day, the fabulous Carrow Road venue, home of Norwich City Football Club, hosted a full programme of talks and workshops in a lovely, welcoming atmosphere.
3
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
I m a g e : Fa b i a n Kü h n e @ U n s p l a s h
NWR CONFERENCE National Conference review
Brilliant women
Journalist, broadcaster and author Sarah Sands opened Thursday’s proceedings and brought an exceptional breadth of experience to the programme. A former editor of the Telegraph and Evening Standard, as well as BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she has also chaired the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council and supports major Norfolk institutions as a trustee. She shared stories about working with Boris Johnson, the pressures of her demanding editorial roles and her time serving on the Channel 4 board. Her reflections on the changes happening in journalism and the future of the BBC gave members plenty to discuss afterwards. Her books include The Interior Silence and The Hedgehog Diaries, giving delegates the chance to hear from a distinctive voice in public life with strong local connections. History was brought vividly to life by Lesley Smith in her costumed portrayal of Boudicca. The warrior queen of the Iceni led a fierce uprising against Roman rule across eastern England, and Lesley’s performance explored the courage, vengeance and determination behind a rebellion that shook the Roman Empire. A medical historian, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, widely published writer and veteran of more than 150 television programmes, Lesley combines scholarship with compelling theatre. Her return after two previous NWR conference appearances promised both insight and drama.
Did you know...? Boudicca is thought to have been spelt ‘Boudica’ in the original Celtic from the Proto-Celtic word *boudā which means victory 4
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
I m a g e : Fa b i a n Kü h n e @ U n s p l a s h
NWR CONFERENCE National Conference review
Try something new
Image © Hannah Whittle
T he workshop programme invited members to join in rather than simply sit back. Board-
game enthusiasts could settle down to Linkee, Scrabble, Banagrams, Mah Jong or Rummikub, with dictionaries ready for any friendly disputes. Dance teacher Julie Ash, drawing on more than 37 years of experience, offered an all-abilities routine to a classic disco track - an excellent excuse to dust off the leg warmers and have a boogie. Music took centre stage with Image © Hannah Whittle Walland Express, the husband-andwife handbell duo Mark and Sue Walland. Using an “off the table” English ringing style and a threeoctave set of 37 American bells, they combined an eclectic performance with the history and craft of handbell ringing before inviting participants to have a go themselves.
For stories of a different kind, Antiques Roadshow expert Robert Tilney opened a window onto life behind the scenes of the muchloved programme. His warm, amusing tales of filming, remarkable encounters and the unpredictable optimism of the public promised the pleasures of expert knowledge delivered by a natural raconteur. Image © Hannah Whittle 5
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR CONFERENCE National Conference review Image © Hannah Whittle
Wellbeing for mind & body here were plenty of opportunities to recharge, too. Michelle Cheesbrough’s chair-yoga Tsession offered a gentle, accessible way to build mobility, flexibility and strength while encouraging relaxation. With most poses seated and standing options available, it was designed for different levels of mobility and required no previous yoga experience. Poet Elizabeth Bracken led a welcoming workshop, encouraging writers of all abilities to experiment with words and develop new poems. With more than 25 years’ experience, several poetry awards and three published pamphlets, she created an inspiring and supportive session for everyone.
For those curious about the science of wellbeing, Dr Amisha Modasia of the Quadram Institute Bioscience explored gut health, irritable bowel syndrome and the ways dietary fibre and the gut microbiome can influence symptoms and everyday wellbeing. Discussion and questions made this a practical chance to engage directly with current research.
Image © Hannah Whittle
Rachel Keal of Norwich 2 NWR created space to slow down with a relaxation and facial workshop. Participants could learn more about their skin, try a range of products and consider a simple routine suited to their own needs, using science-led, vegan TEMPLESPA skincare inspired by the Mediterranean. Image © Hannah Whittle
6
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR CONFERENCE National Conference review
A taste of Norwich
N o conference in Norwich would be
complete without celebrating the city’s distinctive heritage and enterprise. Condimentum, based on the outskirts of Norwich and described as the world’s leading vertically integrated producer of mustard and mint ingredients, shared the fascinating journey from English mustard growers to the traditional flavour so many know and love. Tastings added an adventurous - and suitably fiery - final Image © Hannah Whittle flourish. Beyond the conference rooms, a guided walk revealed more than 1,000 years of Norwich history. The route took in the Cathedral Quarter, the city’s woollen-cloth and shoemaking past, Norwich Castle, the Victorian shopping arcade, Norwich Market, the 15thcentury Guildhall, City Hall and Jarrold’s. It continued past the Museum of Norwich and the story of the former chocolate factory, Cinema City and St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls, before reaching picturesque Elm Hill and the River Wensum. NWR CEO Claire Kendrick shared news of the many member benefits recently launched, including a monthly on-demand quiz and Curiosity Corner, a monthly group activity. A short Tai Chi course starts in October, while a new Partnership programme will offer members discounts and special offers from carefully chosen brands. Claire also spoke about plans for a roadshow that could bring a portable NWR event to local areas in 2027.
More than a conference This was a programme rich in contrasts: serious ideas and playful moments, expert insight and hands-on discovery, quiet relaxation and joyful activity. Whether drawn by journalism, Roman history, antiques, science, local food, movement, music or the streets of Norwich itself, members could shape a conference experience around their own interests while sharing it with the wider NWR community. Norwich offered the setting; the speakers, workshop leaders and members supplied the energy. Together they created an event to inspire curiosity, conversation and lasting connections. Across both days, the conversations between sessions were as much a part of the conference as the programme itself. A huge thank you to the fantastic organising team - Marion Watts, Jan Tuffs, Sarah Plummer, Carolyn Leggett and Sharon Garcia - and to all the delegates who supported the event and made the journey to Norwich. You made it a wonderful success. We are looking for volunteers to organise the next National Conference in 2028. There will be no National Conference in 2027, giving a new organising team the time needed to plan the event. If you would like to help bring members together for another memorable conference, please let us know. 7
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR THEMES Albania uncovered The NWR team welcomes you to explore this year’s country, Albania - a place of contrasts, traditions and discoveries rom the rugged peaks of the Albanian Alps to the Fbeaches of the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, Albania is a country of dramatic landscapes, ancient settlements and rich cultural traditions. Its position at the crossroads of Europe has brought Illyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman influences, reflected in its archaeological sites, architecture, food and customs. Historic Berat and Gjirokastër, the ruins of Butrint and the colourful, continually evolving capital, Tirana, reveal the many layers of a country where past and present sit intriguingly side-by-side. There are countless threads waiting to be unravelled. What lies behind besa, the idea that a promise should be kept and hospitality and protection extended to others? How have the lives and expectations of Albanian women changed Image: Olga Pro @ Unsplash across different periods, places and generations? What might Albania’s mountain legends, festivals, traditional dress, dance and haunting iso-polyphonic singing reveal about its folklore and cultural identity? The Albanian language, shqip, occupies its own distinctive branch of the Indo-European language family, while the country’s literature stretches from oral storytelling and poetry to the internationally celebrated novels of Ismail Kadare.
Continued overleaf
8
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
I m a g e : Fa b i a n Kü h n e @ U n s p l a s h
NWR THEMES Albania uncovered ther glimpses might come through the Oculinary flavours of Albania - byrek (pictured), a traditional pastry, or tavë kosi, the Albanian national dish, alongside seafood, mountain cheeses or delicious festive sweets. Discover the wildlife of Albania’s mountains, forests, wetlands and coastline and the country’s efforts to balance Image: Omar Haktan Bulut @ Unsplash conservation, tourism and development. The Vjosa - one of Europe’s last great free-flowing rivers and now at the heart of Europe’s first Wild River National Park - is just one possible starting point. These are only hints: Albania’s people, history, art, music, beliefs, landscapes and changing place in the world offer many more paths to follow and discoveries to make. We hope you enjoy exploring them all.
Right under our noses With this year’s theme, Hidden in Plain Sight, the NWR team invites you to find the magic in the everyday very day, we pass people, places, objects and ideas without noticing the stories they E hold. ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ encourages us to pause, look more closely and discover what Image: Olga Pro @ Unsplash
has been overlooked, forgotten or deliberately concealed. It draws attention to the invisible work that keeps communities functioning, the achievements of women omitted from historical retelling, unconscious bias, hidden disabilities, misunderstood identities and the unspoken rules that influence everyday life. Who or what does society choose to notice and what becomes visible when we learn to look differently? Mystery, discovery and surprise lie everywhere - secret histories in local buildings and street names, symbols concealed in paintings, ingenious design inside ordinary objects, and the worlds of camouflage, codes, pseudonyms and optical illusions. There are unseen realms beneath our feet and beyond the range of our senses, from underground networks and microscopic life to dark matter and digital algorithms. Forgotten pioneers, hidden ingredients, concealed spaces, anonymous acts of kindness and clues to unsolved mysteries all offer further possibilities. Sometimes the most remarkable discoveries are not in distant places, but just waiting quietly in front of us. I m a g e : Cy n t h i a M a r g a n a @ U n s p l a s h 9
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR WRITES More than just a cuppa Appropriately given this year’s theme, Harwich and Dovercourt group have been looking at the deeper meaning in simple everyday rituals, says Group Coordinator Jan Dunbar
O ur recent group meeting topic was
Image: Lydia Norstad @ Unsplash
nice cup of tea AI take it for granted each morning There'll be milk in the fridge for my tea That the kettle will heat up the water That springs forth from the tap just for me. The tea in the pot comes from India. Dainty leaves plucked from bushes by hand, Dried, packaged and processed by many For transport by sea to this land. The milk for my tea comes from cattle Whose guardians, the farmers, take care, Committed to twice daily milking And all that entails, to be fair. The switch on my kettle is magic Producing such power from the grid For boiling a potful of water Over tea bags, then on with the lid. 10
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
'Things We Take For Granted' and it proved a very fertile subject for discussion. It’s one we will be visiting again next year as it really made us all sit up and think. Attached is a poem which condenses some of the areas discussed, penned by Jill, one of our group members. We think it is deserving of a wider audience and particularly relevant to the times we are now living in.
I savour that first fragrant mouthful, My thoughts facing into the day Engaging my mind as I waken Prepared for it all, come what may. This all sounds so dreadfully flippant Self satisfied, it's all about me At a time when our planet is burning The water's not flowing for free. The turn of the tap is so easy We've taken it for granted each day Not caring, abusing this resource It'll be there for ever, come what may. Many hands worked for my cup of tea Together, across land and ocean. Together we can achieve great things. Leaders put all your efforts in motion.
NWR CELEBRATES 40 years young! It’s been a big year for the Harwich and Dovercourt group and the endless heatwaves didn’t put them off getting together to celebrate it!
O n a very warm, sunny day at the end of the
heatwave in July 2026, 12 members of Harwich and Dovercourt NWR gathered to celebrate two anniversaries: 40 years of the NWR group and 25 years of the ‘spin-off’ reading group, Bookworms. Unfortunately one member was unable to join the celebration as she was recovering from recent surgery.
A buffet lunch was held in Group Coordinator Jan’s garden with us all clustered in the shade with various parasols – seems you can have too much sun! At least this year. A wide selection of delicious food and drink (non-alcoholic) was provided by individual members along with a celebration cake made and decorated by a member’s daughter.
As with any NWR gathering there was no lull in conversation giving members the opportunity to reminisce – a few of the current members have belonged for all or most of the years of both groups that were being celebrated. A testament to the strong bond and friendship within the group. Post-party comments reflected how much everyone enjoyed the event.
11
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR CELEBRATES 50 years of Beith Harwich and Dovercourt wasn’t the only group celebrating a significant anniversary - Beith has 10 years on them!
B eith NWR’s 2025-26 season was its 50th! Needless to say, and in true NWR style, celebrations lasted throughout the full year! From afternoon tea at Seamill Hydro on the actual anniversary to connecting meetings’ themes from the very first Programme to this year’s - and a final celebration with fizz, a special cake and lots of reminiscing over photo albums and videos of 50 years’ worth of fun and friendship - the 50th year was hugely enjoyable! Here we are at Seamill Hydro, with founding members Jackie, Joan and Carolyn cutting our 50th Anniversary cake, and members poring over photo albums of our 50 years being Beith NWR!
12
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR SPOTLIGHTS Why we love Rotherham Patricia Gleaden of Rotherham group highlights what makes this particular part of the UK so special
South Yorkshire always gets Rbadotherham, press. Hopefully, the following will help to change people's ideas on what we have to offer in a former industrial area. The Wentworth Follies walk offers history and beautiful countryside. Features of the walk include Hoober Stand, a tower built by the Marquis of Rockingham to commemorate the quelling of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745. There’s also a plague stone on the edge of the village, where money soaked in vinegar (to disinfect it) was left by plague-ridden villagers in exchange for food. The Needle's Eye is another folly built by the 2nd Marquis to enable him to win a wager - that a coach could be driven through the eye of a needle! As well as local floral and fauna, there is a commanding view of the area. Detours can be taken to visit the magnificent Wentworth Woodhouse and grounds and the village church. Hunt in the graveyard for the grave of a man from China. He worked in service at the house before his death.
Rotherham is the bees’ knees! 13
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR EXPLORES Huffin’ and puffin Liz Nicholson of Bishop Stortford Group shares her appreciation of the UK’s most adorable sea birds s a child I was a proud member of the Puffin AClub. The Puffin Post, the badges, and the charming illustrations of those bright-beaked birds made puffins seem the very symbol of the British seaside: standing on lonely, windswept cliffs with beaks crammed full of sand eels. Time passed, and a few years ago we finally had our first opportunity to see them for ourselves during a holiday to Portland Bill. They proved frustratingly elusive, although one of us claimed to have spotted a solitary bird taking off. A few years later we travelled to Northumberland. Taking a boat trip from Seahouses to the Farne Islands, we did eventually see several puffins floating on the sea. We were, however, a little late in the season. Puffins are no respecters of school holidays, and many had already departed for their months at sea, heading back towards the North Atlantic. For the past three years we have also visited the RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve. Amid the seemingly endless colonies of gannets and kittiwakes (wear a hat if you go!), we would catch sight of the occasional puffin making its way to a burrow in the cliff face. One helpful volunteer even let us admire one through his telescope. It was only when we discovered North Landing beach, near Flamborough, that we finally experienced the puffins as we had always hoped. From there we could sit quietly below the cliffs and watch them to our hearts' content as they darted back and forth between the sea and their burrows, where hungry pufflings waited patiently for the next delivery of sand eels. It felt a real privilege to observe them behaving naturally, close enough to appreciate their character yet far enough away that they remained undisturbed. Better still, it gave us the chance to photograph them without intruding on their lives.
Continued overleaf 14
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR EXPLORES Huffin’ and puffin
P uffins spend remarkably little of their lives on land. They are seabirds in the truest
sense, spending most of the year out on the open ocean and only returning to shore for the breeding season, usually from late March or April until late July or early August. They don't begin breeding until they are around four or five years old, and once a puffling leaves its burrow for the first time, it may spend two or more years almost entirely at sea before setting foot on land again. That fleeting annual return makes seeing puffins all the more special, but it also means that any visit has to be carefully timed, whether by boat or from the clifftops. And a final tip: their call sounds just like a chainsaw - so if you hear one, there is a chance there is a circus of puffins somewhere around.
Did you know....? Puffins have specialised tongues and palates which allow them to carry 10-12 small fish at a time - even while swimming Image: Lydia Norstad @ Unsplash Image: Lydia Norstad @ Unsplash underwater
Image: Glen Hooper @ Unsplash
15
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
NWR PEOPLE 25 years of Sam! September marked Sam's 25 years’ work anniversary. Because she very much likes to hide her light under a bushel, we opted for a private presentation with just staff and trustees where Jan Fuller delivered a fitting speech that we would like to share with you...
W ell, Sam, 25 years is quite a milestone.
And we thought the best way to celebrate it would be to take a little trip down memory lane — back to 2001, when you joined NWR. And goodness, how things have changed since then. In 2001, NWR had around 7,800 members. The internet was still something of a novelty, mobile phones were phones rather than miniature computers, and nobody had heard of Zoom, WhatsApp or Facebook. Google had only been around for a few years, we were still using CDs, and if you wanted to take a photograph, you actually had to wait for it to be developed. And NWR was rather different too. The organisation was just emerging from some significant changes to the way it was run, and the Annual Report and Register had only recently started appearing in full colour. And then, into this brave new world, came Sam. And 25 years later, she's still here! In fact, Sam has now been part of NWR for more than a third of the organisation's entire existence. NWR was founded in 1960, so that's quite a remarkable contribution. During those 25 years, NWR has celebrated its 40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries — and we're now heading towards 70. We've seen the organisation move increasingly into the digital world, develop and redesign its website, introduce online forums, embrace Facebook and move into the world of Zoom and online meetings. And Sam has somehow managed to survive all of this. 16
Continued overleaf
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
25 years of Sam!
NWR PEOPLE
W hich brings me to one of the things I think we all associate particularly strongly with
Sam: calmness. I don't know whether it's a skill you acquire after 25 years at NWR, or whether you have to be born with it. But Sam has it. Things can be complicated. They can be confusing. Occasionally they can be both. And nowhere is that more evident than with the Telephone Treasure Trail. Although it started before Sam joined NWR — with 231 groups taking part, By 2001 there were 380 entries and a required team of around 200 clue holders. And it has gone on to become one of the great NWR traditions. Sam has grown with it, managing and owning it, improving it and digitalising it. But just imagine trying to organise it. 350 groups & 200 volunteer clue holders, 4 nights of the week. Making sure every group and every clue holder has the right information for the right night. And somewhere in the middle of all this is Sam. Calmly managing member last minute changes, rescheduling schedules, correcting phone numbers and availability. And the fact that the Telephone Treasure Trail is still going today says an enormous Image: Lydia Norstad Unsplash amount about how@successful it has been managed. Image: Lydia Norstad @ Unsplash Of course, we've had some major milestones along the way. In 2002, Mary Stott sadly died at the age of 95. In 2003, the Mary Stott Award was introduced in her memory — an award that has subsequently recognised many wonderful NWR members. In 2010, NWR celebrated its 50th anniversary with Golden events and gatherings around the country. In 2012, we had the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics — and NWR went social, launching its Facebook presence. And then, in 2020, NWR reached its 60th anniversary. Unfortunately, 2020 also brought us something nobody had put into the NWR programme: Covid. Suddenly everything changed. Meetings went online. Zoom became a verb. People started saying things like, "You're on mute." And somehow NWR adapted yet again. Sam, who preferred to always be in the background started to host the online talks becoming a familiar face, not just a voice, to the membership And through all of those changes — new technology, new ways of communicating, new staff, new Trustees, new websites, new challenges — there has been one constant. Sam.
Continued overleaf 17
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk
25 years of Sam!
NWR PEOPLE
F or 25 years you've been there looking after our members, answering their questions,
sorting out their problems, listening to their rants and offering a sympathetic ear when needed. And you've provided something that is incredibly valuable to our organisation that has changed so much over the years: continuity. You know NWR. You know its history. You know its members. And I think that's something that can easily be underestimated. Technology changes. Organisations change. People change. But having someone who has been there for 25 years, who understands where we've come from and has helped us get to where we are today, is incredibly special. The technology has changed enormously. The way we communicate has changed enormously. But the fundamental reason people join NWR hasn't changed. Image: Lydia Norstad Unsplash And you've been@part of helping to make that happen for 25 years. Image: Lydia Norstad @ Unsplash So, Sam, on behalf of the Trustees, the staff and all the NWR members who have benefited from your work over the years, I want to say a very heartfelt: Thank you. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for your knowledge. Thank you for your patience. And thank you for being such a constant and valued part of NWR for the last 25 years. And finally, we have something rather special to give you. As you know, the Mary Stott Award has now been retired, so we are not conferring the award itself on you. Instead, we are presenting you with the quaich — the physical award — as a commemorative gift and as a lasting symbol of our appreciation for your 25 years of dedicated service to NWR. It's a little piece of NWR history. And we think it's particularly fitting that it should now become part of your NWR history. So, Sam, congratulations on 25 wonderful years. Thank you for everything you've done. And here's to the next chapter — hopefully with plenty more Treasure Trails and a 70th NWR anniversary to look forward to! Congratulations, Sam. 18
Visit our website | nwr.org.uk