Women's day at the Russell

Baroness and 'musical mum' among Catholic Women of the Year awards
ON JUNE 19, Catholic women from all over the country will meet at the Hotel Russell, London, to exchange news and views, and to honour this year's four Catholic Women of the Year.
One time film critic of the Catholic Herald, Freda Bruce Lockhart, is one of the winners elected by the special Committee representing 14 lay societies, including the Catholic Association of Widows, the Catholic Poetry Society, the GLC Staff Catholic Guild and the Union of Catholic Mothers.
Another winner is Mrs Cecilia Bevan, mother of 14 musical children who make up a family choir and sing, von Trapp-style, in the West country and beyond.
Her recent autobiography Against All Advice describes the opposition she faced from opponents of large families as well as the struggles and faith required in creating a loving family home for such a large number.
Baroness Phillips, Lord Lieutenant of London and active member of the House of Lords was nominated for her work in many bodies which meet the special needs in the community, for example in various women's movements. As a lecturer and broadcaster, she is renowned for her caring and sound common sense, founded on the Catholic education which she frequently acknowledges.
The fourth member of this year's impressive line-up is Mrs Katharine Steel, the prime mover in Christianline. This Christian message service (with back-up counselling) has rapidly inspired local communities to set up similar systems so that Christian messages can be dialled by thousands of people day or night.
Mrs Pam Weisweiller, Chairman of the Committee, says that the lunch is the only general national event at which Catholic women can meet and discuss subjects of importance. "It is a most enjoyable occasion: old friends meet up and new ones are made."
All profits from the lunch go to the Jinja Groups, nongraduate young people doing voluntary technical or medical work in the developing countries.
The theme of this year's lunch will be "Young People — The Church of•Tomorrow." The two guest speakers will be Sr M Josefa, who has set up a busy bakery which produces many thousands of communion hosts in order to fund Youth Training Workshops for the under-30s, and Mrs Lynette Burrows, wife,
mother, author and broadcaster. Mrs Burrows' book, Good Children unusually received wide publicity while still only in manuscript form; it will be launched in paper-back in the Autumn.
The four winners join a glittering enclave. Past recipients include Frances Gumley, a former editor of the Catholic Herald, Delia Smith, Mrs Victoria Gillick, and Mary O'Hara.
Tickets for the Catholic Women of the Year lunch available from the Ticket Secretary, 40 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, London NW7 3BM, £10 each.