THE new president of a Darlington women’s organisation has vowed to continue supporting frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus as well as raising money for good causes.

Retired accountant and yoga teacher Karen Campbell has taken over from Lynne Waterfall-Brown as President of Darlington Inner Wheel.

The chain of office was handed over in Karen’s garden, under social distancing rules, following a meeting of club members on Zoom.

Mrs Campbell, who has two grown up children and two grandchildren, said: “Being on the committee has been great fun and it’s a great honour to be president, knowing there’s such a great team of women behind me, providing wonderful support.”

The new president paid tribute to the work carried out by Mrs Waterfall-Brown, along with secretary Gail Wiper, in embracing technology to maintain group meetings via Zoom and communicating through WhatsApp.

Darlington Inner Wheel has also made the best use of needlework skills in the group by making scrubs and bags for the NHS as well as facemasks for members. Money was also raised during the year for a range of local and international charities.

Mrs Campbell said: “Up until the lockdown, we were enjoying a great year under Lynne’s leadership, but she managed to keep us together and kept us laughing through it all.

“We are still in the grip of strange times and my aim is to keep up the good work by building on what we’ve learned.

“We will continue to make PPE, because there continues to be a need, and will go on supporting good causes.”

Mrs Campbell said one of the positive consequences of the lockdown had been improved gardening skills among members, and funds would be raised for charity by selling plants and seeds.

Cake sales at St Augustine’s Church, which had proved successful last year, would also continue.