Reports on some Past Events

The Mark Harper MP Dinner

23rd February 2007, Tawny Owl Pub

This was, with the exception of our Boris Johnson dinner two years ago, our most successful dinner ever. There was a great turnout and the evening included an excellent 3 Course Dinner followed by speeches from Robert Buckland, Mark Harper MP and Cllr Justin Tomlinson. Mark was born in Swindon and was an active member of Swindon Conservatives for many years. He is extremely well informed on a wide range of issues and impressed the audience with his knowledge. There were so many questions for him that they could not all be taken. We hope to have Mark back again in the future.

http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&personID=36257

Dinner at The Ivy, Wroughton
19 January 2007

Guest speaker Chris Heaton-Harris MEP for East Midlands (right).

Chris gave a highly amusing speech about his experiences as both a campaigner and an MEP and took a number of questions from the gathered members.

Swindon Conservatives Dinner

Guest speaker - Rt Hon Andrew Mackay MP (Bracknell)

Friday September 29th 2006 at the Tawny Owl, Taw Hill

This event proved extremely popular with the largest turnout we have had apart from our Annual Dinners. Andrew gave an interesting insight into how the Party is changing and where it is going under David Cameron and he answered a wide range of questions from the Members present.

Robert Buckland, PPC South Swindon did the introductions and ran a successful auction later on. Cllr Justin Tomlinson thanked Andrew for being our guest speaker. A very enjoyable evening.

North Swindon Conservative
Annual Dinner2006

FridayFebruary 17th
The Ivy, Wroughton, Swindon

Guest Speaker - Theresa May MP

Guests enjoyeda VIP reception followed by a lovely meal.The main event wasintroduced by Robert Buckland (PPC South Swindon) and theRt Hon Theresa May MPgave a wide ranging speech covering local and national politics, global issues andhow the party is changing anddeveloping its policies. Theresa then took a number of questions from the assembled guests. An amusinbg vote of thanks was given by Cllr Justin Tomlinson (PPC North Swindon). The raffle was followed by Theresa being photographed with a number of the guests. Cllr David renard can be seen with Theresa (right).

Evening at the Races

Friday 20 January 2006

Swindon Greyhounds, Abbey Stadium

A small gathering enjoyed a fantastic evening at the races. The evening began with a nice 2 course meal which was followed by 12 exciting races. Most participants left slightly poorer at the end of the evening but some managed to break even or even return home with a profit! One sydicate of 3 just missed out on a 'trio' by a nose which would have netted around 100 - c'est la vie! However, the event was enjoyed by all and made a welcome change from the normal 'dinner, speech and raffle' format.

North Swindon Conservative
Christmas Dinner

Sunday December 11th
Jovial Monk, St Andrew's Ridge, Swindon

Guest Speaker - Robert Buckland,
South Swindon Conservative PPC

A great seasonal Christmas lunch was enjoyed by all followed by a raffle and speech by Robert. Members are now looking forward to the next social event.

North Swindon Conservative
Traditional Fish & Chip Supper & Quiz Night

Friday 18th November at the Jovial Monk

This informal event proved very successful with our greatest ever turnout of members. For just 10 per head, members enjoyed a fantastic piece of fish with chips, bread and butter and unlimited tea or coffee in the excelelnt private surounding of the conservatory attached to this popular pub. This was followed by an 80 question quiz covering a variety of subjects which impromptu groups of 4 competed in.The evening was rounded off with a raffle. Members are now eagerly looking forward to the next event.

Fish and Chip Supper

Friday 25th March 2005 at Jovial Monk, St. Andrews Ridge

At what could be our last event before the General Election, this informal event was a great success. Our best ever turn out of members enjoyed a fantastic meal and brief speeches by Chairman Cllr David Renard and our Parliamentary Spokesman, Cllr Justin Tomlinson. A raffle concluded an enjoyable social event.

BorisJohnsonMP-STEAMMuseum.

Friday, 8pm February 18th 2005

Great venue, great food and drink, great speeches, great evening.

Web site: www.boris-johnson.com/

Our final event of 2004 wasa Christmas Dinner in the new function room at The Jovial Monk, St. Andrews Ride. This function room is officially opening by Cllr Peter Stoddart (Abbey Meads) in his role as Mayor, on Thursday 2nd December.

Our guest speaker was Owen Inskip, who is the ConservativeParliamentary Candidate for Kingswood.

Jonathon Djanogly was elected as the ConservativeMP for Huntingdon in 2001, replacing the retiring ePrimeMinisterJohn Major. In 1997 Jon Djanogly stood in Oxford East, where he not only fought a vigerous campaign but helped introduce Councillor Justin Tomlinson to campaigning, so effectively sowed the seeds of our North Swindon election successes. Jon Djanogly Website

Yet againthe Tawny Owl proved to be anexcellent venue and the food was up to their usual high standards.Jon was introduced by Cllr David Renard, Chairman of North Swindon Conservatives during which he thanked Jon for introducing Justin to the skills of campaigning which has so greatly benefited NSCA. He then took a few moments to review the recent Party Conference, the strategy for the General Election campaign and other issues of mutual interest. Jonthen spoke on a wide range of topics from Labour's failings to our prospectsfor the General Election campaign. He then answered questions from the floor. He proved to be an interesting and informative speaker as have been our previous guest speakers. The vote of thanks was given by Cllr Justin Tomlinson who recounted his memories of Jon from their time together a few years ago and gave his perspective on the evening's discussions. The evening was concluded by Cllr Chris van Roon who ran the raffle draw in his own imitible way. Everyone enjoyed the eveningand we are all looking forward to our Christmas lunch. If you have not joined us on one of these events before, please do buy tickets for a future event.

Julian was elected as the Conservative MP for New Forest East, a new seat in Hampshire, in May 1997. Re-elected in June 2001, hebecame a Shadow Defence Minister,
with responsibility for the Royal Navy, in 2002. Julian Lewis Website

As we have come to expect, the Tawny Owl proved to be anexcellent venue and the food was up to their usual high standards.Julian was introduced by Cllr David Renard, Chairman of North Swindon Conservatives and took a few moments to review recent achievements and discuss the strategy for the General Election campaign. Julian then spoke on a range of topics including the war in Iraq, UKIP and the General Election campaign. He then answered questions from the floor. His comments were interesting and provided much food for thought. The vote of thanks was given by Cllr Justin Tomlinson who also gave his perspective on the evening's discussions. The evening was concluded by Cllr Chris van Roon who ran the raffle draw and proved that he could be the next presenter on a TV shopping channel. A good time was had by all and everyone is now looking forward to the next event. If you have not joined us on one of these events before, please do buy tickets for the dinner on 29 October.

North Swindon Conservative Dinner
Friday 16 April 2004 at The Tawny Owl

Neil Parish MEP

Neil was our guest speaker for this enjoyable and well atendedevening. He was elected as Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the South West in June 1999. Along with Caroline Jackson, Giles Chichester and Alexander Stockton, he is one of four Conservative MEPs representing he region.

In December 2001, Neil was appointed Conservative Spokesman on both Agriculture and Fisheries, the first time the role has been combined in Europe. He is a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, the Fisheries Committee, and also sits on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer policy. Neil was instrumental in setting up the year long European Parliament's public Inquiry into the Foot and Mouth Outbreak. He is a Deputy Group Whip in the Conservative Delegation whips office after being appointed in 1999.

Local Government elections have also featured strongly in Neil's political career and he has served as Parish, District and CountyCouncillor in Somerset.

During the excellent meal, Neil moved around the tables discussing various issues with the guests. After coffee, Cllr David Renard (NSCA Chairman) welcomed everyone and thanked them for their support. He highlighted the recent selection of North Swindon's PPC,Cllr Justin tomlinson, and formally introducedNeil to the audience. Neilgave a humourous speech on his work and experiences as a MEP and then answered questions from the floor. Cllr Mike Bawden, Leader of the Council said a few words and the evening was concluded by Cllr Tomlinson who thanked Neil for supporting our eventand he then announced the results of the raffle.

Wrag Barn Dinner - Friday 14th November

Highworth Conservatives
Guest Speaker Cllr Justin Tomlinson
Lead Member, Cultural Services & Recreation
Swindon Borough Council

The latest in the fine traditon of successful Highworth, Wrag Barn dinners with over 60 guests.

Following an excellent 3 course dinner at the Wrag Barn, Highworth.
Cllr Justin Tomlinson discussed local and national political issues,
and issues relating to young people in politics and his
time as National Conservative Future Chairman.