We are a hugely social Association, with something in the diary for everyone. All members get regular updates on events via email. So do sign up here to ensure that you stay in touch. Our Association is very friendly and always willing to help new members meet new people.
On the first Wednesday of every month we meet up for drinks in the Balham Bowls and Social Club Bar on Ramsden Road for a few casual beers. Many of our young professional members attend this and it is a great opportunity to meet new members or to come along to informally meet other members for when you are first dipping your toe in the Conservative Party world. Simon Staniland organises this for us so drop him a line if you are interested in attending just to confirm that it is on that month (it should be!) on simon.staniland@gmail.com
This is the set piece event of the Wandsworth calendar. We host it every summer to celebrate taking Conservative control of Wandsworth Council – 30 years of low taxes and top rated public services. Last year was our 30th such annual dinner. It was held in the presence of Lady Thatcher while Boris Johnson and our Party Chairman, Caroline Spelman both spoke. It is usually held in the Civic Suite of Wandsworth Town Hall. Around 500 people usually attend and there are also an extensive range of raffle prizes and auction items.
We have a curry night annually in Tooting. This occurs every Autumn. We usually take over Sree Krishna restaurant. A speaker from the Conservative Front Bench joins us. There are usually about 40 people there and last years speaker was the Shadow Minister for London, Bob Neill.
Wandsworth comes together for an annual ball with a black tie dinner and dancing. We usually have a light hearted speech from a leading member of the front bench but the focus is very much on the entertainment rather than the political. We usually have around 150 people at these events.
Our Bedford quiz night is always a popular event and attracts teams from all over the constituency. We usually host it at the Conservative Club in Tooting. There are usually around 70 people there with a great range of donated prizes and home made supper provided for all.
Every summer many of our wards host an informal BBQs or summer parties. These are usually attended by around 30 people from the very local area. We hold them in the gardens of local activists – Mark Clarke hosts one himself. These are a great chance for local members to get to know one another.
Wandsworth Common ward organise an annual Springtime dinner with a difference. We always serve Buffalo, sourced from a West Country farm! Each table has a host who cooks the food for that table. We also get a top quality political speaker to liven up the evening as the wine flows freely. Around 100 people attend. We usually host them in the Last year’s speaker was the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling.
We also host regular evenings with speakers on more political matters. Sometimes these take the form of dinners but often they are just speaker meetings. David Cameron came for a keynote speech in Tooting to which all Tooting members had special invitations; Boris Johnson has visited for an evening party; the Shadow Secretary of State, Andrew Lansley, came to talk about health matters.
Conservative Future is our organisation for younger members. They host regular events and debates with younger MPs especially attending. Recently, they have had Justine Greening MP and Greg Hands MP, both recently elected, speak at events. We usually have around 30 people at these events.