Thornbury and District Townswomen's Guild

How to Contact Thornbury and District Townswomen's Guild

If you are interested in joining the Townswomen's Guild please contact the Secretary Pat Denney for more information at: or on 01454 614232.

For more information about the Townswomen's Guild nationally, click here to visit www.townswomen.org.uk

About Thornbury and District Townswomen's Guild

The primary objective of the Townswomen's Guild movement is 'to advance the education of women irrespective of race, creed and party so as to enable them to make the best contribution towards the common good'.

Groups of women of all ages meet monthly to exchange ideas, learn new skills, raise money for local and international charities and generally have fun!

Townswomen's Guilds grew out of the Women's Social and Political Union or suffragist movement which we in Thornbury Guild commemorate by sometimes turning out in boaters, most recently at the Thornbury Carnival.

Over its 80 year history the Townswomen's Guild movement has consistently fought for the advancement of women's rights.

Thornbury and District Townswomen's Guild celebrated its 50th Birthday in 2009. It meets in the Cossham Hall on the second Wednesday in the month when there is a short business meeting followed by a speaker or entertainment.

Recently we have heard about allotments in Thornbury, had the lowdown on Bristol Porcelain and taken a pictorial tour of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Members run special interest groups for Arts and Crafts, Music, Books, and supporting sick members.

We have been delighted to welcome new members recently, and look forward to welcoming many more in the coming months.

Our Latest Meeting

At the January meeting of Thornbury Guild Pat Denney, in the absence of the Chairman, welcomed members and visitors and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

She said 2011 had been a good, and enjoyable, year for fund raising for the Guild’s chosen charity, RNLI, and it was with great pleasure that a cheque for £520 was presented to Mr Geoff Bowen, the local representative for RNLI. He expressed his great appreciation for the Guild’s support.

On a sad note, members were asked to stand in silence for a moment to remember Joan Excell, a founder member of Thornbury Guild, who had died before Christmas. Names were taken for tickets for the Federation Flower Show on 24 March and mention made of the Guild's Together Day at Westonbirt on 7 May.

The title of Mr Tim Mayo’s talk, “There is Nothing Like a Dame”, gave a good indication that the theme might be pantomime and indeed it was. Right from the start the comical inter-action between Mr Mayo and the audience, along with his energy, enthusiasm and humorous patter, made it feel as if we were actually attending a performance. But, first of all, he explained a little about the history of pantomime - a unique and very British part of theatre - where the same characters of good and evil always appear, and there is always a Pantomime Dame in one guise or another.

Mr Mayo had brought with him a large selection of outrageous costumes, accessories, wigs and make-up, all of which were displayed to good effect. It did not take much imagination to believe we were peeping into the Dame’s dressing room when he began to change. First came the undergarments, including frilly bloomers, then the dress and the tights, followed by a lesson in make-up, which caused much laughter. Finally, a bright yellow wig completed the transformation.

A traditional pantomime song, with audience participation, ended a hilarious evening. Jo Andow thanked Mr Mayo for giving everyone a good laugh to start off the New Year.

Raffle prizes were won by Lynn Simons, Gerry Covell and Dorothy Watts, and the competition for frilly handkerchief by Janet Rawles.