SawbridgeworthOnline - Community Page

Interest Groups

This section brings together the enormous variety of clubs and interest groups it is possible to join and enjoy in Sawbridgeworth. From angling to embroidery, through to town-twinning and allotments. Your membership will maintain these groups and keep our town community vibrant and rich in opportunities.

1. Campaign for Real Ale - Herts and Essex Branch (HEB CAMRA)

Although the branch covers a wide region, the majority of branch events are in the Harlow-Sawbridgeworth-Bishop's Stortford area. The branch runs three beer festivals in the year, the Sawbridgeworth one being at the end of October in the Memorial Hall. For further details, please click on the website name.
New members are always welcome!

Website

Herts & Essex Borders of CAMRA Website

Contact Name

Chris Sears

Contact Email

publicity@heb-camra.org.uk

2. Hertfordshire Airfield Memorial Group

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A memorial to those who served at Sawbridgeworth Airfield and No.2 Squadron

Contact Name

Local contact - David Mead

Contact Phone

01279 724503

Contact Email

david.mead7@btinternet.com

3. The Real Ale Club Sawbridgeworth

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	The Gate - Home of RACS

The Real Ale Club Sawbridgeworth (RACS) is a group of people whose purpose is to enjoy good beer, visit breweries, and be companionable over a glass of decent ale.

We meet on the last Wednesday of every month in The Gate pub. We run regular quiz nights at The Gate as well as origanising brewery trips and visit various beer festivals. A few RACS addicts also meet every Sunday evening at The Gate for a few beers and a laugh and a joke.

Annual membership is just £5. This entitles you to cheaper trips to Beer Festivals and breweries, as well as reduced beer prices on official RACS evenings at The Gate.

For further details, please either check out our website, or contact our chairperson - Jan.

Website

http://wwww.racs.org.uk

Contact Name

Jan Mead

Contact Email

meadspanner@ntlworld.com

4. Sawbridgeworth Players - Amateur Dramatics

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A local friendly amateur dramatic society, staging two main productions a year. We are very informal and always welcome new members for acting directing and production roles. If you would like to join us or find out more please see our contact details below.
In Spring 2010 our main production was Elephant Man which was received with great critical acclaim.

Contact Name

Mandy Ayers (Membership Secretary)

Contact Phone

01245 442024

Contact Email

mandyayers@hotmail.com

5. Sawbridgeworth Photographers on Flickr

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	A new perspective on our heritage

"As a local Photographer, I have taken many images of Sawbridgeworth and it's surrounding areas, and so appreciate it's appeal to amatuer and professional photographers alike.
I am in the process of collating an image gallery of past and present views of Sawbridgeworth and I am looking to you for help!

So if you have old photos stashed away, in albums or on your pc that you would like to show, then please get in touch. Sawbridgeworth is a beautiful town, with historic and modern architecture, calming ambience and a warm and friendly community feel. Lets show it off and let everyone appreciate it at its best"

I am an administrator for the Flickr.com Group Sawbridgeworth Photographers where I am looking to collate the images and any submissions for inclusion can be sent to me at katie.freeman1@yahoo.com.
For any submissions please include your name, location and date if known of the photograph for accreditation, alternatively you can open a Flickr account free of charge and join the group by following the online instructions. You can then upload your own images directly.

Website

SBW Photographers on Flickr

Contact Email

katie.freeman1@yahoo.com

6. Lace Makers

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	The well known Leventhorpe brass recreated in lace



	Beautiful bobbins!

If you make lace, knit, embroider, crochet, quilt or cross stitch come along and be in good company!

We meet in the Memorial Hall on Wednesdays at 7.30pm.

Contact Name

Frankie Anderson

Contact Phone

01279 423233

7. Sawbridgeworth Bridge Club

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We are a small friendly club playing duplicate and occasionally Chicago bridge. We meet at Sawbridgeworth Parish Hall Monday evenings from 7 - 9.30. Subs £6 p.a. per meeting £1.50. We organise occasional social events. Absolute beginners are not catered for, teaching is available locally, but those with basic knowledge are welcome and we can help. To join or for more information contact Jill Clarke - see below - or Mary Wolfson 01279 725008.

Contact Name

Jill Clark

Contact Phone

01279 726524

Contact Email

sawbridgeworthbridge@tiscali.co.uk

8. Sawbridgeworth Machine Knitting Club

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Beginner and experienced knitters are welcome to join our friendly group. We meet the second Tuesday of every month. If you would like to come along please get in touch to find out more.

Contact Name

Edna Richardson

Contact Phone

01279 722053

9. Bishop's Stortford and District Embroiderers Guild

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We meet on the first Monday of each month at 7.30 in the Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club Pavilion. New Members very welcome - first visit free.

We represent a wide variety of interest in Textile and Needle arts and are a very friendly group.

Over the next few months - these are the activities we will be holding:

7th December "Angelina Angels" - practical session basic sewing kit needed
11th January New Year Party - social get together with refreshments
1st February "Inspirations & Techniques" talk by Jane Barry
1st March "The Wonderful World of Willow" talk by Sandra Barker
12th April Needleweaving - practical session
10th May "Extra-Organza" talk by Kathleen Laurel Sage
7th June "Beadwork" Melanie de Miguel
5th July Visit to Parndon Mill Studios

We are also holding classes
1 "Buttons, Bobbles or Brooches" - Pauline Verrinder 12th Dec
2 "Wild weaving" - Melinda Berkovitz 27th Feb
3 "Machine embroidered panels - Kathleen Laurel Sage 24th July

Contact Name

Yvonne Taplin

Contact Email

tapliny322@hotmail.co.uk

10. Fiddlers Brook Morris

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	The Side



	Dancing at Hatfield Forest "Woodfest"

A friendly mixed North West Morris side based in Allens Green. We practice in the Village Hall every Tuesday from 8pm to 10pm from September to April. In summer we dance out on Tuesday nights at local hostelries and the occasional weekend fayres and fetes, we usually have one weekend away at a Folk or Morris Festival where we dance with other sides.
We always welcome new dancers (no experience necessary) and musicians to join our small but enthusiastic band.
Please visit our website for further details.

Website

Fiddlers Brook Morris Website

Contact Name

Gill Munro

Contact Phone

01279 723707

Contact Email

neilandgillmunro@aol.co.

11. Scottish Dancing

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	Group Photo Nov 09



	In full swing Nov 09

This group meets at High Wych Memorial Hall. Sessions are on Tuesdays 7.45 to 9.45pm from September through to May. With special events like end of season dances.
Dance sessions are led by registered instructors and all abilities are welcome especially beginners.
Please telephone for more details.

Contact Name

Linda Masters

Contact Phone

01279 723088

12. Self Help Group for the Visually Handicapped

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Mondays 1-4.30pm, Reedings School

A handicraft class for people with visual disabilities.

Contact Name

Bob Wagland

Contact Phone

01279 723484

13. Bee Jay Gee Dance Club

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	Watch your step ! Brucie and Tess are watching.

Social Tea Dance.

Since the start of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC Television, there has been a great upsurge of interest for the public to find a place to dance, any place to “strut their stuff”
"Couples dancing" is making a big comeback with all age groups. Moving to music is natural and therapeutic. Everyday dancing is enjoyed by millions of people. Dancing is for fun and fitness whether it is Ballroom, Latin or Sequence. They enjoy the music, meeting people, having a chat and a few dances and of course, the cuppa and biscuit if it’s a tea dance. Just like going to any club but with a difference. We dance in two's to a wider variety of music. At our dances we do not only play the usual Quicksteps, waltzes etc, but include a Barn Dance followed by a progressive barn dance. In our second session, we dance to the St Bernard’s Waltz, The Veleta and the Gay Gordons. I always get great satisfaction when I get dancers coming up to me saying “I have not danced these dances for years”. A local dance also gives learner dancers a chance to practise

Our dances are not competitive dancing. This is Social Dancing capturing the social graces.
At our dances, we do not dance say two quicksteps then hear the words, “next dance please”, but go non-stop for the first session, about an hour. It seems such a waste of time for dancers to clamber back to their seats from the other end of the hall and sit for a couple of minutes, only to hear “take your partners for a what-ever dance”. If a couple does not want to dance the dance being played, they can sit it out just like if you miss a bus, there will be another along later. My motto is you have come to dance and by golly, so you shall. So it’s bums of chairs and feet on the dance floor and “oft we jolly well go again”. We break around 2:30 for a welcome cuppa and biscuit then it’s back to the last session till 4:00pm.

We look forward to seeing you all at our dances. Don’t worry if you are a wheelchair user or you don’t dance, come anyway and enjoy the music, make new friends and socialize.
Please note: WE ORGANISE TEA DANCES WE DO NOT TEACH DANCING.

Website

Bee Jay Gee Dance Club

Contact Name

William

Contact Phone

07847 906983

Contact Email

squeaky-ted@tiscali.co.uk

14. Aerobics

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	Bullfields Centre in the background

This all year Aerobics Class runs every Monday and Wednesday except 3rd Wednesday in the month. Classes are held from 8-9 pm at the Bullfields Recreational Centre, Cutforth Road.Bookings are not necessary in this friendly group, just turn up. Low to middle impact classes and sessions cost £4.00. Telephone for more details.

Contact Name

Joanne Nicholls

Contact Phone

01279 723307

15. Town Twinning Association

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	Bords de Marne



	Mairie de Bry-sur-Marne

The Town Twinning Association is a voluntary organisation which is partly self-financing through fund-raising activities and also receives the support of grants from Sawbridgeworth Town Council. Since 1974, Sawbridgeworth has been twinned with Bry-sur-Marne, a town comprising of 16,000 inhabitants, eight miles east of Paris. It aims to promote friendship between the two towns and encourages the growth of mutual understanding of social, cultural, educational and all other aspects of day- to- day living in the twinned communities.

Visits normally take place every year, alternating between Bry- sur -Marne and Sawbridgeworth, and include time with the host family plus an excursion and an informal dinner. We also encourage young people to take part in activities connected with our twinned town e.g. musical concerts, football tournaments.

You do not have to speak French to join the Town Twinning Association! Membership is free and open to all residents of Sawbridgeworth. You just need some joie de vivre, a little je ne sais quoi, a dash of adventure, a willingness to experience a different way of life and a commitment to having fun. In order to join, please contact the Town Clerk, who will put you in touch with the current Chairman. Full details of the Town Twinning Committee are to be found in the local library along with copies of recent Town Twinning Newsletters.

Website

None

Contact Name

Jeremy Dickson

Contact Phone

722314

16. East Hert's & West Essex Guild of Spinners,Weavers & Dyers

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If you enjoy crafts but do not know how to spin, weave or dye then this Guild has members who will teach you. You can bring along your current piece of knitting crochet or other handicraft. Classes are held in various places.
Please contact Hazel Mead for more details.

Contact Name

Hazel Mead

Contact Phone

01279 724503

Contact Email

hazelmead404@btinternet.com

17. United Service Club

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	United Services Social Club, London Road

Background:
A handful of servicemen returning from the 1914-18 war thought it a good idea to find a regular meeting place where they could continue their friendship and comradeship in some formal way, they met firstly at the home of Capt HM Rushworth on 28th August 1919.
A special meeting was arranged where a steering committee was formed, the club name was formed and rules set up, eventually a meeting place was offered by Sir EB Barnard which was the Shaftsbury Hall, and the club was under way. The club premises were subsequently donated by Sir E.B Barnard in 1922 and earlier in March 1921 at an AGM the club passed the rule to open the club to men who had not served in the armed forces.
During the 1939/45 war the WRVS supplied hot soup and a resting place at the club for local servicemen and later as the club grew slowly through the 50s and 60s it was opened up to ladies, now of course they can be members in their own right! Generally family membership is a popular option at £17.50 per year which allows the member to bring their spouse/partner and children under 18yrs.

What we Offer:
Now running as general family social club we have 4 full size Match Play Snooker Tables - plus 3 Dart Boards and a Pool Table with teams in local leagues also 2 teams in the Cribbage League.
We have regular entertainment on stage and many fun nights, quiz nights, race nights and charity fund raising evenings.
Children are allowed at the pool table and member’s sons/daughters in their early teens can play snooker at certain times/evenings under parental supervision.
The Club offers fully stocked bar with regular guest beers also snacks, sweets etc.
NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME.

OPENING TIMES
Mon – Fri 6.45 pm, Sat 11.30am – 3.30pm reopens 6.45pm, Sun Noon – 7pm

Contact Name

Club Steward: Mr M Walker

Contact Phone

01279 722310

List Of Items

1. Campaign for Real Ale - Herts and Essex Branch (HEB CAMRA)

2. Hertfordshire Airfield Memorial Group

3. The Real Ale Club Sawbridgeworth

4. Sawbridgeworth Players - Amateur Dramatics

5. Sawbridgeworth Photographers on Flickr

6. Lace Makers

7. Sawbridgeworth Bridge Club