The Executive provides strategic direction to the Association. The Executive is composed of the Officers of the Association, The Management Team, three representatives from each branch and up to three co-opted members. The Executive also has representatives from the Conservative Clubs, Conservative Future, Conservative Policy Forum, the County Council Conservative Group, each of the District and Borough Council Groups and affiliated societies.

The Officers are responsible for managing the Association. The Officers are the Chairman, Deputy Chairman (Political) and Deputy Chairman (Membership & Fundraising).

The Management Team runs the Association on a day to day basis, together with the Officers, according to policy determined by the Executive. Members of the Management Team are elected each year at the Association Annual General Meeting. The last vote took place at the AGM on Monday 31st March 2008.

The Management Team is:

• Cllr. Richard Lewis - Chairman
• Mr John Vickers     - Deputy Chairman (Membership & Fundraising)
• Cllr. Paul Bell          - Deputy Chairman (Political)
• Cllr. Mark Hollyman- Treasurer
• Cllr Steven North    - Officer
  
• Cllr. Gill Mercer      - Officer
• Cllr. Andy Mercer   - Officer
• Cllr. Thomas Pursglove - Officer

Branches represent Association members in wards. Each Branch elects it's own officers.

The Branches are:

• North (comprises the wards of Isham, Orlingbury, Harrowdens & Hardwick)
• South (Bozeat)
• West (comprises the wards of Ecton, Mears Ashby & Sywell)
• Brickhill
• Ecton
• Earls Barton
• Finedon
• Great Doddington & Wilby
• Hemmingwell
• Higham Ferrers
• Redwell East
• Redwell West
• Rushden (comprises the wards of Hayden, Spencer, Bates, Sartoris & Pemberton)*
• Wollaston (comprises wards of Grendon, Irchester, Strixton & Wollaston)
• Wellingborough (comprises the wards of Castle, Croyland, Queensway & Swanspool)

Members of Branches are part of the controlling political group on:

• Northamptonshire County Council
• East Northamptonshire District Council

Members of Branches form the controlling political group on:

• Higham Ferrers Town Council
• Rushden Town Council
• Wellingborough Borough Council

* The Rushden wards of Hayden, Spencer, Bates / Sartoris and Pemberton were formerly called East, North, South and West respectively.

There are a number of organisations and clubs within Wellingborough Conservative Association and the Conservative Party.

A fundraising club for the enjoyment of members. Under the rules of the Betting & Gaming License only party members are eligible to join the Centurian Club.

The Centurian Club was established in March 2002 to mark the new millennium. A draw takes place each month at an Association event when two £10 prizes are awarded. There is also an annual luncheon, which is free to members, when the Grand Draw takes place. Guests are welcome to attend.

The Grand Draw Prizes are:

• First Prize - £100
• Second Prize - £50
• Third Prize - £25

Annual subscription is £20. Membership of the Centurian Club does not provide membership to the Conservative Party.

Cllr. Mrs Patricia Raymond
Chairman
01933 674621

Please see the Conservative Future section of our web site.

This important group meets regularly to discuss issues and has a direct influence on the development of future party policy.

The CPF was re launched in January 2002 and is chaired by the Chairman of the party. A process of policy renewal has been embarked upon and the CPF will be directly involved in this process by being part of the new Shadow Policy Unit. As such, it will convey members's views directly to the leadership and Shadow Cabinet.

Discussions briefs will be issued quarterly by the CPF group of Wellingborough Conservative Association and submissions made to the Shadow Policy Unit.

Cllr. Steven North
Chairman

This is a very active body in the constituency and is part of the national movement.

The CWCC is primarily a fundraising arm of the Association and has a tradition of organising a wide variety of events throughout the year which are very popular. Political discussion also takes place and comments are passed to the central committee. As part of the activity of the CWCC two luncheons are held each year with a prominent Conservative politician as guest speaker. Our Events page lists the CWCC events. Guests are welcome to attend.

There is no subscription. Membership of the CWCC does not provide membership to the Conservative Party.

Mrs. Jennie Bone
Chairman
01933 271207

The Ladies Luncheon Club meet on a regular basis every third Thursday of each month at the Castle in Wellingborough. There is a guest speaker every other month. Our Events page lists the Ladies Luncheon Club events.

Annual subscription is £1. Membership of the Ladies Luncheon Club does not provide membership to the Conservative Party.

Miss. Phil Kemp
Chairman
01933 677763

Membership of the Patrons' Club is for those who are able to subscribe additional funds to the Association.

The Patrons' Club is a unique group of members who wish to join an exclusive organisation. Membership includes an invitation to two prestigious events each year. They normally take the form of a dinner in the company of a prominent Conservative politician. Our Events page usually lists the Patrons' Club events. Guests are sometimes invited to attend.

Annual subscription is £200 each or £300 for a couple. Membership of the Patrons' Club does not provide membership to the Conservative Party.

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Chairman
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The Conservative & Unionist Party can be traced back to the seventeenth Century when it was known collectively as the 'Tory Party'. The name (from the Irish 'brigand') was thought to be a term used for papist outlaws sympathetic to the royal cause. It came to characterise defenders of the principles of hereditary succession to the Crown and non-resistance to the Monarch. 'Unionist' was added in 1912 after the absorption on the Liberal Unionists (formed in 1866 after breaking away from the Liberal Party over the issue of Irish home rule).

After the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, a party system slowly emerged with 'Whigs' supporting parliamentary control and 'Tories' supporting the prerogatives of the Crown. In 1783 William Pitt the Younger became Tory Prime Minister and led the Government for most of the next twenty-one years. Britain became embroiled in the French Revolution and at this time of national crisis Edmund Burke set out a manifesto of Conservative principles, many of which still hold true today.

By the 1830s the 'Whigs' had become known as Liberals. Under Robert Peel a new era of Conservative thinking was introduced. Disagreement ensued, but Benjamin Disraeli won a seat in the House of Commons in 1837 representing Maidstone. The Disraeli Government introduced a number Acts of Parliament between 1875 and 1878 that brought about radical social reform and united the Party.

After World War I, the party provided stability and helped influence the new Labour Party of the need to alter politics and society through parliament and democratic election. The second Labour government collapsed in 1931 and the Conservative Party joined with Labour dissidents, led by former Socialist Ramsay MacDonald, to form a national government to cope with the economic crisis.

Economic recovery gave rise to unprecedented levels of employment and productivity by 1937 when Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister. In the war against Germany, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister uniting the Conservative Party with the other political parties to bring about Victory for the allies.

In the immediate post war period, Anthony Eden, Harold MacMillan, Rab Butler, Reginald Maudling, Ian MacLeod, Enoch Powell and others in the party brought a restatement of Conservatism. Prosperity and advances in social welfare achieved during the 1950s helped ensure thirteen years of Conservative power from 1951 to 1964.

Disillusionment with the Labour Government enabled Conservatives to regain power in 1970 and Edward Heath proceeded to tackle Britain's serious economic problems. He took Britain into what was then called the Common Market. Difficulties arose when the Trades Unions resisted the Industrial Relations Act. From 1974, under Labour, strikes became commonplace, inflation rocketed and Britain's global standing declined.

In 1975, the Party elected Margaret Thatcher as their leader and embarked on a radical reassessment of policy in all areas. Elected to govern in 1979, the Conservatives began to transform Britain, reversing socialist polices and rebuilding Britain's position in the world. Living standards rose, industry was rejuvenated and enterprise unleashed. John Major became Prime Minister in 1990 and continued the reforms. Conservatives governed for eighteen years until 1997. Following successive leaders the Conservative Party continues in opposition to the Labour Government led by Tony Blair.