50 Years of NWR Sonning Common

The Sonning Common NWR Group is delighted to be celebrating 50 years since the group was founded in May 1976.

Our 50th Celebration will be on Saturday 16th May at 7.30pm

Looking Back

The first recorded programme of the new NHR(National Housewives Register) in Sonning Common was produced by local resident and founder Pam Gibbon and the first meeting was on 24th June 1976. The topic was “Places we have lived”. We know this because we have copies of the typewritten programmes and member lists for most of the 50 years since!

There were 6 members in this first group and by 1977/78 this had grown to 23 with a change of L.O. in 1978. Early meetings are meticulously recorded for us, for example in 1977 they played charades, held a firework party and a poetry evening and reviewed Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell to Arms’.

By our first anniversary in 1986 the group had 31 members and was going strong. The first mention of some very familiar names is in 1987 -89, when a large cohort of our current members brought the list of members to 22. It was fascinating for those of us who are more recent members to learn about what these early meetings were like. Contact was made by telephone of course (no email or WhatsApp then) and proceedings started immediately. Current members Teresa(1989) and Chris(1990) remember meetings being ‘slightly more serious affairs – and there was no wine!’

Enjoying food and drink is a feature of many meetings, past and present!

Looking forward

The group has over the years provided camaraderie and support to local members and those new to the area, many of whom have joined as a result of recommendation, and for many varied reasons. Our current L.O. Sue (2001) says: ‘ From the first meeting I felt very supported and have developed lots of friendships’. Lyn (2023) particularly enjoys the stimulation our talks provide as well as our cultural outings (and she sets a mean quiz!). Angela, who relocated from the Northwest of England in 2022 says joining the group ‘was the beginning of a whole new dimension to my life. Everyone in the group has made me feel so welcome. I can hardly believe I have found such a great bunch of people to socialise with and hardly a week goes by without finding something to look forward to with NWR’

We really wanted to mark our 50 year milestone and welcome all current and past members to our Celebration Evening. There will be a cold buffet and entertainment, 70’s style!