CF Northern Christmas Dinner Comes to Sheffield‏

Dr Spencer Pitfield JP, reviews the Northern CF Christmas dinner. Spencer is a Sheffield Association Board Representative and former PPC Candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge.

On Saturday 26th November members of Conservative Future from across the Northern Region together with CF colleagues from further afield held their inaugural Christmas Dinner at the Mecure Hotel, Sheffield. Over One Hundred guests attended this black tie event in what was clearly the largest such gathering of CF members for many a year.

The event was organised by Philip Smith, Northern CF Partnership Chairman, together with other senior CF colleagues including Yorkshire and Humber Chairman Sarah Nazer and Regional Fundraising Officer James Gould. All congratulations must be given to Philip, Sarah and James for what was without doubt a hugely successful evening.

The City of Sheffield Association was of course extremely grateful to the organisers for choosing our City for this major Party event. It has been difficult in recent years to attract high profile visits. We hope this Christmas dinner will be the first of many such events in Sheffield.

Speakers for the evening included Timothy Kirkhope MEP and CF Vice-presidents Eric Ollerenshaw MP and James Wharton MP. The guest list was as you would expect for such an event a ‘who’s who’ for not just the North of England but other parts of the country. However, special mention should be made of the attendance of Robert Winfield – long-serving supporter of CF across the northern region, Area Chairman for South Yorkshire Debbie Toon, and Party Board member Charles Heslop who travelled from Newcastle to show his support. Ben Howlett, National CF Chairman, also kindly joined us coming up from London.

The author of this short article had to leave after the speeches completed just after 10.30pm, but I am reliably informed that in true CF tradition the party remained going well into the small hours! A fantastic event that truly confirms that CF is going from strength to strength across the North of England.

South Yorkshire Elects New Area Chairman

South Yorkshire Conservative Future held a special general meeting on Tuesday October 25^th. The main item of business was elections for the position of South Yorkshire area chairman, and the two deputy positions.

Owen Grey was elected as the new South Yorkshire Area Chairman with Richard Drew and Matthew Robinson elected as deputies.

YHCF wishes Owen and his deputies all the best with their work in South Yorkshire and has every confidence that the South Yorkshire area will continue to go from strength to strength.

A Round Up Of YCHF’s Recent Activity

It’s been a busy period for YHCF. September saw YHCF members manning Conservative future stands at fresher’s fairs at universities across Yorkshire and Humber. The CF stands pulled in crowds amidst competition from some of the other weird and wonderful societies on offer. YHCF can be proud of the efforts it has made in recruiting new members.

October saw the culmination of the hard work put into recruiting new members with a very special meal with Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones.  Andrew spoke about the challenges of being one of the new intake of MP’s and gave an insight into working in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. This was a great opportunity for newer members of CF to meet the YHCF team and find out more about the fantastic things YHCF is involved in.

YHCF members have also been busy taking part in action days in the region with members campaigning in the Thornton Dale and the Woldsby-election on behalf of Janet Sanderson who was successfully elected on October 27^th.  Another action day was held in Denby Dale assisting Dewsbury Conservative Association in delivering literature to residents in the area.

South Yorkshire CF held its special general meeting which saw the election of a new South Yorkshire area chairman, congratulations to Owen Grey and his deputies Richard Drew and Matthew Robinson.

A reminder! November sees Northern Conservative Future holding a Christmas party on November 26^th with CF members from across the country attending for what promises to be a fantastic event, with tickets still available but you better be quick!

Details can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=209738425717251

Keep up the good work YHCFers!

Get Involved! – North Yorkshire County Council Campaign Day

Help out Conservatives in North Yorkshire by taking part in a campaign day in Thornton Le Dale on Saturday October 22nd. Thirsk and Malton CF will be out campaigning on behalf of  councillor Janet Sanderson from 10:00 am to 13:00. If you have a few hours to spare please come along. All the details can be found on the facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=254312851282028&notif_t=event_invite

Campaigning will be followed by refreshments!

Walking 10k for Marie Curie Cancer Care

On Sunday 31st July members and supporters of Northern Conservative Future Partnership took part in the ‘Walk Ten’ sponsored walk at Castle Howard, North Yorkshire and we had a great time! All money raised goes to Marie Curie Cancer Care. If anyone would like to sponsor us as a group, any donations, however small, will be gratefully received.

 

Amanda Pickering
Northern CF Partnership Social Actions Officer

You can email me at amanda.pickering@northernconservativefuture.com

Huddersfield CF Dinner with Jason McCartney

On Saturday 9^th July Huddersfield Conservative Future sat down to dinner with Colne Valley Member of Parliament Jason McCartney. Jason has been a continued supporter of Conservative Future in Huddersfield and has spoken at Huddersfield University on a number of occasions.

He has gained support from students in Huddersfield having voted against the rise in tuition fees. Also in attendance was Jason’s chief of staff John Travis.

Diners were treated to a raffle with some weird and wonderful prizes kindly supplied by Robert McGuin. The raffle raised important funds to put towards promoting the branch and attracting new members.

Huddersfield CF branch can be proud of hosting its first major event since its creation, the branch is playing a key role in the West Yorkshire area of YHCF.

Sarah Nazer Elected New YHCF Chairman

At YHCF’s special general meeting held on th 5th July 2011 at York St John University, Sarah Nazer was unanimously elected the new chairman of YHCF. Sarah has played an integral role in YHCF over the last five years and her key priorities for YHCF are to:

• Encourage greater recruitment of new members into YHCF
• Create closer links between both the voluntary and professional party
• Represent the views of YHCF on a wider level
• Work to promote the Conservative cause ensuring the  YHCF region continues to prosper

YHCF can be sure it is in safe hands and can look forward to continued success under the stewardship of Sarah Nazer.

A Message From YHCF Chairman Philip Smith

Dear YHCF Supporter, 

It has been a privilege and honour to serve the party in Yorkshire as Regional Chairman of CF for the past 2 and a half years. 

I would like to express my gratitude for the efforts of the team I have led since December 2008 in firstly    preparing the right structure then supporting young members of the party successfully helping to lead this great Region to one of the biggest Tory swings in the country at last year’s General Election. Yorkshire is a fantastic place to be active in CF with regular opportunities to get involved. 

I look forward to continuing to support  my successor and their team in my capacity as Northern Chairman to share best practise and support the RCs in the North develop their Regions Communications links.

Please don’t forget to purchase a ticket for our Northern Christmas Party this November which promises to be a great occasion.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=209738425717251

I am confident that Yorkshire CF will enjoy continual development and will continue to contribute to the prosperity of the party in the North. 

An announcement will be made this week on the successful candidate for the Regional Chairman Post. Watch this space…  

My thanks, 

Philip Smith

Outgoing Regional Chairman

CF Young Professionals Launch

YHCF members are invited to the launch of CF Young Professionals at BPP Law School, Leeds on Friday 15th July 7pm.
 
Guests of Honour include Robert Goodwill MP, Stuart Andrew MP, Simon Reevell MP and Andrew Jones MP. This will be a great opportunity to network with a number of Yorkshire MPs as well as regional lawyers and businessmen as well as meeting with fellow YHCF members.

If you would like to attend please email graduates@yorkshireconservatives.org.uk.

YHCF Special General Meeting

On the 5^th July 2011 a special general meeting will be held at York St John University. The purpose of the meeting is to elect the new regional chairman of YHCF and to appoint the relevant regional officers. Outgoing YHCF chairman Philip Smith will chair the meeting and all paid-up members of the Conservative Party under the age of thirty within the Yorkshire and Humber region are eligible to vote.

The election will be held in classroom HG/138 at 6.30pm. Members can confirm there attendance to the meeting via the Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=1510777349636

This is your chance to elect the new YHCF chairman, make your vote count!