Bow Group - History

History

On 29 November 1950, a steering meeting was held to set up a group for Conservatives under the age of 35. The resulting group had its first meeting in 7 February 1951 and was named after the place where the original steering meeting had been held: the Bow and Bromley Conservative Association. Their first pamphlet, Coloured People In Britain, was published in 1952.

The group was established as an extra-parliamentary forum for young people. It was to be a broad church, stretching across the Conservative Party, but found itself opposed to the Conservative Monday Club, leading to a misperception that the group was 'left-wing'.

In July 2012 the Bow Group, reflecting on 60 years of its history in British politics, appointed former British Prime Minister The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH as its President and Lords Howe, Howard, Lamont and Heseltine as its Senior Patrons to serve on the advisory board of the organisation.

Their appointment was announced officially at the Bow Group's 60th Anniversary Summer Reception, held on the House of Commons Terrace on 17 July 2012, by the group's current Chairman Ben Harris-Quinney and Sir John Major who gave the keynote speech. Also present were former Bow Group Chairmen Michael Howard, Geoffrey Howe and Norman Lamont, as well as MPs, MEPs and members of the Bow Group.