Anglia's Annual Review

The 2025 Anglia Annual Review took place in April in the charming market town of Leighton Buzzard, marking the first annual review led by our new region chair, Karen Batten.

The morning offered a fantastic selection of activities for members to enjoy. Bell ringing and campfire singing filled the theatre with joyful sounds, while some members took the opportunity to travel off-site and experience a ride on the delightful Leighton Buzzard Railway. The craft café was a hub of creativity, with vase decorating and other hands-on crafts on offer. Meanwhile, a quiet area with games and puzzles provided a perfect spot to relax and chat with friends, old and new.

A personal highlight for many was the tomahawk throwing. I was impressed I had hit some part of the target (even if it was just one of the legs holding it up!). The sheer delight when a member managed to hit the bullseye was unmistakable — cheers and applause all round! This fun (and slightly competitive!) activity was led by a member fundraising for TOPAZ, making it both entertaining and worthwhile.

We were also treated to a range of stalls — from members fundraising for TOPAZ, to information about the Heraldry Guild, and more. There was no shortage of conversation and laughter as members browsed and mingled.

In the afternoon, we came together for the formal review of Anglia region in 2024. Special thanks were given to Chris Tanner and Jean Mullane for their hard work in organising the region holidays, and the Anglia Thanks award was presented to a very surprised — but thoroughly deserving — Margaret Fleetwood.

Our afternoon speakers, Gill and Barry Goodman, brought the event to a joyful close with songs and stories celebrating traditions from across the Anglia region — and soon had everyone singing along.

This year’s event was a huge success, thanks in large part to the hard work of Bedfordshire county chair, Chrissy Hayward, and her dedicated team of helpers. A huge thank you to everyone involved in the preparation and running of the day.

We can’t wait to see our members again at next year’s Anglia Annual Review, which will be hosted by Suffolk Trefoil Guilds.

Jules Swindells

Anglia PR adviser

Miss the powerpoint during the meeting? Check it out online: Anglia Annual Review powerpoint