We are currently preparing a programme of events for Michaelmas 2008. You can look forward to the freshers’ gin and tonic party, top speakers from the political world and elsewhere, our legendary port parties and finally the Chairman’s Dinner.

If you have any suggestions for speakers, or other thoughts and comments, do not hesitate to contact me on .

Please check back closer to the time to find out about confirmed events.

With best wishes for the summer,

Officers

CHAIRMAN: Hugo Hadlow
(St John’s College)

VICE-CHAIRMAN: James Sharpe
(Fitzwilliam College)

JUNIOR TREASURER: Shamir Shah
(Downing College)

CAMPAIGNS OFFICER: Henry Walton
(Magdalene College)

SECRETARY: Caroline Cummins
(Newnham College)

REGISTRAR: Gavin Rice
(Queens’ College)

Committee

Victoria Watson
(Jesus College)

Bethany Williams
(Lucy Cavendish College)

James Shaw
(King’s College)

Hugh Burling
(St John’s College)

Announcing the annual CUCA Garden Party, Sunday 15th June 2008.

The CUCA Garden Party will take place on Suicide Sunday, 15th June, from 3-6pm in the gardens of Newnham College.

Tickets will cost £12 for members and £15 for non-members. It is strongly advised to buy these as soon as possible, as the Garden Party is always popular.

We will be serving Hiedseck Monopole Gold Top Vintage 2002 champagne, along with Pimm’s, strawberries, and cucumber sandwiches!

The more sporting amongst you can take part in a quick game of croquet, whilst the more laid-back can sit, enjoy the champagne, and relax.

Help us celebrate the term and the year, and start your May Week off in style!

To purchase tickets, email me with your name, College, and the number of member/non-member tickets you require on , and send a cheque payable to Cambridge University Conservative Association to me at Trinity College.

The Chairman’s Dinner is now sold out.

It is my great pleasure to announce that tickets are now available for the Chairman’s Dinner.

The four-course dinner will be held in St John’s College on Friday, 13th June, with a drinks reception on the Backs at 7pm, and dinner in the Wordsworth Room at 7.30pm.

Tickets: Members - £40, Non-members - £45 (menu below)

Tickets are strictly limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a ticket, please email me on , AND send a cheque (payable to Cambridge University Conservative Association) to me (Mike Morley, at Trinity) by Saturday 31st May.

Your email should contain your name, and the name of any guests, along with any dietary requirements.

Your ticket will not be guaranteed until I have received your cheque: you may lose out if you do not get your cheque to me promptly.

Dress: White Tie preferred*

Salad of Roast Gressingham Duck with hand-dived sea scallops
(Vegetarian: Tian of Avocado and Celeriac)
Pleno Blanco 2006
-
Grilled Quail
(Vegetarian: Cabbage Timbale)
Sterling Hills 2006
-
Warm Apple & Membrillo Tart
Madeira
-
Artisan British and Irish Cheeses
-
Coffee and Mints

Greg Hands, MP for Hammersmith and Fulham and CUCA Chairman in Lent 1988, will speak on the topic “My CUCA days with Nick Clegg”

Friday 16th May, 6pm

Dining Room, The Cambridge Union

We are joined by Norman Blackwell, a former Downing Street policy unit director who worked for both Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Lord Blackwell is currently Chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies. He was a Special Adviser in 1986 and 1987, and was Head of the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street from 1995 to 1997.

Lord Blackwell was formerly a Partner at McKinsey & Company, and a director of Dixons Group. He currently has a range of business interests including non-executive director of Standard Life, Slough Estates plc, Interserve plc and Corporate Services Group plc. He is also a senior adviser to KPMG and a Board Member of the OFT. He was created a Life Peer in 1997.

This is our last meeting before we take a break for revision and exams. Come along to what promises to be a fascinating talk. We next meet at the Chairman’s Dinner!

Monday 5th May, 6pm

The Junior Parlour, Trinity College
Opposite Great Gate above the Post Office: enter Whewell’s Court and it’s at the top of the staircase on the right.

Stanley Johnson is former Conservative MEP an environmentalist and author of books on the environment. He has worked at the World Bank and was the Head of Prevention of Pollution Division at the European Commission from 1973 - 1979. He is a trustee of the Gorilla Organisation and a board member of Plantlife International.

He is also father of Boris Johnson, the new Conservative Mayor of London. Stanley Johnson was Conservative candidate for Teignbridge in the 2005 general election.

If rumour is to be believed he may well be the next candidate for Henley…

8pm, Sunday 11th May 2008

Our legendary Port and Cheese evening. A selection of fine cheeses and free-flowing port, accompanied by stimulating conversation, will help you unwind.

Dress code: Black Tie

Tickets will cost £6 for members and £8 for non-members and are NOT available on the door. Places are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. After the event is full, I will add names to a waiting list in the event of non-payment or cancellation.

In order to reserve tickets, please email me on and give a cheque payable to “Cambridge University Conservative Association” to me in person or by UMS to Mike Morley at Trinity College.

The deadline for receipt of applications and cheques is MONDAY 5th May at 6pm. Your ticket is not guaranteed until I have received your cheque.

Late payments will not be accepted and your ticket will be offered to someone on the waiting list; cancellation with less than 72 hours will still result in your cheque being cashed.

Signing up to the facebook event will not guarantee you a ticket until I have your cheque.

6pm, Tuesday 29th April

The Dining Room, The Cambridge Union Society

“The road to victory under Cameron”

George Freeman is the Conservative candidate for the new constituency of Mid Norfolk. He ran his own business in Cambridge, where he was a trustee of the Cambridge Union Society. He will be talking to us about renewing the Conservative Party and present a short film.

‘Clegg was one of us’

CUCA have offered Nick Clegg discounted life-time membership if he rejoins.

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, was a member of CUCA when he attended Robinson College. Greg Hands MP recently published a copy of the relevant membership list.

Mike Morley, Chairman, wrote to Mr Clegg, saying “I was very interested to read that you were a member of CUCA during your time at Cambridge.

“As the incoming chairman, I thought I would write to you and formally invite you to re-join the association. As a member you would benefit from reduced-price tickets to our social events and would once again be part of the most active political society in Cambridge.

“CUCA as an association - like the Conservative party nationally - has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and we now have many more members than the Labour club or Lib Dem group. Membership of CUCA normally costs £4 for a year, or £8 for life - but given your previous membership of the association, we would be happy to let you ‘upgrade’ to life membership for just £4. Let me know if you are interested in becoming part of CUCA once again.

“I enclose a membership renewal form for your convenience.”

My Committee and I would like to welcome you back to CUCA. We have organised a variety of events for Easter Term 2008, with a range of speaker and social events designed to keep you informed and entertained as term goes on.

Importantly, elections for local government - city and county council positions - are taking place on the 1st May, as is the Mayoral Election in London. CUCA is an active campaigning society and regular sessions with the local association to canvas support will be organised. Keep an eye out for announcements via email. Now is our chance to bring new Conservative councillors back to Cambridge City Council and to lay the groundwork for a victory in the next general election.

The social events are always very well attended, so it’s important to book in advance. We’re also very keen to sustain high attendance at our speaker meetings this term. Please invite your friends: all our speaker meetings are free to everyone, and just like the various College politics societies you do not have to be a Conservative! Who knows, you might one day go on to be leader of the Liberal Democrats…

Mike Morley, B.A. (Hons) MSci Cantab.
Chairman, Easter 2008