The National Association of Tangent Clubs is proud to have been empowering women through friendship and fun for over 50 years since the inaugural Annual General Meeting in 1965.
Here are some of the key moments from our history.
Founder members of the first Club, Bournemouth 1, had started meeting in 1950 with the idea of continuing the connections developed in Ladies Circle once members had retired due to the age rule. Several other Clubs followed their lead over the subsequent years until the decision was made to form a National Association.
Tangent continues to offer support to Ladies Circle, Round Table and 41 Club whilst promoting friendship and social events for our Clubs as well as charitable activities and fundraising. An Annual General Meeting and Conference are held annually in April in conjunction with 41 Club where propositions are debated by members and Executive Officers elected.
1950
Where it all began
Founder members of the first Club, Bournemouth 1, had started meeting in 1950 with the idea of continuing the connections developed in Ladies Circle once members had retired due to the age rule. Several other Clubs followed their lead over the subsequent years until the decision was made to form a National Association.
1965
Inaugural meeting of the Association
The Inaugural meeting of the Association of Tangent Clubs took place at the Hinton Firs Hotel, Bournemouth, in 1965. It was agreed there that the time had not yet arrived to form a National Association, but that there would be a meeting each year.
1968
1st Jewel was presented
A jewel was presented to their Chairman, Sybil White who became the first President in 1970. The first National Executive comprised of a President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.
1982
Sales Officer joins the National Executive Team
The first Sales Officer was Elizabeth Towle from Sutton Coldfield Tangent. Elizabeth had been National President in 1979.
2009
Membership was opened to all
Membership was opened to members who had not been part of Ladies Circle. Initially members had previously been members of The National Association of Ladies Circles, one of the four Clubs of the Round Table Family, however at the AGM in 2009 it was decided that Clubs could extend membership to other interested ladies.
2011
Editor and Website Co-ordinator Role established
An Editor and Website Co-ordinator was added to the National Executive team. She took on production of a magazine for members three times a year and management of the website. The first Editor and Website Co-ordinator was Sue Hill from Northwich.
2014
Tangent Club International (TCI)
At the AGM in Bournemouth, it was agreed that Tangent would become a founder member of Tangent Club International (TCI). The five founder countries were Cyprus, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden.
2014
Round Table Family Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding was agreed and signed on the 11th January 2014 by the four National Presidents of the Round Table Family – Round Table, Ladies Circle, 41 Club and Tangent.
2015
Executive Administrative Officer Role established
The Executive grew to include an Executive Administrative Officer. The first Executive Administrator was Jackie Hampton from Twyford.
2018
Round Table Family Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding was re-signed on the 14th January 2018 by the four National Presidents of the Round Table Family – Round Table, Ladies Circle, 41 Club and Tangent.
2019
Marketing and Membership Officer Role established
A Marketing and Membership Officer joined the National Executive team. The first person to hold this role was Emma-Jane Wright from Charnwood Tangent.
2020/21
The Association reached its 50th Anniversary and had planned a celebratory lunch.
The celebration was however postponed several times due to the COVID Pandemic. It was also the first year that the Association had no President. The Executive for 2019/20 continued to run the Association as a team during what was a difficult year for all our Members.
2021/22
Organising committee for 50th Anniversary Lunch
The Association was finally able to celebrate its 50th Anniversary on 18 September with a splendid lunch at the National Conference Centre, Solihull attended by almost 350 ladies from across the Country. The year also saw our Association leaving Tangent Club International after a vote by Members at a Special General Meeting on 6 September 2021.
