Clubs & Societies
Civic Organisations In Brailes
A directory of brailes‘ Clubs, & Societies
Brailes Gardening Club
When: Usually the 3rd Thursday of the month (see Calendar for exact dates)
Where: Village Hall, Brailes, 7.30 pm start
Contact: gardeningclub.brailes@gmail.com for more details
Cost:£15 (2025 Subscription) £5 (Guests)
Benefits: Members are entitled to a discount of 10% at Applegarth, Chipping Norton and 5% at Batsford Garden Centre.
Contact: the Treasurer – lockela@icloud.com for more details
Brailes Gardening Club held their first meeting in the Free School in February 2001. Peter Dodd of Stems Nursery, Toddenham spoke about propagating then demonstrated the art of division. Just 15 people attended, two of whom still attend meetings to this day.
When numbers grew the club moved to the Village Hall where it still meets today. Apart from a short period during lockdown, when a newsletter penned by Jacqui Vallance kept everyone connected, the club has had a mix of speakers and garden visits throughout the year.
Talks and demonstrations given by professional speakers cover a wide range of topics, including garden design, planting, plant propagation, wildlife, natural history, healing power of plants and plants and gardens of the world.
Private visits are arranged to gardens not normally open to the public and the limited group numbers create a personal and intimate atmosphere in which to enjoy each garden. Join our happy group as a member or attend as a visitor for a taste of what we have to offer.
Mechanical & Craft Society
When: 1st Monday of the month
Where: Village Hall, Brailes, 7.30 pm start
Contact: stuartcummings@madasafish.com for more details
Cost: £5 (2025 Subscription)
Benefits: Members are entitled to a discount of 10% at Applegarth, Chipping Norton and 5% at Batsford Garden Centre.
Contact: the Treasurer – Eric Darvell – for more details
The Brailes Mechanical & Crafts Society was founded in September 1978 at the Institute. Membership was £1 for adults and 50p for ladies. On January 1st 1983 the Society took over the running of the institute, covering costs of repairs etc for the next ten years. In the mid-1990s the Society relocated its meetings to the Village Hall to accommodate the number of regular members attending. If you are interested in mechanics, crafts, and presentations by experts in their respective fields this society, one of the longest running in the village, is a great place to start and to meet members with a wealth of experience of their own.
Allotments
When: All year Round!
Where: Upper Brailes btw the Fountain and The Gate
Contact: anna.noyes@btinternet.com for more details
Part of the assets that came to Brailes Charities upon it’s formation included the land on which the allotments are sited. Brailes Charities lets out individual allotments for a small rent giving priority to residents of Brailes.
Sustainable Brailes
When: See Calendar or Notices
Where: tbc
Contact: Email us for more details
Sustainable Brailes started in November 2020 with a small group of 15 people meeting online. We now have over 60 people on our mailing list, and we meet regularly.
“The aim of this group is to share ideas, information and activities that help promote a low carbon community and a sustainable future, as well as have some fun. We are open to any ideas to support and promote local activities around increasing biodiversity, planting trees, supporting local green ventures, growing own food, recycling, bee keeping, greener fuel and
travel, etc. etc.”
Brailes Brownies
When: Every Wednesday
Where: Pavillion, Brailes, 6.00 pm ~ 7.30pm
Contact: hincejane@hotmail.com for more details
Tel: 07989046305
Brailes Brownies is for local girls age 7 until the end of primary school. The club will be 70 years old in 2026, and produced a fabric collage to commemorate our 60th year, which hangs in St. George’s church. It is believed Brailes Brownies was started by Mrs Bengough, who lived at the Old Forge, with current leaders Veronica and Jane taking over the reins from Edna Jervis just over 30 years ago.
We play lots of games, indoor and outdoor – we do a variety of crafts, cooking and other outdoor activities, such as trails and quizzes through the village and over the fields. We try to do a trip each term – have recently been to Cotswold Wildlife park, Evenley Wood and Brandon Marsh. We also do a selection of brownie badges and follow the traditional brownie programme. We attend the Remembrance service in November, laying a wreath at the War Memorial and parading our flag.
We meet every Wednesday, termtime – 6.00pm to 7.30pm in the pavilion, beginning and ending each session with the traditional brownie song
Brailes Bellringers
When: Every Wednesday (subject to numbers available)
Where: St George’s Church, Brailes, 7.30 pm start
Contact: stuartcummings@madasafish.com for more details
The Bellringers practice at St. George’s every week between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. To check in advance to confirm a session please call Stuart Cummings on 0777 259 5232. There have been bellringers practicing at St. George’s since at least the 19th century. More information about the history of the bells can be found here – in the Tour of St. George’s – Section 10 “Outside”.
