About Stony Stratford Business Association

When in the 1950s a rates increase was looming, local traders were summoned to a meeting at The Cock.   There was clearly a need for the trades people to form some sort of organisation and Dr Witheridge offered to chair the meeting because as he said he had “no axe to grind nor  scalpel to sharpen.” The meeting voted to form the Stony Stratford Chamber of Trade.

This was then affiliated to the National Chamber of Trade as a branch.  However it was felt that much of the national body’s activities concerned national politics rather than the local matters which were the prime concern of local businesses. With the establishment of Milton Keynes new city the Newport Pagnell, Bletchley, Wolverton and Stony Stratford Chambers of Trade decided to amalgamate into one body. However it was soon apparent that their aims were to an extent at variance and so it was disbanded at a meeting in the Milton Keynes Council Chamber.

However the business men and women of Stony Stratford realised that in order to keep the economic base of the town viable and to unite the town’s business community as well as manage the Christmas lights, there was still a need for a business organisation. In 1981 the Stony Stratford Business Association held its inaugural meeting.  As time passed the activities of this group began to extend, regular lunches were started in 1992, and the newsletter - which originally in the days of the Chamber of Trade was hand-written - began to develop into the attractive and informative publication that it now is.  Download the latest copy  here.

The current Association has in excess of 150 members and its activities are wide. The Association is a voluntary body operated by a committee of representatives from all areas of business within the town. A copy of our constitution can be downloaded here.

The committee meets once a month to discuss ongoing business which includes seasonal promotions, lobbying issues, representation on various Milton Keynes groups, reports on finance, membership. Plans are also made for networking and social events. Currently meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month.

We always welcome additional help, particularly from members who can volunteer services or expertise to further the aims of the Association.

The AGM takes place in April each year and you can view the last years chairman's report here. Monthly lunches are held on the second Tuesday of the month and Meet the Members evenings are held regularly.  The summer barbecue and Chinese New Year celebrations have become an established part of the Stony Stratford calendar. More details of forthcoming events can be found here.

Stony Stratford Business Assocation is a member of Destination Milton Keynes.