Local Clubs & Societies - Purley on Thames Parish Council

This page gives our latest information on clubs, societies and organisations operating in and around Purley on Thames. Although we try to keep this up to date, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information and ask that organisations contact us if their information changes from that shown. Also, any new organisations wishing to be listed here please follow the notes at the bottom of this page.

If a club’s name is shown in dark blue and underlined, clicking on it will provide a link to the organisation’s own website.

1st Purley and Pangbourne Scout Group

Providing Scouting in Purley and Pangbourne, we are a uniformed youth organisation for boys and girls (6-18 years old), offering fun, friendship and adventure through a variety of activities – from arts and crafts to games, exploring the outdoors and adventurous activities – in order to give young people the skills and confidence to take a constructive place in our local, national and international communities.

Project Purley

Project Purley was founded in 1984 ‘to research and record Purley’s past and present’. We hold talks from September to April and outings and social events in the Summer. All are welcome to attend our talks which are held in the Barn on the third Friday of each month starting at 7.30pm for 8.00pm. We have published several books and booklets and have a acquired a huge archive of historic documents and photographs. We publish a Journal every four months and have staged numerous exhibitions over the years.

Purley Art Group

A friendly, lively group of painters meeting on Thursday evenings in Purley on Thames. An untutored group where members are happy to share their skills & knowledge, we have occasional workshop/demos. exhibitions and social events. Now accepting new members. Adults, all levels of experience welcome. Please see website for contact details.

Purley Beeches Residents Association

Purley Beeches Residents Association (PBRA) was formed in the 1980s to oversee the maintenance of the woodland held in trust for the benefit of the residents of Purley Beeches. Three or four trustees are appointed together with a committee. An annual voluntary fee is paid by each household towards the cost of maintenance. An AGM and social evening is held annually in November. A flint wall abuts the woodland, the maintenance of which also fall to the committee. There is at least one clear-up evening each year when residents are invited to join together to maintain the overall appearance of the estate.

Purley Horticultural Society

Promoting interest in gardening activities through spring and summer shows, visits to gardens of interest, monthly evening talks (open to all). Trading Store with supply of gardening requisites at competitive prices – open Sat 10-11am, Feb-Oct. New members welcome – £4.00 per year. Join at Trading Store during opening times.

Purley Jubilee Football Club

Purley Jubilee FC is an FA Chartered Standard football club running junior football teams from U7 to U18 age groups. We also run a development centre for 4-6 year olds who are just starting their connection with football. The club was founded in 1977 and took its name from the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations of the same year. We currently have over 200 boys and girls registered with the club, playing in one of the club’s 22 teams. On a Saturday or Sunday morning, you will see Jubilee’s teams playing at Goosecroft in their traditional red and blue stripe kit. Recently, a girls’ team was formed and it plays in the Berkshire girls league under the name of the Purley Jubilee Diamonds. For more information about teams, sponsorship opportunities or partnerships with Purley Jubilee FC, please contact the Chairman, Doug Walker, dougwalker36@hotmail.co.uk.

Purley Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall is also the village hall and provides affordable space for residents of the village and local area to use for club meetings, social events, group events, weddings, etc. Contact our Booking Secretary on 07772 129187 or visit our website for more details.

Purley Barn Bridge Club

Our Bridge Club has been running for several years and has members with a wide range of skill levels. Games are played in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. We are not able to give formal tuition to absolute beginners, but the more skilled members are happy to review hands and give advice (when asked) to those with less experience. If you are interested, just turn up on a Friday morning at 10.00am at the Barn, Goosecroft. For more information please see our website.

Purley on Thames Cricket Club

Purley on Thames CC plays at the Goosecroft ground off Beech Road, Purley on Thames. It competes in the Thames Valley League (Saturday 1st and 2nd team) and Berkshire League (3rd team). On Sundays there is a full fixture list of friendly matches. There is also a midweek XI. The club has a thriving and successful junior section, providing quality cricket programmes for 6 to 17 year olds. The Club is ECB/Sport England and Clubmark accredited. New players (juniors and adults) are always wanted, for more details contact purleyonthamescc@hotmail.co.uk

Purley on Thames WI

We are a lively group of women from all walks of life who meet for friendship and fun on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Glebe Road. Our evening meetings are relaxed and often include either a speaker, craft demonstration or lighthearted quiz and always include refreshments. Guests and new Members are welcome. For full information, our programme is available via our web page on the WI’s National website or get in touch via purleyonthameswi@berkshirewi.com

Purley on Thames Tennis Club

We are a small, friendly club based on three courts at Goosecroft, Purley on Thames. We have club sessions all year on Saturday mornings, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and additional sessions in the summer on Monday and Thursday evenings . All club members are welcome to participate, normally playing doubles. Our club coach also organizes various training and coaching sessions for individuals and groups, for both skills and fitness improvement, all ability/age levels catered for. We have men’s, ladies’ and mixed teams in the Berkshire league and run social activities throughout the year. Please see our website for more details.

Purley Pathfinders Ladies Walking Group

Celebrating 20 years in May 2019 Purley Pathfinders walks to explore areas both local and within easy reach of Purley on Thames. Walks are held on various weekday mornings and vary in length from 4 miles to 6 miles. A lift share operates from Purley to the start of walks. Four times a year we go by coach to another area eg The Cotswolds, New Forest etc to walk and visit attractions the area has to offer. We are renowned for being a very friendly group. Do visit our website or ring 07768 986 799 to find out more.

Purley Players

We are an amdram group who started from a one-off production in 1993. Since then we have progressed to putting on three productions a year: a pantomime in January, a comedy in spring, and a murder mystery evening with a meal in early autumn. Shows and rehearsals take place at the Barn and we try not to take ourselves too seriously while giving our audiences as professional a performance as we are able. Our shows help to raise money for local charities. To find out more please contact Mark Canterbury on 07793 719198 or Janis Doughty on 0118 348 4147 or email us at mail@purleyplayers.uk. Look on our website to find out our next show or to see records of past productions.

Purley Pop-In

Anyone who would like some daytime company is welcome to join us on their own or with a friend. We have regular quizzes and puzzles to challenge your brain, or just come along for tea/coffee and biscuits, and a chat. The 16 bus stops a Chestnut Grove opposite the Club and there is parking in the Club forecourt. There is a nominal charge of £1 per session. See out website (click on our name above) for dates and times of our sessions.

Purley Pre-School

Graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted in early 2019, Purley Pre-school is a small and vibrant community pre-school, run by a dedicated team of staff, who are supported by a voluntary committee made up of willing parents. We are open from 8.00am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday (term-time only). Why not give us a call on 07504 831149 or email supervisor@purleypreschool.co.uk to arrange a visit and come in and have a chat.

Purley Sports and Social Club

We are a family friendly members club located next to the Recreation ground, just off Beech Road. The club has close ties with both Purley Jubilee Football and Purley Cricket Club and has competitive darts crib and pool teams. We offer a well stocked bar, hot drinks and at weekends some light meal in a lovely location. We are open every evening except Mondays and from 12:00 at weekends. We have a regular entertainment programme including members bingo and many varied sports events shown on screen. For more information call in or see our website (click on our name above).

Purley Park Social Club

The Purley Park Social Club at 84 Wintringham Way Purley on Thames is a not-for-profit private members social club aimed at offering a safe venue for people and families of all ages for friendly fun, fellowship and private parties. It includes pool, darts, juke box, poker and tournaments.

It opens from 7 pm on weekdays, 12 noon weekends and is closed on Tuesdays.

Purley Sustainability Group

Purley Sustainability Group (PSG) is a community sustainability group for Purley on Thames. We are passionate about enhancing community wellbeing through projects that bring people together in order to improve our local environment and encourage sustainable living. We have 2 community allotments, improved monthly recycling options, a monthly local repair café and a free book swap. Projects we are working towards include a community orchard, improved public transport and cycling facilities, and community energy schemes.

We always welcome new members and fresh ideas and volunteers to help on the allotments and at the repair café.

Please contact us via e-mail: info@purleysustainability.co.uk.
PSG Events Calendar

Purley Tots

A very friendly parent & toddler group for 0-3 year olds, held in St. Mary’s Church Hall, Purley on Thames every Tuesday & Wednesday during term time between 9.45 & 11.15am. Running since 1993, this is a great place to come and make friends while your toddler enjoys playing. Soft area for infants also available. First session free. Contact us on purleytots@hotmail.com or find us on facebook “Purley Tots”.

Singing for Fun

Thursday afternoons 2pm to 4pm at St Mary’s church. A welcoming group offering a fun afternoon of singing familiar songs,
friendly repartee, tea and biscuits. Includes reflections. All welcome. Contact Ina Elliott
Telephone: 0786 786 3932, Email: inaelliott@aol.com

Tuesday Lunch Club

Join with others for a light two-course meal, plenty of fun and friendship. For more information contact Sheila Adnett on 07941 980799

Thames Vale Singers

We are a friendly, fun loving group aiming to sing a wide range of music, both popular and classic, to a high standard. We have three concert productions a year, spring, summer, and Christmas which are held at a variety of venues in the local area. We welcome new members when positions in the choir become vacant. To find out more about us or if there are any vacancies please contact Judy Rayers on 0118 942 1880 or email us at mail@thamesvalesingers.org.uk. Look at our website to find our next concerts or more about us.

Trentham Bowls Club

Trentham Bowls Club is situated at Bowling Green Lane, off Sherwood Rise, Purley on Thames. Provision is made for persons from the age of 10 to play lawn bowls. The club offers excellent facilities for both new and advanced bowlers during the season from mid April until late September. If you are a Purley resident, the upper green is free to use on Wednesday evenings and alternate Saturday and Sunday mornings. No charge is made but flat soled shoes must be worn.

Village Concerts

We hold six Village Concerts a year in St Mary’s Church, Purley on Thames, and aim to bring quality music, predominantly acoustic singer songwriter in style, to the West Berkshire area. All the musicians are full time professionals, most with several albums under their belts. We do this as a community project on a volunteer basis and do not aim to make a profit ourselves. Any profit that is occasionally generated is donated to charity. See the Concerts page on our website (click on our name above) for details of upcoming shows.

The following clubs, societies and organisations are based outside Purley on Thames:

Berkshire Family History Society

Berkshire Family History Society can help all family historians living in and around Berkshire – wherever your ancestors came from. Visitors are welcome at all of the six Branch meetings held each month — in Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading, Windsor and Woodley. Practical help and advice is available at the society’s Research Centre in Reading. (next to Berkshire Record Office). It is Berkshire’s foremost facility for family history research and online datasets of Findmypast, Origins, The British Newspaper Archive and Ancestry Library Edition are available for use.

Le Cercle Français

For those who are learning French, for those who love France and for French Nationals. Le Cercle Français meets on the FOURTH Friday of the month from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Church House, 59 Church Street, Caversham RG4 8AX (at the corner of Church St & School Lane) (Park in Waitrose car park). A welcome drink and coffee are included in the admission price of £3.50 per meeting. Enquiries: Margaret: 0118 942 9644, Mary: 0118 941 4771, Vivien: 0118 984 1072

Goring Gap Boat Club

Goring Gap Boat Club is one of the largest recreational boating clubs in the Thames Valley. Membership is open to all, from youngsters gaining their first rowing experience to veterans with a lifetime’s experience on the river. Beginners are assured of a warm welcome and a relaxed, safe introduction to the sport. No previous experience is required and we provide tuition to all new members. The club’s aims are simple – “… to make it possible for members to enjoy unpowered boating …”. Club sessions take place on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday mornings and, in the summer, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.