Victoria League Branches

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship Westminster Branch

Name of Contact: Mrs Eileen Davenport

Contact Address: c/o The Victoria League Headquarters, Victoria League House

                    55 Leinster Square, London W2 4PW

At the Westminster Branch we take very seriously that The Victoria League is the league for Commonwealth friendship.  The Branch organises a programme of events and outings throughout the year.  The outings include visits to special exhibitions in Museums and Art Galleries across the capital.  During July and August each year we take a picnic to the Lunchtime Band Concerts in the garden at Westminster Abbey – just look for the commonwealth flags!

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, Horsham Branch

Name of Contact: Mr. Grafton Edwards

Contact Address: The Chase, Southwater, Horsham RH13 9BX

Contact’s Phone number: 01403730204

Contacts email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Since it’s inception in 1957 when it was opened by Mrs Joyce Edwards, the mother of the present Chairman, the Horsham Branch has a reputation for hospitality to many students and visitors from all over the commonwealth, some of whom still keep in touch.  Horsham is a market town in West Sussex and the branch has regular meetings with its members and organises summer and Christmas party fund-raising events at the house of the chairman to which all members of The Victoria league are invited.  It gives generous support to Student House where there is a ‘Horsham Room’ and the Chairman is a trustee of the Central Council of The Victoria League.

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, South London Branch.

Name of Contact: Mrs Gloria Bailey MBE, Branch Chairman

Contact Address: 21 Kynaston Crescent, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 7BS

Contact’s Phone number: 020 8684 6497

Together with The Lambeth Asian Centre, the Make a Difference Black Afro-Caribbean Group and the Darby& Joan Club, the meeting place for members of the South London branch of the Victoria League (formed in December 2007) is at Woodlawns, 16 Leigham Court Road, Streatham SW16 2PJ which, in 2008, received a substantial Lottery Award and funds from other charitable organisations to improve the premises and provide assistance to older persons.  Commonwealth Day is celebrated every year as one of the major events and in the spirit of the Commonwealth’s Mission Statement “We work as a trusted partner for all Commonwealth people as a force fro peace, democracy, equality and good governance….”  Each year, in October, we celebrate Black History Day when diverse meals and entertainment are provided.  Although it has been difficult to arrange meetings this year because of the renovations to the building, it is hoped that very shortly the Branch will be running smoothly soon and we will gain new members.

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship in Queensland Inc.

Name of Contact: Mrs Ellen Morton OAM, Chairman

Contact Address: P.O. Box 55217, Gold Coast Mail Centre, Queensland 9726, Australia

Contact’s Phone number: +61 (07) 5539 6211

We meet in two venues.  A luncheon is held at the Gold Coast on the 1^st Friday of each month except January.  In Brisbane, we hold functions five times a year and joining with the Royal Commonwealth Society each Commonwealth Day.  We have supported Student House since 1964.

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, Burnie Branch, Inc

Name of Contact: Mrs Elizabeth Singleton, Chairman

Contact Address: P.O. Box 593, Burnie 7320, Tasmania Australia                           

Contact’s Phone number: +61 (03) 6231 2203

Contact’s Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Burnie Victoria League welcomes all ladies who express a desire to join our branch, or just come along and seek our aims and objectives.  We at Burnie strive to keep the Victoria League alive.

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship in Canterbury Inc

Name of Contact: Mr John Jennings, Secretary-Treasurer

Contact Address: P.O. Box 36726, Merivale, Christchurch 8146, New Zealand                       

Contact’s Phone number: +64 3358 8449

Contact’s Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

League/Branch website: www.victorialeague-canterbury.org.nz

The Victoria League for commonwealth friendship in Canterbury Incorporated was founded in 1910 and was first registered as an incorporated society in 1956 (no. 219723).  The League’s activities have changed over the century-plus of service to it’s community to adapt to the needs of the day.  Today, the League holds monthly meetings with speakers and other occasional social events.  It provides modest grants-in-aid for young students – for research, especially into British Commonwealth and early New Zealand history; and for travel to Commonwealth countries for study purposes.  It also provided an occasional half subsidy of accommodation in the Victoria League Student House London for a student studying in London, and makes donations to registered charities operating for the good of the community in Christchurch.

The Victoria League or Commonwealth Friendship, Harare Branch, Zimbabwe

Name of Contact: Mr Stephen Maxwell Cowton

Contact Address: 4 Cockington Road, Mandara, Greendale, Harare, Zimbabwe                        

Contact’s Phone number: 00263-4-494245

Contact’s Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mr Cowton states: "Although the branch has been dormant for some time, I do still regard myself as it's acting chairman and am still abiding by the ideals the Victoria League stands for.  Should any League members come to Zimbabwe then they are free to contact me and the usual home hospitality and advice for their visit are still available as if there is a fully functioning branch which we hope to resuscitate in the future."