Saxmundham and District Business Association

Saxmundham Business Association (SBA) was formed in the 1950's to bring together local businesses under one umbrella, to help support individual member's thoughts and views on the basis that the strength of the Association was more effective than an individual.

Our continued aim is to provide support to our members in all areas relating to business issues in our town, currently SBA has a strong membership of 60. These include retail shops, businesses and individual members; we have social events and six committee meetings each year.

The Association is very strong and active thanks to the drive of the current committee members headed by the Chairman, Jenny Keen, Ivan Wells as Vice-Chairman, Glynn Moye as Secretary, Ray Tovell as Treasurer and a committee that is dedicated to making our town a more effective and attractive place in which to work and live.

We are very fortunate to have representatives of the Town Council and local constabulary attend our committee meetings so we can discuss all aspects, current and future, to do with business and domestic activities in Saxmundham. These are reported to our members in our regular newsletter.

Our members pay an annual membership of just £30. This subscription and fund-raising events which include social evenings and barbecues help to pay for items such as the new bench which we recently provided for the residents of Saxmundham which is positioned at the Somerfield Supermarket.

The Business Association is totally responsible for providing and erecting the Christmas lights in the High Street and Market Place. This involves raising the necessary yearly funding amounting to around £1500 and organising and arranging electrical and other contractors to carry out all the necessary work.

Recently we changed our name to Saxmundham and District Business Association as the rules in our constitution state that we can have membership in the areas of Saxmundham, Benhall, Kelsale-cum-Carlton, Rendham and Sternfield so any businesses or individuals in these areas are very welcome to join our Association.

We have a very active website, which explains more about our Association and lists current members and their details on the web. This is included in our membership fee of £30. For a very modest charge our Webmaster will design more elaborate adverts or web pages or a complete web site.

Jenny Keen - Chairman, Saxmundham and District Business Association.
April 2004.