Alcoholics Anonymous History In Your Area Bristol, England 50 years of Alcoholics Anonymous in Bristol -Timeline
1953 - Dr Jim H. convenes first AA Meeting at the Full Moon 1954 - Public meeting with press coverage 1955 - Opening of the Bath Group 1956 - First English Convention, Cheltenham 1957 - Bristol’s first lady member joins Start of Calne, Wiltshire Group 1958 - Daisy celebrates one year 1959 - Travers’ sobriety date, 16.4.59 • Public meeting at the Council House • Second English Prison Group starts at Dorchester 1960 - First Wells Hospital Group at Mendip • First Bristol Group moves to Elmdale Road 1961 - Sackville of Dublin agrees to sponsor Travers 1962 - Prison sponsorship continues at Dorchester 1963 - First sponsorship to Leyhill Open Prison 1964 - Second Bristol Group opens • Formation of South West Intergroup • Horfield Prison Group opens 1965 - Bristol Prison Sponsors open Shepton Mallet 1966 - Bristol members start Dartmoor Prison Group 1967 - Bristol Prison Sponsors open Portland Bill • Barrow Hospital Group opens 1968 - Bristol Akron Group opens • Bristol Fashion first published • Keynsham Group up and running 1969 - Tower Hill Group opens • Public meeting, Montpelier 1970 - Portishead Group forms 1971 - First European Convention held • Young People’s Group started • Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Bill W. at Bristol Cathedral 1972 - Reunion in Bristol • First Annual Bristol AA Dinner held • Newcomers Group opens at 103 Queens Rd • Bristol and Dublin members receive Papal Medal on behalf of AA • SWIG Mini-Convention at Barrow Hospital 1973 - Lois W. visits Bristol • Second Reunion in Bristol • Young People’s Group becomes Fellowship Group 1974 - Withywood Group forms • First meeting of Bristol South Group • Third Reunion in Bristol • Western Service Office opens • Dr Jack Norris visits Bristol 1975 - Fourth Annual Bristol AA Dinner held 1976 - St George Discussion Group opens 1977 - Newcomers Feelings Meeting • Newcomers Step and Tradition Meeting 1978 - Gerry D., Irish Archivist, contacts Bristol 1979 - Sackville R.I.P. • Travers speaks at the Blue Bonnets 1980 - The start of Archives in Bristol 1981 - Bristol Reunion ‘Green Grows Sobriety’ 1982 - Bristol Reunion ‘Adventure Magnificent’ 1983 - Bristol Reunion ‘Such is the Warp and Woof...’ • Seventies Pathfinders Group becomes Salvation Army Group 1984 - Totterdown Group opens • Bristol members attend Founders Day in Akron 1985 - ‘Fifty Years with Gratitude’, Grand Hotel • Bristol Fashion presentation, International, Montreal • Nell Wing visits Reunion in Bristol 1986 - Kings Square Group opens • Bob P., General Manager of AAWS, attends Reunion 1987 - Bristol Reunion ‘A Price had to be Paid’ • Cyrenians Monday Morning meeting opens 1988 - Bristol Reunion ‘Action is the Magic Word’ • Clancy comes to Bristol • Gloucester Road Discussion Group opens 1989 - Big Book Study Seminar at Nympsfield 1990 - Bristol Reunion, First Big Book Study • First early morning meeting, Hope Chapel Hill • Travers C. R.I.P. 1991 - Second Big Book Study at the Reunion • Sunday on the Centre opens 1992 - Frank M., New York, speaks at Reunion ‘We are the Parents Now’ 1993 - Bristol Reunion, Third Big Book Study 1994 - Clancy Comes Back to the Reunion 1995 - Bristol Reunion, Fourth Big Book Study 1996 - Gratitude on Founders Day • Avon Intergroups Mini-Convention 1997 - 50 Golden Years of AA in Britain • Fifth Big Book Study at the Reunion in Bristol 1998 - Clancy at Bristol ‘The Miracle of a Changed Life’ 1999 - Avon Intergroups 1st Mini Convention • Big Book Thumpers • Final Big Book Study at the Reunion in Bristol 2000 - Avon Intergroups 2nd Mini Convention • A Vision For You started • John W. (Florida) speaks at Reunion Dinner 2001 - Avon Intergroups 3rd Mini Convention • Reunion with Clancy ‘The Path Continues’ • Austin C. (Arizona) speaks at Reunion Dinner 2002 - Reunion with Clancy ‘A Disease of Perception’ and Judit Santon, AA's Archivist, New York E&OE!