The user group was started in November 1999 by Tony Rogerson to address the need for a UK based community and content site specifically addressing the needs, concerns and asperations of people based in the UK. We have grown ever since through online content to physical events and into the Webcast and online collaboration space. The user group has over 9,435 registered members (Aug 08), we hold regional meetings across the UK in London, Reading, Leeds, Edinburgh and Milton Keynes; we are always on the look out for new venues and new speakers. The underlining principal is that membership is Free, we are supported by numerous companies in the SQL Server product space, those companies help us stage meetings.