“Burns Night “Gibralter Round Table and 41 Club – 20th January 2012

 I had the pleasure of attending my second Burns Night of the year in Gibraltar. This Burns Night was a much larger event with over 100 members and guest attending, the event being held just over the border in Spain. It was great to see many old friends in particular Paul Origio Past 41 Club National President of Girbralter,  who was Round Table National President of Gibralter when I was Round Table National President of RTBI.

As well as the traditional haggis, the highlight of the evening must have been the singing and poetry readings/recitals and the  evening raised a considerable amount of money for local charities.

his is very well supported by the UK with Past National Presidents, Peter Manley and John Kilsh attending, various Round Table Board members and EMA Chairman Steve Lord  as well as many others.  Lawrence Bamber also came over for the event.

Gibralter Round Table and 41 Club organised for the wives and partners to be taken out while we were at the event and Jill also  had a great evening with friends she had made there over the years.

Ilminster 41 Club Founders Night – 18th January 2012

A quick drive from Heathrow Airport took me to Ilminster to help the local 41 Club celebrate Founders Night.

 It was a very enjoyable evening with many local 41 Club’s in attendance, where we all enjoyed an evening of good food, good wine in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere combined with a touch of formality.

 A really good evening, which the club hopes will be the start of an annual reunion amongst the local clubs to celebrate the life of Louis Marchesi.

“Burns Night” with Troon 41 Club – 17th January 2012

Accompanied by Regional Councillor Donald Watson, I attended my first Burns Night of the year in Troon. What made this a very special evening for me was that it was held in the Bachelor’s Club in Tarbolton, where Burns started the Debating Society and also where he attended his Masonic meetings. 

The room was small, but the history around the walls was tremendous, with old pictures and artefacts distributed around the walls and in various cabinets. As well as the traditional haggis, the highlight of the evening must have been the singing and poetry readings/recitals and also listening to the history of the Club. It was also great to see Dave Hadden who used to be a Tabler in my Club East Grinstead,

The downside to a wonderful evening must have been listening to me trying to recite the Selkirk Grace in my best possible London accent!

Norwich Wensum and Yare Forecast Meeting – 16th January 2012

Having heard about this event from many Past National Presidents, it was a pleasure to join Norwich Wensum and Yare at their Forecast Meeting. After a very enjoyable meal, it is then down to the individual to forecast the answers to such questions as which team will win the English Football Premiership and what will be the total rainfall in Norfolk. The papers are marked at the end of the year (2012) and a prize awarded to the winner at the next Forecast Meeting in 2013. It is a great way to bring many clubs together and the event’s popularity has grown over the years, with now well over 100 attendees. The evening was rounded off by guest speaker David McNally, Chief Executive Officer of Norwich City Football Club.

The evening was also a chance to award Martin Sexton the organiser of the Annual Forecast Meeting (and has done so for many years) with the Association Award for all his hard work and the testimony written in support of his nomination reads:

“It’s become an exceptional event run by an outstanding individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure his peers and the movement have a great night of fun and fellowship on an annual basis.”

Kings Norton 41 Club 50th Anniversary – 11th January 2012

Accompanied by Regional Councillor Barry Durman (this was the third event in two days and I thank him not only for hosting me, but driving me around to the events), I had the pleasure of joining Kings Norton 41 Club in the celebration of their 50^th Anniversary. It was an excellent evening with many local clubs attending, with many jokes told by the members. A good evening of fun and fellowship.

Accompanied by Regional Councillor Barry Durman, I had the pleasure of joining Solihull 41 Club for their January Walk. This involved walking 5 miles around the countryside near the village of Studley and then enjoying lunch at the Green Dragon in nearby Sambourne.

 During the walk, we also managed to take in a very small section of the Millennium Way. It was a very enjoyable morning and I had not realised just how much work went into organising such a walk – from organising a half-way point for some of the members to join in to the organisation of a suitable pub for lunch.

It is also the first time I have been on Utube see the link below 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTmvV3lUZQ0&feature=player_detailpage

Tamworth & District 41 Club 59th Charter Dinner – 10th January 2012

Accompanied by Regional Councillor Barry Durman, I had the pleasure of joining Tamworth & District 41 Club in celebrating their 50^th Charter. It was an excellent evening with many local clubs attending. The highlights of the evening were a historical trip through the decades showing the history of Tamworth Round Table and 41 Club followed by an excellent talk from Mike Nield from the local cricket club. 

Martin Young Cluster Meeting – 9th January 2012

This annual event is organised by Southend-on-Sea 41 Club and invites go out to all the clubs in the region. This year the event was well attended and everyone enjoyed the evening – Tablers and 41 Club members alike. An excellent evening to catch up with old friends and we were all entertained by comedian and former Round Tabler, Adger Brown.

Burgess Hill 41 Club Xmas Dinner – 20th December 2011

Jill and I enjoyed our last 41 Club meeting of 2011 at Burgess Hill’s Xmas Dinner. The venue, food and service were excellent and everyone had an enjoyable evening singing carols. What a really nice way to end the year. 

Somerton 41 Club Christmas Dinner – 19th December 2011

I had the pleasure of joining Somerton 41 Club for their Christmas Dinner. We all enjoyed a really nice meal and then we were entertained with quizzes and making various hats, swords etc out of balloons. A really good evening.

Marchesi House Xmas Dinner -16th December 2011

Jill and I joined (along with Martin Green and Mike Turner) with some of the Executive of Round Table and the staff of Marchesi House for their Xmas Dinner. It was also the chance to present 41 Club’s best wishes and a small gift to Sue Barnicoat and Maureen Huggins, both of whom are leaving the services of Round Table and 41 Club after many years service. The lunch was really enjoyable and a bit sad at the same time. Jill and I have known both of them for many years and they will both be sorely missed by both Associations.

Meeting at The Lamb – 14th December 2011

If you are ever in London on the second Wednesday of the month, I recommend that you visit The Lamb (Leadenhall Market) at lunchtime to join up with other members of the 4 Club Family for an informal meeting of “friends” and enjoy a few beers and a sandwich.

Jill and I joined them this year for their Xmas gathering. It was a very enjoyable day attracting over 50 members of the “family” for a few beers, an excellent meal and adjourning afterwards to the largest pub in the City Of London before making our way home. There were Tabler's from as far away as  Norwich. 41 Club members from Stafford and Billericay and many of the Tangent Executive.

 A good day out and we both  look forward to joining them again next year.

Wimbledon 41 Club Xmas Dinner – 13th December 2011

Jill and I joined Wimbledon 41 Club for their Xmas Dinner, which took place in a small Italian Restaurant in Wimbledon Village. The venue, food and service were excellent, and both Jill and I enjoyed a very pleasant evening. It was great to have Italian Christmas food  with not a Turkey in sight.

East Grinstead 41 Club Xmas Dinner – 12th December 2011

It was nice to attend a meeting of my own club for a change and we joined everyone at our Xmas Dinner.

We all had a very nice evening at the local golf course (the staff there looked after us very well) and it was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and wish them a happy xmas.

RTCW Charity Ball – 9th December 2011

Jill and I were delighted this year to attend the Torquay Barcelo Imperial Hotel’s Charity Ball with the  Round Table President John and his partner Lizzie, Round Table Vice President Jason and Conference Officer Neal ad his wife Karen,  where this year the monies collected were shared between Devon Air Ambulance and Round Table Children’s Wish.

It was an excellent night with dancing until the early hours of the morning and the event raised good monies for the charities through the raffle and silent auctions.

The Round Table Conference next year is being held in this hotel and the Manager Cormac and his team are doing all they can to ensure that we all have a great time.

Long Eaton 41 Club Xmas Dinner – 8th December 2011

The home of next year’s National President, Jill and I enjoyed an excellent evening with Long Eaton 41 Club at their Xmas Dinner.

 




The food and the service were excellent and after the usual formal speeches, we all sat back to be thoroughly entertained by the guest “speaker” – a mind reader, this was very entertaining and we are still wondering how he does it.


 A very good evening and it was very nice to take this opportunity to wish David Smith and the Club all the best for next year. 


We look forward to seeing many of them in Jersey.

Deeside 41 Club Xmas Dinner – 3rd December 2011

On my second visit to Deeside 41 Club, Jill and I enjoyed a very good Xmas Dinner – again in North Wales. 

We all ate a wonderful meal and the evening was rounded up with a quiz. 

A very good night and I look forward to visiting the club again in March in the Regional Dinner. 

Aberystwyth 41 Club Xmas Dinner – 26th November 2011

After a quick drive across Wales on the Saturday afternoon, Jill and I arrived in Aberystwyth to join the local club at their Xmas Dinner.

 It was good to see many old friends from Round Table days (it was with them that I scored my one and only hole in one at the local course golf) and after a few beers in the local pub, we travelled by taxi up into the hills to a country pub.


The meal was excellent (all local produce) and after the coffee, the singing began. It was a very good, fun evening

Kinder 41 Club 41st Anniversary – 26th November 2011

There is a first time for everything and this was no exception. Following on from the format used for their highly successful 25^th Anniversary, this was a Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting.

The meeting started at 9.00 with a traditional English cooked breakfast followed by Bucks Fizz (and as you expect some were already enjoying the odd pint of beer!) followed by the formal speeches and with guest speaker Graham Smith, who works at Manchester United and who entertained us with many funny stories.

The meeting finished around midday, with many adjourning to the bar to sample the vast choice of real ales.

A very enjoyable way to spend the morning and it was highly successful in that most clubs in the region were represented.

Maybe it is worth a thought for your next meeting.

Bishop’s Stortford 45th Charter – 23rd November 2011

Held at the local golf club (golf clubs are a favourite this year for these events), I joined with Bishop’s Stortford in celebrating their 45^th Charter.

It was an excellent evening of fun and fellowship, and the venue and food were excellent.

The guest speaker was to have been John Spence, but due to an unfortunate accident he could not be there. Nevertheless, we all had a good time and there was time at the end of the evening to enjoy a few beers at the bar. A very enjoyable evening.