Joint Godalming 41 Club & Round Table Golf Day – 18th August 2011

Despite the pouring rain there was a good turnout at Hurtmore Golf (near Guildford) for the joint golf day between Godalming 41 Club and Round Table. It was an enjoyable afternoon and the players were joined by other members from the two clubs who did not play.

It was a really nice course; not too long and which suited my high handicap, but it was made difficult by water, well placed bunkers and deceptive par fours.

The 41 Club won on the day, but good fun was had by all.

Region 15 Golf – 2nd August 2011

There was a good turnout at Drayton Park Golf (near Tamworth), which played host to Region 15’s Golf Day, for a really enjoyable afternoon of golf and dinner after.

It was quite a difficult course, which is tree-lined with very narrow fairways, so it did not suit my game – you had to hit the ball straight! Somehow, I did manage to win nearest the pin and won a very nice bottle of wine.

I look forward to welcoming the winners to the National Golf Finals in September.

Eastern Region Charity Golf Day – 19th July 2011

A great day’s golf was enjoyed by many at The Channels Golf Club, Chelmsford for the Eastern Region Charity Golf Day.

This is a joint Golf Day, involving Regions 16, 17, 18 and 19 and was superbly organised by Gerry Woodruff (an event he has organised for the past 7 years). It is a fun day but has a serious side in that there is a £1000.00 prize fund, which is divided up amongst the top three teams who had chosen a nominated charity prior to the day. The winning team from each Region will also be going to the National Finals in September.

It was a wonderful day’s golf. The weather was superb and the course in excellent condition. The course itself is a mature parkland course and having been built mainly on restored land it has numerous lakes and undulating fairways.

The evening culminated in the dinner and prize giving. This was Gerry’s last Golf Day as organiser and I am glad it went so well for him, but it is being organised next year by Nigel Davies (National Councillor for Region 16) and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him every success. After 7 years organising such a successful event, it was a real pleasure to present Gerry with The Association Award – well deserved.

 

Bishop’s Stortford 41 Club Chairman’s BBQ – 17th July 2011

Sunday afternoon took Jill and I to Jim Smith’s house for the Chairman’s BBQ (Jim is also the Chairman as well as the National Membership Officer). In true 41 club style, it rained on and off most of the afternoon, but it still did not stop the cooking, eating and drinking.


A really enjoyable afternoon and our thanks must also go to Jim’s wife, Chris, for making sure all ran smoothly during the afternoon.

Region 21 Skittles – 13th July 2011

The final of the Region 21 Skittles Competition took place at the Civil Service Sports Association Club in Cheltenham and what a good evening it was.


Four clubs from the Region (2 from the north and 2 from the south) had battled through several rounds to reach this year’s finals, in a Regional competition that dates back in 1973 when Westbury on Trym won it. With two lanes being used and the highest score overall winning after one lot of “throws” from each member from a team of 8 (there is no time for a play-off), the winners this year were Nailsea 41 Club, who have now won the trophy 3 times in the last 4 years.

Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the evening; an excellent evening to meet other clubs in the region and enjoy a beer. Plans are already underway for next year’s competition.

Dedication of the 41 Club Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum – 17th July 2011

After much hard work from Lichfield 41 Club in preparing the 41 Club Garden at the National Memorial Garden on the outskirts of Birmingham, members of the Round Table Family gathered for the formal “Dedication” of the Garden led by Immediate Past National Rev Malcolm Lockey. After a short service the four Associations laid “floral tributes”.

The rain held off and there was time for walking around the Garden and enjoying the facilities. I had never been there before, and found it a very moving experience, especially The Armed Forces Memorial, which provides the recognition and the thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of the country since the two World Wars.

For those who have never been to the Garden, it is well worth visiting and it is deserving of a full day’s tour around the various monuments. I will be recommending it to my son who spent several years in the army.

Congratulation to all those involved in organising the day for 41 Club, especially to Lichfield 41 Club and our secretary Martin Green for his assistance on producing “The Order of Service”.

LOTS - 12th July 2011

The evening was spent in London when I was very kindly hosted by London Old Tablers’ Society at their speaker evening. It was an honour to visit such a distinguished club with such a history, especially as the club is older than the Association.


It was really nice to meet up again with old friends from Round Table (and to make new ones) and everyone had a good time, with laughter and good banter around the table. It was also nice to welcome a new member to the club – Ralph Preston, who will now always be addressed at the meetings as “Preston”. It is a tradition of the club that all members are referred to using their surnames; a tradition that goes back many years.

I look forward to revisiting the club in the New Year and meeting many of them at the lunchtime meeting in The Lamb.

National Council Meeting – 8th & 9th July 2011

The weekend of the Council meeting took us to my Region here in Sussex, when we visited Brighton. The men had committee meeting early on the Saturday, followed by the National Council meeting. Whilst the men were in their meetings, the wives visited the Brighton Pavilion – some went to the shopping centres, but I think everyone enjoyed visited “The Lanes” with its wide range of shops – and the pier.

The evening was spent relaxing at the Greyhound Racing in Hove, where over a meal everyone could have a bet on the winning dogs. That was the idea, but I think most people lost but some of the winnings were contributed to RTCW. We even had one of the races named after the Association and also got a mention in the programme.

Overall, a very enjoyable and productive weekend and my thanks must go to Dave and Pauline Campbell and Mike and Jan Turner who organised the weekend.

Visit to the Isle of Man – 4th and 5th July 2011

After a quick flight, Jill and I arrived in the Isle of Man. The weather was very good and we were met by Geoff and Joan Crabtree (Past National Tangent President), who took us sightseeing around the south of the island. We met Steve Leonard  (Past National Councillor) and Irene for lunch and then went onto visit John E10, who cannot get out very much now, but has a collection of Presidents’ banners going back to George Douglas – mine now has now joined his collection.



Martin Quayle in House of Keys



The afternoon took us the House of Keys, where we were showed around by on old friend of ours (through Round Table) who is now an Honourable Member of the House of Keys – Martin Quayle.

In the evening, we joined with 41 Club members on the island at a local pub – a pub which is on the TT Course and the walls are adorned with pictures of motor cycles and their riders.

Martin in the procession on Tynwald day

The Tuesday morning the weather had changed to heavy rain, but we were able to visit the Tynwald Day Ceremony. This is when all the laws passed during the year are read out in English and Manx at an open air ceremony, which has been taking place in similar form for over 1000 years. It was a really enjoyable day out in which you feel are taking part in a very historical ceremony. In an adjoining field there is a Tynwald day fair with many local charity stalls. Rushen Round Table had a stall with a  "human fruit machine" which proved very popular and was hilarious to watch.

In the evening, we joined with more 41 Club members at a local restaurant.

A great couple of days in which we met many of the island’s 41 club members and Round Tablers.

Region 22 Golf – 6th July 2011

A record turnout from Region 22, turned up at Downes Crediton Golf Club (just outside Exeter) for a afternoon of really enjoyable golf – apart from the soaking over the last 3 holes! – and dinner afterwards. Downes Crediton Gold Club was formed in 1975 and is still relatively young. The course was originally farmland, but tree planting and a lot of hard work has transformed it into a beautiful parkland course. The Region will hopefully be well represented at the National Golf Finals in September.

Llantwit Major 30th Charter – 1st July 2011

Llantwit Major’s 30th Charter celebrations were held at the local rugby club, where over 90 (from several clubs, including a frequent visitor from Belgium) enjoyed a good night of fun and fellowship with Llantwit Major Tangent presenting a Birthday cake for the Club to Chairman Keith and carrying  out a great interruption.

The food was excellent, the speaker Dai Vaughan, very funny and the whole evening went really well – a tribute to all the hard work put into the organisation of the event. The evening was well finished off, with bacon sandwiches and port at two in the morning.

Forest of Dean 50th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon – 26th June 2011

On a very hot Sunday, Jill and I had the pleasure of joining Forest of Dean 41 Club at their 50th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon. It was held in the beautiful countryside of the Forest Of Dean at The Speech House Hotel, who looked after us very well.



It was a really enjoyable lunch with time well allocated to hear of the reminiscences of several of the members. The highlight of which was hearing from one of the Founder Members Roy , who founded the Club in 1959 (2 years before its affiliation). We finished the luncheon with a Round-Table type Serjeant-at-Arms who managed to raise over £400 for the local hospice.



Founder member Roy Mitchell







RTCW Golf Day at Moseley Golf Club – 24th June 2011

A few days ago, it looked as if this event would be cancelled, but seven of us decided to go ahead with a game of golf as it was in our diaries. As it happened, the fund-raising team from RTCW travelled all the way up from Bournemouth and together with final numbers of over twenty, not only did we have an enjoyable game of golf, but raised approximately £250 for the charity.

The golf was played at Moseley Golf Club; a club founded in 1892. It is a parkland course only 5 miles from Birmingham City Centre, with plenty of trees and bunkers. It is one of the most prestigious and respected golf clubs in the Midlands, with rolling fairways (never appeared to get a flat lie) and great greens. It is incidentally the venue for the RT National Golf at the Sporting Weekend in 2012.

1741 BBQ - 22nd June 2011

When I set of from home it was pouring with rain, but by the time I had reach my destination in Enfield, North London the sun was out and it was the perfect weather for a BBQ.


It was there that I joined up with 1741 Club for a summer BBQ in the grounds of the local Scout troop. There were plenty of logs and loose bricks around so it did not take long to get the fires going. On went the potatoes and the vegetables (both in the same pot) and then the chicken. All this followed by dessert. It was a good night of fun and fellowship, sitting around talking, eating and drinking beer and time just seemed to disappear and before long we were clearing up and it was time to leave.

Looking forward to joining up with them again in September to support the local Donkey Derby.

Re charter of Evesham 41 Club Asparagus Supper 21st June 2011

Jill and I had a very enjoyable evening, joining the Vale of Evesham 41 Club at their Re-Charter Dinner in the Village Hall in Littleton.


The Club had left the Association several years ago, so it was with great pleasure that I was able to attend this dinner and “officially” re-present the Chairman’s Jewel to their new Chairman, Glen Lyon. It was also his birthday, so the event was a double celebration – the chocolate cake was good.



glen's birthday cake



Glen is one of the “leaders” of the local Explorer Scouts and they were there to cook the celebration “Asparagus Dinner”. They had a wonderful menu starting of with asparagus soup, followed by ham with vegetables with asparagus and finished off with asparagus ice-cream. Not on only did they cook the meal, but also served it and ran the bar. As a bonus, through their hard work on the evening they managed to raise almost £100 for club funds.

I am sure that Glen will have an enjoyable year as Chairman and that they are looking forward not only to supporting their local Round Table, but also to take an active part in the 41 Club Region.

East Grinstead 41 Club Visit to the British Wildlife Centre 20th June 2011

 

 Not a lot happens in the sleepy village of Lingfield, except the horse racing and it is home to the British Wildlife Centre.

Together with our National Councillor, Manny Martins, a small group of us visited the Centre, which is home specifically to British Wildlife. A really enjoyable and informative evening, even if it did rain and some of the animals would not come out to be photographed!

Region 20 Golf 14th June 2011



my ball well placed for the hole !!!



A warm summer’s day took us to the Temple Golf Club near Maidenhead for the Region 20 Golf Day. The course was in perfect condition (with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside and the River Thames), but my golf has not improved very much.



An excellent day was organised by Bourne End & Flackwell Heath 41 (as holders of the Mike Fitchett Trophy) and Frank Venables (the National Councillor for Region 20), when over 20 players enjoyed the golf and the dinner afterwards. The Region will hopefully be well represented at the National Golf Finals in September.

Iceland AGM – 9th-12th June

Together with a contingent from Stratford-upon-Avon 41 Club, myself and Jill joined Iceland 41 Club at their AGM. Now that there are three 41 Clubs in Iceland, there were able to celebrate forming an “Association” and are now able to become full members of 41 Club International.  Their first President is Smari Rikardsson who I spent time with when he was President of RT Iceland and I was President of RTBI. 

They put on a magnificent weekend of fun and fellowship, and I was very sorry to be missing out on their “post” AGM tour – another year perhaps.

Frodsham & District 41 Club 7th June 2011

Together with Ray Hill (National Communications Officer) we joined Frodsham & District 41 Club for a snooker night. They are a young and informal club, who like to arrange active evenings/weekends for their members and are proving very attractive to the retiring Round Tablers. This was their first “formal” sit down evening for some time (apparently over one year) and after the dinner there was a “question and answer” session about what is going on in 41 Club.

 We did play some enjoyable snooker afterwards to round off a very good evening. This is another game I play with great difficulty, especially as I am colour blind in red and green!

Region 11 Golf 7th June 2011

Region 11 held their golf day at Crewe Golf and was superbly organised by Roger Scowcroft (Northwich 41 Club). We started off in sunshine, then the heavens opened, but we finished in glorious sunshine again. The course (which is currently celebrating its centenary) was in good condition, picturesque and quite undulating with a lot of water and trees – or at least I managed to find them both!

I thoroughly enjoyed the day – the company and the food. The Region will be well represented at the National Golf Finals in September.