About Us
History
Petersfield Round Table was founded in 1951 as part of the worldwide Round Table organisation. Round Table No.1 is in Norwich, Table No2. is Portsmouth & Southsea. Petersfield is Table No.299. There are over 700 Round Tables in the UK with a total membership of over 12,000. Visit RTBI for details on the history and aims of the organisation in Great Britain & Ireland. All tables share common objectives, but each has a distinct character formed by the members and the current chairman.
Meetings
The club meets regularly and has an exciting calendar of events. We meet every other Thursday night throughout the year for a mixture of social and business meetings. Some Tables have a jacket & tie dress code. We don’t, come as you are. Most of our meetings are held in The Square Brewery in the centre of Petersfield where we meet for dinner and either discuss the business of the club (we call these business meetings) or enjoy some entertainment and socialising (we call these Social meetings). Business meetings provide a forum to coordinate the serious business of the club, such as fundraising and event planning and awarding charitable grants to put the money we raise to good use. Social meetings are usually based around a fun activity and all meetings involve a fair consumption of ale.
Aims and Objects
The Association's maxim is "Adopt, Adapt, Improve". The association and the constituent Tables move with the times to remain relevant whilst maintaining those traditions that work.
The formally stated aims and objects are: -
- To develop the acquaintance of young men through the medium of their various occupations.
- To emphasise the fact that one's calling offers an excellent medium of service to the community.
- To cultivate the highest ideals in business, professional and civic traditions.
- To recognise the worthiness of all legitimate occupations and to dignify each his own by precept and example.
- To further the establishment of peace and goodwill in international relationships.
- To further these objects by meetings, lectures, discussions and other activities.
In plainer language: -
The aims of the Movement are to acquaint people with different occupations and to use those occupations or person's skills to the community's benefit. We do this by having members of very different backgrounds, hobbies, interests and careers. The best part is that we have a good time doing what we do.
After Table
Once members reach the age of 45 they retire from Round Table. This was one of the founding principles of Round Table and serves to keep a youthful spirit in the club. On retirement many members join a club for ex-members and continue to socialise with their Table friends. There is an affiliated national association of ex-tablers clubs known as 41 Club. (The name comes from the original retirement age of 41). Petersfield has two such clubs! The original 41 Club, which is not part of the national 41 Club, and Ex-Tablers, which is part of national 41 Club. Confused? If you are curious to know why we have two clubs just ask!