About Tavistock Roundtable

Who's who: Tavistock Roundtable Committee members

Our objectives

• 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

Our history

In the beginning ...

Tavistock Roundtable first met in 1958/1959. Tavistock's Mother Table was Plymouth. The Charter dinner was held in the Town Hall on the 13th September 1960. The Founding members were:

• Jim Baker
• John Baker
• Denis Bishop
• George Carter
• John Codling
• Douglas Crisp
• Trevor Dawes
• John Doige
• Harvey Frost
• John Gillett
• John Hackett
• Terry Hoare
• John Ing
• Ronald Isherwood
• John Mann
• Harry Mansbridge
• Harold Moore
• Michael Northcombe
• Russell Pollinger
• William Twentyman
• Gordon Waddon
• Russell Woolcok
• John Wright

The Table meetings were for many years held at the Lewtrenchard Hotel. Apart from Table meetings Family Firework and Bonfire nights were also held on the lower lawn.

Very soon after the Charter the Annual Tavistock Roundtable Ball was first held. In the 1960s and 1970s this annual event became the highlight of the town's events. Roundtable managed to book several big names such as Ray Ellington, Judy Ward, Lance Percerville and, most notably, the comedian Dave Allen.

Fund raising

In the early years, Tavistock was involved in raising funds to help Kampala Roundtable in their campaign against Polio in Uganda. Roundtable also helped greatly in the local community by organising days out for disabled children. A section of the community in the 1960s that was not as well supported as it is now. They also raised money in the local community for others. They also purchased a mini bus for a local charity to use. Later in the 1970s the Tablers took a caravan filled with supplies to Italy for relief of the Italian earthquake.

For a number of years Tavistock Table used to sell hotdogs from their Caravan at Goose Fair however now we now sell Bacon Baps from our stall at the same event. Also Table regularly attends the carnival usually bringing fun and laughter to the event.

Area, regional and international links

Tavistock Roundtable is the Mother Table to Okehampton 944. Tavistock Roundtable is twinned with La Table Ronde De Pontivy 223 and many visits have occurred between the Tables over the years. These are always an enjoyable affair.

In 1989 the first Day at The Races event was held by Table in the Tavistock Meadows This afternoon event with Pantomime Horse races has continued year on year and in the last few years has seen Table and the Lions Club join forces to host a Balloon fiesta and Day at the Races.

Over the years there have been a few Tablers that have served on the Area Executive namely:

• Harvey Frost
• Bob Westlake
• Peter Sleep
• Howard Uppham
• Robert McCall (a past Area 51 Chairman)
• Simon Govier (Area 19 Chairman 2000-2001)

No Tabler has yet served on National Roundtable Executive. However Simon Govier was Vice Chairman of Plymouth Conference in 2002.

Over the years there have been several second generation of Tablers members, including:

• Murray Sherrell
• Neil Woolcock
• John Westlake
• Simon Govier
• Keith Williams (past Chairman).