President ‘s Blog 2019-2020
The last few weeks have been busy with 41 Club events commencing with the Club River cruise where Mildred and I accompanied 17 other couples. We had a good time with sunny weather, fine food and even better fellowship. I have already booked for next year’s cruise to Bordeaux and the north of Spain. As of early September there were 16 booked in. Thanks must go again to Ray Hill for organizing this event.
I have recently met Blackburn Greys 41 Club to help them celebrate the 40th Anniversary of their twinning with Schweinfurt (Germany) 41 Club. One of the events was an ice curling competition at the fantastic new facility at Barton Grange, Nr Preston. We are just back from the Camping and Caravanning weekend which was held in Hawes in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Most of the weekend was dry, sunny but a little windy. The marquee did in fact blow away on the Saturday afternoon which caused the organizer Kevin Lovett some problems but all was sorted for the evening event with an outside hog roast and live music. We had around 20 caravans along with others stopping in lodges and the farmhouse. Amongst those attending were 4 41 Club members from Bielefeld / Ostwestfalen-Lippe 42 (Germany). I still have some date in my diary from December 19 till the end of March 2020. Please invite I will be happy to attend if available. Please contact [email protected] Thank you for all your support for our charity this year the RNLI. Our next major event is the joint President’s Ball at Crewe Hall on Saturday 29th of February 2020. Please contact me direct for ticket details or check the 41 Club website. Regards Andrew.
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Over the last few years 41 Clubs relationship with Round Table has never been better. As our name suggests we are the Association of Ex Tablers and we have to support Round Table to increase their membership to bring Round Table back to where it should have been. Round Table at the moment have membership in the region of 3,000 and last year membership increased and the average age of members dropped to around 38 years. One of the amazing figures that was announced at the RTBI AGM was that the clubs raised 5.8 million pounds for charity. Some of this was done with the help of 41 Club who manned doors, helped at fireworks and just added the extra man power required.
RTBI this year have helped themselves by for the first time by reducing capitation to under £100 per member by careful budgeting. They have an ambitious target of starting 10 + new Tables this year and have already chartered namely Clacton on Sea and Fenland with London West End, Whitley Bay and Weymouth approved for chartering. Prospects for new clubs include Ringwood, Keswick, Middlesborough and Stockton with more in the pipeline. Local 41 Clubs have helped and are helping in the formation of some of these new clubs. We must not forget existing clubs and Paul Agnew RTBI President has asked where there is a table near bye have a barbeque or similar event and invite men of table age along whether it be family members friends or neighbours and let them mix and you never know it may well provide table with more members and bring 41 Club and Table closer together. What we must remember is that the more tablers recruited will result in more members for 41 Club in the future. Regards Andrew It’s been an exciting couple of month’s crossing the country from the South to the Midlands and Scotland. The Presidential car has already covered in excess of 3,000 miles in 8 weeks plus several trips by rail. In my travels I have met many interesting members who have treated me brilliantly. I have learnt about Poole Harbour during the World Wars, learned how to play Croquet, Archery, this only being a small selection.
I have attended 3 regional golf competitions Region 15 in Solihull, Eastern Regional in Braintree and Region 21 in Cirencester. Nigel Davies who has organised the Eastern Regional golf competition for the last 8 years has decided to retire but ex National President Jim Smith has offered to take over the reins. All the golf matches were played with humour in good weather on superb courses. We have had the Classic Car Rally with in excess of 60 cars, in addition the first Motorcycle weekend with 35 motorbikes. Thanks must go to the organisers who put on marvellous weekends for both events. I attended both events and they are going from strength to strength. The 41 Club and Tangent Joint Charity the RNLI has been very well received by our members. It is easy to help our fundraising push by having an event or just having a toady at meetings which would help getting to our joint target of £50,000. When you raise money for the RNLI please let me know at [email protected] so I can give you bank account details for the money to be accounted for our collection. During this last weekend I have been in Scotland with Glen Lyon (acting Membership Officer) and National Councillor Kevin Stewart to charter 2 new 41 Clubs in Crieff and Callander. It is wonderful to see new members joining our association. Both were great events Crieff’s was a digger driving night, a great event boys and toys. At Callander I was delighted to be invited as a guest at the Highland Games which was resurrected and organised by the new 41 Club. Events like this don’t just happen they need a lot of thought and organisation well done to all the team involved in this. A great time was had by all Regards Andrew. By the time this edition of the magazine is published I will have been in post for just over 3 months. The moment that the Presidential chain is presented to you at the AGM by the outgoing President your life changes for the next 12 months. The phone and the internet never stops with invitations and queries. I would not be able to carry out this role without the support of my wife Millie and my PLC. For the first time in many years Tangent and 41 Club are having a joint charity this year, this being the RNLI. There are many ways to support this wonderful charity coin collections at meetings, a fundraising event, attending the joint Presidents Ball at Crewe Hall on Saturday 29th of February 2020 also a yearlong raffle with some great prizes. Please contact me if you would like a collecting box or raffle tickets. It was a great privilege to be at the International AGM in Brussels to see GB&I elected to host the International Presidency in 2022 / 2023 when our candidate Barry Durman will take over. There has been much good news on the Membership front with the Chartering of Wolverhampton West, new clubs being formed in Crieff, Callander, with an under and Edinburgh. These are down to the hard work of Nick Morcumb and Glen Lyon. There have been many highlights so far including Lots 80th Charter, the Round Table AGM where Paul Agnew from Maryport was elected as President of RTBI. I believe that Round Table have now turned the corner and with the help of 41 Club we can expect lots more good news. The most unusual meeting I have attended this year was Larbert and Falkirk’s 41 Club AGM which was held on a coach on the way to Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond where they had hired 5 speedboats to tour the Loch with of course 2 stops to taste the local beer. Great night, with lots of banter and friendship. I still have dates for club visits during the year please contact me on [email protected] and I will do my best to attend. Regards Andrew. |
Andrew MackerethIt was a great privilege to be elected the 74th President of 41 Club in Torquay at the National AGM. The reason we are here today is because of one man Louis Marchesi who had the foresight to found Round Table in 1927. His words are so relevant today. There are things we must do. There are things we can do and there are things we should do. Wise words which we can all adapt, adopt and improve. Archives
April 2020
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