I am extremely privileged and honoured to be elected as your National Vice President for 2025/26 (President Elect 2026/7).
I joined North Walsham Round Table 331 in 1995 which is in Round Table Area 6, Founders Area, only 20 miles from Norwich. It makes me feel even prouder as Norwich is where the whole Round Table movement was started back in 1927 by Louis Marchesi, just look at how it has grown not just with Round Table and 41 Club but also Ladies Circle, Tangent and Internationally around the world.
Joining Round Table has given me and my family a whole lot of memories and enhanced our lives I am proud to say that my wife Shirley joined Ladies Circle and has moved on to Tangent and my two sons are both members of Round Table.
I soon moved through the various roles in my own Table and Area becoming the Area Chairman for two consecutive years also serving as a National Councillor for two years. Upon leaving Round Table I moved straight across to 41 Club, joining the National Council in 2019 by becoming the National Councillor for Region 17 as it was then, moving on to National Fellowship Officer, I like to think I am bringing some experience of how the Club works along with me, as well as how the individual Clubs within GB&I are all so different but, at the same time, have so much in common.
There has been a lot of changes throughout the last year, some of which have been completed, and others are still ongoing. As your Vice President it is my role to continue these strategic changes, whilst still planning for the future. Working alongside Jason, our President, who has worked tirelessly throughout the last year, the other Council members to continue this development of our Club. We want to make 41 Club the club of choice for men to go out have fun and make friends, as well as supporting each other through difficult times.
Membership is the key to everything and it will be my aim to help drive the number of members up, not just by inviting new members, but also by retaining those that are already members. We have the tools to do it with selective membership and, with Round Table numbers growing again, we must strive to convert retiring Tablers into 41 Club members, as well as inviting new people along who, for whatever reason, missed the opportunity to join Table but would make excellent 41’ers.
It was said to me in my early Tabling days ‘Programme is King’ and is key to our success, I do not believe a truer word has been spoken. A varied and interesting programme can, and does, bring fun and fellowship.
Fun and Fellowship equals new members, which will make our Club the Club of choice.