Bifocus
November / December 2011:-
Chairman’s Report:- In the last two
months I have attended the following events.
a):- Reunion / memorial meeting
Thursday November 3rd
This meeting was held at the Village
Hotel Shirley and not at our usual venue. The hotel provided a very
enjoyable Italian theme buffet, and the event was attended by over 40 people
including a number of former members of SLK and SRT. The showpiece of the
evening was a highly articulate and persuasive presentation of the world 94
event that SRT are hosting in June 2012. The details of this event are
comprehensively covered on our web site. Suffice to say at this point is
that it is an occasion which will capture the essence of the Round Table
movement. It is going to take a lot of effort to organise but is most
certainly worthy of our support. I commend it to the house.
The evening was also noteworthy for the
fellowship it engendered amongst past and present members. Howard is to be
congratulated for finding a very satisfactory venue and negotiating such an
agreeable culinary experience.
b):- SRT Brewery Visit: - Thursday
November 10th
An outside visit to the Two Towers
Brewery (shades of Tolkien)
That is to be found in the unlikely
setting of the Jewellery Quarter just behind Snow Hill Station. The brewery
itself is situated in an even more unlikely setting, a prefabricated unit on
a small industrial estate. It has a staff of just two and is attempting to
exploit a niche market created by the withdrawal of all the larger breweries
form Birmingham.
One can only wish them well.
c):- SRT Safari supper Saturday
November 12th
An enjoyable and now traditional table
night that has not lost its attraction with the passage of time. Carefully
planned and well hosted.
d):- SOLO Fund raising curry night
November 22nd: -
Sorry, never made it!
e) :- SLK Christmas Quiz Thursday
December 1st.
Great night! First class cuisine at the
Reservoir. Fish chips and mushy peas all for a fiver, with an intellectually
challenging quiz thrown in.
Dave did a great deal of good work
putting this one together and deserves to be congratulated. A good turn out
with 24 punters
f) :- Friday December 2nd.
Guy Draper’s leaving bash.
As you all know Guy is emmigrating (to
Wales of all places). A goodly number turned out to wish him bon voyage by
doing a pedestrian pub crawl through outer Earlswood culminating in a
Cheswick Green Curry. I speak for the whole club when I say that we wish him
well and will be delighted to welcome him as a guest at our meetings in
future whenever he is back it the Midlands
f):- Carolling 6th
– 16th
December
Hard work, but still worth doing. I did
six sessions including two as Santa, and I felt that was a decent shift.
g); - December 10th
SRT / Ladies Circle Christmas event.
This was an Elvis Tribute night at the
Corus Hotel, and was very enjoyable; it was an imaginative change from the
standard Downing Hall party.
h) ;- December 17th
Joint Christmas Party.
This was the standard Downing Hall
party. We must have done it at least a zillion times. Enjoyable
nevertheless. My thanks to Sue, Tangent and all those who helped to organise
and run it?
Y.I.C.F. Roland
September / October
2011:-
Chairman’s Report:-
Since my last report I have attended the following events.
a)
- SLK
Speaker meeting 1st September
This meeting
marked the end of the summer recess. It was a speaker meeting and well
attended. The intended speaker was a witch but this lady cried off and flew
away on her broomstick at the last minute. She was replaced at short notice
by Andy who gave a very succinct and relevant talk on electric cars and
their potential for the future. Given the current global concerns about the
environment and national concerns about the economy this talk was highly
prescient and created a lot of interest. We congratulate Andy on a well
organised presentation, and thank him for stepping in at the last moment.
b) - Mad
O’Rourkes Pie factory
A table night
with a difference. Essentially a pub crawl with a challenge. The challenge
was to eat an enormous pie of dubious composition somewhere in Bilston
whilst visiting a selection of the local hostelries. Only someone who has
actually seen one of these monstrosities can really appreciate the enormity
of the task. I am relieved to say that I failed abysmally but survived the
ordeal. The company was great though
c)
- Circle Charity
Quiz night
Another quiz
night, same formula, different questions, money raised in a worthy cause.
Always enjoyable, especially Chrostos’ fish and chips. Well done Circle.
May we have many more of them.
d)
- Outside visit to Coughton Cought
Thursday October 6th
This was an historical gem, coming as
it did just a month before the most famous event associated with the house
i.e. The Gunpowder plot. We were given an extremely atmospheric and
informative tour introducing us into the world of the early 17th
Century recusants, and the lengths they were prepared to go to in defence of
the Catholic faith. This was followed by a very palatable supper in the
restaurant. A really good evening. My thanks to Dave for organising an
extremely enjoyable and worthwhile event.
e)
- Ladies Night October 8th
For my own
part I enjoyed the night immensely once I’d done the speech. My thanks to
all those who helped in running the event and who supported it by
attending. It is however important to record that numbers were down and the
night made a substantial loss. This is something that is perhaps to be noted
for the future. The night does engender considerable fixed costs that can
only be covered by numbers attending. It may therefore be the case that SLK
will feel the need to review the format for future years. It is however a
splendid night and one to savour. We should not give it up lightly.
f)
- International visit
The jewel in the crown. This year Jonathan took us to Portugal and a highly
sociable entertaining weekend hosted by and spent with members of Algarve 41
Club. They proved to be exemplary hosts and we owe them our profound thanks
for their kindness and hospitality. The details of this trip have been
placed on our website and need no repetition from me. I would however like
to express my gratitude to Jonathan on behalf of the whole club. Year after
year he keeps coming up with marvellous weekends for us all to enjoy. He
deserves the highest accolades.
g) - World
94
This draws ever closer; it is now only 8 months away. The committee is
meeting regularly to organise this event and plans are well underway. It is
going to need input from all four clubs so we would urge you to keep an eye
on this and help in any way you can.
Y.I.C.F.
Roland
July / August 2011:-
Chairman’s Report:- Since my last
report I have attended the following events.
-
; - 41 / Tangent Barbeque.
Hosted as usual by Glenys and Jerry we
had a very enjoyable evening. The weather was a little uncertain but we took
a tactical decision not to erect the awning and in the event it didn’t rain
so we got away with it. We also got the costs
exactly
right making a small profit of £ 2.06. My thanks to our generous hosts for
providing the venue in their beautiful garden.
b);- Ces Crossley Challenge;-
This year the challenge was a pool
competition at The Snooker hall in Lode Lane. Our Sports officer Mike Clarke
organised and ran the event and it proved to be very successful and
entertaining. Mike even managed to find the actual trophy which was
remarkable as it seems to have been missing for the last God knows how many
years. The competition was fiercely fought over the evening eventually being
decided on a tie break at the very end. The good news is that SLK won and
therefore we don’t have to organise it next year. Ces Crossly is still alive
as far as I am aware; he would have been impressed. Great night, Well done
Mike!
-
:- Area Volley ball. 14th
July A table event that took place at Moseley Rugby Club in Hasluck’s
Green Road on a fine summer evening. This was vigorously contested
throughout and SRT made it all the way to the final eventually being
beaten by Coleshill. Despite declining numbers this event attracted over
50 tablers and was extremely enjoyable.
-
:- Phil Jones Memorial Cricket.
Edgbaston is a splendid place to go on
a warm summer evening. The cricket was fast and exciting. Warwickshire
batted first and made 266 in their 20 overs. This was promising.
Unfortunately as the last ball was bowled the heavens opened and we all got
wet. Leicestershire never got to bat as the match was abandoned. The fish
and chips were really nice though.
d):- Birdlip Run:- July31st I never
made it: my apologies to Barry. I believe though it was a successful day
attracting quite a number of participants.
e): Four Clubs event: - August 25th:-
The event was a summer evening walk embracing part of the Millennium Way. We
had about 25 walkers and the route took us along the Stratford –on -Avon
Canal and around Packwood House and back to The Wharf Pub in Hockley Heath
where we were able to spend a very pleasant hour or two having a few drinks
and / or food. This was a super evening. My thanks to Ken for organising a
really good night.
f):- World 94:- This draws ever closer;
it is now only 10 months away.
The committee is meeting regularly to
organise this event and plans are well underway. It is going to need input
from all four clubs so we would urge you to keep an eye on this and help in
any way you can.
Y.I.C.F.
Roland
June 5th
2011:-
Chairman’s Report:-
a):- B.R.M.B. Walkathon:-
This year the Birmingham walkathon as
held on Sunday 7th
May.
It is a gruelling 27 mile circular walk
along the outer City bus routes to raise money for the Birmingham Children’s
hospital. More than 20,000 walkers took part, and SRT’s role was to provide
Marshalls at points along the route to monitor the walkers and to provide
help and support as necessary.
Fortunately it was a fine dry Sunday. I
spent my time on a pedestrian crossing in Acocks Green. I lost count of the
number of Supermen, Batmen, Gnomes and fairies I helped to cross the road.
It was however a marvellous event; everyone was cheerful and good humoured,
although the number of limping walkers increased exponentially as the
afternoon wore on. Well worth supporting.
b):- Shirley Round Table Beer Festival
I attended the first Round Table Beer
festival at the Rugby Club on Friday May 20th.
Although Table is struggling for numbers, one has to say that the enthusiasm
and commitment of its members is unbounded. There is still a determination
to make an impact in the borough by staging imaginative and entertaining
events such as this. Table is punching above its weight. This is a new event
but it will run and run for several years. Well done table!
c) :- SRT Preview night. This was an
official table night and a spirited attempt to introduce new blood and grow
494. It was held at the Village hotel in Shirley. There was a comprehensive
display of table activities on view. We had five or six guests who showed an
interest in what we do and hopefully out of this we shall be able to induct
one or two new tablers.
d) ;- Area pub pedal :- This event is
an old chestnut that has been running for over 30 years. It is still
organised by Alcester Table, and follows more or less the formula set out in
the beginning. It remains a very enjoyable event, cycling round the
Warwickshire countryside on a pleasant summer evening, stopping at various
pubs along the way, and although participating numbers are not what they
used to be it is still well worth doing.
Y.I.C.F.
Roland
PREVIOUS REPORTS
May 5th
2011:-
Chairman’s Report:-
a):- Shirley Round
Table A.G.M.
I attended Round Table A.G.M at the
village hotel on Thursday April 28th.
Although Table is struggling for numbers, one has to say that the enthusiasm
and commitment of it’s members is unbounded. There is still a determination
to make an impact in the borough by continuing to run Solihull Carnival and
by maintaining a vigorous carolling commitment, as well a host of other
fundraising and social activities. Because numbers are so few Table
obviously needs support from the other three clubs to maintain their
efforts. I hope this support will continue to be forthcoming.
b):- National Conference Ipswich:-
There were two
resolutions debated at the Association AGM in Ipswich on 16th April. They
were:-
-
: - A new
Community and Welfare Officer on Executive.
-
: - An increase
in the number of proxy votes from one to two.
Both resolutions
were lost.
The new Vice President (President
Elect) is David Smith of Long Eaton41 Club, and the new International
Officer is David Campbell of Westerham and District 41 Club. Hugh Milward
retainshis position as National sales and Marketing Officer.
c):- Subscription debate.
At the AGM on April 7th
the vexed question of subscriptions was again raised. This has been a thorny
issue for several years with strong views being held on both sides of the
argument. I therefore felt it prescient to review the issue at the Council
meeting on the 26th
April. It was the view of those present at the meeting, that for 2011-12 we
apply the proposal that was adopted by a majority vote at the meeting of May
6th
2010. This proposal was essentially a rebate scheme that gave a member the
opportunity to recover the cost of meals not taken at meetings he could not
attend for genuine reasons. The full wording of the proposal can be found on
the SLK website. My understanding of this proposal is that it would apply
for the year 2011 – 12 and would be reviewed again at the AGM 2012.
d):- Club contacts and mailing: - The
April news letter from National created nearly 800 failed mailings. This was
the first time that members had been mailed directly rather than via club
contacts. A lot of the failings were due to E mail addresses that had
changed and not been updated. I feel therefore that if we are going to take
advantage of direct contact we should try to ensure that our E mail
addresses are kept up to date as far as possible. I think the vast majority
of addresses of SLK members are current, but is probably worth checking.
Y.I.C.F.
Roland
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