Tabler - Spring 2021

BLER MARK TEWKSBURY Olympic gold-winning swimmer talks motivation and discrimination

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

ROLE MODELS Round Table catches up with some of the UK's most inspiring public figures to discuss self improvement, society and inspiring change

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SLEIGH STORY Bringing Christmas cheer Spring 2021 www.roundtable.co.uk

DATE NIGHT MENUS Can’t go out? Find your inner chef KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY 48 HOURS IN...

FEATURED TECH

From the editor

Contents From the President...................................... 4 Stories from Table........................................ 6 Santa Sleigh................................................. 7 Andrew Thorne........................................... 8

GOING DIGITAL

EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR

Spent a lot of time slowing the process down.

Adam Baggs (Cirencester 286) adam@adam-baggs.com

DEPUTY EDITOR

Actually did most of the written work.

Tom Hall (www.newwordorder.org.uk)

NATIONAL COMMS OFFICER

Input hard to define.

Liam Bauckham media@roundtable.org.uk

DESIGNER

Made the rest of us look good.

Clare Ferris (clar3ferris@gmail.com)

Welcome to the new look Tabler Magazine. I am not sure how long it has been since the last issue was published, which we (the editorial team) decided was a good thing. We didn’t look back, we didn’t refer to old content, we didn’t worry about the past. Instead, we have focused on creating a new magazine for a forward thinking RTBI. As you will see we have tried to balance internal RTBI “stuff” and news with fresh content from beyond the organisation. We have taken the best of what happened in 2020 and presented it to you in a new style. We have inspiring stories from inspiring individuals, mental health and fitness advice and some old favourites such as beer, tech and food.

When I first met Matt Eaton, he told me about his vision for Round Table as a Social Network. There is no denying that 2020 made that hard from a face-to-face perspective but we persevered and no matter what 2021 throws at us we will continue to adapt, adopt and improve. We will welcome new members, retain the old, enjoy each other’s company, have some laughs and deliver amazing community focused support across the country.

Enjoy the read, happy to hear your feedback - send positive vibes and thoughts for future content to the team via email and negative comments via pigeon.

Yours In Table

Baggsie

INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS

Mark Tewksbury........................................ 14 Brendon Batson......................................... 18

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Walking Tall.............................................. 21 Ballsy Start to the Year.............................. 22 We talk to a Key Worker........................... 25 Mental Health............................................ 26 Getting Fit in 2021.................................... 27

FOOD AND DRINK

Date Night Meal........................................ 29 Beers to Watch........................................... 30

LIKE FATHER,LIKE SON

Table Families............................................ 33

TRAVEL & EVENTS

Sam Williams............................................ 37 Out and About.......................................... 39 Festivals’ Future......................................... 42 IRO 2020................................................... 43

DIRECTORY

Members Businesses.................................. 45 What’s Next............................................... 48 Final Thought............................................ 49

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Gentlemen,

Gadget Roundup....................................... 10 E-Club........................................................ 11 RT in Call of Duty.................................... 12

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From the president

Matt Eaton CRISIS REVEALS TRUTH

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

The crisis we’re facing has tested our personal, professional, and Tabling lives to the limit. We have all had feelings of loss, anger, and crisis.

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But, the truth is that as a movement we have put on our badges and looked after each other and our communities.

An idea to put Santa in a Hawaiian outfit in Winchester and their openness to share, meant we contributed to those less fortunate than ourselves through food bank donations.

Round Table Ilfracombe drive-in cinema An idea for drive-in cinemas has seen fields full of movie dwellers this year with dozens of local good causes benefitting because a Tabler in Ilfracombe had an idea and shared it.

An idea that we can shoot the breeze about while shooting each other (virtually) now looks to be more modern, more relevant and more baked into the real world than any diktat could have achieved.

In 2021 we will have community offerings that no one had dreamed of in 2019.

And we will know how to

pull them off with swagger and aplomb having spent 2020 bringing them to our communities for the first time.

When we say 2020 has renewed our movement, it is real and there for all to see.

When we say that we are a grassroots organisation, driven by each other and not from the top, it is there for all to see.

The idea that the future is written by us all, is the most powerful idea of them all.

And when I look around, I see a thriving movement. In our ideas, our energy and the pride

of our response to COVID. And the exciting thing is this: with each crisis, we have grown bigger and better than before.

The gates of 2021 lead us to a path of promise and growth, with our newfound faith in our hearts, and fresh purpose seared into our souls.

The foundations we laid means we can build up higher and faster than ever.

2020 is the year where an inspiring social network declared we are built by kindness.

2020 hasn’t been a year where we lost our way, 2020 has been the year we kept the faith and found our purpose.

STORIES FROM TABLE GREAT DUNMOW SOAPBOX JORDAN BRIGHT

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Jordan Bright has always been a fan of the Red Bull Soapbox race, but he never thought he'd go on to organise the largest independent soapbox race in the UK

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I remember watching soapbox with my dad. We thought the whole thing was hilarious and always dreamt about doing it ourselves. Round Table helped make it a reality.

When I first joined Round Table, I watched the Soapbox again, but found myself watching it in a different way. I watched it as an event organiser and thought: 'maybe it’s something that we could

do to, yes, raise money, but ultimately to create a fun, exciting event for our town which was free to the public'.

I spoke to a couple of other people in Round Table about the idea to see what their thoughts were and everyone got very excited about it very quickly. I spent the next few months dedicating my time to researching routes, thinking about what would be required to run the event, studying other soapbox races up and down the country, and creating a budget before presenting the final idea to Round Table with an initial plan. It got voted forward and then we were in business.

We formed a committee and spent the next year working out how we were going to pull this off.

I was fortunate enough to be asked by Red Bull to photograph the Red Bull Soapbox race in 2015. This was an amazing experience and I got to see behind the scenes of how it ran and this

was a huge benefit when it came to organising our own soapbox race.

In order to keep the event free and cover our costs, we had to get event sponsors and we weren’t talking small money. With this in mind, it was important that the event looked amazing.

We hadn’t done it before so we didn’t have any images or anything to work with However, I’m fortunate enough that this is what I do on my day-to-day job owning a creative agency.

I created a brand mainly made up of graphics and images I took for Red Bull, which we then used on our website, sponsorship packages and everything else to create a buzz around the event.

The first year was not about raising money, it was about creating an event that everyone loved. In the first year, I think we raised around £4,000 for charity, which was a decent amount but for the amount of work that went into it, it

Great Dunmow Soapbox continued

We managed to raise over £40,000 for charities that year. And it certainly one of the proudest moments of my life.

For anyone thinking of organising their own soapbox race, I warn you that it is extremely addictive and it absorbs you in every aspect of your life. My wife was incredibly happy when I said I won’t be the lead person for the soapbox for the next two years.

I never expected that our event would end up becoming the UK’s largest independent soapbox race. We are not far behind the Red Bull Soapbox race which only takes place every two years, so in theory, you could say we also run the largest soapbox race in the UK every other year.

My main piece of advice is to create a strong committee of your strongest members and get them to specialise in what they know. This knowledge is incredibly important and it isn’t really something that you want to be learning as you go. If you have expertise, utilise it.

The second thing I’d recommend is focus on creating a buzz, this is more about marketing than anything else. Use stock images if you don’t have any or alternatively contact other Round Tables who have images of their own soapbox event.

We are more than happy to share any paperwork that we have produced, including risk assessments to give you a

head start. If you’d like to speak to me about helping you promote your events, I’ll be happy to give you guidance or if you need further help then we can discuss this also.

ROCCO CERULLO, REGION 13 REP, REFLECTS ON THE POSITIVES IN AN UNUSUAL YEAR To say this year has been an unusual year is an understatement. One thing that it’s highlighted is the importance of community.

Many have been effected for the worse, whether it be our own members or the wider community. The most evident thing has been how members have rallied together to support each other as well as others around us.

One thing is for sure, we may be going through an unprecedented time, but the community spirit has been amplified to say the least.

For us in Thornbury, our biggest worry was the monumental hurdle of the Tier 3 restrictions. After many meetings, planning, coordinating, liaising with HQ and so on, we took the important decision to still run our Santa Sleigh. It just didn’t feel right not getting out and engaging with the community to provide some sort of support.

Our primary goal was to spread some muchneeded seasonal cheer. But how could we do it safely?

This year we planned and co-ordinated media announcements sooner than we have done in previous years. With regular updates, we ensured the public knew of the changes: no knocking on doors, no stopping helpers, encouraging the public to stay safe and distanced when we arrive, and to listen out for our music, etc. We wanted to make sure the community had something to look forward to. What we didn’t expect was the overwhelming reception. The

positive vibe and welcome we received each night we were out was mind blowing. The constant messages of support and thank yous from very happy parents kept our social media guru quite busy.

This unusual year didn’t just highlight the need for community, but brought out the best in us. Many residents wanted to help, and thank us for giving them a platform to do so. So much so, one thing we did not expect, was to raise a record amount for Thornbury of £8,441.78! This broke our previous record by £2,000.

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THORNBURY STILL DOES SANTA’S SLEIGH

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PUTTING OUR FOOT DOWN and growing together in 2021 crisis vehicle of choice (the type of 4x4 you always want on that day with two feet of snow). Early in the pandemic they identified a need in their community, with a call to action that pulled local young men into service.

Andrew Thorne

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP & EXTENSION OFFICER

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This last year has more than any we can remember, been a challenge to us as Tables and Tablers. It feels like we are a diverse fleet of cars where some Tables have come out like the latest model, tuned to perfection to meet a demand in the market place.

Tables like Deeside, Newport and Livingston have become the ideal

For other Tables we’ve had many of the components missing that we rely on to attract members to our association. The ever-shifting regulations, members working the frontline or shielding, dads home schooling and the constant confusion of being a Tabler with a head full of ‘can I?’, ‘should I?’! It has been a lonely, and at times demoralising, year for some as we attempt to plan and operate whilst keeping our friendship organisation going through the pandemic.

So as 2021 arrives, it’s time to plan for the future, get out the polish and start putting the missing components back into your table: events, friendship, community and have some

fun. This is what Table has always been about!

More than ever we need our collective strength to see us through to the other side, so if your Table is missing a few parts, or they have just seized up through 2020, reach out! I ask all tables and members to work together, either look to borrow or offer up those missing parts to strengthen our association for the future.

Ideas, opportunities and friendships; no Table has ever held a monopoly on these.

Even if you look like a Ferrari, there is always what might look like a bit of a banger just down the road, that with a quick oil change could give you a run for your money.

Our National President has spoken about Kindness and Caring a lot this year, in planning for 2021 take that beyond your own table and strengthen our fleet for our post-Cov19 recovery.

All the Best for the Shared Experience of 2021.

To support growth in 2021 we are starting to develop some materials to assist tables with recruitment.

Ideas, video, imagery with fresh content is always welcome and – when shared beyond an individual Table – can help those tables massively with limited skills in media and design. If you can help on this drop me membership@ an email: membership@ roundtable.org.uk or give me a roundtable.org.uk call 07786 735355.

735355

Going digital

GADGET ROUNDUP

Tabler runs down its top Covid19 friendly gadgets of 2021 to make lockdowns more bearable

MINI MARIO KART RACETRACK You’re probably seeing a lot more of your house at the moment, so when you think about it, it would be irresponsible not to turn it into a mini Mario Kart racetrack. The package allows you to drive a kart in the real world using familiar Mario Kart controls and see the action from your kart’s on-board camera displayed on your Nintendo Switch or TV screen.

The AI functionality adds ocean depths, a sandy desert and more to transform your all-too-familiar decor. Your housemates, or those in your bubble can also get together and enjoy multiplayer races for up to four players, so long as each player has their own Kart, Nintendo Switch console and a copy of the software.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Amazon.com

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RRP £99.99

PRO CINEMA WIDE G4 PHONE LENS Your daily governmentapproved walk has no doubt been the subject of many prime Instagram moments. But to really increase your clout, you have

to stick out from the normies. Black Eye’s range of lenses are designed to achieve just that. Compatible with iPhones, Samsung Galaxies and a host of other brands, the clip on devices make things a whole lot more epic. The Pro Cinema Wide G4 phone lens, for example, captures a 120° angle of view with a multi-element glass design that delivers edge to edge picture clarity to minimize ghosting, reflections, lens flare, and other artifacts. Each phone lens is individually hand assembled and 100% quality checked. blackeyelens.com

RRP from €39.90

MASKFONE So you want a high quality mask, but also the ability to make high quality calls? MASKFONE combines protection, convenience, and technology and embodies this in one stylish, high-quality package.

Serving mainly as a face mask, it provides the necessary protection, while allowing you to go about your day uninterrupted. The units feature replaceable PM2.5 and N95/FFP2 filters, a built-in microphone, and earphones. global.maskfone.com

RRP £49.99

BLOW THE BUDGET

SENHEISSER’S HE 1 Music is of much needed comfort during lockdowns, and a good pair of headphones helps keep the neighbour’s on-side. But if you want to really blow the budget – and frankly, we can’t afford to – then you might be ready to enter the next dimension of sound quality. Enter Senheisser’s HE 1. This perfectly engineered, stunningly presented headphone and amplifier set boasts state-of-the-art technology to transform music from something you listen to, into something you live in. The Sennheiser HE 1 is the first electrostatic headphone with a Cool Class A MOS-FET high voltage amplifier integrated into the ear cups. Eliminating the capacitive reactance of the cable, and delivering an ultra-high impulse fidelity 200% more efficient than any other solution currently available. It even features 99.9 % silver-plated OFC cables for optimal conductivity. Dare to dream.

Senheisser.com

RRP £51,000

What is E-Club?

MATT FALLON CHAIRMAN

You may have heard of E-Club, seen us post a few messages and host a few events online but who are we?

You may have seen our Q&A with Ocean Rower Claire Hughes, Diwali Cook-along or our virtual Monopoly Board tour. All these events are hosted

by E-Club but opened up to other members which is important during lockdown.

As a club we grew from one member at the start of May to 12 members in December.

E-Club is for members who have had to move to a part of the country that doesn’t have a Table but would like to stay involved and maintain the friendship that membership provides. Or members that just can’t commit the time to Table anymore because of family and work commitments but can meet online to continue the

friendship and support that RTBI provides.

It also suits prospects that didn’t join your Table for whatever reason. Perhaps, for example, the online model suits them better?

2020 has been challenging for us all but it has shown the best of what can be achieved online and the E-Club will strive to develop the acquaintance of young men wherever they live in the UK.

In 2021, we would love to hear from other Tables that would like some extra man power at their events as our members live all over the country and can potentially assist where required?

If you or anybody you know falls into any of the above categories, we’d love to hear from them.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

E-Club 1927 is a fully chartered Table of RTBI. We are a virtual Table and meet online.

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The Roundtable... ...in Call of Duty STAY INDOORS When the UK government told everyone to stay indoors this gave a group of Tablers the perfect opportunity (excuse) to dust off their consoles and gaming computers

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

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Verdansk Round Table started by someone asking if anyone wanted to play Call of Duty Warzone with them and from that it quickly grew.

Tablers up and down the country built a friendship from a shared interest in gaming.

WHERE IS VERDANSK?

Verdansk is a major city in Kastovia, a fictional country featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

HOW DID THE MEETING START?

After a couple of weeks of us playing together, we set up a WhatsApp group to chat, and one night when we were having a laugh we decided to form a Round Table. We named it after the city and we gave it the Number 2020 from the year it was formed. Though it’s not an official Round Table, we have 61 members which would make us the largest Table in RTBI. As a member of Verdansk Round Table you always have a friend to play games with and let of steam if needed.

It has built friendships when we have all been stuck in lockdown.

WHAT DOES VERDANSK ROUND TABLE MEAN TO ITS MEMBERS: Sam Wyss said: “Verdansk Round Table is like Table but without the boring bits and twice the shenanigans.”

Chris Bush said: “It’s a bunch of like-minded guys meeting virtually in the evenings to have a laugh. It’s helped during lockdown and it continues to do so.”

Chris Gilly said: “Before lockdown I hadn’t played games online since the end of the 90s. A few of the

lads said I should ‘drop into Verdansk’ and before long I was playing with Tablers from up and down the country. We’ve kept each other entertained and in many cases sane. It might not be conventional Tabling but we’ve adapted adopted and improved to the situation. I can't wait to meet my fellow Verdansk Tablers after Covid”.

Many members have discussed meeting up after Covid because this group has made them realise there is more to Round Table than just your local club.

Playing video games can be good for your mental health studies find. Researchers find that the actual amount of time spent playing was a small but a significant positive factor in people’s wellbeing.

In Verdansk Round Table we don’t just play Warzone, we also play games like Among Us, poker and other video games. We have connected people during lockdown and we have kept the friendship and fellowship Round Table offers alight in dark times.

Inspiring individuals

GOLD STANDARD Olympic gold winning swimmer-turned-motivational speaker Mark Tewksbury faced down depression, homophobia and self doubt, and continues his reinvention into 2021.

Mark Tewksbury came to prominence during the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

His resume includes gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as holding seven world records, and a cover appearance on TIME magazine.

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In 1998, Tewksbury became Canada’s first sports hero to openly declare his homosexuality, helping start a global conversation on the taboo subject of gays in sport.

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Currently, alongside his advocacy efforts, he works as a speaker, producing spellbinding presentations for corporate, business or youth, drawing on his vast personal experience of leadership against the odds.

Games and then you’ve got people for whom this might be their fifth Olympics.

I’ve enjoyed the life change to be honest.

Generally speaking I’m doing excellent.

Freedom is my highest value so it's great to feel I still have it during lockdown.

I’ve basically set myself a curriculum. I’ve been adapting a book I wrote a number of years ago with Debbie Muir into bitesized chunks, as we needed to go digital eventually to make that transition. It allows us to test our content in this new one-to-one format. We’re looking at 12week programmes, teaching it, then having people apply it over three-month periods.

We see a massive change in people.

When did you know swimming was your future?

What turmoil has the cancellation of Tokyo 2020 caused for athletes?

I’m a director of the Canadian Olympic Committee so I sit around a table and help make the decisions. The IOC committee was very slow in making decisions, but we saw that the world was shutting down and decided early on that – even if there was an Olympics – we wouldn’t send a Canadian team. It was a very big decision, but we just felt it was ethically wrong to put the pressure on athletes to feel that they had to train when our entire society was locked down.

You know when you see something on TV that sparks a dream? I was an eight-year old kid that joined the swimming club, and by 12 or 14 I thought I might be on a trajectory to be on the national team. And then I was on the trajectory to be winning.

Into my 30s I was still waking up having nightmares that I was still swimming

On top of the strains of locking down for a year, there’s the added burden that the Beijing 2022 Winter Games is a year from now, in February 2022. It’s been a huge challenge and we’re seeing disturbing covid case numbers out of Tokyo and a lot of people not wanting a Games there anymore.

There are always moments that seemed less linear, like a leap frog. I remember at one swimming meet my time was 51st in the world, and then I swam a time that put me fourth. But after that I stabilised there for a while.

The whole cycle is based on four years, so even our sponsorship deals are under threat. People at every level have been hit: you’ve got some skateboarders who are going to be in their very first Olympic

I’ve been glad it’s over for years! I retired when I was 25, and into my 30s I was still waking up having nightmares that I was still swimming. It was just so all-encompassing, and at such a young age. It’s great to have

Are you glad your athletic career is over?

had that commitment and intensity, but at the same time, it’s so myopic. I wanted to explore so much more.

How did you learn to hyper-focus?

I think you learn to do that when you have to perform under pressure. You have to get your nerves and your thinking under control, otherwise you don’t succeed, so it’s kind of survival of the fittest. But that same rush still manifests itself: I launched a class yesterday for The Corporate Champions programme, and before that launch there’s a moment of anxiety and a pressure on the performance. I love to have to keep using those skills that I learnt in sport and applying them to everyday situations in life.

What does going up to receive a gold medal feel like?

I was just in shock when I won [at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games], and unlike athletics, you have to step up to get the medal right after an event. There wasn’t really enough time for me to

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How are the lockdowns treating you, Mark?

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comprehend everything, but I remember seeing my parents in Barcelona that night and that was a beautiful moment, but I still had to swim the next day, so there was a lot going on. It was about a week later when I was in the stadium watching the men’s decathlon when I saw an athlete go up and get a medal and something about that ceremony made me think: 'I got one too!'. And that’s when it hit me.

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What was the aftermath? Did you have an existential crisis once you'd achieved exactly what you'd trained for your whole life?

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One of my regrets is that I didn’t have an existential crisis and that I never got to say goodbye to my fellow athletes. That was the hardest part. It was 12 years later when I went back in Athens as part of a television analysis team that I realised a lot of the athletes were there, so that was my moment of closure. I think it’s different now though, and we make athletes think beyond their short careers.

After returning home following Barcelona,

it really blew up for me. I was on the cover of Time, I had a book deal with Penguin and a clothing deal with Seers. It was a huge thing, but my specialism was being part of a team, so it was a little isolating.

While the progress has been encouraging, in the UK, it’s still unheard of for soccer players to come out. You mentor a lot of closeted athletes. What are the barriers?

Winning gold was life-changing for me and I’m proudly wearing this Companion of the Order of Canada broach now, which is our version Of Being a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

This was my platform, but I managed to use it to stand up for all sorts of people who would maybe haven’t had their voice heard before. Getting a gold allowed me to focus on the humanitarian work that I was supposed to do.

In Canada, it is mostly hockey players in a professional leagues that I talk to, but it’s been really interesting for me to watch because when I came out in 1998 I was thinking it would be normal in five-years and that this won’t be an issue, full stop.

But it still was, and I was the only out guy for a long time, right up until Sochi. I was getting calls from all around the world to be their 'out' spokesperson, but I was thinking: “This is ridiculous guys, there must be someone else by now?”

You later came out as gay in 1998. What was the reaction, and which inspiring events gave you the strength to do this?

I was the first out Olympian in my country in 1998. It felt at the time that I just couldn’t pretend anymore and I would have never guessed but the medal was to start my journey.

You’re not going to believe it, but the moment that inspired me was actually when Tina Turner left Ike with nothing but her stage name. That was the moment that empowered me to make a change in my life. So I moved to Australia where I was just a Political Science student again.

Getting a gold allowed me to focus on the humanitarian work that I was supposed to do.

Putin did a great thing inadvertently by targeting our community. It forced people who maybe wouldn’t speak out about their sexuality to do so. It opened the floodgates. Countries across the world now have out Olympians, and it’s happening in hockey here now too, with an initiative called You Can Play.

However, it hasn’t trickled down to an actual athlete who is currently playing in any league. There’s still a piece missing

Are athletes more prone to psychological issues?

There’s all sorts of types in this business.

I think about how depressed I was and it wasn’t because of my wiring. It was because of my socialisation. The world was telling me that being gay was bad, and it’s also a very high pressure world where you’re only as good as your last performance.

What advice to you give athletes struggling with coming out?

With amateur athletes I’m frank, but when there’s a discussion with professional athletes I never actually get to meet them. There’s always an intermediary who’s sent and every single time when it comes to it, they bail out.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I’m an enthusiastic, energetic, positive person obviously, but I had lots of doubts and negativity as well. I’ve watched films like Chariots of Fire about 100 times. I really respond to that sort of excellence. I really love watching people who are good at what they do.

I always took inspiration from the athletes around me who were winning golds too, and they made me believe. I love listening to music too, like Maya Angelou. I always took inspiration where I can find it.

My motivational work has been really cool. I dream to make the experience akin to How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Participants leave with this amazing tool box to handle any challenge thrown at them as a leader.

We saw this recently with President Trump. How can a president of the United States just say what he wants and there’s no repercussion? Now we saw the repercussions. It’s an interesting time to be in a field of leadership.

How do you pick the charitable causes that you champion and support?

Often you’re introduced to a cause via somebody you know. The Paralympics I’ve been involved with for a long time. I see the power of sport to transform people, so whenever I see that it’s appealing to me.

We have this ability to come together as an amazing community. For example, for a long time intellectual disability was put into the background and no one wanted to deal with it.

What’s next for Mark Tewksbury?

I’m running again for the Olympic Committee so I’ll potentially be there for another 4 years. My life was spent travelling a lot. I had an apartment in

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in the LGBT story of sport. There will eventually be a breakthrough where it truly becomes a non-issue in sport.

The climate at the time I was competing was terrifying. I even had a few reporters come up to me and tell me they knew about my sexuality and I would have to beg them not to print anything and promise that I would tell them when I was ready to come out. I was always dancing that dance. When I came out in 1998 it was still early. I remember a lot of sports reporters said: “Why do we have to do this? Your private life is your private life”.

But I said: “That’s bullshit. You’re always talking about the hockey players wives or their families. You don’t get a pass to say it’s a non-issue. I’m sorry, but it is.”

Toronto and I’ve left the apartment now and I’m grounded here in Calgary. So the future for me is continuing to grow this virtual leadership programme. For sure, you miss the coming together and sitting around a table and having coffee breaks, but what does happen is your individual learning journey is amazing because it’s so focused.

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BRENDON BATSON OBE The former defender for Arsenal, Cambridge United and West Bromwich Albion talks covid, fairness and football.

Tabler catches up with Brendan Batson OBE, a former footballer who played as a defender for Arsenal. His achievements also include championing fair play and anti-racism initiatives TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

How did you get started?

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I was born in Grenada, then moved to Trinidad, and I’m part of the Windrush Generation. My mum had been to England working on a ship and saw better opportunities here, and sent me and my brother over, ahead of her. She sold it as a bit of an adventure: “The streets were pathed with gold,” we were told… and snow,which I’d never seen. We were looking forward to it. We landed in April,

‘62-63 and the winter was the worst we’ve had since! England has been very kind to me and my family though.

What attracted you to sport?

I’d never seen football when I arrived.

I’d just watched cricket and hockey.

Fortunately the guys I fell in with at Tilbury were into football, and I was fortunate to get spotted in the district side Waltham Forest, when a scout approached me and my mum to play for Highbury. I was 13, and was signed as a schoolboy at 14.

How was the climate as a black player back then?

In those days you didn’t see a lot of black sportsmen on tv, but Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay, was an inspiration. Being in a minority in the UK, and one of only two

mixed race kids in my school, I remember going into classrooms and people had spelled out Ali's name on the chalkboard.

It was the first time I’d seen a black guy being lauded by white kids. He had a big impression on me.

How did you cope with your injuries sustained during your career?

I lost my first cartilage at 16, and it took me a while to get over it. Afterwards, I had a good appearance record, only missing two games. But, when it occurred again in 1982 at Ipswich, I realised I was struggling, when I kicked the ball, the pain was unbelievable. I was preparing for the bad news, but I took a philosophical view that the first injury could have finished me. I had the best part of 15 years, so I have no complaints.

Which anti-racism causes have been effective?

Before joining it officially, I’d always been involved in the Professional Footballers Association (PFA). I decided I wanted to learn more about the industry I worked in, so I took up delegate duties at Cambridge.

It was very difficult being in an office, and travelling around, you miss the playing and the dressing room. But I grew into it and loved the years as Gordon Taylor’s deputy.

The Kick it Out campaign started in 1993, but the explosion in black players was in the ‘70s. It’s a great credit to those players that, despite the abuse and lack of interest from the authorities, we persevered. Where we’ve missed a trick is that it should be more player-led. When people like Gary Mabott and Ian Wright, got involved it really helped. ‘It’s only the colour of the shirt that counts’ was a great message.

What major changes to the game did you witness?

The Bosman Ruling, allowing freedom of movement, was a big change. That, and TV contracts. The transition into being the Premier League led to untold riches in the game, and the players really benefitted.

We were all professionals, with ambitions.

The players supported strike actions, and the Premier League capitulated and the relations have since been quite good.

Players have much more control of their careers now. We know from history when players want to leave the game we have a part to play in their future.

What are your opinions on money in the game?

It’s about market forces, the Premier League is the most watched, and the players deserve to share in that bounty.

However, 75% play outside the Premier League and the lockdown is having an effect there as they don’t get the huge wages. We talked about a more equal distribution from television into League One and Two, which are taking crumbs off the table, and they're very reliant on gate revenue. Bigger clubs with wealthy owners gravitate to wealthy clubs. We’ve lost Bury, and teams are going bust and getting in financial difficulty.

I don’t remember anyone referring to Pele as ‘black’.

He was just a great player.

Rashford, has been inspiring and deserves congratulations on the doctorate. He can influence the campaign a lot more. Now people are looking to do the right thing, which is a start, but now we need to see some action.

There's been some horrific moments, though: like when Cyril Regis was selected for England, and a bullet slipped out of the envelope. That sparked a lot of conversation. I had names shouted at me, and black players had to learn to cope with that. Cyril said: 'They can give me all the abuse they want, but I can bang three in the back of the net and do my job."

Racism has never been a real problem on the pitch, more in the terraces. There’s

work to be done, but when you consider the journey, we should applaud the integration of it, and get to the point where they’re not 'black players', just players. I don’t remember anyone referring to Pele as ‘black’. He was just a great player.

Spectators now feel more confident that they can report and not put themselves at risk. Often banning orders aren’t enforced, which is a disappointment.

Where there’s a legal process, prosecutions are few and far between. We want to see examples being made.

Sportsmen like Lewis Hamilton are suddenly saying things of substance. Now we need action to match those words, and major corporations are stepping up. After seeing all this positivity, I think we can’t be anything but optimistic.

What other controversies plague the game?

Like any sport, there are controversies.

VAR is currently a dog’s dinner, but I’m sure they’ll get it right. It should add, not detract. The tackle from behind rule was a terrific benefit. They’ve tinkered with the offside rule a bit too much though. I look at the pitches now and see them being the same excellent quality year round, and the stadiums are fantastic now. The Emirates is one of the prettiest stadiums.

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How did your career progress afterwards?

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health & wellbeing

Walking tall

during lockdown prompted Tablers to leap to his support after he set up a support group WalkwithWill What is your background with Round Table and what has the organisation meant to you?

My Father was a Tabler and he had some great times when he was in Table. I joined six years ago and had great fun and memories made with Coventry 23.

What do you do for a job and what did your life look like before this?

My wife and I run an estate agent in Coventry. We were very busy and with three children with not much time for anything else. One thing I have learnt is prioritising what is important in life.

I had my first chemotherapy session on 21 August, with chemotherapy called ABVD which is very strong and can cause lots of different side effects. I was given six cycles that I have to do. With my chemotherapy the doctors told me I wasn’t able go outside or even have a window open in the house because of catching fungal infections. The next 6 months were not fun.

Before my chemo started, I bought a treadmill to keep myself fit. I came across the 60-mile run in September, a fundraiser for Cancer research, and thought I could give it a good go and see if I can set myself a goal of finishing it whilst having chemotherapy.

My goal was to try and do two miles a day but I was sure there would be days where I was not up to it so would have to make it up on days I feel fit enough

to do it.

How did you cope with your diagnosis and what motivated you to be active?

At first it was a huge shock and wasn’t sure if I was going to live! So you get a lot of anxiety with that, but when my doctors told me I was Stage 2 and had a good chance of survival, I decided I was going to give it my best shot.

Describe the support you got in your fundraising efforts and how that played out The support was just amazing.

I had a call from Matt Eaton on the morning I set WalkwithWill up and it just went from there. It is still very surreal what happened and was just amazing to do walks with Tables all over the country and all over the world.

What can our readers do to support you?

Nothing really. I would just like to say thank you for all you have done for me and if any Tablers find themselves in a similar situation I will always be at the end of the phone to help you as much as I can.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

WILL GREEN’S BATTLE WITH BLOOD CANCER

Describe what you went through On the 28 July just after my 29th birthday my life changed instantly. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma (blood cancer) which came as a real surprise as I didn’t have symptoms apart from a being tired occasionally, but who wouldn’t with a nine-monthold baby.

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Ballsy start to the year WHAT ON EARTH DO WE MEAN? In 2009, a group of enthusiastic testicular cancer survivors and specialist NHS staff decided it was time to form a patient forum and charity fund to help raise awareness of testicular cancer and support those diagnosed with testicular cancer at different stages of their disease. This happened with the help of overarching hospital charity, Above and Beyond, but in 2015 It’s in the Bag fled the nest and became a fully independent charity.

It’s in the Bag have three simple aims:

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• Support

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This message comes with a health message for men to look after their balls.

Yes we did just say the word balls. It’s in the Bag supports men with testicular cancer in the South West of England.

It is a local charity who have changed the mould when raising awareness of the disease. The charity is well known for its quirky, tongue in cheek awareness campaigns and would like men to Pledge to Check their testicles once a month.

Being diagnosed with testicular cancer and going through treatment is a huge challenge – physically, mentally and emotionally. We provide a range of activities and initiatives to help men through this tough time.

• Awareness We teach men the importance of checking their balls regularly and taking any issues straight to their GP. Spreading this knowledge promotes earlier diagnosis, which often means simpler, more effective treatment and better chances of a cure.

• Survival With UK cure rates for testicular cancer running above 98%, we focus on survival – helping guys tackle the emotional and practical impact of cancer, both during treatment and beyond.

Why every month you may ask?

Co-founder and retired testicular cancer nurse specialist Sue Brand explains.

The changes that take place with testicular cancer are quite subtle and if men get to know their balls, they can spot changes straight away.

The four things to looks for are any lumps or bumps, they could be painless and very small; any change in texture, gone hard or feel all wrong; an increase in size and pain and heaviness in the ball sack. If any of these signs and symptoms are detected, go and see your GP. 9 out of 10 problems are not cancer, but it could save your life.

To help to remind you to check, It’s in the Bag have developed some unique branding and campaigns.

From WWII themed KEEP CALM AND CHECK YOUR BALLS to the most recent cooking campaign, MAY CONTAIN NUTS. The idea is that men relate better to images and less text, so all our IITB campaigns are image led. We have 7 sport themed campaigns and also The (one and only) Testical Festival which is a music festival with a message.

Their Rugby themed Keep an Eye On Your

itsinthebag.org.uk

Tackle won Campaign of the Year in 2016 and in 2021 the charity won the national QIC Cancer Charity Initiative of the Year’ Why not take a look at our animated and BSL films about how to check?

It’s in the Bag not only raise awareness but also support those who have had the disease.

They provide information packs for all men in the South West of England diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. Each pack has leaflets about the operation, what to expect to happen next, they are a life line during the wait.

Testicular cancer (germ cell) is classed as a rare cancer and is treated at a specialist centre.

There are only 13 specialist centres in the UK, Bristol being one of them, which means that men often have to travel quite a distance to receive treatment and attend appointments and investigations. Due to the curative

intent of testicular cancer, men often do not qualify for financial assistance that may help towards travel, so It’s in the Bag are happy to contribute towards the travel costs for patients who live more than 10 miles away from their treatment centre and receive a limited income.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 our hands on support has discontinued, but it will return. We provide survival courses for after treatment, helping men with the after effects of diagnosis and treatment in terms of diet, exercise and stress management. Emotional support is very important and we know men are not very good at accessing this. In the meantime, we are encouraging men to view our YouTube Channel, which has 13 It’s in the Experience videos focused on diagnosis, treatment and survival.

So that in a nutshell is It’s in the Bag (excuse the pun)

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer of 15 to 49-year-old men (but it also affects younger and older men). Although most cancers get more common as we get older, testicular cancer is different. It’s most likely to happen when you’re young or middle aged.

Testicular cancer has a high survival rate – more than 98% of men who have been diagnosed with Testicular cancer will survive, but early detection is crucial. It’s in the Bag encourages men aged 15 and older to self-check every month and to talk to their GP immediately if they discover anything unusual.

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Like us on Facebook / itsinthebag and /TheTestFest

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Follow us on Twitter @ ItsInTheBag Instagram @ itsinthebagcancersupport April is Testicular Cancer Awareness month The (one and only) Testical Festival – Saturday 19th June 2020 Taunton.

we talk to a key worker

Gareth Williams has been a ambulance care assistant based in Wales for 20 years. He tells Tabler about a hectic period, as Covid19 dominates his job I have been in Round Table for five years now and I currently hold the Area 4 chairman position. This year however has been the most stressful yet due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

It all went upside down around 22 March when I went into work to find the army there to work alongside us. We were informed that we were going to experience a pandemic from China. We were all taken into a room to practice attending patients with space suits and

breathing helmets. We were totally covered head to toe so that we could be protected.

The ritual of wearing a face mask and apron to every patient was something that was difficult to get into a rhythm with and understand, but now we don’t give it a second thought.

Outpatients appointments were promptly cancelled as day hospitals closed everything except more urgent calls.

Attendances at Principality Stadium stopped for rugby internationals and were now an extension of the hospital as patients with Covid were moved to other locations to keep the hospital free for emergencies.

This continued until the summer when people started to return to cities, beaches, towns

and restaurants. But just when we thought that everything was getting back to normal, the army departed as our staff were all returning from sickness.

Time would reveal that this was only a face lift as Wales went into a local lockdown and people could not go out of their areas.

Following this, we saw a spike in infections at work, but this time we were in a better place to cope with the pressure.

Wales went into a ‘firebreak’ lockdown to give a break to the over stretched healthcare industry as we looked forward to the vaccine being rolled out.

It’s important to remember that this is a long haul, and we’re still far away from getting all the people vaccinated.

Through all of this my friends at Round Table have helped me to keep sane by allowing me to help when I could and get me thinking about other things. They have been there to listen me (and take the piss out of me) when needed! All in all I don’t know what I would do without my friends at Round Table.

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GARETH WILLIAMS

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mental health Start your mental health journey with the 3Ps

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Mental health is crucial in these difficult times.

Luckily there’s a lot you can do, says Adam Baggs, Cirencester Round Table

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On my journey from PR to Hypnotherapist I have come across amazing stories of personal growth, discovery and resilience. They have touched my heart and changed my perspective on so many things. I am humbled by the power of the human spirit to overcome true adversity and time and again I have found myself incredible thankful for what I have.

Many have said we should not compare the global pandemic to WWII and what our grandparents faced, but there are enough similarities to make it relevant in some ways. We are facing unprecedented change, we are all having to re-prioritise, friendships and relationships have more value than ever, and of course, sadly many are experiencing terrible loss.

I have come across amazing stories of personal growth, discovery and resilience.

It is no surprise to learn that the mental health of so many people is taking a battering at the moment. It is also sad that it has taken the current health crisis to reveal just how many people face daily mental health challenges. Suicide remains a serious, high risk issue for men our age - don’t become another statistic, seek help and advice. We all need to look out for our buddies, check in regularly, make sure we know what is going on in their lives. Keep an eye out for changes

in attendance, attitude and personality. It might all be ok, but it might also be a silent cry for help.

There are many tools that can support and help individuals find their way back to positive and balanced mental health. Depending on who you talk to they are packaged differently and come under different names but I personally am a fan of the concept of the 3Ps. Positive thought: the brain doesn’t know the different between imagination and reality. So, try to stay on top of your thoughts and be in the present… and if you do start daydreaming – try to think about the good things you have and the awesome stuff you are looking forward to doing. Use positive language and don’t talk yourself down. If necessary – fake it until you make it. Remind yourself of the fact that you are awesome.

Positive actions: keep moving and keep doing stuff.

WalkWithWill was a huge inspiration to so many Tablers last year – what an incredible story. Don’t fall out of the habit of exercise – keep moving – keep finding a way to “do more”. If you keep physically fit,

Mental health journey continued you will be taking huge steps towards keeping mentally fit. If you have the time check our Spark by John Rattey. An amazing book about just how good exercise is for the brain.

Positive interaction: possibly the easiest for us. Table is an awesome movement full of good mates. Spend time with them whether

in person or virtually as often as you can, as a group or individually. Don’t forget that you can of course also have positive interaction with your other half, other friends (if you have them outside Table) and family… but let’s face it – your Table buddies are probably more fun…

Finally, a quiet note to those who might be

suffering or are worried that their mental strength is starting to fade. Your mates in Table are there to support and to help you, they can be the shoulder you need to cry on or the arm you need to support you. Never feel you are alone when you are part of this incredible organisation.

GETTING FIT IN 2021...

HEALTHY HEART: DO NOT under estimate a good walk. You could run, cycle or similar. Increase the heart rate and get outside. Set some daily targets for yourself 10,000 thousand steps or 20mins of activity a day.

HEALTHY MIND: relax! breath, meditate, stretch, yoga. Just take a moment for yourself.

HEALTHY BODY: movement, loading the

TOP 5 NUTRITIONAL TIPS:

WATER! At least 2-3 litres a day. Our bodies are mainly made up of water and we function at our best when hydrated.

It also keeps us full for longer so is great for weight management.

WHOLE FOODS: eat as little processed food

as possible. Our bodies can break down whole foods much more easily so we can extract the nutrients and utilise them effectively.

PROTEIN: fish, meat, eggs are great sources. Try to get protein in each meal or snack. It keeps us fuller for longer, is great for repairing our cells after a workout and helps us grow and build lean muscle.

muscles, whether that be body weight exercises or weight/resistance training.

Monitor your progress, record your improvements so you can feel good about the process.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: micro nutrients, vitamins and minerals help with a whole host of things: boosting the immune system, and promoting healthy hair/nails for starters.

HAPPY YOU: find something you enjoy

EDUCATION: start teaching yourself about

that is fitness-related and you'll be more consistent with it!

what is actually in what you eat. Download the free app MyFitnessPal to check how many calories are in foods, their macros, protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Make choices to suit your goals.

Lisa Bennett -

Brighouse Ladi

es Circle

EXERCISE ROUTINE

• Lunges alternate/jumps, Sprints, Rest Mountain climber, Sprints, Rest Leg raisers, Sprints, Rest • Wide to narrow squats static/jumps, Star jumps, Rest Press ups, Star jumps, Rest Sit ups, Star jumps, Rest • Rebound squats static/jumping, Burpees, Rest Shoulder taps, Burpees, Rest Cycles, Burpees, Rest Round 1) 30 seconds of each exercise 20/30 secs rest Round 2) 20 seconds of each exercise 10/20 secs rest Round 3) 15secs of each exercise 10secs /little rest as possible Max time 29mins

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THERE ARE 4 MAIN ASPECTS I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH FOR SELF GROWTH, SAYS LISA BENNETT – BRIGHOUSE LADIES CIRCLE

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food & drink

Be more ‘chef, to impress to the pan and baste in the butter to finish cooking before serving (venison is best served rare, be nice to yourself and, even if it’s not your preference, give it a try.

You can always stick it back in the pan if you don’t like it).

QUICK MAIN COURSE TO IMPRESS YOUR PARTNER.

SHOPPING LIST

Potatoes: I recommend roosters as I find they mash well and give a smooth consistency and will take a lot of butter and cream.

Choose your vegetables: I love baby onions, spinach and carrots. If you feel adventurous and have time get some bones from your butcher. A mix of venison and beef would be great. But you can always get a pre-made game stock and that would work just as well.

Speak to your butcher and ask for two 200g venison loin steak’s (they will say it’s fillet but it’s really loin).

Okay so now we are ready to cook.

Put your potatoes into a large pot with plenty of water. Cook until soft and easy to mash. To get an amazing mash, use a potato ricer if you have one, or use a conventional masher and a whisk to get the potatoes as smooth as you can before adding generous amounts of butter and cream/ milk.

I add a generously large spoon of Dijon mustard but you can add any type you prefer they will all work well (maybe with the exception of ‘French’!).

Put your bones, carrot trimmings and baby onions in a medium pan and sauté until well browned, remove some of the baby onions and place in a preheated oven at 180°c. Deglaze the pan with some red wine and reduce by half. Then add water until the bones are covered and reduce on a medium heat until you have about an inch

of jus left. Remove the jus and thicken a little with corn flour (keep warm until needed).

While this is reducing, put carrots into a pan of boiling salted water and cook until tender. Season the venison well then seal the venison in a frying pan until browned on all sides, then remove to rest.

Put the mushrooms in the pan and sauté, add the carrots and the onions to the pan and add a knob of butter and some aromatics (thyme, rosemary and a garlic clove) then return your venison

This will also work equally well with steak or lamb. So don’t be put off if venison isn’t your thing or you are unsure where to get it from. If you are looking for a great dinner and you don’t want the hassle of doing the prep yourself I design the dine @home boxes for www.thestrongwaterco.com My company sells sweet treats that can be shipped UK wide from www.birdhousecafe.co.uk enjoy cooking and I’ll bring you something else soon.

WINE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HIDDEN VINES

AGLIANICO DOC Campania, from winery "Sertura", Perfect to pair to typical products of Irpinia, as mushrooms, truffles and red meat - of course Venison.

BARBERA Del MONFERRATO DOC Piemonte from winery "Rossello Casa Vinicola" Excellent wine for your evening meal of Venison. (with Porcini mushrooms and Black truffle for added extravagance).

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Cooking has become a daily focal point for many during lockdowns. Colin Redman, Banchory and District Round Table, gives his tips for cooking up a storm...

If you have a meat thermometer cook the venison to 48°c and it should be perfect. At the last minute, pop a few good handfuls of spinach into the pan and it will sauté down very quickly. Then arrange the ingredients on the plate in a pleasing manner serve to your partner/flatmate/mum/ dad/whoever you are spending your lockdown with.

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beers to Watch Tim Sheahan is the founding editor of The Brewers Journal, The Brewers Journal Podcast and also the Brewers Congress, which takes place in London this May.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

You can find them on Twitter @BrewJournal or on Instagram @ thebrewersjournal

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It’s truly a great time to be a fan of fantastic UK beer, says Brewers Journal editor Tim Sheahan.

Of course, there can be no denying that 2020 was a challenging and testing time for hospitality.

But the way breweries and wider hospitality adapted during this annus horribilis was extraordinary.

So as we look hopefully forward to a better 2021, here is are some breweries worth checking out:

Brick Brewery started out in Peckham back in 2013. Its taproom is a popular spot right

by Peckham Rye rail station but the brewery’s production now takes place down the road in Deptford.

While Brick still produces excellent Pales, IPAs and Lagers, in recent years it has showed how well it can turn its hand to countless other styles, too.

In addition to hazy, hoppy numbers, its forte also lies in brewing a wealth of sour beers.

Its Barrel-Aged Cocktail Sours, Martini and Manhattan, are a delight, while Orange Crush Gose will be perfect when the warm weather returns.

Hartlepool’s Donzoko Brewing, founded by Reece Hugill, made his name through the brewery’s excellent Northern Helles, a 4.2% take on a Bavarian Style unfiltered lager featuring sweet malt, subtle floral hops.

Brewing beer is easy, but producing good beer takes real skill South London’s Drop Project are a new kid on the block but boast proven brewing pedigree, too. Featuring the expertise of JT, formerly head of production at Gipsy Hill Brewing Company, the company is focusing on delicious, hop-forward Pales and IPAs. “Brewing beer is easy, but

producing good beer takes real skill,” he tells us. “I’ve brewed more lager in my career than anything else but now, I’m brewing a lot of hazy styles. They look great, they taste great and I disagree with anyone that says they’re an easy type of beer to brew.”

It just so happens that Drop Project are making great beer, of all styles, to boot.

In Devon, Utopian Brewing are firmly focused on celebrating British brewing and incredible lager.

They set out to create some exceptional premium lager, brewed with top quality British ingredients to give people a choice that goes beyond current craft beers and big brand lager. And they’re doing just that.

The brewery’s British Lager and British Pilsner have made them new fans far and wide, while Session Lager Ten Degrees and its Black Lager

tantalised the taste buds further.

For an outfit still in their formative years, they’ve become a byword of quality thanks to the expertise of head brewer Jeremy Swainson and are well worth hunting down.

Visiting Verdant in Falmouth, Cornwall, during the summer of 2020 offered up a semblance of normality and trying their latest releases in the team’s impressive new brewery facility was a real pleasure. However, it was the enthusiasm of head brewer James Heffron towards their classic Headband Pale Ale that stuck with me and I’ve continued to seek it out as much as possible.

The brewery’s passion lies in hazy, hoppy beers, primarily

of the East Coast style. This means the beers are “juicy”, have a lower bitterness than their West Coast cousins, and have a soft, pillowy mouthfeel (the way it feels in your mouth). They’re insanely easy to drink and unsurprisingly popular. Verdant brew these excellently, but are also a dab hand at West Coast IPAs, Lagers and Stouts, too.

There’s a wealth of beautiful beer out there right now, so go check it out! I wish everyone a prosperous new year and can’t wait to see where the brilliant world of brewing goes next.

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But in 2020, additions such as Belgian Pale Endless Graft, Unfiltered Session lager Garden Bier and a number of mixed fermentation saisons have demonstrated his outstanding brewing ability. Look out for more experimentation this year, alongside a raft of great lagers, too.

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like father, like son

Like father, like son We talk to Tablers that keep it in the family LEWIS GRAVELL DOB and years active?

I joined on 7 September 1994, and I'm coming up to my 9th year in Table.

Why did you join?

I joined because I saw the fun in a social meeting, and didn’t know many people my age in Narberth.

Your favourite Table memory?

Visiting Ty Halfan in Cardiff.

How you have seen Table change?

I’ve seen Table getting better and better and I believe we are going in the right direction.

If you have one… would you want your son to join – what do you hope Table will be like for him?

Definitely! I would love to see my children grow up wanting to join Table! You get out of the Table as much as you put into it.

IAN GRAVELL DOB and years active in Table?

10 May 1970. 13 years (Still involved as an Honorary and as Nick Lewis Fellow, for which I am very grateful.

Table roles?

I was secretary, speaker secretary, events officer, Table chairman and president. Area 43 secretary, Area

Why did you join?

I had moved to a new town and had no friends. I joined Narberth and Whitland Round Table and I have gained friends who are as close as my lifelong ones.

What did you get from Table?

Friendship. Fun. And understanding of what being part of a great organisation is about.

Table has given me the confidence to liaise with the First Minister of Wales, the Prince of Wales and the Argentinian Ambassador in London of which I am very proud.

It has taught me to put others before myself, each and every time and to appreciate what others do for me.

How long were you a member?

Haven’t they kicked me out yet?

Shit! Only kidding I was involved with Table for 13 years, and I still attend all that I can.

Why did you want Lewis to join?

For the same initial reason I joined: to make friends his own age in this new town. But it has been so much more than that.

Table has been the making of him as a young man and I am very, very proud of him and what he has achieved in Table.

Your favourite table memories?

There are so many! I had so much support from all the Tables in Area 43 when my mother died whilst I was Area chair

that I really consider some of the moments at this time as the best Tabling times I had.

Singing ‘The green, green grass of home’ with Marcus Jones at a Birmingham Karaoke Bar before a National meeting; Mark House taking photos of me sleeping in a National meeting the next day!; Working with Paul Agnew and Matt Fallon and supplying the Table Presidential car, RTB1 which was excellent value with a seven year warranty. Obviously punishing my liver with some of the greatest people walking this planet. An evening with the chairman of Cape Town RT which resulted in me being the most drunk I have ever been in my adult life. The support of New York Round Table when Lewis moved to America to work for a while and my thanks must go out to Sidmouth Round Table for finding a long lost cousin of ours when my mother passed away. The power of Table is immense, but you only get out what you put in, How have you seen Table change?

The fundamentals of Table will stay the same.

Friendship, camaraderie and helping others less fortunate than ourselves are the cornerstones of what Table was, is and always will be. The way we operate to build on these cornerstones will have to change with advances in technology, dealing with the pandemic and changing with people’s perceptions, but the

Ian & L ewis

Ian & Matt Will iams

Ian & Noah

Leu & Lew

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

WAS INTRODUCED TO TABLE BY HIS FATHER, IAN GRAVELL.

43 chairman, Area 43 president and Area 43 Nick Lewis fellow.

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Like father, like son continued

Lee & George

Lee

cornerstones must remain the same. We can tackle anything because we are strong and we have Tablers backing us up and supporting us all the way. I cannot emphasise that enough. As an honorary, I have had my time, and Tablers coming through are young and are more suited to deal with Tabling in today's society and, as honoraries we must remember that, even if we don’t always agree.

These aren’t our decisions any more.

If you have one… would you want your grandson to join – what do you hope Table will be like for him?

I have two grandsons and I really hope they will join, and be proud of Table. I hope it will give them friendship, strength in their hearts and a smile on their faces with the ability to put others’ needs before their own.

LEE PETTY DOB and years active in Table:1st August 1968. I was a member of Table for 25 years.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

George & Ben

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George & Ben

Table roles?

I had various roles in my time in Table, including being Chairman three times, President twice, Community Service Officer, Secretary, Fundraising Officer, Area Liaison Officer etc. All my roles have been within Basildon 805 and not within Area or National.

Why did you join?

My Father-in-law, Paul was a Rotarian and just before my son was born in 1997 I had mentioned to him that I would quite like to join a charity organisation. I had

never heard of Round Table, but Paul knew a couple of Basildon’s members and suggested I go along to one of their meetings. I went along to my first meeting (in a pub in Basildon) and have never looked back since.

What did you get from Table?

In Table I have found friends for life. I get a feeling of fulfilment helping the Basildon Community.

It’s great to give something back.

The feeling you get at Christmas when you hand out presents to children who would otherwise not receive anything is truly the best feeling in the world; likewise seeing the kids and adults faces when we pull Santa around the streets is just magical. Seeing the crowds at our fireworks display, knowing that we have made their night with an amazing fireworks display, makes all the hard work worthwhile and gives a sense of achievement for the whole club – working together to make great things happen and raising money whilst doing it.

How long were you a member?

I had 25 years as a Tabler but since reaching the age of 45 have stayed active within Basildon 805 and aim to carry this on indefinitely.

Why did you want George and Ben to join?

It’s in our blood. It’s all they have known and it’s such a great organisation that it was inevitable they would want to join. The friendship is invaluable, Table friends are for life and no matter where you go in the world you can find another Tabler to link up with. Organising events to help others and giving back to the community is something everyone should try, I wanted both my boys

to realise there is a massive world out there and they can make a difference. They certainly haven’t moaned at me yet for introducing them to Round Table .

Your favourite Table memories?

By far my favourite moment(s) were inducting my two sons into Table (George’s induction was on the stroke of midnight on his 18th birthday).

But as for other memories, we once took a massive amount of presents over to a local community group. The group looked after children from a very young age up to teenagers after school in an old community hall.

The children came from families that unfortunately had alcohol and/or drug addictions. The group used to teach the children how to fend for themselves safely i.e. How to make breakfast and lunch for themselves, to wash properly and how to stay safe.

Some of these children had never had a Christmas present before.

We took our sleigh and Santa to their group and one by one each child was given two presents and a card from Santa Claus and we laid on a buffet tea. I have never seen such amazement, excitement and gratitude. It truly made their year, and ours. (I can honestly say that not one of us who were there that night had a dry eye).

How you have seen Table change?

Table has changed in a big way, I believe. Years ago, we used to get lots of requests for funding.

People were not afraid to ask for money, everyone knew who we were and that they could come to us for help. We don’t seem to get that anymore which is sad. It’s also sad seeing member numbers

Like father, like son continued

If you have one... would you want your grandson to join – what do you hope table will be like for him?

I would have no hesitation in introducing any grandson to Table. I would hope that it continues to be inclusive to all and not change much as I believe this is the best young man’s organisation in the world.

GEORGE PETTY DOB and years active in table?

DOB: 22nd July 1997. I joined on my 18th birthday at 12.01, so I joined on Wednesday 22nd July 2015 12.01 am. I have been a tabler for five years.

Table roles?

Current: chairman; Past: vice chairman; Fireworks chairman Why did you join?

I joined because I felt that my dad had been such a big part of Basildon Round Table that I had to carry on that legacy.

What you saw as the good in your father being a member growing up?

I saw my dad a confident man who had made many friends in many different fields of work. He has many skills and was always a very helpful and generous person.

Seeing him run the fireworks always inspired me and is one of the reasons I work in events today.

If you have one… would you want your son to join – what do you hope table will be like for him?

What has been your experience of Table so far?

I have had many brilliant experiences so far. From eventful nights at the pub to running the largest fireworks display in Basildon. I feel Table is a community and you build friendships and bonds that stand for life. I know I could call up anyone of my fellow Tablers, and past Tablers, to ask for help and they would do their absolute best to assist.

Yes! I would hope it would be the same experience as mine and more. The only thing I wish I did more of was international tabling so I would hope he would go on to gain some international tabling experience.

What didn’t you father tell you about?

Some of the low points of complaints after fundraisers.

(Not many but even one little complaint can get you down after such hard work) What you hope to gain from Table?

I hoped to gain confidence and friends and both of these I have already gained. Now I’m hoping to gain even more friends and help other people who move into the area to find out about round table.

Favourite Table moment to date Fireworks 2019 - standing with the DJ looking back at the huge crowd and having a feeling of pride. Not only for me but being proud of what Basildon Round Table as a whole had achieved. This was our 3rd year at a new venue after the first two years we hadn’t been as successful as we had hoped due to weather and the change of venue.

BEN PETTY

DOB and years active in table: August 2000, two-years in Table.

Table roles: Sleigh co-ordinator and general member.

Why did you join?

I joined because, I have been brought up around the Table environment: tagging along to some of the less rowdy socials; helping to run a firework display or the Sleigh; Selecting and distributing presents for the local disadvantaged; Tagging along to some of the rowdier socials. It was clear that the friends my family had made because of Table were the strongest friendships.

What you saw as the good in your father being a member growing up?

When I was growing up, clearly the Charitable exploits of Basildon 805 made me see a lot of good in my father. But the way Table had given him such good relations with people from so many walks of life was the good I saw in him being a member most.

What has been your experience of Table so far?

When I joined there was a large focus on the charitable aspect of Table, and it was very fun raising

George

money in unique ways, trying to do some good and get our name out there more. Recently, we have had a surge in members making the club more social.

The enthusiasm, for both social and charitable ventures, that the rest of our members have shown during the pandemic has been the highlight of my 2020 What didn’t you father tell you about?

That the Sleigh was in urgent need of repair!! Growing up very involved, there wasn’t a lot that I hadn’t been told about.

What you hope to gain from Table?

What my father gained throughout his time in Table.

Favourite Table moment to date: Either the unveiling of our new Sleigh ready to start our routes in the bleakest of winters, or similarly delivering presents to the most needy children in Basildon this recent December.

If you have one… would you want your son to join – what do you hope table will be like for him?

Of course, I would want Table to be very similar to what it is now, perhaps with a few more intertable events.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

reduce and it’s really hard to find new Tablers – people have either never heard of Round Table or think they just won’t have the ‘time’ to join as everyone leads such busy lives. In my eyes I see Table turning into a younger man’s organisation, which I think is a good thing – although I hope that us oldies can still help out.

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Travel & events

SAM WILLIAMS This ‘regular guy-turnedadventurer’, has taken on charity challenges including rowing to Antigua.

Sam has set himself several gruelling challenges for charity, including rowing to Antigua solo, cycling to Kenya, and undertaking a marathon in the sweltering African heat.

How did you get involved in such ambitious challenges?

Initially there was a period of two-and-ahalf years of it just being an idea. I did some occasional research on how you row an ocean, what the finer details of it are.

I was just interested really, until I started investigating it more seriously. I spoke to a

lot of people who’d done it. I was the 36th person to do it solo. Suddenly you start committing to things.

How did you fund your rowing challenge?

It’s hard to get sponsorship without any public exposure, like say Ben Fogle has.

I wanted to raise money for charity, but wanted it to more than cover the costs.

I got company sponsors for equipment, and was lucky to borrow from my parents, and chip away at the charity contributions afterwards.

What was the preparation like?

I did a lot of training in the gym, a lot of

time on the rowing machines, putting in a few hours a day in the morning. Before taking on the challenge, I had minimal experience on the water, yet I was about to row all the way to Antigua!

I had no idea if I could do it or not, which was a main motivation. It took 75 days in all, and the hardest thing was the lack of control. You’re at the mercy of the weather. If the wind is blowing, you’re just trying to avoid getting blown back. The feelings of wanting it to be over come and go throughout.

How do you cope with self doubt?

There’s no one there to stop you being frustrated with yourself and that causes

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I don’t consider myself an athlete, I do adventures to force myself to get off my ass. So, the idea of the Atlantic row came by chance really. I hadn’t done any adventure before and wasn’t particularly sporty. I first learnt about the sport when studying at the Royal Veterinary College London, which was near the Ocean Rowing Society, which sounds grander than it is. The idea to take on a rowing challenge grew in my mind slowly.

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you to make more mistakes. It was a mental struggle, getting out of that vicious circle in such isolation.

you’ll find a way is the best attitude to have. There’s always a solution.

At my lowest point, I was trying to work out the most painless way to break my legs, because if you call for a rescue it had to be a genuine emergency. I had very pragmatic discussions with myself about how to go about carrying this out, but I kept going as in the end I wasn’t brave enough to break my own legs. The strangest thoughts start to become normal during two months on your own.

The idea to take on a rowing challenge slowly grew in my mind.

Following this, how did you work to recommit to challenges?

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After completing the challenge, I started thinking about what I want to do next.

I’m sceptical of charity funding and feel they can often waste money. I decided on raising money for Farm Africa, which supports sustainable farming with poorest communities, but I wanted to be sure about what they were doing, and the only way was to visit them myself… So I thought I’d get on a bicycle and ride to Kenya.

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I tried to take 3-4 days of supplies at all times, and most of the time I didn’t even know what I was eating. English and French are well spoken, Spanish too, but as soon as you get east of Germany, English becomes an afterthought, and once you’re into Sudan, and Ethiopia, there’s even fewer English speakers, so I got good at using sign language, essentially.

I think I had Swine Flu, at one point, and got used to being relaxed about personal hygiene issues. It can be horrific, but you find a way.

You can’t predict 90% of the things that go wrong, so having the attitude that

What were your experiences with Farm Africa?

I got to see the charity project, which was based around dairy goat farming, in person. They would cross-breed goats to produce goats with a much higher dairy yield. The whole concept was that Farm Africa could step away after training up the locals.

The charity was also involved in female empowerment projects, and there’s lots of evidence that when they give people more responsibility they produce more for the community.

Do you take pride in your achievements?

It’s oddly satisfying when someone brags about having done a challenge and you get to keep quiet before later saying it’s actually not that hard and I can do it. I can quite easily lose a weekend on the sofa doing not a lot however. I’m perfectly happy doing that a lot of the time.

What’s next?

Marathon Des Sables was two years ago and I like the idea of doing slightly faster challenges, but the Coronavirus has pushed a lot of things back. I’m sure I’ll see something else that I wonder ‘could I do that?’, but a sub three-hour marathon is the target.

Out and about The UK will be this year's hotspot for Tablers, if not entirely by choice. But that’s no bad thing...

Powderham Castle

DEVON

ATTRACTIONS POPULAR WITH 20-40 YEAR OLDS ...

BRIXHAM

Fishing trips are always popular followed by a visit to one of the many fish restaurants and a tour around the pubs to try the local brews.

TORQUAY

Paddle Boarding hire and tuition from Wesup.

Kayaks can also be hired for a spot of co-steering along our UNESCO

Torquay Harbour accredited beautiful coastline. If you want to go faster there is jet ski hire and rib rides. Other attractions of note include:

the freshest selection of fish straight from their boats. Devonshire pasty shops are found in every location and always worth a try.

• Gin Making at Salcombe Gin Distillery in Salcombe • Wine and Cheese tasting at Sharpham Vineyard • Plymouth Gin Distillery Tour • Surfing at Croyde Bay • Stuart Line Cruises

Then there’s a real Devon Cream Tea for those with a sweet tooth! Devon Ruby Red Cattle produce some of the best beef around and you can’t go wrong with a restaurant that offers a local steak.

RECOMMENDED LOCAL DELICACIES

• Bays • Otter • Hunts • Dartmoor • Gray’s

England’s Seafood Coast runs all the way from The English Riviera to Plymouth and Brixham Crab is World renowned. Many of the restaurants are owned by fishermen and offer

TOP LOCAL BEERS(AND CIDERS) .... DEVON IS NOT SHORT OF THESE!

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Many of our attractions are based around food and drink and also outdoor activities, for this age group I would recommend:

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Out and about continued

TOP LOCAL RESTAURANTS Fine dining has increased in popularity in Devon, and it's now a foodie destination in its own right. here are a few options to check out: • The Elephant, Torquay • Lympstone Manor, Nr Exeter • The Sea Horse, Dartmouth • The Angel, Dartmouth • River Exe Cafe, Exmouth • Masons Arms, North Devon • The Olive Room, Ilfracombe • The Gidleigh Park, Chagford • The Barbican Kitchen, Plymouth • Fig Tree @36, Plymouth

• Jennifer Saunders & Adrian Edmondson live on Dartmoor • Agatha Christies holiday home is in Torbay ‘Greenway’ with beautiful river walks • Chris Martin is from just outside Exeter • Dartmoor Prison • Kents Cavern, Torquay • Coleton Fishacre, Brixham • Saltram House • Mayflower 400 • The Box • War Horse, Stephen Spielberg, filmed on Dartmoor and several more.

EVENTS

• Torbay Airshow in June • Pirate festival in May • Fishstock in September

COVID

Throughout the pandemic Devon's numbers have been amongst the lowest in the country. Over 2,000 establishments have the ‘Good to go’ accreditation making them safe to visit.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Seafood

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• No 7, Torquay • Rockfish, Exmouth, Torquay, Brixham, Dartmouth, Plymouth • Simply Fish, Brixham • Shoals, Brixham • The Galley Restaurant, Plymouth • The Oyster Shack, Bigbury

CULTURE

Celebrities help popularise a destination, and Devon has its fair share. Here's a short list for talent spotters: • Muse are from Teignmouth • Seth Lakeman is from Dartmoor • Joss Stone is from Devon • Marcus Mumford & Carey Mulligan live in Devon

Method

THE HAGUE

What attractions are popular with 20-40 year olds?

The 11km (6.9 Mile) long sand beach of The Hague and the protected nature area of the dunes are very popular with younger visitors for an active day out. Cycling through the dunes, mountain biking of the beach, surfing the waves of the North Sea (year ‘round), kite surfing, running and open water swimming in the sea are all very popular here. In summer, The Hague Beach Stadium is the epicentre of outdoor sports of the city, with tournaments of beach volleyball and sand-based versions of football, rugby, tennis and field hockey. Next to the beach, a visit to the historic government complex Inner Court with the famous Hall of Knights is a must-do when in The Hague.

The courtyard is open day and night and free to visit and guided tours through the historic buildings can be arranged. Adjacent to the government buildings is the Mauritshuis museum, a world-class picture gallery with famous masterpieces on display such as the Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer, the Goldfinch by Fabritius

place of work of our Royal Family. King Willem-Alexander lives in Palace Huis ten Bosch with Queen Maxima and their three princesses. The King holds his office in Noordeinde Palace in the city centre.

The neighbourhood around the latter palace is called the Court Quarter, after the royal court. It is filled with high class boutiques, antique shops and art galleries.

Don’t be surprised when you bump in to Queen Maxima shopping here.

What big events, if any, are there to look forward to in 2021?

For the shorter term there is a lot of uncertainty about whether or not events can be held. We have good hope that at least the Royal Christmas Fair at the end of the year can happen.

and the Anatomic Lesson by Rembrandt.

Speaking of museum, Voorlinden Museum and Estate is a contemporary and modern art museum located on a beautiful green estate on the edge of the city. It is often referred to as the most Instagramable museum in the Netherlands, speaking to a younger generation of museum goers. Lastly, I would like to name the Peace Palace, the global icon of peace and justice and the building is which the highest court in the world resides (The International Court of Justice of the UN).

What must try local delicacies would you recommend?

Raw herring with chopped unions, eaten by lifting the fish by its tail over your head and lowering it in to your mouth. On the annual festival Flag Day, it is celebrated that the new generation of herring is brought in.

Other delicacies: • Van Kleef liquor and especially their jenever, the drink of which gin is based • Kompaan beer, a local craft brewery housed in a small industrial harbor on the edge of the center • Haagsche Kakker cake of bakery Hessing What are the top local beers?

Kompaan, Eiber, Haagsche Broeder (which is brewed by monks who have a hidden monastery in the city centre) Name some must-try restaurants?

Publique, Suzie Q, Jamey Bennett, Tram Restaurant Hoftrammm, MaMa Kelly What cultural occurrences have put Hague on the map?

The Hague is the Royal City of The Netherlands, as it is the residency and

Covid19 has hit The Hague hard, both health-wise and concerning the local economy. Of course the health situation is most import, but it is tough to see many local businesses struggle with the prolonged lockdowns. However, local businesses have also proved to be flexible and creative. Restaurants that normally only serve people on location quickly changed to take-away and delivery and museums swiftly created virtual possibilities to visit their collections. The Hague is lucky to have plenty of space in the city where people can go for a walk or jog without any crowds. People still have the possibility to pick up a coffee at a local café and go for a walk or when the weather is warmer even pick up a full take-away dinner for a picnic on the beach.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

How has Hague coped with Covid19?

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FESTIVALS’ FUTURE As Janet Jackson once opined: ‘You don’t know what you’ve got 'til it’s gone,’ and notable by its absence has been the Great British tradition of gathering en masse in the great outdoors. There are, however, workarounds on the horizon, some of which will change how we interact forever...

TABLER MAGAZINE * JAN 2021

One of the many devastating effects of Covid19 included the cancellation of all our festival mainstays – from Glastonbury to Latitude – leaving the UK’s 5.4m festival attendees without a spiritual home at which to unite.

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Meanwhile, with music touring out of the window, high profile album cancellations ensued, and we experienced a great cultural chasm. Yet, the urge to meet for special occasions did not diminish. The challenge was, how?

Some of the world’s most innovative companies led the way in championing virtual and physical events alike.

Secret Cinema, famed for its immersive pop-up movie experiences, was quick to cotton on to the creative restrictions of

social distancing, and reimagined the automobile as a great beacon of freedom.

Its 'Summer at Goodwood Motor Circuit: The Drive-In' in partnership with ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs created an attendee experience that starts with the online purchase of the ticket, where characters that form part of the event’s storytelling are introduced. Costumes and vehicle modifications later form part of the outdoor fun, where films are shown from the safety of your car, include automotive themed outings like Cars, and Rush as well as popular fare like Fight Club and The Hunger Games.

Looking further into the future, Covid has hailed a resurgence of ‘the Metaverse’, the concept of bringing people together in a virtual immersive 3D environment.

Initially envisioned in the 1980s, technology has moved on considerably, with gaming environments already being used for concerts, parties and get togethers.

As 'Zoom' and 'HouseParty' became verbs, companies including Roblox enshrined their status as a public square, heightened by events including a virtual performance by rapper Lil Nas X in November, which was viewed 33m times, while in April, a similar event on Fortnite saw musician Travis Scott’s performance viewed more than 45m times.

Physical aids for safety are also being rolled out to enable hybrid events. Thermo scanners, interactive wristbands that vibrate to mark a lack of social distancing, and rapid on-site testing are all being considered by music festivals to ensure the 2021 season goes ahead despite the Covid-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, the festival and events industry is lobbying government for support via organisations including #WeMakeEvents. In the meantime, let’s hope the vaccines and a bit of luck hail the return of our national pastime once again.

IRO 2020

IAIN RICHARDSON

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER AT ROUND TABLE GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND CHAIRMAN OF WARRINGTON ROUND TABLE SAYS IRO’S CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN UNIQUE. As some of you know I was elected at the first, and unfortunately not the last, semi-virtual AGM. The role of the IRO is to promote international travel to Table members, encourage them to attend events and also to represent RTBI at the half year meeting and the world meeting.

Well, that is what’s supposed to happen, but international travel is now a distant memory, just like Wish You Were Here with Judith Chalmers. The only trip I managed last year as Table

The meeting was virtual and we were only allowed so many people in the room. This was broadcast around the world via Zoom for the other nations that could not be there.

One of the responsibilities of the IRO is to make the sure the president of RTBI is looked after.

It’s not a hand holding exercise, so I didn’t have to go to the toilet with him. It was to make sure he knew where he should be at certain times. However, one small issue came up while sat in the meeting: Mr President must have bought his travel plug from a Brexiteer, as within 30 minutes the plug started to smoke and smoke started to come from the plug point. We hoped this was not a signal for how the meeting would be.

Fortunately, the meeting was a success and RTBI won’t be remembered as the first to set fire to an AGM. However, we have been known to start some virtual ones in the past.

The other part of my role is to encourage and promote people to travel or hold and join the numbers club/ Euro meetings.

This is a great way to start to integrate to Round Table travel.

They are normally over a weekend (unless it’s further afield) and a lot

of people come home host.

As RTBI we tend not to support international service projects, however some clubs will support other international club projects.

Alloa and District decided to support with a donation of £500 for Round Table Blantyre 20 in Malawi. They helped to support the children’s reformatory centre in the Southern region of Malawi.

Alloa and Blantyre are not even the same number so it would be unusual for a connection to happen out of the blue. However, a member of Alloa RT was working out in Malawi and he reached out to see if any local table would like to meet up.

Blantyre 20 was the most local and they met up and created that connection. This is what Table can do; it can have a major positive impact on the community not in the UK but overseas as well.

RTBI has some funding to help people travel. We will support people only once and we won’t pay for the whole trip, however we will help. All we ask in return is small report of the trip that you went on. If you would to apply please get in to contact with me - International@roundtable.org. uk with details of the trip you wish to be supported on. 41 club also has the Ripple Fund. Look out for it at www.rippletravelfund. org.uk/ Finally, Travel BINGO should have happened by now. However, until we know what is going

on around the world, I have not released it yet. Through cooperation with other International Round Tables, we organise and pay for you to attend the AGM and provide you with accommodation. All you have to pay is the travel to the AGM and some spending money.

I won this a couple of years ago for ARTSA in South Africa, and ended up in Upington in the Northern Cape. They have the hardcore hut, which is giant marquee which allows them to run their own bar and have live music playing until the early hours. It is how Chelmsford should have been. There are of course basic rules: you can only enter if you have not won before, you need to send some photos and small report back on your return, and you need to spend some time at the National AGM. If you ever need help or advice on International Tabling give me a shout.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

work or holiday was a weekend in Hamburg in early September when things were looking slightly better. This was the replacement of the world meeting which should have been in Delhi, India.

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DIRECTORY

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TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

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TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

Capture House

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What´ s next Glen Lyons, gives his tips for moving forward as a more senior Tabler So you’re in your 40s. You’re having a great time being in Round Table, even in these challenging times. But your ‘age out’ birthday looms ahead, what’s next?…

'41ers' TIPS Membership of 41 Club allows you to continue to be a meaningful part of the Round Table Family.

We have many different versions of 41 Club: • Online VoRTEX 41 Club (Virtual old Round Tablers Exchange),

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

• Several Special Interest Groups – where 41 Club members can get together with other 41ers who share a common interest, these could be walking, running, cycling, classic cars or motorcyclists

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• Cooking forums – sharing recipes and pictures of completed dishes • Many more diverse SIG’s coming soon.

This is the same dilemma which faced the Round Tablers 75 years ago just after the war.

So, they did what all good Tablers did then and still do today: they adopted, adapted and improved.

By adopting the principle of Continued Friendship, they started 41 Club, the Association of Ex- Round Tablers and, over the years, 41 Club has adapted to the changing needs of new generations of ex- Tablers.

We welcome you to join us and together we will improve the association ready for the next Tablers to join.

Membership of 41 Club allows you to continue to be a meaningful part of the Round Table Family, keeping friendships offering real opportunities to support Round Table in the community.

We have many different versions of 41 Club, including our online VoRTEX 41 Club (Virtual old Round Tablers Exchange), we also have several Special Interest Groups – where 41 Club members can get together with other 41ers who share a common interest, these could be walking, running, cycling, classic cars or motorcyclists, we have cooking forums – sharing recipes and pictures of completed dishes – and we have many more diverse SIG’s coming soon.

If you have an interest or a burning passion which you would like to share with others, please contact membership@41club.org with your idea and we can open it up through some of our forums to find others who share your interest.

We have had an exciting time across the past couple of years, opening more new clubs in one year than we have since the 1980s, even during the pandemic of 2020 we have been opening at least one new club every quarter.

I’m Glen and it is my honour and privilege to be the National Membership and Round Table Liaison Officer for 41 Club. My contact details are below, so if you are a Round Tabler between 40 and 45 drop me a message, give me a call or look me up on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and let’s have a chat about how we can help you continue to do amazing things with like-minded men in the Round Table Family. www.41club.org

Martin Cameron, Turriff and District 1083, pens a poem for the ages

2020 was a bit of a washout, with our events all shutdown or adjourned But this year looks better already, as the best magazine has returned It’ll be ram-packed with everything Table, from all over the country and more It’ll be funny and witty, and full of your mates, so reading it won’t be a chore This year will still be a tough one, with Covid still calling some shots But Tablers won’t let it stop us, and we’ll continue to have some good spots A positive thought moving forward is ‘finally meeting face-to-face’ But with pubs closed for what feels like forever, we may find we’ve all lost our pace While the council can’t gather in Marchesi meeting room they still give 100%, even though they’re all fed up with Zoom But it wasn’t all negative news last year, and great ideas were brought Like a Santa sleigh in summertime, what a smash, who would have thought?

Tabler talk and radio helped to keep our spirits up high It broke up the boredom of lockdown, and made the time fly right by But we just couldn’t help but be saddened when it came to announcing new Tiers Thrown into an end-of-year lockdown, which meant we all had quiet New Years This year’s not been the start that we hoped for, with Lockdown 3 in full flow But as Tablers we will not be stifled, and we’re ready to tell Covid where to go We won’t let it stop us from having a laugh, or helping the Round Table grow The kids may have been excited for Christmas, to see what Santa brought in his sack But Tablers are excited for New Year, because the Tabler Mag is back.

TABLER MAGAZINE * SPRING 2021

FINAL THOUGHT

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