Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Romsey Round Table.

What is Round Table?
Round Table is a worldwide organisation for men aged between 18 and 45 years of age. It is about having fun whilst at the same time trying to help the local community.

How did it start?
It started with just one man’s idea. Louis Marchesi was a member of Rotary in Norwich but had the brainwave of starting a new organisation for young men. Round Table was born with the motto ‘Adopt, Adapt, Improve’ and from small beginnings of one club in Norwich, Louis Marchesi’s dream has turned into a worldwide movement.

When was that?
This was in 1926. The first Round Table was in Norwich, where Louis Marchesi lived.

So, Round Table began in Norwich. Where did it go from there?
The Norwich Round Table was officially started in March 1927. By 1929, twelve Tables existed and by 1937 there were 125 Tables in the UK and by 1968 over 1000. Romsey was the 484th Table to be started.

You mentioned earlier that the Round Table organisation is worldwide. What did you mean by that?
1936 was the year that Round Table went international with the Copenhagen Round Table. There are now Round Tables in every country in Europe and Commonwealth.

What does the Round Table Movement do?
The aims of the Movement are to acquaint people with different occupations and to use those occupations or person's skills to the community's benefit. We do this by having members of very different backgrounds, hobbies, interests and careers. The best part is that we have a good time doing what we do.

What do you do to benefit Romsey?
The unwritten rule of Round Table is that the donations that we receive are always spent in the local community. Members of Romsey Round Table give up their time to raise thousand’s of pounds each year for local good causes.

How often do you meet?
We officially meet on alternate Tuesdays but we also get together at other social functions and charity events.

Do you meet in Romsey?
Yes, we meet in the Abbey Hotel.

Can anyone join?
You have to be male and between 18 and 45 years old to join Table. In the past most members have lived or worked in Romsey but several of our members come from other areas such as Totton, Chandlers Ford and Wellow.

How would I join Romsey Round Table?
We always welcome guests and prospective members to our meetings and for the first couple of times you attend, we would pay for you.

The best way to contact us is to e-mail one of the officers listed on the contacts page.

What does it cost?
Membership of Round Table costs about £100 a year, which funds National and local running costs. After that the costs are related to what activities you take part in. Typically an evening out would cost between £10 and £15 including the cost of a meal.

What is expected of me as a member?
Firstly, we would expect you to enjoy yourself and have lots of fun. We normally expect people to attend at least 60% of the meetings over the course of the year and to participate in our fund raising activities.

As with most things though, the more you put into Round Table, the more you get out of it.

What will I gain from Membership of Romsey Round Table 484?
A beer gut, a wide circle of friends, the chance to mix outside of your sphere of work and a great deal of fun for yourself and your wife, girlfriend, or partner and your children.

Personal development cannot be overlooked. Round Table provides an avenue for exploration and provides you with the ability to do things that you might not otherwise get the opportunity to do.

To make Round Table run effectively, each member has a role such as chairman, treasurer, fund raising officer or membership officer. Many Tablers feel that developing the skills to carry out these roles has helped to perform more effectively at work.

How are the roles allocated?
Part of the character of Table is the change of roles at every AGM. This is one of the ways that Table promotes character building.

Who knows what they can achieve until they've tried it?

What happens next?
Following attendance at a few meetings, if you are interested in joining and we are happy to accept you as a member, a date will be arranged for your induction into Romsey Round Table. This short ceremony does not involve any funny handshakes or other bizarre rituals but it will be a good idea to arrange a lift home and maybe start a little later at work the next day!