About us

Round Table is a non-political, non-religious association of young men between the ages of 18 and 45.

Round Table’s Motto: The aim of the association has always been to continually evolve and change to meet the needs of younger generations of men. 

The motto is: Adopt, Adapt, Improve

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ADOPT, ADAPT, IMPROVE

Aims & Objects

  • To develop the acquaintance of young men through the medium of their various occupations.
  • To emphasise the fact that one’s calling offers an excellent medium of service to the community.
  • To cultivate the highest ideals in business, professional and civic traditions.
  • To recognise the worthiness of all legitimate occupations and to dignify each his own by precept and example.
  • To further the establishment of peace and goodwill in international relationships.
  • To further these objects by meetings, lectures, discussions and other activities.

Our name comes from a speech from the then Prince of Wales, made in 1927 to the British industries fair: “The young business and professional men of this country must get together round
 the table, adopt methods that have proved so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the times and wherever possible, improve them”.

The speech inspired the name, and also provided our motto: Adopt, Adapt, Improve – principles that remain at the heart of the organisation.

The first Round Table was formed in Norwich in 1927.

The founder, Louis Marchesi, was a young Rotarian who felt a need existed for a club where young men of the town could gather on a regular basis to exchange ideas, learn from the experience of their colleagues and play a collective part in the civic life in Norwich. Within a year, membership of this Round Table had grown to 85 and interest had been shown in establishing Round Tables elsewhere. Subsequent growth was rapid, there being 125 Tables with a membership of 4,600 at the outbreak of the war in 1939.

THE ROUND TABLE NAME AND LOGO

Round Table owes nothing to Arthurian Legend, deriving both its title and its maxim from a speech made to the British Industries Fair in 1927, by the then-Prince of Wales:-

“The young business and professional men of this country must get together round the table. ADOPT methods that have proved sound in the past. ADAPT them to the changing needs of the times and wherever possible, IMPROVE them”.

The design of the Round Table Emblem, is, however, an adaptation of the table which hangs in the Great Hall, Winchester, and which is claimed to be the Round Table of the Court of King Arthur.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Round Table at a national level is known for its efforts to assist in its own community and to help that community’s less fortunate members, for its concern for the quality of life and for the help that it gives to various charitable causes. 

Also for purchases of a lifeboat and other equipment for the R.N.L.I., for its support for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and for its assistance at Lockerbie and Dunblane.