About
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.
Our motto is: Adopt, Adapt, Improve
ADOPT, ADAPT, IMPROVE
AIMS AND 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.
