Report on Business Meeting held on 17 September 2026

Chairman Simon welcomed 17 members to the first meeting of the 41 Club year held at the Crescent Hotel on Thursday 17 September 2026.

After a short welcoming address from our Chairman members enjoyed an excellent steak pie served with chips and mushy pies followed by sticky toffee pudding. The only hitch was when Sports Officer Darren insisted that steak pie was not a vegetarian option!

The Chairman opened the business part of the meeting with mention of the charitable donations made by the Club in the previous 12 months to Andy’s Man Club, Martin House Hospice and St Catherine’s Hospice totalling £2,381 and an update on the arrangements for the Charity Night to be held on 6 March 2027 at Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall.

The Chairman reminded members that the musical entertainment was to be provided by the Cloughton Rat Pack free of charge on the understanding that the proceeds from the event went to St Catherine’s Hospice. In view of the Rat Pack’s experience in organising similar events and the extent of their own support after discussions with their manager the Chairman formally proposed that the Charity Night be promoted as a joint event with the Rat Pack which proposal was unanimously approved by the members.

The Chairman raised the issue of the poor state of repair of the Aalten signpost situated outside the Central Hotel and asked members whether the Club should repair the signpost or have it removed. With Richard Grunwell due to visit Aalten in October and offering to raise the future of the relationship members agreed to defer further discussion until Richard was able to report back on the outcome of his visit.

In his report Catering Officer John outlined the programme of meetings for the coming year:

15 October – meeting at the Grand Hotel with a talk on the architecture of the Hotel from local historian Stewart MacDonald;

19 November – Chinese Banquet with partners at Tops Chinese Restaurant on Falsgrave Road;

December – an informal pub crawl followed by a curry to be organised by our Chairman on a date to be advised;

21 January – meeting at Restaurant Nineteen 08 at Scarborough TEC with a talk by Tim Tubbs on music and theatre;

18 February –venue still to be decided;

6 March – Charity Night at Burniston & Cloughton Village Hall;

April – AGM on a date and venue to be advised;

May – meeting to be agreed with the new Chairman for 2027/28.

The Catering Officer informed members that in future the starting time for all meetings would be 7.00pm with the meal served at 7.30pm to allow time for any after dinner entertainment.

Secretary Mike reported that he had received 2 resignations from Ben Kitto due to work commitments and Richard Clark for travel reasons which reduced the membership to 41.

There was no report from the Treasurer who was away on holiday.

By way of a membership report the Chairman invited members to approve new rules proposed by the Committee for the payment for the attendance at meetings of guests/potential new members: no charge for the first meeting; £20 for each of the second and third meetings and the full cost for subsequent meetings. The new rules were unanimously approved by the members.

Sports Officer Darren having recovered from the shock of being served a steak pie for his meal provided a report on the sporting events he had organised:

Indoor bowling at the Alexandra Bowls Centre followed by drinks;

The Annual Quoits competition on 12 August at the Beck Hole Quoits Club which happened to coincide with a partial eclipse of the sun affording some spectacular photos followed by drinks; and

The Annual Archery Competition at Scarborough Archers Shooting Ground on 1 September followed by drinks.

There appears to be something of a theme with these events!

Darren informed members that as in previous years he had reserved 2 tables for lunch before the Scarborough Rugby Club’s home game with Sandal following their promotion at the end of last season to North East 1 league. The cost £27.50 per head to include admission to the match.

Finally Round Tabler Laison Officer David in his report drew attention to the failure in recent years to recruit any former Round Tablers to join the Club. In part this was due to reduced numbers in Round Table and a tendency for their members to leave before they reached the age limit but was also due to the lack of regular contact between the Clubs and attendance at each other’s meetings. Although it would take time David was keen to rekindle the connection between the Clubs which approach received overwhelming support from members.

The meeting ended with the usual toast to RTBI.