41 Club started the new Club year with a business meeting on a splendidly warm evening at the Delmont Hotel with Chairman Richard welcoming everyone back on board.
In the absence of Ian Brabbs who had escaped to Malta, Darren Kellett was appointed scribe for the night.
Richard introduced his guest Terry – who lived down south but had ventured as far north as Scarborough for a visit. He apparently supported Bournemouth but was otherwise a very pleasant and amiable individual.
The Chairman thanked David Henderson for his recent rebuild of the Club’s award-winning website and recommended that members view the result for themselves. He added a word of caution that as the site was not password protected it may be viewed by the public and that members should be mindful of this when posting reports. He proposed a well-deserved toast to a somewhat reluctant David who took the opportunity to remind members to subscribe to the new website so as to automatically receive new postings by email.
David basks in the spotlight!
Secretary Mike reminded members that there was £1,200 of charity money generated by Santa’s Sleigh still to be allocated. Members unanimously approved a proposal that the monies be divided equally between Martin House Hospice for Children and SPARKS.
Mike made an early plea for members to support this year’s Santa’s Sleigh appeal which was likely to be the last in view of Round Table’s reduced membership.
Sports Officer Darren reported that it had been a good summer with the annual Quoits and Archery competitions taking place and won by Chairman Richard (with guest) and Darren respectively which given that Darren organised both competitions was somewhat suspicious!
Darren gave advance notice of the always popular lunch at Scarborough Rugby Club followed by a home game against Wetherby on Saturday 22 November. The cost is £27.50 which includes both the lunch and the game. Members wishing to attend should contact Darren by email at darren.kellett1@btinternet.com. Places are limited for this event so please book early!
Membership Office Simon Lockleyreported that following 3 resignations the Club now had 43 members including the Father of the Club Richard Coulson now resident in Belgium but who wanted to maintain his connection with the Club by retaining his membership.
The Membership Officer warned that the active recruitment of new members was essential for the Club’s survival and that although membership was now open to non-tablers it was important to continue to invite former members of Round Table to join. Accordingly Secretary Mike and Simon intended to contact former members of RT and invite them to the Whisky Night in January next year.
The Chairman reminded members of the 70th Charter Night to be held at Scarborough Rugby Club on Saturday 21March 2026 and asked Simon wearing his Vice Chairman’s hat to provide an update.
Simon confirmed that the function room at the Rugby Club was booked with the Club kindly providing the room free of charge since the event was also intended to raise funds for charity. He had also provisionally booked the local group Soul Rida but expressed concern that with the cost of a sit-down meal and the group the estimated cost of attendance would be £45 per head which he thought may put people off.
There followed a discussion in which various options to reduce costs were considered although the consensus was that there should be a sit-down meal.
Treasurer Iain Johnston advised members that there was £2,031 in the Hospitality Fund some of which could be used to subsidise the cost of the event.
The members unanimously agreed to a proposal made by the Vice Chairman that the final arrangements for the event should be delegated to a committee comprising the Chairman, Treasurer, Catering Officer and Vice Chairman.
The Chairman brought a pleasant and productive evening to an end by asking members to raise their glasses to RTBI.
(Meeting report by Darren Kellet / Simon Lockley)
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