It is impossible to consider a history of 41 Club without also considering the history of Round Table as the two are so firmly entwined - plus the history of our sister organisations Ladies Circle and Tangent. To help you find, in this short history of the clubs, the cardinal points of 41 Club history the following links may prove useful.

The first 41 Club

The formation of the National Association

The formation of the International Association

The Past Presidents' Gallery of photographs

The following links will take you to the relevant parts for the history of:

Round Table
Ladies' Circle

Tangent

The title "The Association of Ex-Round Tablers' Clubs" gives an obvious clue to its origins. So let us look at the beginnings of the "Round Table Family" - Round Table, Ladies' Circle, 41 Club and Tangent.

Louis Marchesi

Round Table
In 1927 a young Rotarian by the name of Louis Marchesi became aware of the lack of opportunities for the young businessmen of the day to meet and prepare themselves for their responsibilities as the senior businessmen of later years. Being a member of Rotary in Norwich, he found himself surrounded by older, professional people so he started a club for young men to give them the right environment in which to develop their professional and civic skills whilst assisting the local community, the nation and, later, the world as a whole.

Inaugurated on 14 March 1927, the club was named "Round Table", the founders being inspired by a recent speech by the then Prince of Wales who said - "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, whenever possible, improve them." From this speech came Round Table's motto - "Adopt, Adapt, Improve".

The following year, a second club having started in Portsmouth, there was formed what in effect is now The National Association of Round Tables of Great Britain & Ireland (RTBI). Currently there are some 600 home clubs with a membership of over 6,000. ^ Back to TOP ^

In 1936 the first overseas Round Table appeared, in Denmark. With the War intervening, it was not until 1946 that the next appeared: at first in Holland, and then in Sweden. The following year Round Table International was formed and currently has members in 60 countries world-wide with a membership approaching 45,000.

Winchester Castle Round Table

Originally, Round Table's badge was a replica of a small Victorian pedestal table but a year later it was replaced by the current one which is based on the table to be seen in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle. Constructed in wood in the 13th Century during the reign of King Edward I, who was known for his great interest in the Arthurian legend, the table was painted in around 1522 in the Tudor royal family colours of green and white and shows a portrait of King Arthur, in the likeness of a young Henry VIII, with twenty-four segments for each of his knights and, centrally, the red and white Tudor Rose.

Round Table is friendly, fun and rewarding, providing an opportunity for members to meet on a regular basis and to take part in a variety of activities including social events, sports, international visits, community service and, of course, making new friends. The latter is greatly assisted by the facility for a member to transfer to another Round Table on moving his location. And, from a very early stage, it was agreed that Round Table would be a non-religious, non-political club - this has continued to this day. ^ Back to TOP ^

At first, membership of Round Table was limited to men in the age range of 18 to 40 years so that, following his 40th birthday, a member of Round Table ('a Tabler') had to retire at his club's Annual General Meeting. He then became eligible to join The Association of Ex-Round Tablers' Clubs through an affiliated club at the age of 40 plus: that is, at 41. This is why The Association of Ex-Round Tablers' Clubs ('the Association') is widely called "41 Club".

In 1998 Round Table passed a resolution to increase the retirement age to 45. Now, on 31 March, following his forty-fifth birthday, a Tabler has to leave Round Table. This increased leaving age has not changed his eligibility to join 41 Club so that he can become a member of a club and still retain his membership of Round Table. As the great majority of Round Tables have a corresponding 41 club, this ensures a continuance of the aims of Round Table and the friendships made.

Ladies' Circle
Three years after the formation of the first Round Table, an equivalent women's club was formed, membership being drawn initially from the wives of Tablers. Called Ladies' Circle, it restricted membership to women between the ages of 18 and 40. Later it was opened to partners of Tablers or of ex-Tablers and the leaving age raised to 45. Since 1993 it has accepted into membership any women in that age range. In 1936 the eight Ladies' Circles then existing decided to go "national" and The National Association of Ladies' Circles of Great Britain and Ireland (NALC) was formed. There are currently some 700 home clubs with a total membership of around 7,000, as well as further clubs in over 30 countries around the world, all affiliated to Ladies' Circle International. On leaving Ladies' Circle, a member is eligible to join a Tangent club. As with Round Table and 41 clubs, there is a Tangent club associated with most Ladies' Circles. ^ Back to TOP ^

Tangent
The first Tangent club met at Bournemouth in 1953, shortly followed by one at Bristol. By 1962 there were 29 clubs who preferred to get together informally, without the need for a national organisation. However, three years later The Association of Tangent Clubs was formed; two years later a Chairman was elected to serve for a year and a Chairman's Jewel presented. Five years on, in 1970, it became The National Association of Tangent Clubs (NATC). The Chairman became the President, a Vice-President was elected and, together with other officers, they formed a National Executive.

Currently there are about 800 home Tangent clubs with a membership of about 18,000 as well as associate member clubs in six countries overseas, there being at present no Tangent International. There are also non-affiliated clubs in other parts of the world. ^ Back to TOP ^

1945-46 1946-47 Founder President E John Shuter

Now to 41 Club
Seven years after Liverpool Round Table was formed in November 1928 they found that they had as many honorary members (that is, time-expired Tablers who so much enjoyed Round Table life that they had been allowed to continue in membership) as active members. So, early in 1936, they formed the first 41 Club. Ex-Tablers from other Round Tables followed suit, although the suspension of the Round Table age-rule, from the commencement of hostilities until 1948, slowed things down. However, early in 1945, four clubs decided to form a national organisation. Initiated by Wakefield 41 Club (formed in 1943) and supported by Liverpool, London Old Tablers' Society (1939) and Lytham St Annes 41 Club (1941) they met at Wakefield on 13 May and, after considering and rejecting other names, formed The National Association of Ex-Tablers' Clubs.

The sole object of the Association was to link together, whatever their name or title, those clubs formed by ex-Tablers for the purpose of continuing the friendships created in Round Table.

With the post-war expansion of Round Table, the number of 41 Clubs being formed increased rapidly and, as the great majority of them affiliated to the Association, the latter also rapidly grew in size. ^ Back to TOP ^

The formation of these clubs was not confined to the British Isles - they began to appear in countries overseas where Round Table flourished. Many of these overseas clubs affiliated to the Association so, rather naturally, the "National" in the title was dropped (1960). As the number of overseas clubs grew, national associations began to appear and in time most of the overseas clubs resigned on joining their home association, although a few have retained membership of both.

As at 31st December 2008 there were 870 41 Clubs affiliated to the Association with a membership of 19,617. A further 50 to 100 or so unaffiliated home clubs are known to exist.

Inevitably the next step was the formation of an international organisation. This happened in 1975, when the national associations of Belgium, France and Germany together with the Association formed 41 International. The Inaugural Meeting was held on 14 June 1975 at Le Touquet in France, the Founder President being the late Michael Matthews, then President of the Association. To date, 41 International has twenty national associations in membership whilst 41 Clubs exist in perhaps a further 31 countries. ^ Back to TOP ^

OBJECTS AND MEMBERSHIP

So much for the history. What is the Association about?

Its original Object - to continue the friendships formed in Round Table - is still valid, supplemented in recent years by the re-iteration of the Aims and Objects espoused in Round Table as well as undertaking to support any activity of other affiliated 41 Clubs and local Round Tables in serving the community.

Membership is still available only to clubs consisting of ex-Tablers. This is an important rule in the Rules of the Association.

It is the practice for affiliated clubs to extend an invitation to all full members of their local Round Tables, on reaching the age of 40, to join them. They may also accept transferees from other affiliated clubs.

Clubs may, of course, appoint honorary members from whatever source they wish, but such appointees may not hold office, either in the club or in the Association. In many cases the Chairman of the local Round Table is made an honorary member of the club, thus maintaining contact between the two organisations and facilitating co-operation in fund raising and community service work.

There are no restrictions on the formation of a 41 Club. There is no minimum membership number. There is no firm requirement as to the name of a club, although the common practice is to include "41 Club", "Ex-Tablers' Club" or "Past Tablers' Club" in the title. In fact many innovative names are used, such as "Late Knights", "Graduates" (of Round Table), "Middle Ages" and "XT".

Because there is no retiring age from "41", over the years clubs can become quite large and with a wide age range so that, quite often and for a variety of reasons, more than one club may exist in the same locality. This is quite acceptable, although the meeting nights should, preferably, be staggered in order that an ex-Tabler may belong to both (or more) clubs - for there are no restrictions on the number of clubs to which an ex-Tabler may belong (subject to acceptance, of course) and located wherever he chooses.

ORGANISATION ^ Back to TOP ^

The Association is managed by a Council consisting of ten Officers and twentyfive Councillors. It meets four times a year. The "day-to-day" work is carried out by an Executive Committee and eight standing committees, to which the members of the Council are allocated. An Honorary Solicitor, Honorary Archivist and Honorary Webmaster are appointed by the Council from the membership of the affiliated clubs. The Council meeting dates are published in the calendar in the "What's on" section accessed from the tabs near the top of this page. They are usually held in February, April, June and October and club members are free to attend as observers; after all, it is their Association.

To ensure equitable representation of the membership on Council, the British Isles (which includes the Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) are divided into 25 regions. The clubs in each region elect their Councillor for a normal term of three years, with a maximum of two terms. The overseas clubs, forming Region 26, are represented on Council by the International Officer.

The Officers are elected from the membership of the affiliated clubs at an Annual General Meeting each year and, apart from the President and Vice-President (and, of course, the Immediate Past President), may be elected for up to six years in the same office. The other Officers are the Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer, Membership & Extension Officer, Sales & Marketing Officer, Conference Officer and International Officer.

Marchesi House, located in Birmingham, is the administration headquarters for both Round Table and the Association. It is staffed with paid employees who work on behalf of both organisations, being mainly responsible for the distribution of the Association's publications, papers for meetings and the sale of regalia. Like Round Table, clubs are encouraged to buy jewels of office, membership badges, banners, pewter mugs, ties, sweat shirts, and so on. All these carry the Association's badge and are available for sale only to members of affiliated clubs.

A revised structure comprising 25 regions (previously 18) took effect in September 2007, these regions more closely aligning with Round Table areas.

AFFILIATION ^ Back to TOP ^

On affiliating, a club is issued with a "Charter" which, in concept, is similar to a Round Table Charter, except that the Association does not allocate numbers to clubs. Usually the Charter is presented at an appropriate function by the Councillor of the region in which the club is located or, sometimes, at the request of the club, by an Association Officer.

The Association's Badge is a silver, grey and black emblem on a white background. It is officially described as "The sun at its meridian represents ex-Tablers extending the Chain of Friendship to the four corners of the World." This badge, as such or slightly modified, is used by all other national associations and their clubs throughout the world as well as by 41 International.

The Association's motto is - "MAY THE HINGES OF FRIENDSHIP NEVER RUST".

COMMUNICATION ^ Back to TOP ^

The Association exists only to provide a link between its affiliated clubs and to address items of common concern. This is achieved by the publication of a magazine currently three times a year supplemented by a monthly newsletter emailed to all members via the Club Contact, an annual directory (on-line only, since 2006) - all three of these also downladable from the website - a Club Forum accessed from the very top of this and every webpage, and by encouraging clubs to hold joint meetings of various sorts.

Correspondence is sent to clubs through the Club Contact who, appointed by the club, is usually a regularly attending member (not necessarily an officer) and is prepared to be the link between his club and the Association pehaps for several years, thus ensuring continuity of communication.

The meetings include an Annual Conference involving all members, regional functions such as dinners, "Cluster Meetings" and, for the dedicated, an annual caravan rally which ran until the early 2000s. Members of the Council are available, within reason, to attend club meetings. Because of the number of visits that could be involved, clubs in a location often arrange a combined function such as a Regional Dinner or a Cluster Meeting to which is invited their Councillor as well as, if available, the President or other Officer of the Association. Such invitations usually emanate from the clubs, for it is the clubs, not the Association, which set the pace.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE ^ Back to TOP ^

An Annual Conference, from a Thursday or Friday to a Sunday and which includes the Annual General Meeting, is held each year at a different location. It is always a happy occasion, emphasis being very much on the social side. The Annual General Meeting is usually held on the Saturday morning and is normally concluded by lunch-time.

The Conference is usually held in April and is organised by a club or group of clubs under the guidance of the Conference Officer. Because of its close links with the Association, The National Association of Tangent Clubs holds its Annual Conference at the same location and during the course of the Association's Annual Conference.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ^ Back to TOP ^

Originally, whilst most members of the Association were content to continue "the friendships formed in Round Table" in the form of functions within their own club or jointly with others, they willingly assisted, on request, their local Round Table in community service, including fund raising. Some, however, decided that they would like to continue their Round Table commitments, particularly fund raising. For those who do so, cover under the Association's Public Liability Policy is available.

Thus, in 1986, to celebrate its 41st Anniversary, as a one-off project the Association raised over £36,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, enabling it to purchase three off-shore inflatable life-craft. Thereafter, from 1997, the newly elected President of the Association has nominated a charity or charities which he invites clubs to support during his year in office. To 2007, around £140,000 has been raised in this way, with an additional £45,000 in the form of tax and VAT rebates which the Association has distributed to selected charities. In 2008-9 the Association joined with Table and Tangent in raising some £300,000 for the Association of Air Ambulance Charities.

CAPITATION ^ Back to TOP ^

Naturally, running such an organisation involves a cost which is met by a capitation fee levied on club members (other than honorary members). This fee is very modest considering what the Association provides.

Any change in the capitation fee can be agreed only by the membership at an Annual General Meeting, after which it takes effect the following calendar year, payment being due from each club on 1st January (2009 £9.00 per member, 2010 £10.00).

Compiled in September 2002 by Eric J. Miller, Past President and Life Honorary Member.
Edited and updated annually since then by David Addison, Association Honorary Archivist. ^ Back to TOP ^