Riding high on another great success... |
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Sunday 11th July was another great Petersfield Ups and Downs charity bike ride run by ourselves and what a fine event it was. Growing again for the 5th successive year, we had well over 400 riders taking to their bikes on Sunday morning riding up and down through the beautiful local countryside. This year we took the 5 mile family route under our wing and had around 70 'family riders' cycling around the streets of Petersfield too. We hope that everyone had as much fun as the few riders that have let us know their feedback and we thank you all for riding and helping to raise around £3,000 for Round Table as well as the sponsorship raised for your own causes too, which we estimate to be in the region of an extra £10,000. After handing out medals to finished riders and packing up we went back for a well earned BBQ at my house and we all had a great night. |
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Is this a picture of our secret joining ritual? |
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No. So don't expect it when you join! It is the cool setting for the latest trip away from the safe surroundings of the local pubs. We took a visit out to www.charcoalburners.co.uk and they gave us a talk on making charcoal, a tour of their eco-house they are in the process of building and then we all sat round the fire and had a bbq. The talks were very interesting, yet one of our members decided to catch up on some sleep again while these were going on but the rest of us, we all had a great night. |
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Training for the Trailwalker event... |
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Some of our more intrepid members are in training again for their walking challenge of the year. This year they are undertaking the Trailwalker event in mid July. They are raising the bar yet again after last year and will be walking 100km non-stop in under 30 hours. This will involve walking from QE Park near Butser all the way down to Brighton, which funnily enough is where they ended up last year too. Why the big draw down to Brighton eh guys?! They will be raising money for Oxfam and the Ghurkas and so if you wish to sponsor them, please visit www.justgiving.com/Petersfield Will keep you posted on how they do. They told us some stories at the last meeting and we all had a great night. |
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Another member under 30! |
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James Tracey joined.
...and we all had a great night. |
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Just call me Rambo... |
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On a hot, wet, sticky day, a group of hardened Tablers went off to battle some other people with different coloured tape around their arms. As well as a few of our friends from the Isle of Wight Round Table, we all spent the day running round a wood and playing soldiers at the Delta Force paintballing in Romsey. After the initial nerves and apprehension, we got into our stride and ended up being the second best team of the day which was a great result for all of us. Some of us, took it a bit more serious than others, and then some of us, well, they didn't take it serious at all and used the day out to try and have a mud spa treatment or something. After a full on day of adrenaline pumping action and being shot to bits, we came back to town and relived our war stories over a few beers and we all had a great night. |
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It was time to say goodbye... supposedly! |
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Unless you are talking about an ever-lasting gobstopper, most things have to come to end and in Round Table, this is when you reach the grand young age of 45. At the AGM each year, we say goodbye to our more senior friends and this year it was the turn of Andy Dredge and Graham Hinds. Two of the most respected Tablers we have had since the last ones. As Mr Dredge had transferred from another Table, he decided it was time to undertake the tradition of the Petersfield Round Table and quaff some ale. Unfortunately, there could be a reason why we say to do this at the beginning of your membership as the liquid nectar took it's toll and he missed the end of the night but enjoyed some well deserved rest. Graham Hinds bid a fond farewell to us all with dignity and grace and yet to be fair, we haven't actually realised they have left as they have both continued to come back as Honorary and a frequent guest. Also during the AGM, we decide on who will take on the various roles within Table for the following year and Mr Colin Smith was re-elected as Chairman in an unprecedented situation that has never been seen before in all the years of Table. It is a sign that his positive outlook and jovial friendship within the group has forged a new era of leadership that may never be surpassed. After the official proceedings, we all settled down to the Chairman's breakfast while watching an Issitt film of the various exploits of the year and we all had a great night. |
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You don't get anything for 2 in a bed... |
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Unfortunately in life, there are winners and there are losers. When you have a DVD games night and you end up playing Bullseye, some might say that we are all losers but this was not the case. With a collection of games on DVD, we got into our teams and up to the oche we went. As you can tell from the photos, we did indeed have some winners and losers but we all had a great night. |
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Pike finally gets his hands on a big one. |
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James Pike finally got to feel as though he had really joined the group when he got his hands and his lips on the big jug. Although it was at the Fellowship Evening and we had to wear posh clothes, we all had a great night. Welcome Mr Pike. |
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Ho-Ho-Gringo, Merry Christmas!
Christmas in Petersfield certainly became international with the arrival of Schleepy the tired viking and on their trusty steeds two lost mexican firemen, Jose and Hose B. The rest of us stuck with the traditional silly hats and we all had a great evening of drinking and laughing.
As the after dinner entertainment Patrick and Jocob put together 'The Never Ending Quiz' and the music round especially seemed to last until the early hours of the morning. Unfortunately Santa did not show up this year, but maybe his sacks were already empty...
Mr Baker joins us for Christmas
Another gentleman has decided that we aren't too wierd a bunch to join and has taken the bull by the horns and sworn allegiance. Well, swore loudly after a few pints from the traditional joining tankard. Once again, please drink responsibly. Paul did and he didn't spill a drop.
To complete his initiation Paul also wore a silly hat, although not part of joining, it was Christmas and we all looked stupid! Colin, our current Chairman, welcomed him and gave him some sort of booklet as the proper paperwork hadn't turned up. It's the thought that counts anyway!
A load of grown men enjoy a good wii.
A few years ago it would have been a very wierd evening indeed for a bunch of grown men to be practicing their hand-eye co-ordination in front of each other. Now it's a great evening out with a projector, a screen and even an audience.
Everyone had a great laugh playing doubles tennis, boxing (we found out Roger was very good and used to do years of kick boxing), Mario Kart (we found out Stuart drives like a little girl) and golf (we found out that none of us are any good at golf).
Another banging success and a cracking good night
The Petersfield Fireworks and Music extravaganza was another success again this year and thousands of Petersfield residents had a fantastic evening on November 5th.
As usual the generosity and support of the local community helped us raise nearly £7000 which we will plan on giving back to causes in the community over the coming year.
Colin Smith, the Petersfield Round Table Chairman for this year, and Steve Jacob organised a great event and with the support of the rest of the members of Round Table it ran very smoothly from start to finish. Even the rain couldn't dampen the fun on this night either. A big thank you to all of our helpers again this year as we couldn't do it without you.
Chernobyl children have a hoot-hoot!
Another year has passed and Petersfield Round Table take another group of children from Chernobyl, who stay with local families for a month, to Paultons Park for the day and even the pouring rain cannot dampen their spirits. Everyone had a great day despite the weather.
With a swift purchase of some Paultons Park honchos, the day was saved and the smiles on the children's faces came back out. With the children having no entertainment like this back home, it was such a feel good moment to see such happy faces on all the children.
Our ranks swell further with Stainer and Pike joining us.
It seemed like a usual Thursday night but then before we knew it, we had a fight over the 7 pint tankard as we had 2 new members joining on the same night.
Andrew Stainer decided to get drinking straight away and James Pike postponed the initiation drinking fun until a later date when he wasn't flying the next day, but we welcomed both with open arms.
Some of our 'Young Men' go on a classic car trip to France
A weekend away with the lads in some old classic cars seemed like a great idea when it was mentioned again this year. So off they set on a clear Thursday night to travel across the Channel by ferry to a member's house in France.
Breakdowns before boarding the ferry, travelling to a cafe for an early morning breakfast which was no longer there and non essential parts falling off of cars were all part of a great weekend. Liquid refreshment was always on hand after thirsty exploring of French landmarks.
Petersfield Ups and Downs 2009 - another great success!
The sun was out, the helmets were out, the riders were raring to go...
PUAD, now in it's 4th year, grew again with over 250 riders on the streets of Petersfield and beautiful local countryside. The riders took their own personal challenges of 26, 15 or 6 mile routes.
A great day was had by all and we are sure that many thousands of pounds will have been raised for charities in the area.
Everyone completed the course that started out and gained their PUAD Certificates and yet even though it was not a race and there are no actual winners, we still have the raffle prizes to be distributed to the lucky few winners. For further photos, visit the PUAD link on the homepage.
From time to time, a true diamond shines out from the rough...
Petersfield Round Table is a true team and everybody always pulls their weight and plays their part when we arrange the amazing events throughout the year.
Occasionally within Round Table, someone will give more than is required of them and selflessy offers of his time and works harder and longer than anyone should be humanly allowed, to make sure that the greater good is served.
This time has come and Steve Jacob (Jocob) was honoured with the Ian Craig award for Outstanding Contribution and general selflessness and brilliance.
No guesses for who writes these news pieces(!), but he was genuinely humbled and appreciated the fact his hard work was noticed and furthered the team.
Some of us walked a long way... The South Downs Way!
Walking a marathon is no mean feat in itself, but to walk the equivalent of almost 5 marathons in as many days, it's just bloody stupid. But, never ones to turn down a challenge, 5 intrepid members of Petersfield Round Table decided to try to walk 105 miles in just 5 days.
Andy Guest, Alex Powell, Andy 'Scabby Beard' Dredge, Steve Issitt and Jamie Matthews headed off from Winchester on a fine Thursday morning and arrived in Eastbourne, tired, weary and foot-sore on the Monday afternoon.
Raising around £5000 for their cause was a great achievement and donations can still be made on-line if you feel live just giving. www.justgiving.com/rt299
Along the route they had some sporadic encouragement from day walkers who dipped in and out for the odd day here and there. A great time was had by all despite the amount of exercise!
Farewell to Mike 'Spam Hands' Robinson
The hours ticked away and the days grew cold and dark as the time finally came for Mike Robinson to take leave of Petersfield Round Table in April.
After many years of having fun, helping the community and making great friends, Mike had a send-off that hopefully he will never forget.
We pulled out all the stops and took our time to truly humiliate him with old photos of growing up, t-shirts displaying that he had turned an old girlfriend into a lesbian, a 'Mike' quiz and alot of spam jokes.
Over the years Mike gave his all to Table and made a significant difference to our fund raising achievements, I know that he will be kind of missed. Good luck with ex-Table Mike or should it be good luck to them?!
Out with the old and in with the new... Mike!
Old Mike's seat had not even got cold before new Mike officially joined us to take the Mike mantle.
He has already been warmly accepted and after falling asleep in front of a guest speaker, has earned the name of 'Sleepy Mike'... amongst others!
Unexpected Christmas Guests
Our Christmas get-together this year went very well and everyone had some fun and the entertainment went according to plan. Although there were some unexpected guests in the form of Santa and Mr Incredible!
Grown men dressing up for a Christmas party may sound a bit sad, but possibly the two men in costume 'forgot' to be told the Fancy Dress idea for the Christmas Party had been cancelled. One of the best kept secrets in ages!
Keeping the numbers up
Stu decided to take the plunge and join us and here is proof that although we do not condone lots of drinking, we do have a pretty good joining ritual!
Stu hasn't embarrassed himself with anything yet so is still just Stu!
Award winning Fireworks
It was back in 2007, but hell it is still good to say that the Petersfield Round Table Fireworks Display 2007 won the Life Magazine Best Event of the Year. Organised by our very own Colin Smith, now Chairman for this year.
