The First lady
remembers…
all concerned and an eye
opener to see so many
pictures on Facebook of Pete
dancing on the stage. And
there was his Staying Alive
encounter! As they say, “What goes on Tour stays on Tour”…
Now Pete and I are looking forward to his Ball on March 7th in Portsmouth,
National 41 Club Conference and the AGM in New York in May, followed by Surf’s
Up in Eastbourne, where we are all going to party…
So, to conclude, what has Table done for me? From a humble beginning as a
Tabler’s wife to the wife of the RTBI President, I have loved every minute.
and I want to encourage other wives, partners and families to get
involved and have fun.
Being part of this rollercoaster has been hard work, exciting and enjoyable, and I
would not have missed it for the world. It has made me a far more confident person,
added to my list of friends on Facebook, given me a better geographical awareness
I
am the diary convenor for National President Peter Manley.
and increased my intake of white wine and chicken dinners.
They call me Mrs Manners, or the Table Bird, or (my favourite)
I am very proud to have been the wife of a Round Table National President and
My Little Coat Hanger (a joke).I am Marie, Pete’s wife, and I was
hope we can all continue to raise money for Air Ambulance and Children’s Wish –
inspired to write this article for TM to show how Table passion can
Pete’s chosen charities this year. If a future Tabler, or Tabler’s wife or partner
materialise in many different forms.
reads this and joins the fun, I also have contributed to the Table/Circle family…
You may have heard Pete speak about the Only Fools and Horses episode where
Thank you Round Table, may you continue to Adapt, Adopt and Improve.
Trigger gets an award for saving the council money. He hilariously declares that
he’s changed the broom head 17 times and the handle 14 times but it’s still the Yours in Friendship
same broom he has had for years. Pete compares this to Round Table and the Marie
Louis Marchesi dream – Table evolves but it still represents the same dream that diary@table-manners.org.uk
Louis had in 1927. P.S. Thanks also to Dave Baker & Ron Shea for all their support in getting
“Build it and they will come”. This is another line that Pete uses, and it comes this into print.
from the film Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. By building and developing
Tablers’ programmes we draw in new members.
Pete joined Table in 1991 with Steve Moore, a close friend, whose father was
formally in Table. To begin with, I did not take readily to Table. A little later, our
daughter, Charli, was born, and in the November of 1992 I can recall raising money
with Pete and Portsmouth and Southsea Round Table at their firework display. Charli
was being pushed along in her pram holding a collecting bucket. Since then we have
attended as a family nearly every year. This was the beginning of our Table journey.
Will, our son, was born in 1994, and from then on we looked forward to many
happy Table adventures. Table took us to France, Austria, Cyprus and Iceland, not
forgetting the European meetings in 1995 and 2005.
Fun and Friendship: This is exactly what we have experienced over the last four
years – Pete as National Secretary, Vice President, National President and now
looking forward to his role as Immediate Past President, and supporting Dave in
his forthcoming appointment.
From the early days, Charli and Will have been extremely proud of their dad, even
though it took them a while to get used to being dropped at college and school in a
car with his name on the side. It is often said that Will is a Tabler in waiting, and he
wishes there could be a Junior Table. He can always be seen swapping badges on
Table trips, and he has a collection to challenge any Tabler.
As a family, we have enjoyed our various SEAT cars and being driven by a great
team, and we are extremely grateful to all Pete’s drivers. I remember when Pete
arrived in Leeds and could be seen changing a tyre outside the conference hotel.
Yes, we have pictures of that one!
Over his year, Pete and I have met many Tablers and Circlers and experienced
much fun and friendship. From one of the first events at Twyford Table Ladies Night
to booking Pete into a curry night at Bushy and Oxhey Table, after which he awoke
next morning under an Eeyore duvet cover – each event has its own special
memories. There was the time Pete went to the Callender Games in a kilt (and yes it
did suit him). Thanks to Damien Sharp and Debbie Tomes for their combined efforts
on that one. Then there was Thailand. What an amazing and proud time was had by
all, and so well supported. We, as a family, would not have gone there, but Table gave
us that opportunity. Afterwards came LCI in Aberdeen, which was a brilliant event for
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52