22 & 23
of 2006 the Table’s membership had rocketed to 17 and by
year-end it topped the twenty, despite ongoing attrition through
work commitments and the Age Rule.
And as numbers revived so did momentum. Distinctive in
their black ‘organiser’ T-shits, the Tablers became omnipresent
around the town, in the streets, in the bars, in the
supermarkets; everywhere there was a smile or friendly
handshake to be exchanged.
And while this was happening, they were extending friendship to
other local young men’s groups, most notably the local rugby and
diving clubs, a strategic policy that has paid dividends. Even the
Saffron Walden Fire Brigade is now a blood brother since current
VC Jason Thompson, in his role as carnival Fire Officer, got hooked
in 2005. The Table has forged strong links with local Rotarians and
it enjoys unflinching support of a loyal 41 Club and Ladies Circle –
stalwart allies all on the road to recovery and beyond.
In June 2008 Nick Head and his team pushed the Eight Day
Weekend to heights undreamed of even four years ago with
another star-studded bill featuring the Blues Brothers, Bjorn
Again, The Real Thing, Judge Jules, Chas and Dave and some
of the hottest acts from Britain’s Got Talent. Perhaps as never
before, Round Table in Saffron Walden is the talk of the town,
yet Nick keeps the pressure on, building on the success of past
Chairmen. He holds regular one-on-ones with his VC and other
officers to explore ways his Table can continue to ‘Adopt, Adapt
and Improve’. He has introduced a totally new concept for council
selection… He writes to everyone personally, asking them what
they think are their strengths and ambitions in Table. It’s out with
nod and wink and in with glasnost, and it works: key positions
go to people with demonstrable drive, energy and ideas.
All my guys are passionate about T
able,
and it comes across –
it’s recruitment V
iagra!
Nick’s advice to other Tables is: “Once you get a tug from
a potential member, don’t waste a moment. Get him down to the
pub or out to a fun meeting and give him a whale of a time. You
want to find out all you can, but you must also be prepared to field
his questions fully and comprehensively, so make sure you’ve least
one experienced member on hand. At all costs avoid formality, big-
up the fantastic things the guys get up to, the power for good that
Table is and the community standing it enjoys.
“All my guys are passionate about Table, and it comes across –
it’s recruitment Viagra!” But Nick adds a word of caution: “Don’t
be blasé about who you invite, consider long-term suitability and
invite someone to join only when you’re sure the time is right.
There’s no point in carrying people who don’t share the
common purpose or who just turn up as and when.”
In addition to the calibre of membership, the overarching
importance of the programme can’t be emphasised enough,
stresses Nick, because the two are interdependent: “If the
guys are having a great time in Table, they don’t have to be
persuaded to introduce new blood, they’ll do it anyway, because
Saffron Walden in Essex is a town noted
for its splendid pargeted houses...
It’s Round Table is pretty good too!
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