New Chairman for Round Table

Date article online: 28/04/2008

The Annual General Meeting of Rochdale and District Round Table saw Chris Bell complete his year as Chairman and hand over the reigns to the incoming Chairman Tony Pockney. Mr Pockney said he was: “absolutely delighted and proud to be the Chairman of a thriving Round Table that this year celebrates its 75th anniversary.” He was also excited that Rochdale Round Table No.55 will be hosting ’55’ Tables from throughout Europe in May including a reception with local dignitaries at the Town Hall, a day of fun on the water at Hollingworth Lake, and evening parties and dinners.

Upon assuming the role of Chairman, he immediately announced plans for a busy and exciting year’s activity. There are plans to hold a wide range of social activities for members and their families including old favourites such as a day at the races and lads and dads camping weekend. On the fund raising side, Mr Pockney announced a mixture of local and international causes including raising funds to build a school in India to help lift some of the least privileged children out of poverty, support for a project with the Rochdale Music Service and continuing to fund projects and to support activities for Rochdale Childer and the Rochdale Talking Newspaper for the Blind. Fund raising activities will include a charity golf day on 6 June, and an abseil down the Town Hall on 6 July and the annual Christmas can collection complete with Santa and his sleigh.

Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and activities at these will also be extremely varied, consisting of sports events, visits to pubs and restaurants, mixed in with the occasional more formal business meeting.

Membership is currently in a healthy state following the induction over the last couple of months of three new members - Michael Scott, Phil Howarth and Jonathan Lees. All of them have said that they didn’t know what they were missing until they joined and their only regret is not enrolling sooner.