Ronde
Tafel Internationaal
The
first Round Table was formed
in Norwich, England in 1927. The founder, Louis Marchesi, was a
young member
of Norwich Rotary Club who felt a need existed for a club where
the young
business men of the town could gather on a regular basis. At their
meetings
they could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their
colleagues
and play a collective part in the civic life of Norwich. Within a
year of inception the membership of this Round Table had grown to
85 and
interest was being shown in establishing Round Tables elsewhere.
From a
very early stage it was agreed that Round Table would be a
non-religious,
non-political club and this has continued to this day.A second
Round Table
was established in Portsmouth and subsequent growth was rapid,
with 125
Tables and a membership of 4,600 by the outbreak of the Second
World
War in 1939. Round Table proved it had international appeal with
the first overseas Table formed in Copenhagen in 1936. During the
war years
Round Table in Denmark continued to expand although in the British
Isles activity was restricted and was in the nature of a 'holding
operation'.
After 1945 the pattern of growth was rapidly re-established with
Tables being 'chartered' all over the UK.Round Table now
flourishes in
the majority of European countries, throughout Africa, the Middle
East,
India, Hong Kong, New Zealand and America. In fact Round Table is
represented
in every continent of the World.
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