It all started on a beautiful mid June morning, after a couple of Mohitos generously supplied by Craig we headed for the motorway and remembered that the trip to Dover takes the longest time.

Once across the water we headed down from Calais to Abberville and on to Rouen where we experienced a huge down pour making hotel location near impossible, steak and frits later all seemed good.

Friday morning and on to Le Mans for supplies, beer beer and beer, plus 8 baguettes (to be used as sponges to dry the tents) and a tub of cheese. Claimed our tent spot next to some Germans, Dutch and Leicester boys with their old route master bus and an array of mini motor bikes to keep the noise level engine music all weekend.

Wow what a place, 250,000 motor heads partying and watching motor racing, as we wandered the huge 13 mile site that first night we came across not only villages of Danes, Brits and Germans but also a thing they call “Mad Friday” this consists of water pistols spraying very expensive cars whilst wheel spinning down the road, not for the faint hearted!!

Saturday morning we started slowly, with egg and bacon butties, cups of coffee and recalling the night before (Harri), the rain had made us feel like at home during the night, whilst Dav’s and Richard’s tent leaked, hence the use of baguettes as sponges. Around mid day the event really starts to build with vintage Le Mans racing, girls dancing and exhibitions showing a huge selection of mad motoring machines.
We  made our way to the Dunlop curves to get the best view possible for the start and watched the madness as 41 teams start the race at 3pm to race the next 24 hours non stop.

The fun and access to the racing is just amazing and the Table 57, Swansea clan bonded as a well oiled machine should, including a football game played against our much younger Leicester friends on Sunday afternoon after walking the track back from the start / finish after the race, we were only just beaten 8 goals to 7.

By the way Audi won and we witnessed an amazing event – think a biannual event could be set for the foreseeable future – start your engines for 2012

Swansea Tablers are already looking forward to their World meeting at Holland in May.

Carmarthen Round Table 80 was chartered in 1934 having been sponsored by Swansea Round Table 57 and other clubs. All at the club wish No.80 the very best of tabling for the next 25 years.

TEAM Swansea Round Table Comprised of:

Craig, who had organised a giant wood skip for all the timber to be recycled into.
Adrian, who had brought along a spade.
Andrew, who had brought along a wheel barrow and brush.
Jamie, who had brought along a shovel
Harri brought his good self
Koert, who forgot his electric BBQ but made up for it with some hedge sheers!

In just under three hours they had managed to shift in excess of two tonne of timber, grab a quick coffee and sweep and clean the entire yard. The existing garage was also cleared and swept clean in preparation to replace the existing roof structure. It is planned that on completion Swansea Round Table will house its Christmas Sleigh in this building.

Updates to follow will include the construction of the replacement roof.

Pictured: Harri, Koert, Andrew, Craig, Jamie. Photographer: Adrian

Vice Chairman Koert Pelders said “This is a good community project for the club to be involved in. Its always nice to be able to give up some of our time and man power as well as money to a worthy cause“. Swansea Round Table will also be involved in organising the re-roofing of the minibus garage at the centre. This it is hoped will add security to the facility and provide much needed additional storage space.

If you would like to contribute to this worthy project you can donate using the button below.

Members will be meeting at 9:30am on the morning of the Saturday, 14th of November.
Extra volunteers more than welcome. Contact us

Currently running an interim service in temporary accommodation led by Debbie Horrigan, a highly experienced cancer nurse specialist, they seek to raise £3m to build a new centre which will open in 2011. Some 20,000 people are living with cancer in the region, with 3,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The South West Wales Cancer Centre will be a place for everyone affected by cancer in the entire region, a population in excess of 900,000.

Chairman Tony with team members and support vehicle

To support Maggie’s, fourteen local men, many from Swansea’s business community, have set off on tough cycling challenge. “Rome to Home” organised by Richard Smith, owner of Action Bikes, and Mike Evans, owner of A&M Installations, and which will see the riders cycle 1,300 miles from Rome back home to Swansea in just 10 days. The riders will fly to Rome on Wednesday September 23 and return to a welcome party in
Morgans Hotel on Friday October 2. They hope to raise more than £55,000 for Maggie’s through the ‘Rome to Home’ challenge. Each rider has personally raised at least £3,500 to participate. The 1,300 mile trip back from Rome will be the longest and toughest challenge they have attempted. It will mean completing 130 miles per day.

Cheque being presented by Chairman Tony Currell

Chairman Tony was pleased to offer support from Swansea Round Table and presented a cheque for £500 to Maggie’s fundraiser Vicki Jones before the Monday September 21 breakfast departure of the Swansea Audi supplied support car driven by Simon Parfit. Vicki says the charity is extremely grateful for the efforts of the cyclists. “These guys will make such a difference to our appeal,” she says. “There are also many other people supporting this effort we owe thanks to. They will help us build a new centre for Swansea, as well as keep it running in the future.”

The five adventurers, Chairman Tony, Past Chairman Minty, Marcus, Neil and Daf, set off at 8am on a sunny Saturday and following a “Big
Breakfast” in Monmouth were ready to face everything the River Wye could throw at them, subject to two concessions!!

1: Our two canoes would be lashed together – perfect for that on-the-river relaxation.
2: We would be monitored by a guide for the first fifteen minutes downstream to gauge our competence!

Competence? "Oh dear"

Provisions and tents (two – check) safely barrel stowed, Minty and Marcus in one canoe and Daf, Tony and Neil in the second (to evenly distribute the weight!), we were off. Warmth of the sun on our backs, delightful scenery, good friends, a stong current carrying us along and a little light refreshment to ease the conversation into art and culture. Soon the world was put to right and we made the campsite, near Symonds Yat, in record time. Tents (two – check) pitched, firewood collected, kettle on, a little more light refreshment and it was time for a gentle
stroll to the Saracen’s Head. Great meal, few beers, game of Pool, simples. Until someone says…

“Did you know that when you drop a shot of Amaretto into a half pint mixture of cola/lager and drink it down in one it’s like drinking Doctor Pepper?”

Flaming Sambuca’s all round barman? And the rest, as they say, stays on tour. Finally back at camp Marcus & Daf took on responsibility
to get the camp fire going – good job it was a warm night – no Daf you are not blowing out birthday candles! And so to bed (tents, two – check)!!!

Nothing like a night under canvas, the smell of the fresh country air – thanks Minty – and the gentle alarm call of a Bull in full bellow! Breakfast duties with Neil and oh look its Dafydd, bacon buttie Daf?

Where the hell did Minty go?

Day Two
We head for the rapids at Symonds Yat. Keep left, head for the V, paddle like hell and hope for the best, oh and make sure Daf points away from the boat when he feels unwell. Survived, albeit a little wet and the canoes full of water. Onward to Monmouth where our efforts were rewarded by a huge reception comittee and entry into the annual Monmouth Raft Race.

The reception committee

Chairman Tony then out classed everyone by bringing along Sea Bass marinated in ginger paste and onions followed by Langoustines (never heard of them before). Next meeting is the canoe weekend on the river Wye. Why not?

Friends of Ysgol Crug Glas
£1000

Cyrenians Cymru
£500

Money is generally raised through our social activities such as the Annual Golf day held at Pennard Golf Club and the Christmas Sleigh collections.