Southend-on-Sea Round Table 106
History of 106
In 1932, Gordon Johncox met a business associate of his in Portsmouth. This associate was a Founder Member of Portsmouth Round Table No.2 and he urged Gordon to start a new Table at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Following this Gordon met a chap called Arthur Atkinson and together they set up Ryde Round Table No.16. Gordon went on to become the Area Delegate and helped other Tables to be formed in the South of England.
Gordon left Ryde in 1935 to take over a business in Westcliff-on-Sea, namely, Lanes Cafe in Hamlet Court Road. To his surprise he discovered that Arthur Atkinson had also moved to Westcliff in that same month to take over Chalkwell Motor Company. It was the two of them who decided to form a new Round Table in Southend-on-Sea.
The inaugural meeting of Southend Round Table took place at 8pm on the 13th November, 1935 at Lane's Cafe, 175 Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. The meeting was attended by six people, the outcome of which was the formation of a new Table. It was at this meeting that Gordon Johncox was elected the Founder Chairman of Southend-on-Sea Round Table.
The Table was initially allocated the number 104, but Gordon wrote to the National Association requesting that the number be changed to 106 (this was to maintain the link with Ryde No.16), this was accompanied with the motto "Let Nothing Come Between Us".
By the time of the dinner and presentation of Charter on Wednesday, 14th April, 1937 the membership of 106 had risen to 25. The dinner took place at Garons Banqueting Hall in Southend and the cost was half a guinea. Gordon Johncox was now Honorary President of Table and S.W.J. Coster was Chairman. In addition to the large number of Round Table visitors attending the meeting guests also included the National President and representatives of the Sponsor Tables, Portsmouth No.2 and Ryde No.16; there were also representatives from the Borough including the Mayor, Rotary and the Chamber of Trade.
Regular Supper Meetings continued to be held at Lanes Cafe and at the AGM in April 1939, Cecil Raven was elected Chairman. Although the clouds of war were already gathering in Europe, Cecil in fact, remained Chairman throughout the war and he and a small band of fellow Tablers kept the Round Table flame flickering until the life of Southend got back to normal in 1946.
During the war the Table met once a month at the Grand Hotel in Leigh, where the food consisted of bread, cheese, pickles and beer. Understandably, as the war progressed, membership dwindled down to 10 but Table still endeavored to keep things going pending the return of peace. Members attended in many types of uniform - Specials, Fire Brigade, Observer Corps, Air Raid Wardens, etc.
The Table ran a cigarette fund for the troops until the evacuation of Southend when this had to be abandoned. Nonetheless, over 800 re-labeled carnival tins were used and over 180,000 cigarettes were sent to the troops. The Table also ran a War Weapons Week with the aim of collecting £1,000. In the event, just over £4,000 was achieved. The following year Table assisted in Battleship Week but unfortunately no records are available of this event.
Naturally, Tablers were called on to undertake a variety of jobs during the 6 years of war. Many members served in the Armed Forces both at home and overseas. Sadly, one Tabler Johnny Cousins, was killed on active service.
At the post-war AGM on 16th April, 1946 Cecil Raven was again appointed Chairman with Arthur Atkinson as Vice Chairman. During the war years, the Round Table age rule was suspended and for this reason Cecil Raven was in Table for 8 extra years. When the rule was revived in March 1948, 15 members had to retire at the next AGM and it was then that Southend 41 Club was formed, of which Cecil Raven was it's Founder Chairman.
