Round Table celebrates 75th with return of prestigious former Barumite

Three quarters of a century since it was founded, Barnstaple and District Round Table has held its 75th anniversary celebrations with an Oktoberfest themed evening and was delighted to welcome two particular attendees.

One was current chairman Mikey ‘Driller’ Jewell, who continues to recover well after being hit by a major stroke aged just 42 and hospitalised for eight weeks with a brain bleed.

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The other was guest speaker for the night at the Park Hotel, a former Barumite who was born in the town and whose father was a founding member of Barnstaple Round Table.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is a leading British statistician and a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, who grew up in Barnstaple and attended Barnstaple Grammar School, now the Park Community School.

Above: Barnstaple Round Table chairman Mikey Jewell with guest speaker and former Barumite Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter at the 75th celebrations. Credit: BRT

His father, Eddie Spiegelhalter, was one of the founding members of Barnstaple Table in 1950, when a group of like-minded men set up the Barnstaple club to offer an exchange of ideas, learn from each other’s experiences and contribute collectively to civic and community life.

Sir David has worked on a number of high-profile national and international projects, from the Harold Shipman case through the Bristol hospital babies death scandal and more recently he was a critic of the last government and its handling of the Covid crisis.

Mikey Jewell said: “I’m immensely proud of what the group has achieved over the past 75 years and we look forward to the next 75 with the continued focus in both bringing like-minded men together in helping and supporting the community and having fun along the way, as the need today is even greater than it was 75 years ago.”

Above: Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter was born in Barnstaple, went to the former grammar school and his father Eddie helped found Barnstaple Round Table. 

Since that time the Barnstaple Table has continued its ethos of community involvement and fundraising, running the annual Round Table Fireworks event at Barnstaple Rugby Club on the first Sunday every November.

Over the years the event has raised many thousands of pounds for so many local charities and organisations, including North Devon Hospice, Devon Air Ambulance, ChemoHero, Care for Kids, Families in Grief and Children’s Hospice South West.

Another hugely popular fundraiser is the annual Santa Sleigh that covers 16 nights touring the town over the Christmas season - in the last five years alone from both events Barnstaple Table has raised just under £100,000 for good causes.

Mikey continued: “At the charter night celebration, both past and present Tablers mentioned the key thing they got from Table was friendship, support and giving back to the community to support others.

“This year I had a serious stroke in August and was hospitalised for over eight weeks and the support that both I and my family received from not just Barnstaple Tablers but other Tablers and clubs throughout the UK and the world was immense, with the setting up of a GoFundMe page that raised more than £20,000 and helped me through my treatment and supported my family at this crucial time.

“I am very thankful for Table in the help and support I got during my illness as well my ongoing recovery.”

Barnstaple and District Round Table is always on the lookout for new members aged between 18 and 45-years-old who are willing to contribute to the club with thoughts and ideas as well as to play their part in community activities and events.

Anyone who would like to find out more is welcome to visit the Barnstaple Round Table Facebook page.