Round Table SOUTH AFRICA

Round Table started in England in 1927 when the Prince of Wales said, “The young business and professional men of this country must get together round the table, adopt methods that have proved to be so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the time and, whenever possible, improve them.”

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. 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.

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.

Dr David Smith, who had been a Round Tabler in Bath, England, settled in East London, South Africa and joined Rotary. He started the first Round Table in South Africa in November 1948. In 1951 the Association of Round Tables in Southern Africa (ARTSA) was formed. The first National Conference was held in East London in 1951 with Noggs Newman as its first National President.
There are now 239 Round Tables in ARTSA comprising some 1000 members.

ARTSA – the Association of Round Tables in Southern Africa – consists of all the Round Tables of Namibia and South Africa.