A Round Table Recipe for Good Works

As part of the throng mingling in the High Street at Storrington’s frosty Late Night Shopping festival which took place on Thursday 3rd December, Christmas music came from everywhere. It was bitterly cold and there was a huge, one-day-old full moon.

 

In the Square there were alternating groups of top-hatted wassailers and a traditional brass band, and just down the road, a vintage fairground wind organ playing carols, hurdy-gurdy style.  And, although you may not have realized it, you would have seen lots of the work of the Storrington Round Table.

 

Custard Pies for Charity

This is a group of local men who give their time and effort to raise money for good causes, and to give others enjoyment.  They also set out to have fun themselves while doing it.

 

On that night, as usual at one end of the village, Marcel Hoad, this year’s Round Table Chairman,  disguised as the traditional pantomime ‘old dame’, was seen inviting unsuspecting passers-by to stick custard pies in his face – for a small donation of course, to the Storrington First School.

Then outside Fowlers estate agency, were a band and music stands from which hung discreet Storrington Round Table pennants.  And down by the Half Moon, Round Tablers were running Santa’s Grotto (for a bob or two for charity) with their snow machine pumping out Christmas cheer.  And in the following days, Santa on his sleigh will be seen sliding all around Storrington driven by Tablers giving gifts and collecting donations.

 

Rubber Ducks and Donations

Summer seems a lifetime ago.  But you will remember the Storrington Village Day back in June.  Again, Round Tablers were behind much of that action too including Marcel in his now expected role of public address commentator on the nail-biting Sponsored Duck Race down the River Stor.

 

The whole of this year has been busy for the Table.  Their main focus has been raising funds for Chestnut Tree, a hospice in Arundel for terminally ill children. And they raised cash for the Chanctonbury Leisure Centre along with other smaller, but equally important, local causes.

 

Marcel Hoad spoke to us through his custard, “Being a part of a community is just like Storrington High Street during Late Night Shopping.  It is two way, and it never stops.  Round Tablers want to be a part of something they love, and we need more young men to help us help those who are less fortunate.  We need new recruits because everyone is good at something.  Whatever it is, we need it.  In return, I can guarantee it will be fun and rewarding.  Just give us a call on 01903 745844 and maybe you too can have a custard pie in your face next year!”.

Return To News Page