What We've Done

HBRT win Area Bowling Competition!

Hebden Brige Round Table snatched the Area 9 Ten Pin Bowling Trophy from the firm grip that Ossett Round Table have had on it for many years.

In a fluent run of stikes and spares, John Donoghue and Peter Saunders bowled 182 and 178 to stand head and shoulders above all challengers.

No other team got near to achieving the sustained quality bowling of the Hebden Bridge duo!

Trip to the Ossett Brewery.

We have two versions of this event: one from Ross and one from JD. Fortunately, neither author has a full grasp of reality, so their accounts are rather amusing.

Click here for Ross's tale,
and
here for JD's hallucination

Well, you can't expect them to remember what actually happened after downing so much beer...

Hebden Bridge Bonfire: Spectacular, Safe and Enjoyable.

More than 8,000 people gathered to watch the bonfire and fireworks organised by Hebden Bridge Round Table.
The money raised will be going to local charities, voluntary groups and good causes. Applications for funds are welcome and should be sent to Round Table's Community Service Officer (see the Contact Us page).
Rory Wiggin, vice-chairman of Hebden Bridge Round Table, which runs the annual event said: "For me one of the most fullfilling things about being involved with the bonfire is knowing that all profits go to local causes.
“But organising an event of this scale cannot be achieved without the help and support of the community and local businesses."


Some of the fireworks over Calder Holmes Park, Hebden Bridge.


The Guys relaxing before things hotted up!

Paintball.

Well, that was fun... if a little painful. The yelp of surprise from Peter B as one of the plastic balls exploded on his butt was amusing. John - the cheat - got his cumuppance when he thought he'd sneak forward before the whistle, but was seen and forced to surrender without firing a shot! Ross was spared a pelting when my gun was out of pellets and only firing air. While Paul was such a big target, few could miss him! Behind the mask, you're almost anonymous, which is great for getting away with... well, pretty much anything!
It's rumoured that the less brave HB Tablers who declined to join the paintball team preferred the needle-point class at the Community Centre where they risked jabbing their thumbs with very sharp
needles. Fortunately, they weren't allowed to run with scissors.

Cricket Match v 41 Club

"A Wash Out!"

Or perhaps that's just a pretty good description of 41 Club's performance in the indoor games that had to replace the cricket because the pitch was too wet.
41 Club were comprehensively beaten at darts, dominoes and pool as Round Table secured a rare victory at this annual event.
Unfortunmately, 41 Club couldn't put together a team for the re-arranged cricket match due to take place in August. Too scared, apparrently...

International Week End

Cuxhaven Round Table hosted a great week end.

Round Table members visited Germany in May. Photos and the full story (or John's version, at least) can be found here.

New Chairman

Keith Best takes over as Chairman for 2007/8

Round Table's Annual General Meeting at the end of April saw last year's Chairman, John Donoghue hand over the chain of office to new Chairman, Keith Best. The AGM also welcomed newest member Ross Oaten into Table.
Rauri Wiggin was elected as Vice Chairman, and others were elected to new jobs for the forthcoming year - details on the Members page.

Bonfire Reprieve.

Hebden Bridge Round Table Bonfire on 3rd November is definitely going ahead!
The annual bonfire, organised by Hebden Bridge Round Table, has been thrown a lifeline by the offer of financial support from a local business.
The offer was made after the company read a report in the Hebden Bridge Times.
John Donoghue, Chairman of the Round Table, said the offer of financial support would enable the organisation to make preliminary plans for an event in November but the eventual fate of the Bonfire & Firework Display still hung in the balance. Mr Donoghue said that everything now depended on the support the Round Table could get from local businesses & Councils. He went on to say many pubs, cafes, takeaways and shops benefited from the thousands of people who came to the bonfire but, in the past, those businesses had been reluctant to make a donation towards the running costs of the event. He hoped now that they would rally round and support the event.
Mr Donoghue said The Round Table have organised an annual Bonfire & Firework Display in Hebden Bridge for almost 50 years and any profits made from the event had always been donated to local and national charities and worthy causes, he hoped the town would now support them and enable them to continue for another fifty years.
Doctor Keith Best, Vice Chairman of the Round Table, (who will be Chairman when, and if, the bonfire goes ahead in November), said we had been planning to make some significant changes to the event and this offer is a terrific opportunity to give us a chance to carry those changes out.
Last year a number of unruly youths, mainly from out of town, were in danger of spoiling the event with their anti social behaviour. We want to make the bonfire a safe, friendly event where families can come and enjoy a night out without the threat of abuse and drunken behaviour. We were planning to have an increased police and security presence on the night, to deal with any problems and, at the same time, reduce the fun fair and return the bonfire to a safe community event that the majority of people can enjoy. We hope now, with the help of others in the town, that we can go ahead and run this very popular event.

Bonfire made the front page! For all the wrong reasons...

Thank goodness things have changed since this article appeared in the Hebden Bridge Times.

Hebden Bridge Round Table Bonfire on 3rd November is definitely going ahead!

Over 80s
Grand Day Out

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Harrogate? Well, yes we did! Round Table have, for many years, taken the old folk of Hebden Bridge out for the day.


We collected them from their homes and took two coach-loads to Millstones Restaurant near Harrogate. Old-time dancing, lunch, tea and bingo were enjoyed by everybody.






Dave Chattell, this year's organiser, even had his special bingo markers ready - but he didn't win. While Keith, unfortunately, left his dancing shoes at home.
We had bright sunny weather for the trip there and back, which made a nice change from the snow we had last year.




Rotary Club

Hebden Bridge Round Table Chaiman, John Donoghue attended a Hebden Bridge Rotary Club meeting to present a cheque to Rotary President Barry Singleton for £1329.69 for there help manning the gates at last year's Bonfire. John picked the darkest corner of the room to hand over the cheque and have this photograph taken.

All The profits from the Bonfire go back in to the community through various groups and we are pleased that Rotary club and other voluntary groups continue to offer their support in staging this major event.

Round Table members meet soon to start planing this years Bonfire. If you want to be a part of this major charity event, please drop us a line.


Wishing Well

On a clear, bright December morning several Round Table members cleared out the Wishing Well at Hardcasle Crags. Pictured are Andy, trying to find a cheaper route to Australia, while Anthony and Peter stand about trying (unsuccessfully) to look useful. Andy was rescued shorlty after this photo was taken.







Dissappointingly the Blue Pig wasn't open when we finished, so we'll have to save the money we collected to go towards school projects in the Crags.




Bonfire Night

See the photos here.

Guy Fawkes Competition

There were loads of entries from local schools for this year's Guy competition. We all assembled on HB Marina where The Mayor of Hebden Royd and Round Table Chairman decided the prize winners:

*1st place and £100 prize went to Burnley Road Junior School for their Iron Man Guy, which was based on the story by Ted Hughes.

* 2nd prize (£75) was awarded to All Saints, Halifax, and

*3rd Prize (£50) went to Stubbings Junior and Infant School. Thanks to all who took part.

Donation to Ground Floor Project

OK, it's not the most glamourous project, but the new disabled toilet is now finished and working - along with the handy wheelchair ramp. Round Table were pleased to be able to help fund the work. HBRT Chairman John and several members visited to inspect (but didn't need to test) the new facility. The Centre Manager shows one of the special "Radar" Key which is used to open the door.

Progressive Dinner

Every now and again HBRT do something a bit strange: this time it was dressing up for Halloween three weeks early and frightening the locals in the Stubbing Wharf pub. Afterwards they split up to have dinner - each course in a different house - before reassembling for pudding at the organisers house.

Band Night at Calder High

The Glam Gods (yes, that really is the band's name) put on a magnificent show for nearly 200 revellers who danced until they dropped (or got dragged home).

All proceeds from the tickets went to Hebden Bridge Saints Football Club.

Visit to Coca-Cola

Round Table visited Coca-Cola's bottling and canning plant in Wakefied. After donning silly hats they were (force) fed a load of Coke propaganda and American advertizing.

The diet of a buffet meal and Chinese beer at the Asia Restaurant in Halifax was much more appetising!

Donation to Hebden Bridge Riding for the Disabled Association

Hebden Bridge Round Table Chairman, John Donoghue handed a cheque for £500 to Hebden Bridge RDA.

Cricket defeat for HBRT against 41 Club

Hebden Bridge Round Table once again were subjected to a heavy defeat by the local 41 club in a well fought cricket match. A sprightly looking 41 club team took a commanding lead with some fresh faced new members. The HBRT team were unable to claw the high score even with a magnificent 30 not out by R.Wiggin and an even more impressive Golden Duck by the Chairman John Donoghue, to a wicked delivery from Peter Layfield.

Donoghue Returns for a 2nd Innings

Returning chairman John Donoghue accepted the chairman's chain for a 2nd time last night. John is intending to reintroduce some of the traditional values back in to table as well as focusing on encouraging new membership and, of course, having fun.