How It All Started

Origins in Norwich (1927)

In 1927 Louis Marchesi, a young Norwich restaurateur, and a small group of other local young businessmen started the now worldwide Round Table movement in Norwich, England.

Louis (Mark to his friends) Erminio William Louis Marchesi was born in 1898 in Norwich and educated at the City of Norwich School. He was the son of an Irish mother and a Swiss Italian father who moved to the UK to seek a better life in 1887.

Louis's father opened a restaurant in Prince of Wales Road and then the family purchased Langford's restaurant at No. 50 London Street in 1925, which Louis ran.

Louis Marchesi and the Founding Vision

At the time Louis was a member of Norwich Rotary Club but found that the club was dominated by older businessmen, leaving younger men with little input. He felt there was a need for a similar club for younger business and professional men where they could develop, exchange ideas, learn from each other, and contribute to civic life while also having fun.

After speaking at Rotary about this lack of opportunity, he and others drew up plans for a new club with Rotary support. Louis was 27 years old.

The new club was designed as a non-political, non-religious, and non-sectarian association focused on fellowship and community service among young men.

An age rule set membership between 18 and 40, with members "Chucked Out" at 40. This still exists in principle, now 45 in the UK and Ireland. Former members can join 41 Club.

The first meeting, attended by around 90 people, took place on 14 March 1927 at Suckling House in Norwich (now Cinema City bar). In the first 12 months, the club attracted 85 members.

Growth Across the UK and Overseas

The second Round Table opened in Portsmouth and expansion accelerated. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 there were 125 clubs and 4,600 members.

At its peak, the UK and Ireland had over 1,200 clubs and more than 40,000 members. Clubs were assigned numbers, such as Norwich RT No. 1 and North Walsham RT No. 331.

The first overseas group formed in Copenhagen in 1936. Today the movement has a presence in more than 65 countries, with new clubs still forming.

The name Round Table came from a 1927 speech by the Prince of Wales encouraging young business and professional men to get together round the table, adopt sound methods, adapt them to changing needs, and improve them wherever possible.

That phrase inspired both the name and motto: Adopt, Adapt, Improve. The badge/logo references the ancient table in the Great Hall at Winchester linked to the Arthurian legend.

Legacy Today

Louis married Ethel Buddrell (Dolly) in 1934, and they had a son, Peter. Louis died in 1968; more than 2,000 people attended his memorial service in Westminster Cathedral. He is buried at Earlham Road Cemetery in Norwich.

Norwich RT No. 1 remains active with around 20 members meeting every two weeks. Norwich 41 Club has around 30 members and meets once a month.