Area 43 covers the south-western corner of Wales. We have 18 Tables spread across southwest Wales, a region that stretches from Milford Haven to Llandrindod Wells and Aberystwyth to Bridgend. The road network is limited with only one section of motorway and very little dual-carriageway. It takes 2½ hours to drive from my home Table of Milford Haven to the remotest Table in Llandrindod.

When I took over as Area Chair, I knew that it would not be possible for every Table to attend the first Area Meeting, regardless of which town was chosen as the host. There was only one solution – If the Tables could not come to Area then Area would have to go to the Tables. Therefore, at 3pm on Friday 23rd May, I loaded my Exec into a people carrier in Milford Haven and opened the meeting. We then drove from Table to Table, continuing the meeting at every stop until finally arriving in Fishguard at 3pm the next day. This is the true story of one Area Meeting, that took 24 hours, covered 350 miles, included 18 venues and required the combined efforts of every Table in Area 43.

We started at 3pm from outside the Starboard Hotel where Milford Haven RT’s new Chairman Marc Blocwell opened the meeting.
Pictured Milford Haven Chairman Marc Blocwell and Area Exec members Chair-Dan Adams, President Paul Phillips, Membership Darren Davies, Sports Wayne Street, IRO Giles Payne. CSLO Stephen Luke took the picture.

The Sports and Social Officers report started with Haverfordwest RT at County Sports a shop managed by Haverfordwest IPC Gary Lewis and his wife who is the incoming Chair of Area 46 Ladies Circle.

Unfortunately we could not stay long as our next stop was Narberth RT to formally appoint our new Area Vice Chairman, Simon Wright. It was only after we parked that I realised that the Vice-Chair’s chain was missing.

We found the Narberth Tablers in the local. I explained the problem and they carefully considered the implications over a few more pints. Then we were off to the Jewellers to find a replacement.

By incredible luck, Haulfryn the Jewellers had a Vice-char’s gong on display in the window. My Narberth friends negotiated an excellent deal. The strange thing was that the item looked identical to the one I had lost.

Simon could then be appointed as my Vice

With no time to spare, it was on to the holiday resort of Tenby for the Social Report. When we arrived there wasn’t a Tabler in sight. A quick check of the bars located our Tenby friends who were so busy drinking they had forgotten to look out for their Area counterparts.

The meeting moved on and we arrived at the Stag and Pheasant to receive an incredible welcome from Carmarthen RT. Then it was off to Swansea RT to meet the World, this is a story they can report.

After Swansea we drove to our friends in Llanelli, who suggested we stop at the Colliers Arms

After a slight change of plan, we arrived at the Pontadawe Inn to meet our colleagues from Swansea Valley RT. We arrived 4 hours early but what a surprise, they were already busy emptying the barrels.

Someone called for a break so it was off to Bridgend RT for a play in the park.

Our CSLO had arranged a concert with the lads from Maesteg. We were supposed to meet at the Cross Inn but he took us to the Corner House. This was not a problem because the rest of Maesteg also made the same mistake. Maesteg was in excellent voice with a strength to the baritone and bass. My only concern was to identify who was singing soprano.

A problem in Neath, had they heard we were coming? The clubhouse was locked and the gates had been bolted. After an anonymous tip revealed their hideout, it was drinks all round at the President’s expense.

Phones don’t work on the road to Llandeilo, we had promised to be their before midnight and it was now after 1:00. We wondered if anyone would have waited that long. When we reached the White Hart, there they all were but I was so tired that they sent me to bed.

By 07:00 we were on our way to Llandrindod. They took us on a walking tour, we wanted food but they went to the barber’s shop. They meet in the Llanerch Inn, famous for food but we hungry travellers had to hike for a sandwich.

On our journey to Aberystwyth, we followed a tractor. The Tablers at the Belle Vue knew we were late. We needed to rush so they arranged a surprise. One of those vans was waiting for us!

On to Aberaeron, to meet at the Butcher’s and ask for a joint. The orders are clear we should follow that car along High Street and trunk road, dirt track and gravel. To a safe house and then down a long tunnel.

Down at the sea-shore they carefully revealed the secret room used for their clandestine gatherings. They said either get on your bike or we’ll pull you into the harbour. We duly accepted their invitation to join a charity bike ride and the town’s tug-of-war.

We drove on to Lampeter for a family gathering. The Rugby Clubhouse looked nice and inviting but we met in the car-park.. The warmth of this welcome made up for the rain.

On down to Cardigan and into the Grosvenor for a quick half a pint. Alongside the Teifi we continued our chat with time to relax.

At Fishguard they greated us with “your early, we won’t talk now so come back later.” We duly obliged and had a historical lesson from Jemima who scared off the French when they tried to invade. After a day on the road, I needed a shower which Fishguard provided using buckets of water. We had run out of Tables but all was not done. I looked a Jemima and thought of the Ladies!!

We daren’t risk the wrath of a scorned Ladies Circle so it was down the Bay for their Handover Dinner – but that’s another story!. Haverfordwest had arrived and we ran for our lives, they invited a big hairy gorilla.