organisers

The Westcountry Balloon Fiesta is organised by Tavistock Lions Club & Tavistock Round Table, with assistance from the local hot air balloon community. The members of these clubs who sit on the organising committee are volunteers who give their time freely. ALL PROFITS from the event go to local and regional charities.

Lions Club of Tavistock

A common sight around the town in their ‘trademark’ red jumpers, Tavistock Lions play a key roll in helping the local community, from donations to organizations looking for financial support to providing practical help. Founded in 1976, the club currently has 47 members drawn from different spheres of the local population.

The Tavistock Club is part of Lions International, an organization that is the world’s largest service club association and has:

  • 1.4 million men and women members
  • More than 44,500 clubs
  • Clubs in 180 countries and geographical areas

Meeting every month, the club constantly looks for new fundraising ideas to add to the established events that the club organises, which include:

  • Tavistock Carnival Week
  • Christmas Tree of Light
  • Children’s Christmas Draw
  • Darts Marathon

In 2002, the club added to these by organising a series of celebrations around the town for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The Westcountry Balloon Fiesta & Day at the Races was started by the Lions Club in 1991 and is the only balloon fiesta in the far South-West. In 1999, the Lions Club invited the town’s Round Table to join them with their Day at the Races, forming a strong alliance between the towns two major fundraising groups.

If you are interested in joining Tavistock Lions Club, then contact the club via our website at www.tavistocklions.org.uk

Alternatively, write to:

The Membership Secretary
Lions Club of Tavistock
c/o The Union Inn
King Street
Tavistock
PL19 0DS

Tavistock Round TableROUNDTABLE2

Our objectives:

  • To develop the acquaintance of young men through the medium of their various occupations
  • To emphasise the fact that one’s calling offers an excellent medium of service to the community
  • To cultivate the highest ideals in business, professional and civic traditions
  • To recognise the worthiness of all legitimate occupations and to dignify each his own by precept and example
  • To further the establishment of Peace and Goodwill in International relationships
  • To further these objects by meetings, lectures, discussions and other activities

Our History

In the beginning …

Tavistock Round Table first met in 1958/1959. Tavistock’s Mother Table was Plymouth. The Charter dinner was held in the Town Hall on the 13th September 1960.

The Table meetings were for many years held at the Lewtrenchard Hotel. Apart from Table meetings, Family Firework and Bonfire nights were also held on the lower lawn.

Very soon after the Charter the Annual Tavistock Round Table Ball was first held. In the 1960s and 1970s this annual event became the highlight of the town’s events. Round Table managed to book several big names such as Ray Ellington, Judy Ward, Lance Percerville and, most notably, the comedian Dave Allen.

Fund Raising

In the early years, Tavistock was involved in raising funds to help Kampala Round Table in their campaign against Polio in Uganda. Round Table also helped greatly in the local community by organising days out for disabled children. A section of the community in the 1960s that was not as well supported as it is now. They also raised money in the local community for others. They also purchased a mini bus for a local charity to use. Later in the 1970s the Tablers took a caravan filled with supplies to Italy for relief of the Italian earthquake.

For a number of years Tavistock Round Table used to sell hotdogs from their Caravan at Goose Fair, although now we sell Bacon Baps from our stall at the same event.  Also Table regularly attends the carnival, usually bringing fun and laughter to the event.

Area, regional and international links Tavistock Round Table is the Mother Table to Okehampton 944. Tavistock Round Table is twinned with La Table Ronde De Pontivy 223 and many visits have occurred between the Tables over the years. These are always an enjoyable affair.

In 1989 the first Day at The Races event was held by Table in the Tavistock Meadows. This afternoon event with Pantomime Horse races has continued year on year and in the last few years has seen Table and the Lions Club join forces to host a Balloon fiesta and Day at the Races, which this year reverts to being the Westcountry Balloon Fiesta.

To find out more about Tavistock Round Table, visit our website at www.tavistockroundtable.co.uk