SANDTON 121

It was a Rotarian who launched Round Table in South Africa. Dr. David Smith had been a Round Tabler in Bath, England, but after the war he settled in East London and joined the local Rotary Club. As Chairman of the Club's Youth Service Committee he received in 1948, a letter from the International Extension Officer of Round Table of Great Britain and Ireland (RTBI). The letter sought the support of Rotary for the extension of Round Table into Southern Africa, but although David Smith was himself immediately fired with enthusiasm Rotary did not at first give its official backing to the idea. David was himself below the 40 year age barrier and his vigor and enthusiasm were reflected in the first East London Table established in November 1948... They immediately tackled an enormous project - the collection over a three-year period of a sum of R36000 for the building in East London of a tuberculosis settlement. Within two years this figure was exceeded, and Round Table very quickly made..