The Rowington Ex-Service Supper Fund arranges a supper for ex-service men and women each year on the Saturday immediately before Remembrance Sunday. Membership is open only to those who were born in the parish of Rowington or who now live here. The Supper is held in Rowington Village Hall but in past years each of the New Inn (now the Tom o’ the Wood), Rowington Club and Rowington school have hosted the occasion.

 

The possibility of having such a supper was first mooted at a meeting held in the Men’s Club in October 1920. It was unanimously agreed that this would be the best way of ensuring that ex-servicemen in the Parish could meet each year. It was decided to hold the first supper at the New Inn on the Armistice Day anniversary that year.

 

Sixty five men attended on the night and they enjoyed a good meal of beef, pork and mutton, with fresh vegetables, followed by plum pudding and then a cheese course. There were toasts to the King, Our Dead Comrades and the Ex-Servicemen.  Entertainment was provided, with some of those present singing songs. The charge per head was 2/6d for the meal and 6d for the wreath to be laid at the War Memorial the following morning. Apart from the changes of venue, the supper was held on the same basis each year until 1939. Sadly, no suppers were held during the Second World War but in 1946 the committee decided to revive the occasion and it has continued, very largely on similar lines, up to the present day.

 

The Supper Fund, which would appear to be the only one of its kind in the country, is not directly connected to the Royal British Legion although it was instrumental in the formation of a Legion branch in the Parish in 1926. The committee intends to keep alive this long tradition of fellowship, which binds together those who have served in HM Forces.