Matt Clark surprised as businessmen nominated for national Round Table award
A prominent businessman says it is a ‘surprise’ to be in line for a top national award.
Matt Clark, who runs Spalding’s XO nightspot, has made the 10-strong shortlist to be crowned the Round Table’s Great Britain and Ireland Tabler of the Year.
The 44-year-old - who has been a member of the organisation for almost two decades - found out he was a finalist on Tuesday last week (April 28), the same evening he was named the Spalding club’s Community Champion and handed the Chairman’s Gong.
“It’s all come as quite a surprise,” said Matt who, says his interest in the Round Table began when he watched the Santa sleigh runs pass as a child, later learning many of those helpers were club members who frequented the Moore’s Arms pub-restaurant in Frampton, which his parents used to own.
“I only became aware of any nomination to the short list and I’m still unaware of who nominated me.”
Matt - who says being invited to join the Table was one of the proudest moments of his life - played an integral role in organising last year’s Spalding Festival as its chairman.
The event saw acts such as Liberty X perform to packed crowds at the Castle Sports Complex.
The awards will be dished out on tomorrow (Saturday, May 10), the same day as the town’s hotly-anticipated Flower Parade, when the winners of this category and others - including Chairman of the Year and Table of the Year - are announced.
“In terms of Spalding Round Table, it has been a great year with the biggest ever festival event and then off the back of that straight into the start of the Santa sleigh in the town,” Matt added.
Matt’s long-running Table service also includes launching the Smile campaign in partnership with the Lincs Free Press, which in the first year gave out £10,000s to local good causes, as well as playing his part with the club’s charity boxing event which, at its peak, brought in 600 guests and hosted sporting royalty including Sir Henry Cooper, Tyson Fury, David Haye, Steve Collins, Carl Frampton and Frank Bruno.
“In the coming year we will be running the Santa sleigh again and have another couple of community events in the melting pot, which we hope to announce soon,” Matt added.
“We are also as ever welcoming local charities, good causes and those in need to contact us for financial support.
“The Round Table has offered me a truly rewarding experience and I would like to extend invitation to any other men under 45 locally to find out more about us, with a view to join this fantastic organisation.
“The group is an excellent social platform which is a great way of engaging with other similar people and does not need to be overwhelming in terms of commitment.”
Further information is available from the group’s Facebook page,
