Cobblers Lunch: A final farewell
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - The annual Cape Town Cobblers' Lunch, which was first held in 2004, has been discontinued, the organising committee said last week.
Brian Schenck, Pierre Marais and Anthony Lopez said declining attendance was behind their decision.
"Even though there was always great enthusiasm and a lot of chin wagging that took place on the day, each year it became more difficult to get people to commit to attending the Cobblers Lunch. The Cobblers Team have therefore decided to end the Annual Cobblers Lunch, and distribute the remaining funds to charity."
The lunch was started by Schenck, Brian Carmichael and the late Lionel Williamson, who later handed over to Marais and Lopez.
"The aim of the Cobblers Event was to get the manufacturers and suppliers together for what we know as a Cobblers Lunch where they could network and enjoy an affordable lunch on a cobblers wage, nothing fancy or spectacular.
"The Goodwood Sports Club always hosted us and gave us a wonderful 3-course meal for a fraction of the intended price, along with our regular generous sponsors within the industry. Selling of Raffle tickets and donated prizes made up a generous kitty, which most of the time, subsidised the meal tickets and enabled us to donate to a charity each year.
"Brian would get up and tell the audience with great enthusiasm of orders received and pairage made in the footwear industry, which in those days equated to telephone numbers. Those who could relate would shout cheers of warm approval and admiration that would confirm the speaker.
"The Cobblers Team would like to thank all the sponsors over the years for their generosity.
"It has always been the HEART of the committee that the excess funds, be donated to various charities over the years, like that of Peninsula School Feeding, STEPP (Meals on Wheels), Table View Angels, and TEARS.
"A Final Farewell from the Cobblers Team."
