In the beginning, staff of long standing were invited to become members of the Table. It was probably after a good deal of brandy and port that some bright spark decided that Table members should carve their initials in the table itself. It became a tradition for editors and proprietors to carve their initials: editors at one end, proprietors at the other.

Selected guests were also invited. These guests ranged from William Makepeace Thackeray, author of Vanity Fair, to the Duchess of York, author of Budgie the Helicopter. Sir John Tenniel, Sir John Betjeman, Anthony Powell, James Thurber, AA Milne, Basil Boothroyd, have all carved. The Duke of Edinburgh carved a Greek 'Phi' in the table. Prince Charles's 'C' surrounds a finely-carved set of Prince of Wales feathers. The tradition is lost on some, though. The Prince of Wales's detective was not impressed when he was first shown the table. 'My God,' he said, 'you've certainly had trouble with vandals, haven't you?'