CATENA No.1094 - DECEMBER 2020 The Magazine of the Catenian Association - £2

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2 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 Head Office Contact The Catenian Association 2nd Floor 1 Park House Station Square Coventry CV1 2FL Tel: 02476 224533 Fax: 02476 224544 [email protected]

12 Magazine Contact James Power Editor Beck House 05 22 77a King Street, Knutsford Pulling Together Conquering Everest by Bike Cheshire WA16 6DX Mob: 07590 851 183 [email protected] 07-08 23 [email protected] Christmas in the Holy Land Engaging with Youth 09 24-27 Notes for Contributors Protect Your Mental Health The Final Word Contributions for publication are to be sent directly to the Editor by email: [email protected] 10-11 28 All distribution queries to Head Office, No Ordinary Shepherds Classified Coventry. Please contact the Editor if you have any questions about an article you 12-13 29-30 have sent in. Covid Life in Nazareth Letters The deadline for the next edition is the first of the month prior to publication. When sending photographs via email 14-15 31 please ensure that they are saved at A New National Strategy Milestone 300dpi and as maximum quality JPEGs. Please notify changes of address and Brothers’ deaths through Circle Secretary to Head Office, Coventry. 16-17 32-33 Magazine published by Catenian Supporting Seafarers An Unexpected Blessing Publications Ltd. 19 34 Help the Let Us Be United A Life Well Lived Environment Your magazine wrapper is easy to recycle so please consider 20-21 35-43 the environment. One Man and His Dog Around the Circles Do you know, Catena’s printers are winners of the Environmental 21 44-51 Company of the Year Award. Seeking Employment In Memoriam They use sustainably sourced paper and vegetable-based inks.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 3 Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) is an agency of the Catholic Church. Despite the immense challenges posed by Covid-19, Stella Maris remains as active as possible, here in the UK and overseas. Please visit our website, Facebook site and other social media feeds to stay up to date with our activities. Also, we would urge you to look at our Centenary website: https://centenary.stellamaris.org.uk/ When your Circle is able to meet again, if you would like a speaker from Stella Maris, please contact us. If you are able to support us, through prayer or fi nancially, we would be most grateful. For donations or any offers of help please contact: In England and Wales [email protected] In Scotland [email protected]

Registered charity in England and Wales number 1069833. Registered charity in Scotland number SC043085. Registered company number 3320318.

4 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 FEATURE

PULLING TOGETHER David Arundale, GB president elect, invites Catenians to the first ever Great Britain Virtual Conference, 21-23 May 2021

Although much will be on offer, and it may be that activities overlap, attendees cannot be expected to sit at electronic devices for hours on end. Natural breaks will be included, as well as the facility to watch any part of the programme at a later time of your choice. Our conference ticket secretary, Charlie Villa, will be taking registration for each programme segment of the weekend. There will be a nominal registration fee, along with a visiting card for those who attend the Saturday morning conference session. None of us currently know what the situation will be next May. If we are able to socialise, I would hope Provinces This issue of Catena reaches you with much and Circles might consider organising local events for the uncertainty hanging over us. Many of you will weekend, with suggestions being: have participated in some form of a second • Friday evening informal social around the livestreaming Covid-19 lockdown. Given these testing times, • Saturday morning breakfast, with livestreaming of the it is so important that we are there for each other, conference, followed by lunch and understand how members may be feeling. • Sunday lunch before livestreaming of Mass. You may already be aware – and it was not an easy On behalf of Maureen and myself, may I take this decision, but the correct one – that we have chosen opportunity in these unusual times to wish you, your to cancel our 2021 GB conference in Norwich. families and friends a peaceful and holy Christmas and a healthy and safe 2021. If not before, we hope But, with a positive vision, I am very much looking forward to see you in May, albeit on a screen. to our Association’s first ever virtual conference. Although it can never replace face-to-face gatherings, during the past months, many of us have bought into the virtual world The programme of events will include: of Circle meetings and socialising, and I see this as an exciting extension to those activities. Please don’t forget, • GBNC annual general meeting the virtual world has enabled our less fortunate and • GBNC work group presentations, long-distance members to attend Circle meetings, and with questions and answers allowed many of us to travel around our country and the • Welcome to conference first-timers world, experiencing and meeting many other Circles and new members of GBNC and Brothers. • Usual Saturday morning conference content I hope this style of weekend will allow a greater attendance • Recognition of our centenary Circles of the Saturday morning event, with much on offer – full and long service membership anniversaries details will follow. Please read on for a flavour of what to • 2020/21 review expect, and do not forget to invite your wife or partner for • Keynote speaker(s) any part of the programme they are interested in. • The future for GB Brothers, please also remember and assist those wishing • Social events to attend who do not have the necessary equipment or know-how. Although it is the GB conference, my invitation • Presentations from friends of our association goes out to you all. • Presentations from the Benevolent & Children and Bursary Funds Planning is in the early stages, though I can announce the weekend will commence on Friday afternoon, and • Sunday Mass from Arundel Cathedral conclude with Holy Mass streamed live from Arundel Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, with Bishop Richard Moth as celebrant. DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 5 SILENT Nights in Bethlehem

NO TOURISTS. NO PILGRIMS. NO INCOME. LET’S HELP.

friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas

£20 Give online at Is enough to replace a day’s lost income for a Bethlehem Christian tour guide. friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas

Until the pilgrims and tourists return, it £50 may be the only lifeline they get. Could provide a couple with emergency food and basics. Thank you so much! £100 A Happy and Blessed Christmas from Can cover a Holy Land family’s food the team at FHL to all Brothers, Ladies and essential needs for a month. and your families.

Friendsoftheholyland.org.uk|Registered Charity Number 1130054 This advertisement has 01926 512980|[email protected] been fully sponsored friendsoftheholyland friends_of_the_holy_land @Social_FHL by a Catenian Brother ADVERTORIAL CHRISTMAS IN THE HOLY LAND Peter Rand, FHL vice chairman talks about the struggle SILENT Nights many families face at this special time of year in Bethlehem

NO TOURISTS. NO PILGRIMS. NO INCOME. LET’S HELP.

friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas

Silent Nights in Bethlehem Eerily Silent The Christmas season is approaching, and Bethlehem’s Majdi Fleifel is one Bethlehem Christian father of two hotel rooms would normally be full by now. The city would who has lost his job at a souvenir shop and has come be looking forward to over a million tourists and pilgrims to us for help. The shop is normally packed, especially coming to visit the Church of the Nativity and enjoy the in the run-up to Christmas. This year, Covid restrictions unique experience of Christmas in the Holy Land. But have locked the doors and it’s eerily silent. Majdi has this year, the hotels are empty and the streets are silent. been laid off with no government support. He has travelled £20 Give online at all over the city and even to Jerusalem looking for any kind Collapse of Tourism of work, but the story is the same everywhere: nobody is Is enough to replace a day’s lost income For families living in Bethlehem and in tourist sites hiring and he’s getting deeper into debt. for a Bethlehem Christian tour guide. friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas across the Holy Land, it’s a disaster. 80% of Bethlehem’s residents depend on tourism for their daily bread. As coronavirus closures go on, the needs of Majdi Until the pilgrims and tourists return, it They are the artisans who make souvenirs, the shop and others keep growing. Large numbers of desperate £50 may be the only lifeline they get. workers who sell them, the taxi drivers, tour guides people are now coming to our Bethlehem office every Could provide a couple with emergency and photographers who look after the pilgrims. Nobody day. We need more funds to get families through the empty food and basics. could have predicted the 2020 pandemic, or that this Christmas period and the next six months before pilgrims total collapse of tourism would last until Christmas. hopefully come back to the Holy Land. Thank you so much! The whole of the Holy Land is now suffering from a £100 lack of visitors that is set to continue deep into 2021. A Happy and Blessed Christmas from Can cover a Holy Land family’s food the team at FHL to all Brothers, Ladies Thank you to all Catenians who have donated to our and essential needs for a month. and your families. campaigns in 2020. This has enabled Friends of the Holy Land to look after our Christian family caught up in the Covid crisis. We have increased our emergency grants by 75% so far this year to meet the needs of 450 households around Bethlehem and a further 300 other families elsewhere in the West Bank, Friendsoftheholyland.org.uk|Registered Charity Number 1130054 Gaza, Israel and Jordan, who have all suddenly This advertisement has lost their incomes. 01926 512980|[email protected] been fully sponsored friendsoftheholyland friends_of_the_holy_land @Social_FHL by a Catenian Brother DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 7 ADVERTORIAL

Grotto, Nativity Church, Bethlehem Manger Square, Bethlehem

Scramble to Survive Thanks to the coronavirus, our Christmases might look a bit different this year. But the difference in the Holy Land will be dramatic – from a time of plenty, to a scramble to survive the season. So, as your thoughts turn to Bethlehem this Christmastime, remember the Christians who have lost everything this year, and send a gift to get them through by donating to our Christmas appeal at: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/christmas 2021 Presidents’ Charity When pilgrims do begin to return, it will take some time for these families to recover. Perhaps current vice presidents will consider FHL’s work and give support to our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land as their presidents’ charity in 2021-22. Many thanks and Christmas blessings to all Brothers, ladies and their families from the team at Friends of the Holy Land!

8 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 FEATURE PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Robert Gordon, New Forest Circle, talks to Catena about the importance of looking after your well-being this Christmas

With the restrictions on our lives that we are all Within these routines, focus on your mental, physical and facing – restrictions that prevent us from doing spiritual wellbeing, and also use time to effectively plan on a daily basis. the activities that usually keep us mentally well – The first thing I do when I wake up is spend a few minutes it has never been more important to be aware in solitary prayer and meditation in the company of the of our mental health. Bible, Jesus Christ, Mary, St Michael and St Jude. I then invest time in self compassion, forgiveness and gratitude: In my professional role as a psychiatrist, I am often asked all of these pillars of thought will strengthen your mind, about lifestyle advice. I often keep this advice simple: increase your capacity to manage stress, and instil a it is about being conscious of balance – balancing each fulfilling sense of peace within you – try it! I then spend a important area of your life within another. few minutes listening to a podcast or an educational video, These areas, if consciously invested in, enable the mind followed by a few minutes of focused exercise. I know I am to be ready for the war of life: the ups and downs, the to not an Olympic athlete, however I am always mindful to and fro, the push and pull, but ultimately, the stresses and engage in a sustainable and realistic exercise programme traumas that we all inevitably face. that is not going to set me up for disengagement or failure. We are advised as healthcare professionals to design and Over the course of the day, my evening routine is abide by a self-care protocol to protect us from the daily organised for connecting with my wife and children, as stressors of supporting patients and from being in touch well as my family, and friends. It’s all about checking in: with our patients’ various traumas, as well as the stressors be open, honest and authentic in your communication, of working within the healthcare field. and this includes listening! This will enrich and nourish It is the consistent, conscious approach to our everyday your relationships, but will also encourage others to be lives that is key: we need to be moving away from simply open and authentic with you. Remember, it is OK not to reacting to life, but rather, consciously planning and be OK and it is important to confide and open up with becoming more aware of the important areas within others around you when you are stressed. It is well known our lives. that relationships directly influence your mental health, and they also serve as a protective support network in But we must also learn to start at the most basic of levels. times of trauma and stress: never be lonely. First and foremost, I would recommend having a planner I would recommend all of this to start of with, and it will or diary that remains visible in your life. This will support enable you to avoid drifting and reacting to the stress you with keeping organised and self aware of your time, of life. and how your time is spent. Mark out areas of time for your routines – morning, daytime and evening – as well as your I hope this helpful and I wish you good luck: we are all own scheduled activities. in this together.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 9 ADVERTORIAL NO ORDINARY SHEPHERDS Catholic chaplains to the British Forces in the Second World War

In No Ordinary Shepherds Hagerty thoroughly examines their role, vividly describes their experiences and critically analyses their effectiveness as they ministered to those who sought God’s protection in battle. Priests who volunteered to serve the military in 1939 followed in the brave and honourable footsteps of those who had ministered to Catholic servicemen in the Crimean War, the Boer War and the First World War. They came from British, Irish and overseas dioceses. Many came from religious orders. Some were parish priests, some were teachers; some were recently ordained while others had been either chaplains or combatants in ‘the Great War’ of 1914-1918. Chaplains, or padres as they were commonly called, served all branches of the armed forces in every theatre of war. Some were evacuated from Dunkirk whilst others served at El Alamein. Chaplains served with the Royal Navy, accompanied Chindits in Burma, landed in Normandy on D-Day and dropped with the paras at Arnhem. Some became prisoners of the Germans, the Italians and the Japanese. A few were with Allied forces as they liberated the German death camps. Many were decorated for bravery. Many were wounded; some lost their lives and are buried in cemeteries alongside those they served. Relying on evidence that includes hitherto unseen personal records and papers, No Ordinary Shepherds tells many Brigadier John McKeown of Ampleforth and and varied stories of unarmed priests who willingly went the City of Westminster Circles reviews James into battle with the men and women they had volunteered to serve. It is a vivid reminder of the brave ministry of Hagerty’s latest book on military chaplains. priests who brought the comfort of religion to servicemen James Hagerty, of the City of Leeds and Wharfedale and servicewomen far from home and frequently in danger. Circles, is the Association’s archivist and an acknowledged As Bishop Paul Mason states in the foreword to this expert on the history of Catholic military chaplaincy. His impressive book: latest book recalls the ministry of over 900 Catholic priests who served as chaplains to the British armed forces in the ‘Military chaplaincy was an immediate, practical and difficult Second World War. apostolate requiring strong faith, courage and fortitude. Some chaplains were killed; others were wounded. Many In 1944 Pope Pius XII described all military chaplains as were decorated for bravery. Their military service was a ‘no ordinary shepherds’ because they were fulfilling their profound individual and collective Christian witness.’ priestly vocation and looking after the spiritual needs of their ‘flocks’ in extraordinary circumstances and conditions.

10 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 This is a thoroughly researched account of devoted priests who fulfilled their vocation in the most unusual and unexpected ways. No Ordinary Shepherds is an appropriate tribute to their heroic labours.

NO ORDINARY SHEPHERDS: Catholic Chaplains to the British Forces in the Second World War is available from Gracewing, 2 Southern Avenue, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0QF www.gracewing.co.uk 01568 616835 [email protected] Price £25, includes postage and packaging Father Gerard Nesbitt, Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, killed 5 July 1944, France

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 11 FEATURE COVID LIFE IN NAZARETH Helping others in need

Covid-19 has taken an economic and mental toll “We were going to use these funds to help needy on people across the world, and Christians living families in general, then the issue of students learning from a distance became very important,” says Habib. in Nazareth are no exception. “We used a large portion of the money to buy 25 laptops As Habib Karam from Nazareth Circle explains: and the rest to help some families with groceries. “If you have been to Nazareth, you will know that many Local friends donated three more laptops and two in the community are dependent on tourism and pilgrims businesses donated laptop bags and mice. Through for their income. There are hotels and guest houses, tour schools and parish priests, we gave out 28 laptops. agencies, bus drivers, tour guides, souvenir shops and We also raised some local donations to help others so on. This sector was the first to stop working, and is with getting food on the table.” the last that will get back to work.” He adds: “One Hastings Brother raised funds that helped Habib says: “Simple things such as getting meals on the with tuition for about 12 children. We also had a donation tables and paying bills have become a burden on many from City of Melbourne Circle.” families. Catholic school tuition fees that were a burden At a local level, the community has come together. to some families have become a big burden to many more now. Adding to that, with the beginning of the new Habib says: “It is still tough on the community. For a school year, the Israeli government required all students culture that has big families and is dependent on being to learn from home online. Many students do not have socially close, it is hard to be socially distant. People are access to a computer, or if they do have one, it is not still getting used to it. However, the community has come enough for all the kids in the family.” together to support less fortunate people with food, school clothing and laptops. Some 40% of the population in In July, Nazareth Circle was contacted by Friends of the Nazareth find themselves out of work, and others have Holy Land (FHL) to say that an anonymous UK Catenian had to jump in and help.” had donated £10,000 to be used in Nazareth, via the Circle, to help needy Christians during Covid-19. Habib says that families have been very thankful for the help: “The children were delighted to own a laptop when they have never owned one before. They were able to connect with their online classes and perform online searches for their projects.”

12 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 Despite the turmoil of 2020, Habib remains positive. “With all the problems and issues that Covid-19 has brought on our community and the world, there is always a bright side. For the first time in years, we have clear skies and water. The air is clean. Families with children in college, like ours, gathered under one roof, live and pray together. There is quality time with no rushing around. We gained a new appreciation for being healthy, being able to go to church on Sunday, visit family and friends. We are thankful for what we have.” What can Catenians do to help during these turbulent times? Looking ahead to Christmas, this year will be very different. “The annual Christmas parade and market have been “I would say come and visit us and help to kick back up cancelled. We are expecting a third countrywide closure the tourism industry. But, since this will not happen for for all of December. We are urging people to decorate their some time, we need support to help people who are out of houses and live the occasions. I have a running joke that work with food, bills, and school tuition. We need help with since we will not be able to celebrate Christmas with family purchasing more laptops. Some families with three or four and friends this December, we will join our Greek Orthodox school-age kids need more than one laptop if all the kids brothers and celebrate Christmas with them on 7 January.” are having online classes at the same time.”

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 13 FEATURE A NEW NATIONAL STRATEGY Implementions following the Central Council questionnaire on the development of the Association

Central Council has asked all National Councils If ever there was a time to refresh our strategic thinking, to prepare forward plans for at least three years it must surely be now. We should use the time arising from the current suspension of normal activities to review and, in response, GB National Council has and agree a forward plan for the next ten years or so. embarked on a longer-term strategy which An ambitious timetable has been adopted, with the aim is looking out over the next decade. of the strategy being presented at next May’s GBNC meeting and national conference. The first full outline Starting with our current experience and culture, we want of the strategy will be presented at the February meeting to retain focus on current priorities but aspire, over time, of GBNC, after which there will be three months to work to implement strategies which will deliver a better and on the details, which will include how to plan for activity more secure future for our Association here in the UK. at provincial and Circle level. GB National Council has eight work groups which oversee A tight timescale requires us to use a simple model or all aspects of Catenian activity, and the chairman of each framework so that we can track progress and deal with group is also a member of the strategy work group. The issues concurrently, thus making the best use of the current, past and next national presidents also attend its relatively short amount of time available. The two diagrams meetings (see full list of members below). below present a pyramid and a process which simplifies Key outcomes from the process will be plans that the framework being developed. So far, we are keeping coordinate all work group objectives and priorities in to the timetable and making progress. 2020/21, as well as plans to respond to an ever-changing During November, the GB work groups are each tasked environment in the decade ahead. We will heed the with preparing an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, Pope’s recent encyclicals about witnessing to our faith opportunities and threats (SWOT) for their current activities in the outside world, which we can expect to be at times and outlook. very messy! And we will need to be open to adaptation and evolution of our purpose and vision of our role in modern society. The Catenian model of friendship, family and faith, and our core values and aims, will still be there but the external environment may be very different, including the needs of our local Catholic communities and parishes.

14 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 The last meeting of the strategy work group on 30 October Strategy Work Group Members agreed working versions of the statements of Purpose Eddie O’Donnell, David Arundale, Phil Brown, Brendan and Vision: Leer (marketing and communications), Mark Conroy (membership), Andrew Sowerby (faith matters), David • Purpose statement: ‘to encourage our Catholic ethos Baldam (youth), Roger Lillie (finance), David Lloyd through networks of friends in local communities’ (head office and administration), Denis Murphy • Vision statement: ‘vibrant and sustainable local (conference and pilgrimages), Mike Guerin Catholic communities, supporting each other through active networking’ Provinces and Circles may wish to submit views to Getting to Strategy their director. If so, can you please do this by the • Our Purpose guides to a Vision end of December. • Our Vision gives us aspiration • Our Aims, Values and Principles confirm Declan O’Farrell our prevailing ethos and culture Chairman • Our Mission sets out key planning GB Strategy Work Group objectives for GB • The Strategy is the plan of action Getting to Impact designed to meet mission objectives • Then DO IT! And measure the impact

PURPOSE VISION

Aims Values Principles

Mission Strategy Impact

SINCE 1840

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DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 15 This Christmas, please provide vital support for seafarers separated from family.

Your help will send Stella Maris’ chaplains out over Christmas for one-to-one visits with seafarers. The chaplains of this Catholic charity will meet seafarers on the gangway or dockside, or on board when allowed. They will provide vital pastoral care and welfare support for seafarers right through the festive season. For a seafarer who feels homesick, your support is an expression of God’s love. Your generosity shares the hope of Christ. Thank you very much. For more information about the work of Stella Maris, please visit: www.stellamaris.org.uk

Details for Donation Form Please accept my gift to Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) of: Signature: £ Date: enclose a cheque payable to: STELLA MARIS To receive email communications from Stella Maris, including information about fundraising events and activities, please tick the box here: First name: Last name: And provide your email address here: Address:

I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Stella Maris. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/ Postcode: or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in the tax year, it is my responsibility to pay any Telephone number: difference. Credit/Debit card (please fill in details below) Please send this form and your donation to: Please debit my: Stella Maris, 39 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1BX Mastercard Visa Switch Charity Card You can also donate online at: Card No: www.stellamaris.org.uk/donate Valid date: Expiry date: Issue no: (Switch only) Amount: Name(s) on card:

Registered charity in England and Wales number 1069833. Registered charity in Scotland number SC043085. Registered company number 3320318. CATD20 ADVERTORIAL SUPPORTING SEAFARERS Nathaniel Xavier reports on Sea Sunday and Stella Maris

Supporting Seafarers on Sea Sunday Captain Rosario Leonardi was so happy to have through Stella Maris John and Father Leo on board and he read a beautiful, This year, the Catholic Church in England and Wales emotional prayer. will celebrate Sea Sunday (normally held in July) on “We all know what it’s been like these past nine months 20 December. In Scotland Sea Sunday happens throughout with many of us not being able to physically participate the year. This is a special day to remember and thank in Mass and other church services, but for seafarers that seafarers for all they do, through prayer, reflection and is part and parcel of life at sea,” said John. financial support. This year it gives us the opportunity to make Christmas special for stranded, lonely seafarers “They rarely get the chance to go to church during their during the pandemic. employment period, so this service on board truly was a blessing in more ways than one when you take into The Catenian Association has strong links with the Catholic account the current situation,” he added. charity Stella Maris (formerly Apostleship of the Sea). Several of the charity’s staff members and parish contacts Stella Maris has adapted its ministry to ensure it can are Catenians. Many Circles have financially supported continue to support seafarers during the pandemic. the charity’s important work with seafarers and fishers. The charity’s chaplains and volunteers work in ports The charity recently hosted a successful Zoom evening up and down Great Britain, and all through Advent and for Catenians with guest speaker Brian Wilson CBE, Christmastime, they will visit seafarers on the gangway and Catenian Brendan Berry painted The Spring to or dockside when it is safe to do so. commemorate the charity’s centenary this year. They will safely hand out small gifts and provide vital Recent Work of Stella Maris pastoral care. They will provide welfare packages of When NG Worker docked at Dover cruise terminal in food and toiletries. And they will make videos of mid-October, the Italian crew on board requested a Gospel readings and email them to crews on ships. blessing. The crew were new to the vessel, and the ship had been recently taken over by an Italian company. They will help seafarers stay in touch with their families during this crisis and over the Christmas period. Stella John Fogarty, regional port chaplain (Medway and Dover Maris’ chaplains and ship visitors bring mobile WiFi units ports) for Stella Maris got in touch with Father Leo Illah, for seafarers to access the internet, or remotely provide assistant priest at the parish of the Good Shepherd top-up cards for seafarers’ mobile phones. in Dover. This is essential to ease the worries of seafarers After obtaining permission, the pair went on board. and reassure their families back home. A beautiful service was held, socially distanced. They started with a blessing on the bridge, then went on At this time of year, gestures of friendship and support to every room on the vessel, blessing as they went. can provide reassurance to seafarers who are thousands of miles away from their families. They prayed in English and Italian and it was a joy to hear the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary in Italian, This Sea Sunday, Catenians are respectfully invited said with so much feeling by the crew. to support the work of Stella Maris.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 17 The simple way to decorate your space www.folkinteriors.co.uk

Use the code CATENIAN for free UK delivery FEATURE LET US BE UNITED A few personal thoughts from Roger Lillie, GB national vice president elect, director Province 11 and Southampton Circle

We must remain firm friends since, as the phrase rightly confirms, “United we stand but divided we fall.” We may have differing views on the way forward and these should be expressed, but sometimes we must agree to disagree. As Benjamin Disraeli said: “It is easier to be critical than correct.” We must remember our obligations of membership as laid down in our handbook. Turning to family, we must bear in mind that many of our younger members, who we are seeking to carry on and develop the Association, are family men who have immediate family members. It is critical that we recognise this and allow for Circle events to accommodate their needs. I am lucky enough to have a Catenian son who keeps me in touch with the needs of our younger members. If I reflect on these, I do not find a great difference to my views over 30 years ago when I became a member. At the time of writing this I have just heard that a friend and senior member of our Circle has sadly died. At 98 years old, with I have read several articles during recent months over 40 years’ membership, he still shared ideas for the proposing the way forward for the Association modernisation of the Association. Indeed, only five years The simple way to decorate your space and I certainly agree with some of the points ago he volunteered to take up the secretary’s role if no one came forward. That is Catenianism! they make. www.folkinteriors.co.uk To summarise, we must remain positive and focus on the However, when considering future action, we must keep strengths of the Association, and not continually focus on firmly in mind the core foundation of our Association, the areas perceived to be weaknesses. We have a track the three Fs: faith, friendship and family. In my mind, record of 112 years; we are financially strong and highly these are the key constituents that bind us together. regarded by the Catholic community. Although during My thoughts are of solidarity and focus, utilising the first six months of this year we saw a reduction in our experience and our belief in the strengths we have membership through deaths and resignations, we must to ensure the Association moves forward, capturing the balance that with the fact that we recruited 61 new Use the code CATENIAN for free UK delivery needs of past, present and future generations amidst Brothers in Great Britain during difficult conditions. a backdrop of challenging times. Congratulations should be extended to those Circles Regarding faith, there has been much discussion on involved, as well as to the new Brothers who have joined the level of commitment needed by Brothers to their faith us at a time when we are unable to offer the full range and the abortive attempts to define what is ‘practising’. of benefits of being a Catenian. Let us hope it is not long To quote Pope Francis: “Who are we to judge?”. The before we can come together once again as a family. main membership requirement surely is that members I hope Brothers will continue to put forward their views are acknowledged as committed Catholics and follow in a positive light and without undue critical attachment. the path as laid down by the Gospel. Whilst our opinions may differ, we must retain the When it comes to friendship, we must remember the fraternal love and respect for each other. Above all, foundation laid down by our forefathers 112 years ago, we must remain as cohesive teams at all levels: national, when the newly formed group was called ‘Chums’. provincial and Circle. We must work together constructively. They envisaged a group united by faith – and it is the After all, we all share a common aim, the long-term word ‘united’ which is important. We face many challenges viability of our Association. at the moment, both inside the Association and outside.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 19 FEATURE ONE MAN AND HIS DOG They say that a dog is a man’s best friend and this is certainly true for Gilbert Davis from Newport Circle

Gilbert with his dog Jack Irene Takahashi

Gilbert, whose late brothers Tom and Michael After a period of convalescence in a care home, he is were also members of the Circle, joined the back at home being looked after by family and friends with shopping and food. His neighbour, Irene, remains as kind Catenians more than 50 years ago. as ever and cooks for him occasionally, but Gilbert says: They were all enthusiastic golfers and Gilbert says “I give precise instructions on how to cook the food that a highlight of his time as a Catenian was his my way!” close involvement in the golf societies of Newport and Meanwhile, Jack has been in the wars and needed a small Province 12 and the friends he made on the golf course. operation. Gilbert says: “With the cost of pet care going Gilbert who once enjoyed a handicap of just three is through the roof, pet insurance is essential and I am still an accomplished golfer. grateful to Tesco Insurance for dealing with this with Recently, Gilbert avoided potential disaster when he fell no fuss.” (Other insurers are available…) while working at home, and fractured his femur. It was Jack is now fully recovered and staying with Gilbert’s around 8pm and Gilbert felt a “searing pain” up his left daughter in London where he exercises in Greenwich Park. leg and couldn’t move. As he lives alone, Gilbert, 86, Gilbert found Jack as a three-month-old pup and brought faced the awful prospect of lying there in agony all night. him home as company for his late wife, Anne. The young But his dog, Jack, came to the rescue. The 12-year-old Jack had regular exercise with Anne and her wonderful faithful pet barked until help arrived from neighbour, carers. Gilbert says: “Jack has been an important Irene Takahashi. Nevertheless, Gilbert didn’t arrive member of the family and a great companion.” at hospital until 3am and it was another two days before As for Gilbert’s history with the Catenians, he his operation. remembers joining his father and older brothers in Since the accident in July, Gilbert’s recovery has been Newport Circle at a time when there was a social slow, but he has progressed from needing two crutches occasion after meetings, catching up with friends once to just one and the consultant has said that Gilbert can a month over a game of cards. He was a young married look forward to playing his beloved golf in the New Year. family man when he became a Catenian in 1966, juggling While the accident was traumatic, Gilbert feels that he the demands of his career as a solicitor. Gilbert says that has been “very lucky” with his emergency care, the Anne was very much the rock at home, bringing up the operation and subsequent care being first class in spite four children. of the pressures on the NHS at a time of pandemic. So, what would Gilbert say to young people thinking of joining the Catenians today? Well, Gilbert recognises that one of the major changes in society is that wives have their own careers and there is more sharing of family duties. 20 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 He says: “Somehow, we need to make membership and meetings more attractive to younger men because there is a lifetime of friendship and a support network available to like-minded individuals. For young men, the investment of time and finance, when both may be in short supply, will bear fruit.” Looking back, one of Gilbert’s happiest memories is being a member of the unbeaten Newport Cricket Club. There was also the time that a young man from Antigua – a certain Viv Richards – was playing for Lansdown Cricket Club against Newport at Rodney Parade, and Gilbert was one of the Newport bowlers. Afterwards, Gilbert was talking in the bar to the young Viv who had just come over from the West Indies as a groundsman at Lansdown. He said to Viv: “Don’t worry about the future son, playing like that you’ll soon be signed up by Somerset.” Jack the hero

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT

Son of Catenian (47) 60-70 hours per week work ethos, Catenian (55) Experienced, innovative business development especially early morning, in customer services and catering, director / sales director / operations director seeking new could facilitate employment involving essential early morning challenge. Surrey / Kent / London. Successful record of / evening / weekend collaborative working activity in the sales strategies delivery, operational excellence and project business or office world, UK and globally.S/1120/17 management. Expertise in sport / wellbeing / education sectors, but transferable skills and wide experience. B/1220/19 Daughter of Catenian (22) Good joint honours degree in maths and art history. Birmingham based. Interested in graduate schemes in either accountancy or quantity The Catenian Association Group on surveying nationwide. Also interested in work experience LinkedIn, the business-oriented in either accountancy or quantity surveying West Midlands social networking site, exists to assist Brothers and family area. D/1020/06 members in need of careers Catenian solicitor, compliance officer. Numerate, thorough. advice or employment Finance and business problem-solver in largest law firm and opportunities. investment banks plus innovation / IP start-ups. Making things The Group provides careers and simple, simply making things happen. Total business solutions. employment related networking Certainty of results; speed; cost. B/0820/02 opportunities for Brothers and, through them, family members. Son of Catenian (21) recent history graduate from King’s Membership of the Group is closed College, London (2:1 predicted). Interested in legal training and unlisted, i.e. by approval only. contracts, the civil service, and tax audit / accountancy. The Group needs more members in Experience in teaching mathematics at secondary school order to achieve its purpose. Brothers level. Seeking full time employment in Solihull / Birmingham. are urged to open a LinkedIn account, S/0820/06 and to include in their profile as much relevant information as possible Daughter of Catenian (22) BE in software engineering regarding personal qualifications, (information technology) from Athlone Institute of Technology, skills and career experience. Ireland, seeks fulltime employment in the marketing and sales Brothers with a LinkedIn account / business field. ROI preferred, but willing to relocate to UK. can email me if they wish to join D/0820/364 the Group, and I will send them Son of Catenian (23) recently graduated with degree in an invitation. accounting and finance (2:1). Interesting CV. Based in Surrey, but open to relocation. Seeks suitable employment as trainee investment analyst or similar position. S/0920/19 Son of Catenian (43) A versatile and solution-focused sales manager / senior account manager with 20 years’ experience Andrew Neal and an adept facility for heading complex operations, leading [email protected] teams, generating sales revenue, and achieving sustained success. Open to UK location. S/0920/08

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 21 FEATURE CONQUERING EVEREST BY BIKE After A-levels were cancelled for 2020, Barnabas Pickford had time for a different challenge

On the big day itself, Barnabas completed 70 hill climbs at a gradient of 9.8% in 16 hours 6 minutes, covered 127 miles and ‘attained’ a height of 9,240 metres (30,314 feet) – no mean feat. It was a warm day too, with the temperature peaking at 23oC, making it thirsty work. Barnabas used the challenge to raise money for the Farm Africa charity, which aims to reduce poverty by helping local farmers to grow and sell more crops at a fair price. The charity also helps farmers to understand and protect the local environment. So not only did Barnabas complete a fantastic achievement in conquering Son of Rob Pickford of Swindon Circle and his Everest by bike, he helped others at the same time. wife Gabrielle, Barnabas picked something Back home in Cherhill near Calne, Barnabas’s parents known as Everesting. But this would not involve are kept busy looking after their farm. Rob spends some a mountain in the Himalayas, ropes, ice axes or of his time looking after a large horse – nothing unusual, you might think. But the horse in question, although not crampons. Instead, Barnabas used pedal power. rare in Wiltshire, is 240 years old and requires a slightly Barnabas explains: “The challenge is simple: pick a steep different wellbeing regime. The Cherhill White Horse on hill anywhere in the world, and complete repeats of it (on Cherhill Down is within view of the farm and Rob leads your bike) in a single activity, with no sleep until you have the local re-chalking team to keep it looking spruce. climbed 8,843 metres – the height of Mount Everest.” Rob is a key figure in the Cherhill White Horse restoration group which, somewhat unusually, Barnabas chose Ralph Allen Drive in Bath for his cycling boasts an official poem: challenge. Not only was the location convenient, but he knew the hill well, having been up and down it every We could have paved it with cement, and made school day for the previous five years. it incandescent It goes without saying that this cycling challenge was no But we did it properly, the way it was meant to be. picnic. To prepare for the event, Barnabas cycled more In winter chalk is grey, when the sun’s shone than 300km each week, then spent 13 hours riding up chalk is bright; and down the hill 64 times. A top dressing now and then will see the horse more white. Please come and help us do, or give a pound, thank you.

22 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 FEATURE ENGAGING WITH YOUTH Reaching beyond the success of public speaking

Many Brothers will have experience of the Its purpose was to explore ways to introduce youth annual public speaking competitions that take initiatives from other Provinces which resonate with the family life specific to our own Circle. place across all our Provinces, culminating The resulting list ranged from the well-known Flame with a final in Manchester during September. and public speaking to CAFOD and Caritas. More unusual All that has changed with the sweeping effects of the were Dragons Den for the homeless in Reading, prayer Covid pandemic. Responses to a recent round robin garden projects in primary schools, and a pre-school instigated by national organiser Phillip Brown suggest group singing to residents at a dementia home. There events will be cancelled during 2021. is more opportunity for Circles to provide support in primary schools with, for example, writing, music, art The responses also revealed that there have been and photography competitions. successful contests with students aged 14, 16 and 18 across Province 5, and primary pupil contests in Deaneries and parishes may know where support is Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay (Province 13). In Province needed. Recently, Catenians have supported a food 8, the number and quality of presentations in local schools bank in a school, and purchased new curriculum books and colleges has grown year on year. At the competitions, for religious education. participants, schools and their families are reminded At the moment, schools are struggling to maintain a about The Bursary Fund. basic level of provision and safety for their communities. This success has given rise to reflection on broadening However, looking forward, the Association needs to reflect the offer and in September, youth officers joined an online on the activities that take place across our Provinces as discussion instigated and chaired by Gerry McCormack we seek to engage with our Catholic youth. who looks after youth, employment and careers across Jim Coyle Province 8. Harrow Circle

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 23 MISCELLANY THE FINAL WORD

Cartoon by Tom Morris, Cardiff Circle. For more information please see: www.tomverse.uk

Reviewing the Situation Food and Drink Quiz

We all used to meet socially. 1. How many spice options are there at Nando’s? ’Twas our monthly treat – socially. 2. Which soft drink is commonly associated And although times have changed with Scotland? And we know we can’t do that for now, There must be a way to get round the system – 3. According to McDonalds’ official website, how but how? many calories does a regular Big Mac contain? (Accept to the nearest 10.) I’m reviewing the situation. 4. What are the two main ingredients of a Dark Can a fella be a hermit all the time? and Stormy cocktail? All the trials and frustration! Better mingle though it seems to be a crime. 5. Name the 2019 winner of The Great British And I’ll eat with friends and have a spree Bake Off. Just like it always used to be, 6. Gouda is a popular cheese originating from We’ll chat and laugh at life and then which country? We’ll put the world to right again. 7. A screwdriver cocktail is orange juice, But when we leave and say farewell ice and which spirit? Not one of us can really tell 8. Which southern Italian city is usually credited If we have maybe dropped our guard. as the birthplace of the pizza? It’s all so very, very hard. I think I’d better think it out again! 9. What number is found in reference to their varieties on Heinz products? Rob Dugdill 10. Pret a Manger is a popular sandwich chain Weston-super-Mare Circle in the UK, but what does the French name mean in English? Answers on page 26 24 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 Christmas Crackers! Quotes about Christmas

I will honour Christmas in my heart, What do you call a snowman and try to keep it all the year. with a six pack? ― Charles Dickens An abdominal snowman. Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime. ― Laura Ingalls Wilder What do you get if you cross My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or Santa with a duck? modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think A Christmas Quacker. of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? ― Bob Hope Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. ― Charles M Schulz Why did Santa have to I heard the bells on Christmas Day go to the hospital? Their old, familiar carols play, Because of his poor elf. And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Blessed is the season which engages How will Brexit affect the whole world in a conspiracy of love. Christmas dinner? ― Hamilton Wright Mabie No Brussels. Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ― Calvin Coolidge Sign of the Times

Quotes from Christmas Films

There’s a certain magic that comes with the very first snow. For when the first snow is also a Christmas snow, well, something wonderful is bound to happen. ― Frosty the Snowman Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he? ― It’s a Wonderful Life I believe, I believe. It’s silly but I believe. ― Miracle on 34th Street It was the afternoon of Christmas Eve and Scrooge was conscious of a thousand odours, each one connected with a thousand thoughts and hopes and joys and cares long, long forgotten. ― The Muppet Christmas Carol

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 25 MISCELLANY

Catena Seasonal Challenges

You can use the cryptic clues or the quick clues to fill the grid, but each lead to a different set of answers.

If you would like a copy of the crosswords you can email [email protected] and request Catena seasonal crosswords. 15/43/24 refers to those three entries in the puzzle.

Compiled by David Bates, Colchester Circle

Catenian Sudoku Food and Drink Quiz Answers 1. Six: plain, passion fruit and mango, lemon and herb, medium, hot, extra hot 2. Irn-Bru 3. 508 4. Dark rum, ginger beer 5. David (Atherton) 6. The Netherlands 7. Vodka 8. Naples 9. 57 10. Ready to eat

Catena Seasonal Challenges Answers Will be shown in the January edition of Catena.

If you have a budding comedian or poet in your Circle, please contact Catena and send in your ideas for this section of the magazine. Sudoku puzzle kindly created by Des Boksan-Cullen © Catenian Publications Limited. Answers on page 30

26 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 Seasonal Quick Crossword Clues Across Down 1 10th of 15/43/24 (8,8) 34 2nd of 15/42/24 (6,5) 2 Discover, by word of 25 Oriental actor in disarray 10 Untidy bedsit could 35 Provided the music for mouth, that the peepers is evidence of a negative conveniently have one of comic and ape turn (11) are not fake (7) connection (15) these (6) 37 Old man upset cake 3 Handy home for strikers (8) 28 Two-inch displacement 13/61 1st of 15/43/24 (9,2,1,8) ingredient (6) 4 Encourage to start to for fat face feature (6,4) 14 Large soldier ant (5) 39 A real sort of peer (4) poach (3,2) 30 Amazes active sun toads (8) 15/43/24 From the present day 41 Gary ran round storehouse (7) 5 7th of 15/43/24 (5,1-8) 31 Finally when one takes until Epiphany (6,4,2,9) 42 And this too (4) 6 Incomplete fact about book one’s last breath (2,4,4,4) 16 Princess’s trustworthy 43 See 15 found in the Bible (4) 36 Left Georgia’s golf course for – oh no she’s not (9) 44 Troops on board (3) 7 Wild things audible a place in South Australia (4,7) 17 Ian, I sing off key – 47 6th of 15/43/24 (5,1-6) cry of attraction (6,4) 38 Study in a mess – it’s a sign (8) 49 What ever happens at 8 Nearly nice slope good needs cleaning (5) 18 Rude sounding back athletics meet, not fussy for toboggans (7) 40 Gossip about Gnu entrance (4) what race you enter (2,3,5) 9 Surrendering double gin not Lego (4-6) 20 Realised that ciders 51 Worker picks up his cards (4) around teatime (6,2) 45 More compact US gone off (10) 53 The nerve centre where 10 Not a good word spoken lawyer in line (8) 22 4th of 15/43/24 (7,5) big cat joins band (8) in it (3,8) 46 The most attractive 24 See 15 54 Demand to pulsate it 11 Nymph voicing a commercial settles changes about 5 (8) 26 Two-piece atoll (6) without restraint (9) for Alcoholics Anonymous? (5) 48 Unwell with flatulence? It 27 Idol swimming here? (4) 57 11th of 15/43/24 (6,6) 12 It’s impossible that it’s of does no one any good (3-4) 29 Marx brother with 58 Master renal problem (5) this standard (3,4,2,2,4) 50 Is this substance used to working weapon (7) 59 Test no longer in 19 Act as good counsel - pay workers 32 Lift Miss who in the morning (4) inform about water source (6,4) who work after dark? (7) song regrets (4) 60 Car in the East? (6) 21 Handy fixers (5) 52 Live in Llandrindod Wells (5) 33 Seasonal problem solver (6) 61 See 13 23 Rascal went about and 55 Run down lawyer from made things better (8) China (5) 56 Contrive to get ET to leave the Earth, say (4)

Seasonal Cryptic Crossword Clues Across Down 1 Seasonal gift (9,7) 37 Fish (6) 2 American folk dance (7) 25 Area that commemorates 10 Look for (6) 39 Cook (4) 3 Was rude to (8) Nelson (9,6) 13 Valuable stones (4) 41 Large tropical American 4 Thing under discussion (5) 28 Works in the air (10) 14 Card game (5) lizards (7) 5 Recognition (14) 30 Motor car’s rear light (4,4) 15 Dessert (5,7) 42 Isaac’s eldest son (4) 6 Unsullied (4) 31 Philatelist (5,9) 16 Can go with tax, 43 Edict (6) 7 Information given to 36 A movement without debt or stamp (9) 44 English tree (3) you and nobody else (10) any rotation (11) 17 Someone on the run (8) 47 Caused to be occupied (12) 8 Book of the Old Testament (7) 38 Requirements (5) 18 Yugoslavian statesman (4) 49 Female shop assistant (10) 9 The very smallest (8) 40 One of four children all 20 Price too cheaply (10) 51 Concerning water (4) 10 Achieved in a rocket (5,6) born at the same time (10) 22 Picture in a book (12) 53 Silt carried by rivers (8) 11 Modify (5) 45 Puts back in the 24 Devoured (3) 54 Mercury’s role in 12 Household items correct position (8) 26 Large sporting arenas (6) Roman mythology (9) of furniture (6,2,7) 46 A shower of rain (8) 27 Not hard (4) 57 Garden entertainment 19 Collections of wild animals (10) 48 Someone saving you 29 Green fruit (7) for children (8,4) 21 One who puts their X (5) from harm or danger (7) 32 Singer Lady ---- (4) 58 Frequently (5) 23 Particular methods for 50 Retaliator (7) 33 German field marshal of 59 Wild party (4) doing a task (8) 52 Inspect accounts (5) the Second World War (6) 60 English mathematician 55 Feel (5) 34 In the same straight line (11) and scientist (6) 56 Old Testament 35 Indoor sport (5,6) 61 They took the bodies of the ship builder (4) dead off the battlefield (9-7)

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 27 CLASSIFIED

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28 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 LETTERS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR When sending letters to appear in Catena please contact the Editor (not Head Office):James Power, Beck House, 77a King Street, Knutsford WA16 6DX. Tel: 07590 851183 Email: [email protected]

I must also mention those who move Zooming around the house carrying their devices, so Ladies are Ladies that we get the grand tour. At one Circle that Sir, Leo Cash’s letter, entitled Women in with Style I visited remotely, a Brother, presumably the Catenians (November 2020), reminded Sir, It has now been well over six months following the meeting on his earpiece, gave me of my national service days many, many since we were obliged to cease meeting us a tour of his local high street! years ago. On the annual camp sports day, in the usual way and start using Zoom. Brothers can be assured that they are there were three strongly-roped compounds It has been a learning curve for Brothers not alone in these errors. On TV, in these and the notices on the monitored entrances and Circles, as we have adapted to this Covid-altered days, I frequently see people read: ‘Officers and their ladies’, ‘Senior new environment. I have attended the being interviewed at home or elsewhere via NCOs and their wives’ and ‘Other ranks and Zoom events of many Circles and seen a badly positioned laptop. Even professional their women’. It says it all! In Cirencester different approaches. broadcasters when contributing from home and South Cotswold Circle, the ladies are There is however one area where are not immune – I found myself wishing called ladies, which they certainly are. improvement is needed, and I offer these that someone in the studio would tell Robert We are proud of them and the significant comments not in criticism but in a spirit Peston to change his lighting! contribution they make to Circle life. Where of brotherly advice. Many Brothers use would we be without them? phones or tablets such as the iPad to join Denis McAllister In addition, the letter has shot itself in the Zoom meetings. They frequently hold these Warrington Circle foot when it says: ‘Surely there is no in their hands, as they would a book, so male or female among Christians, as St that they are looking down at them. Now Paul forcefully tells us.’ What is the problem this is quite natural, but there is a problem Province 20 then? The choice would appear to be, get – a book does not have a camera and up-to-date and fast, or slowly fade away. microphone built in. The problem is what Visitors Cup the other Brothers (your audience) see and Sir, With our magazine circulating in several hear with the camera pointing up nostrils – Peter Ollis countries, Fremantle Circle would like to Cirencester and South Cotswold Circle not the most appealing angle! extend an invitation to our members and/or The biggest problem is that none of us can their families holidaying or passing through keep our hands still for long, so the camera Western Australia to join us at our Special Mass in is constantly in motion and viewers’ eyes Visitors Cup meeting at the Swan Yacht are instinctively drawn to movement. Also, Club, East Fremantle on 18 March 2021. Lockdown as the hands move, the microphone picks The evening will be unique, as it will be Sir, I was asked recently if I thought up rustling or other sounds. a joint meeting between five Province 20 that I should write to the prime minister Similar issues can arise with laptops – Circles: Canning, Como, Fremantle (host), expressing the Association’s opposition especially if Brothers actually have them Joondalup and City of Perth. to the closing of Mass celebrations during on their lap, or they are positioned on a Guests of honour at the function will be the lockdown in England. desk below the user so that viewers get Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe SDB DD, As we are not a Catholic action group but an upward angle. archbishop of Perth, and Ralph Fitzpatrick, an Association of Catholic laymen who To give your audience a better experience, chairman of Central Council. support the Church both individually and try positioning your device upright and at collectively, I did not think it was appropriate or just above eye level – place it on top for me to do so. of a stack of books, for instance. Users of Kevin Hefron Fremantle Circle However, I would encourage any individual phones and tablets can purchase foldable Brother who feels strongly about this adjustable stands for a few pounds, to issue to write personally to their MP give them a hands-free experience. expressing their concerns and supporting Do an internet search for ‘stand for tablet’. the comments already made by Cardinal There may be a ceiling light behind the Nichols. user which puts their face in shadow. Make I have great sympathy for all of our brothers sure that the main light source is in front of in England who are unable to attend Mass you rather then behind you, and have more during this lockdown and consider myself than one source to avoid harsh shadows. to be very fortunate to still be able to attend Look at your image on the screen and be Mass in Scotland. self-critical, because that is the view others have of you. Eddie O’Donnell GBNP

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 29 LETTERS

Raising Awareness I Am Me A Call to Action Sir, Today we are set a very particular I am me. Sir, The current strategy report makes challenge. Because of the pandemic, we A twin in a large family. The family has lived it crystal clear that the Association is are asked to bring Christ’s teachings to here for generations. My siblings live quite haemorrhaging more membership than others without leaving our homes. We are nearby. A few good friends have left, and a recruiting replacements, which will lead, tasked with keeping Jesus’ teaching alive few have arrived. very soon, to it becoming an unsustainable using social media, websites, radio, TV shadow of its former self. It must surely I am me. and platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft now be accepted that despite the flood Teams. Suddenly we are all becoming Quite unique; a bit like most of my of reports, questionnaires, new initiatives, experts on platforms from which we can family. Still, don’t compare me to any of none of which have succeeded in reversing host Circle meetings, prayer meetings, them – I am unique. My thoughts are my the trend, it has reached a tipping point. livestreamed Mass and even virtual after own, though they often concur with their At present, the Association is much Circle meetings. We can publish our own thoughts. I sound like them – my accent and unchanged from its foundation in 1908, in musings on provincial newsletters, produce idioms – because I’ve lived around here effect pickled and stultified in an Edwardian films on YouTube, mount campaigns all my life. I’m middle of the road: not the digitally using websites and online petitions. aspic of its own making, but the world of brightest nor the dumbest; not the best- The opportunities for evangelising in our 2020 and the workplace have moved on looking, nor the ugliest; not the most brash 21st century are boundless and exciting. and changed. Clearly, if Brothers want this nor the quietest. Just me. In the ‘old normal’ we might have protested superb organisation to survive so that it can I am me. that we were all far too busy to take on the serve future generations, there will have to important task of evangelisation. However, Aspirations have waxed and waned over my be modernisation and some fundamental with the ‘new normal’, and with most of years, with successes and failures; I hope changes, which will alter its nature, but not us still stuck at home, the time is ripe for there will be more of both ahead. I’ve had its principles. Christians everywhere to reach out with many good friends and a few places where The strategy paper claims that the majority fresh imagination and the determination I have not been made welcome. Some have of Brothers are not in favour of introducing of Jesus’ first disciples. forgiven me my trespasses; while in truth, women members, yet it cannot survive Our market is the shrinking parish. People some of my forgiveness is still a work in without them. The Association is mistaken over the age of 70 are being discouraged progress. My friends are across the genders if it continues to consider Catenian wives, from attending Mass when we reopen, and and generations: in school; in care; poor because, over and over again, they have the younger generation have voted with and rich; agnostic to ordained; lowly to made it absolutely clear that they do not their feet, which leaves us with parishes powerful; struggling with life’s complexities want to become Catenians, so the search containing men over 30 and under 70 – to brilliantly erudite. must be among the professional and rich pickings you might think, but only if I am me. business communities. To deny this we create awareness in the parish. Our group of women the right to membership Province is building links with RCIA groups Do not compare me to anyone else (except is incredibly selfish, hopelessly out-of-date, in our local area and we have offered to in exams – unavoidable these days). Judge unquestionably misogynistic and morally help them to welcome new Catholics with me by my character, beliefs, successes, open arms. failures, efforts and importantly, my reprehensible. Baptised Roman Catholics are our only treatment of others. Take me or leave me, It is one of the reasons the younger source for membership. Every year there because: generation, who take for granted the are many candidates for the RCIA, men and I am me. interaction between the genders, are proving so difficult to attract. women (women and girls who may have Denis Healy husbands and boyfriends). As and when the Walsall Circle The National Council must not hide behind formation team restart their programme we the excuse of wanting yet more time for will have a booklet designed specifically for further consideration, citing the need to the RCIA. take the members with it, but must So far, this Catenian year, we are on target Sudoku Solution focus their energies on persuading the to enroll 25 new members, with 18 in the Association collectively that we are, if not bag already. The target is 40 new members on the precipice then perilously close to by 31 March 2022. the edge and we should take our courage We have interest in the RCIA programme in both hands and join the real world. from other Provinces, who wish to enroll It is not too late to change and reach new members, so it’s all grist to the mill. for an even brighter future. We owe The objective of all members – not just it to generations to come. membership officers – should be to encourage all baptised Catholic men to join Robin Adeney the Catenians, and we aim to encourage West Somerset Circle their families to be a key part of the Associaton.

Sudoku puzzle kindly created John Butterworth by Des Boksan-Cullen Wokingham Circle © Catenian Publications Limited. 30 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 MILESTONES 130 YEARS A CATENIAN

What would Brian say to people who are thinking about joining the Catenians? “I would encourage joining an organisation that provides friendship, spiritual and social support between families and which exists throughout the UK and abroad.” Jack joined Purley Circle in 1980. Forty years of membership have brought Jack and his family a wide circle of treasured, valued friends, all sharing a deep belief in the Catholic faith and a commitment to each other’s wellbeing. A past Circle president, Jack looks back with joy to many varied occasions, amusing, interesting events as well as formal celebrations. Jack says: “It’s hard to accept that time has gone so quickly. I am thankful for the happy memories that I President elect GBNC, David Arundale and have had over the past years.” As for his main highlight, he says: “This was when I was Circle president way back provincial president of Province 19, Richard Mills in 1984-85. For many years my business activities denied were primed to present long service certificates me the opportunity to take on other Circle responsibilities. to Brian McGill, Jack Payne and Tony Delahunt, However, I did act as auditor for a good number of years. For the past ten years or so I have been a member of all members of Purley Circle. Unfortunately, Circle’s benevolent committee, and since retiring I have the celebration at the Circle’s annual dinner been the Circle’s welfare officer.” in October to honour the three long-serving Jack’s advice to potential Catenians is: “Come and join Brothers had to be cancelled. us and share with us a great bond of friendship, not only with your fellow Brothers but with their families and loved Help was at hand: Purley vice president, Angus Hamilton ones, and share in our commitment to the wellbeing of stepped in and presented the three certificates at a socially our Catholic faith.” distanced gathering. Champagne and canapés, beautifully crafted by Tony’s wife Veronica, made for a very enjoyable Tony moved to Purley in 1979 after his job was relocated celebration. from the City to Croydon, and he became a member of Purley Circle in October 1980. He joined Council in Brian moved to Kenley, Surrey in 1969 after working 1981 and, after serving as registrar, was secretary from overseas and joined Purley Circle in 1970. He was a 1983-86, then president in 1987-88. In total, Tony has council member shortly after his enrolment, president in been on Council for more than 25 years and in that time 1975-76 and 1991-92. A golfing enthusiast, Brian has been has taken on the secretary’s role for three terms, as part of Purley’s strong golfing heritage, which has raised well as being membership officer and, from 2013-20, funds for the Across Trust and Hosanna House. In addition Circle treasurer. to making long-standing friendships with Catenians, Brian has happy memories of Croydon Circle singing contests, Tony has been an active member of the Provincial Golf Kingston’s darts nights, the Weybridge quiz nights and, Society for over 30 years, his roles there being captain, of course, Purley’s own Burns nights. treasurer and secretary. He took over from Rowland Young as secretary of the National Golf Society for ten years Brian says: “It was a pleasure to receive my long service and became president, an office he still holds. certificate to mark the 50 years of friendship that I have enjoyed as a Catenian.” His highlight was being president when the Circle celebrated its 500th meeting in 1992.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 31 FEATURE AN UNEXPECTED BLESSING Visiting El Salvador with CAFOD

Briege Sivills is married to Graham, past While on school visits, I am always asked by the children if provincial president of Province 1 and three I know the families and communities whose stories we are sharing. Although we do know of them through our partners times past president of Rochdale Circle. who work ‘on the ground’, now I can say: “Yes, I do know In November 2019, she had an opportunity these communities.” What an unexpected blessing! to visit El Salvador with CAFOD, an experience To be given the opportunity of visiting El Salvador that was humbling and life-changing and last year was amazing. It has been a most humbling experience, changed my perspective on life, and deepened deepened her resolve to support CAFOD’s my commitment to CAFOD. I feel privileged to share it work around the world. She tells her story with you, but also have a responsibility to share the story to Catena. of a proud, beautiful but suffering people whose faith and hope inspired all of us on that trip. Graham and I have been CAFOD supporters for all of our married life. As a family, we have supported CAFOD Many of you will be aware that this is a stunningly beautiful projects, family fast days and campaigns, and have country where the population have suffered repression, fundraised in the parishes where we have lived. My violence and great poverty for some considerable time. working life has been primarily in Salford diocesan You will also be aware that one of the most recently schools, where I have also supported CAFOD and used canonised saints of our time, Saint Óscar Romero, gave their education resources to raise awareness and encourage his life for his fellow Salvadoran people by standing up for children and young people to put their faith into action. the poor and speaking out about the injustices they suffer. He was seen as a threat to the authorities and was killed On retirement, it was a natural thing for me to continue while saying Mass on 24 March 1980. supporting CAFOD in schools, so I became a schools volunteer in 2013, and four years ago I took on the role of education volunteer coordinator.

32 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 I wanted to see the impact of CAFOD’s work in communities around the country, and evidence that the hard-earned funds raised and donated by parishioners and schoolchildren in England and Wales were truly making a difference. We visited La Chacra, a notorious shanty town, so riven by violence between two of the many gangs in this country that most people give it a wide berth. So why did we go there? We went to witness the hope that CAFOD can bring to people’s lives. I was not prepared for what I heard and saw. I met children and young people whose lives had been saved and enhanced by having access to after school clubs giving them opportunities to learn dance, music and sports, which give them an alternative to joining gangs. These clubs keep them safe from being sucked into gang culture, confidence and an alternative way of living. An after school club funded by CAFOD may not sound like something that could make such a difference, but in parts of El Salvador it is often the difference between life and death, between a life of repression and fear and a life of fulfilment and success. The memory of St Óscar Romero and his friend and confidante Father Rutilio Grande, who was also assassinated, In the midst of it all, I met Diego. Who is Diego? Thinking and all those who were killed during the civil war back to the resources we use in schools, there is a story (1979-1992), must be kept alive to make sure that it of a little boy called Diego, a story I have shared with was not all for nothing. We heard much of this story children many times. And there he was, playing in his from survivors. It became our story too and we took band, beaming with joy and fulfilment, saved from a on a responsibility to tell it for them. potential life of crime and violence, all grown up, looking forward to a successful future. It was a moment of pure CAFOD was working in El Salvador alongside Óscar joy to meet him. Romero and they are still there today, supporting the people who were traumatised during the civil war and who I met families whose livelihoods had been destroyed as are still suffering the effects of the violence perpetrated a result of overusing the land coupled with the effects against them. CAFOD is giving the people a voice to seek of climate change. They are now able to feed their justice and reparation for the atrocities committed against families and earn money to pay for education as a result them by the authorities, the government and the military. of CAFOD-funded projects that help them to diversify and find new ways of working the land. The people we met A memorial wall dedicated to memory and truth stands could not believe that we, who were representing all in the centre of the capital, San Salvador. It was built by CAFOD supporters, knew about them, that we knew the people and supported by human rights organisations, about their needs and that we cared about them. a chilling reminder of what happened in the not too distant They wanted us to come back and say to you all: past. It records 30,000 names (a growing list) of assassinated, disappeared and tortured people, and behind each name “Thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for is a story of resistance against injustice. Being in this your love and your support. You are a light on the dark path sombre place, reading those names as they went on that we have been treading. We will always pray for you.” and on and on, made this part of our story too and we Please never underestimate the huge positive impact that left determined to tell it, without anger or rancour, but the smallest gesture of support will have on the lives of with hope that peace and justice will come. I now have the people of El Salvador and other people around the a responsibility to support the path to peace in El Salvador world where CAFOD works, trying to ensure that no one and CAFOD is my route to that. is beyond reach. The injustices, inequalities and poverty that Óscar Romero If you have just a small amount of time to volunteer to spoke out about sadly still exist, and are compounded by visit schools and talk to children about the work of CAFOD, the threats of gang culture which permeate much of please contact: www.cafod.org.uk Salvadorean society. It is a most worthwhile and rewarding thing to do and is a Our purpose there as CAFOD volunteers was to walk practical way of supporting CAFOD’s work. in St Óscar Romero’s footsteps, to better understand his mission, and to see how CAFOD’s work in El Salvador has been inspired by him.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 33 IN MEMORIAM A LIFE WELL LIVED Catena remembers Bernard Willems, resistance fighter, artist and Catenian

Bernard Willems, who died in August just three months short of his 98th birthday, had an extraordinary life, one that included membership of the Belgian resistance during the Second World War, painting the portrait of Prince Philippe of Belgium, and 48 years as a Catenian. Author of The Life of an Artist and Resistance Fighter, Bernard was born into a well-known Belgian family. Bernard’s grandparents and father came to the UK as refugees during the First World War. His parents, George and Emma, had three children, but George’s commission in the Belgian army meant they moved a lot. Bernard, who was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, spoke four Bernard witnessed firsthand the brutality of the German languages: English, French, Flemish and German. army. He was on a Brussels tram when the Nazis boarded, When Bernard was three, his family moved back to removed 50 people, lined them up and shot them. Being Belgium where, at the age of 14, he chose to study at British-born, Bernard was targeted and arrested 22 times the Academy of Fine Arts. In May 1940, just as he finished by the Gestapo and spent the last four and a half months his studies, the Second World War broke out in Belgium. of the war in Belgium in hiding. The Belgian government ordered all boys 15 and over On one occasion during the war, a lack of food led to go to France to avoid becoming forced labour for the Bernard’s mother to send him to the abattoir for a litre Germans. Bernard left his family on a borrowed bike, of blood to supplement their meagre rations. He would with sandwiches, pocket money and no idea where he later meet his wife Betty through a friend of his sister’s was going, finally arriving in Abbeville, 200km from home. whose farm agreed to give Bernard’s family a bag of During the Battle of Abbeville, Bernard was sheltering potatoes. They married in 1946. in a house when a bomb hit the property and the roof In June 1945, Bernard was asked by the YMCA to and upper floor collapsed. Bernard was among those teach art and French to troops in Dover who were being trapped for four days. His friends assumed he was rehabilitated back into civilian life. He stayed in Dover for dead and tried to retrieve his body to bury it, but he 11 years, becoming a lecturer before, in 1957, accepting heard them digging, shouted out and was rescued. a position as faculty lecturer in fine art in Manchester, When Bernard and his friends returned to Belgium, they where he taught at several colleges including overtook hundreds of British prisoners of war walking in the Manchester Polytechnic. heat of summer from Dunkirk. They asked villagers on the Bernard joined Wilmslow Circle in 1972, becoming route to put out bottles of water, but the German soldiers president in 1980-82. In the same year, a telegram arrived kicked them over, refusing the men a drink. This is when asking him to paint a portrait of Prince Phillipe of Belgium the idea of a resistance group to harass the Germans began. (now King) and his sister Princess Astrid. He also sketched Spotting telephone lines installed by the Germans in the a portrait of Pope John Paul II, which is thought to be the trees, they decided to cut the wires. They continued the only sketch signed by the Pope himself. resistance by any possible means to sabotage the German On his retirement and move to Prestatyn in 1985, authorities. Bernard joined the underground resistance in Bernard joined North Wales Circle, becoming president Brussels, helping to hide British airmen who were trying to in 1990-92 and again in 2003-05. He continued with his return home and acting as liaison between Antwerp and portraits, painting Catenian grand presidents John Barrie Brussels resistance groups. (Croydon) and the late Dick Jones (Chester). He also By now, Bernard’s father was in charge of a factory gave free art lessons to students at his home, reasoning, which made fire alarms. When it was requisitioned by “I was given a gift, it is only right to share it.” the invading forces, Bernard passed information to Bernard died on 22 August and will be sadly missed by the allies which enabled the RAF to bomb new factory all who knew him. buildings before they became operational. May he rest in peace 34 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 AROUND THE CIRCLES WESTMINSTER ABBEY FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Over the years, reproductions of the flower have been used to help raise funds for veterans in need. Perhaps the most touching way poppies are used is to form the magnificent wreaths lain on cenotaphs and other places of remembrance. Remembrance Sunday events for 2020 were held on 8 of November. Starting in 1928, to help commemorate the day, Westminster Abbey has organised a field of remembrance But unlike previous years, where public ceremonies on its north lawn. It is a field of miniature crosses and would be attended by multitudes of veterans along with emblems, dotted with the iconic poppy; very much in their families and friends, this year’s remembrances had the spirit of McRae’s poem. Inside the Abbey, near the far fewer attendees. entrance on the main nave is the grave of an unknown Remembrance Day, also called Armistice Day, is an annual warrior from the First World War. He was laid to rest there event that marks the signing of the armistice agreement on 11 November 1920. The Queen marked the centenary between Imperial Germany and Allied Forces, formally by laying a wreath on the grave on Remembrance Sunday. ending the hostilities of the First World War. In the United Although the field of remembrance is closed to the public Kingdom, the day honours the contributions made by on account of the pandemic, it can be viewed from the both military personnel and civilians from Britain and the metal fence surrounding the grounds. The Abbey is Commonwealth who were involved in the two World Wars currently open for private prayer. and subsequent conflicts. Formal commemorations are held on the second Sunday of November, the Sunday The centenary of the unknown warrior’s burial at the closest to the 11th, the anniversary of the signing. Abbey brings to mind the centenaries of Charterhouse Circle this year and those of other Circles as well. The poppy is perhaps most emblematic of the day. Connecting these milestones offers an opportunity to Seeds of the corn poppy, as the blossom is commonly prayerfully remember veterans and civilians involved in known, can stay dormant in the soil for up to 80 years and affected by war, and in a special way, we remember without blooming. To grow, however, they need exposure those in the Catenian Association and their families. to sunlight. Heavy artillery bombardments in the Western Fronts of Belgium and France did exactly that, churning They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: up the soil to such an extent that massive fields of red Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. poppies grew where exploded shells left their grim At the going down of the sun and in the morning impact and thousands of soldiers were felled. We will remember them. The poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by Canadian Excerpt from the poem For the Fallen by Robert Laurence doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, evokes the image Binyon, used in Remembrance Day services most poignantly: Thank you to Richard Rivas for the photograph

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 35 AROUND THE CIRCLES

Coffee Club Bouvard Circle has joined the rapidly expanding Catenian Association coffee club crusade, holding its fourth morning get-together in November at the Falcon Beach Café, just across the road from the beautiful Falcon swimming beach. This beach area has recently had a major refurbishment with improved parking and facilities on grassed areas. Members of the Circle have embraced the concept John Pannell, Tony Dwyer, Colm Kelly, of informal morning teas with, on one occasion, Garry O’Brien, Ray Keefe, Gerry Marshall, 13 people attending. Future events will be held John Starcevich, Peter Brown and Max Gardiner on the first Wednesday of each month with venues varying from time to time.

Patrick Doyle with 2020 Bocce champ, Angelo Fanetti

Intense Battle for Bocce Honours An intense, competitive bocce game was one of the highlights of the annual Swan Valley picnic at Lake Leschenaultia in October. The winner of the 2020 championship was Angelo Fanetti, who showed some good form in a spirited contest. Lake Leschenaultia is a former railway dam that is now a recreational lake in the Shire of Mundaring, just north of the location of an important railway-stopping place on the original Eastern Railway. Open to the public, it is the perfect spot for a Perth Hills picnic or camping, with excellent facilities all year round. Pandemic to Epidemic During the period between lockdowns, ten Sheffield There are numerous shelters dotted around the Hallamshire Catenians enjoyed a socially distanced magnificent lake, grassed areas, sandy beaches walk around lesser-known parts of Sheffield, led by and playground equipment. Other attractions include president Mike Campbell. They visited the Sheffield swimming, canoeing, walk and cycle tracks. cholera monument, dedicated to the 402 people who Swan Valley Circle reserved one of the shelters and lost their lives in the cholera epidemic of 1832. picnic areas available for hire for exclusive use by The group made their way to Skye Edge, a name families and groups. The Circle had an excellent featured in the title of a new musical by Richard Hawley, turnout with ten Brothers, six partners and four and returned via Sheffield Manor, where Mary Queen young family members. of Scots was kept prisoner for part of her long captivity.

36 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 Judy Humphris, Patricia Hanrahan and Jan Coffey

Sheldon Burke

An Important Day in Marie Finucane (wife of Fremantle president Richard Finucane), Margaret Kerrigan and Jan Bourne (visitor) the Life of a Religious In November 2012, the Province 20 Youth Support Fund awarded a grant, sponsored by Canning Circle, Welcome to Widows that set a young man on the path to the life of At a recent luncheon, provincial president Lou Daily a religious. extended a special welcome to several widows of deceased Brothers: Pauline Herrington and Beryl Sheldon Burke was given a Catenian grant to attend Fitzgerald (City of Mandurah Circle), Roslyn Paul a youth leaders formation course hosted by the (Avon Valley Circle) and Jan Coffey, Patricia archdiocese of Sydney. He was one of 20 participants, Hanrahan, Judy Humphris and Margaret Kerrigan comprising 12 girls and eight boys from the ages of (Fremantle Circle). 18 to 27 that shared a month-long journey involving daily Masses, divine office prayers and two lectures Lou emphasised the importance of inviting widows per day given by inspiring local and national speakers. and providing transport to Circle and Catenian social This fruitful course exposed him to young seminarians functions, including the special annual widows’ and religious life that, in his own words: “started a fire luncheon coordinated by Pamela McKechnie, held in my own heart and allowed me to discover the unique at St Mary’s Cathedral. calling towards holiness Our Lord has called to me.” After completing his studies in 2014, Sheldon began a process of vocational discernment with the Somascan Fathers in Rockingham/Spearwood parishes and in 2015 he left for northern Italy to complete his noviciate and professed his first vows in September 2015. Since then, Sheldon has been based in Rome where he has completed his philosophical studies. Throughout his journey towards a vocation in religious life, Sheldon has acknowledged the support given to him by the Catenian Association, both financially and Taiwo Sanusi and his daughter, Aramide Ellie Sanusi with their prayers and encouragement. In a recent letter, Sheldon announced with great Graduated joy that he had made his solemn profession with the Somascan Fathers. In October, Swan Valley’s Taiwo Sanusi was overwhelmed with pride as he witnessed his ‘princess’ “It was the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed traverse the stage to collect awards in human biology, Virgin Mary where I handed over my life forever to English literature and history at her graduation. be consecrated by Him through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience,” he writes. “This was an Aramide has been admitted to study either medicine occasion when we were united through the holy at the University of Western Australia or software eucharist which transcends all physical boundaries engineering at Curtin University in 2021. and unites us as the one body of Christ. Please keep Aramide is the only daughter of Taiwo and Joanne. me in your prayers.” DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 37 AROUND THE CIRCLES DOUBLE BUBBLE AT REIGATE CIRCLE

The day itself was glorious and the food equally so. Like all Circles, we are learning all the time. While the technical side of the day worked without fault, what we quickly realised was that trying to enjoy the sun and get a good image on the screen was a challenge. Some Brothers rose to the occasion with ‘on the spot’ adaptations to their laptops, along the line of placing the laptop in a box to keep it from the sun and reduce the glare on the screen. Traditionally, our ladies’ night is the last Friday in September – a night that is really well attended when we are at Reigate Manor. Even in the current climate, we were not surprised by the commitment of Brothers, wives and widows to our virtual ladies’ night. Again, our model replicated the success of hail and The Allansons, Atkinsons and farewell, with plenty of time spent in our virtual bar before Schwenks enjoying ladies night dining. Brothers were generous in the support of Charles’ president’s charity and contributed what we would have Following our successful hail and farewell earlier paid for our hotel meal. this year, Reigate Circle have continued to try At a time when all charities are under enormous pressure and ‘keep calm and carry on’ as normal during and normal Circle fundraising events arein abeyance, the generosity of Brothers and their families has been Covid lockdowns one and two. wonderful. Neal was again the master of technical ceremonies, While our Circle and Council meetings have continued ensuring that households changed places between via Zoom, we have tried to keep our social activities going. courses to meet different groups throughout the night. The warm weather in August encouraged us to think of a It will be interesting to see if and how these virtual events Circle barbecue and whether this could be done on both could change our post-lockdown social activities. It has a virtual and physical basis. Like the rest of the country, been wonderful to share the three events we have had we were restricted to having six people in one location. so far with Brothers in the USA, South Africa and Australia. As with hail and farewell, we drew on the technical Some Brothers and their wives who might not be able to abilities of our treasurer, Neal Sullivan; the organising travel to events have had the opportunity to fully partake abilities of our vice president David Thorp; and the in the activities of the Circle. This too has caused us to leadership of president Charles Hyatt. think again about how we will manage our own meetings and to try and see if some form of ‘mixed’ meeting could What could we do that would comply with the restrictions take place: physical and virtual. but at the same time provide the much-needed social interaction between Brothers, wives and families? It is too early to make final decisions, but we are open Well, we gave it a good go. to the possibility of, as the management consultants say, ‘new ways of working’. With Charles taking the role of IT master, we set up six barbecues at Brothers’ homes, with three couples at each Having had a successful run at virtual meetings and barbecue. All of these were linked via Zoom, with each events, we are now planning for our Christmas carol ‘bubble’ having a laptop and sharing the images in gallery evening to be virtual, with our regular readings, carolling mode. We began with grace and a welcome from Charles and mulled wine and mince pies. After that, our next big and his wife Helen. While all the groups took drinks on our event will be clergy and ladies’ night in January. Once hosts’ lawns, we had an amiable time chatting with our own Reigate got the virtual meeting bug, there’s no stopping us. groups and the other groups via the laptops. That worked Gerry O’Dwyer well for most groups until one found out some time later that their microphone had been on mute for a long period of time. These things happen!

38 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 AROUND THE CIRCLES LOCKDOWN DOESN’T MEAN WE FORGET

With November being the month we remember On Remembrance Sunday itself, a Zoom event was and pray for all the deceased, it takes more than organised so that Brothers, wives and widows, not only from Brooklands but other Circles as well, could come a national lockdown to prevent Brooklands Circle together for a short service, superbly led by Reverend from paying their respects. Deacon John Hamilton. Due to the restrictions in Greater Manchester for Under normal circumstances, Brooklands and Didsbury Remembrance Sunday events, plans were already Circle and hold a Mass for our deceased Brothers together, in place for six Brothers to continue a tradition of laying with a shared table afterwards. This year, Father Stephen a wreath at the Sale cenotaph from the Circle in honour of St Joseph’s and Holy Family at Sale kindly offered a of those who have given their lives for us in conflicts weekday evening Mass livestreamed over Facebook, around the world. and read out the names of all deceased Brooklands and Didsbury Brothers. These plans had to be quickly changed with a national lockdown in place. President Tony Mottram and his wife This was not quite how we intended these important Mary performed the ceremony in the company of Ged occasions to be, but we are immensely thankful to all Smalley, who kindly organises the wreath with the Royal those who enabled a large number of Brothers and their British Legion every year. families to attend, albeit virtually.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 39 AROUND THE CIRCLES

Special Delivery Stoke-on-Trent Circle’s Barry Tunnicliffe’s 80th birthday was definitely one to remember! He was presented with a welcome gift of Aber Falls marmalade gin on John May’s driveway, and it proved the perfect opportunity to deploy his trusty two-metre long Covid stick. The elaborate presentation also gave his wife, Berni the opportunity to chat to John’s wife, Christine as John explained: “The real reason for all of this was Window chatting so that the ladies could catch up in these difficult times.”

Joint Memorial Mass for Deceased Brothers At the beginning of November, four Circles in Province17 – Macclesfield and District, Ringway, Warrington and Wilmslow – came together to celebrate a memorial A Wet Weekend in Wales Mass for their deceased Brothers and wives. Stoke-on-Trent Circle made their usual journey to the As the second lockdown was announced, sadly, many Trefeddian Hotel in Aberdyfi, Wales and everyone had Circles had to cancel their arrangements, but we were a very good time with safe but endurable arrangements very fortunate to hold the Mass before the deadline. made by the staff. It took place at St Mary’s Catholic Chapel in Congleton, A few Catenians experienced the excitement of the which has a livestreaming and recording facility. flooded Dyfi bridge near Machynlleth which enabled As restrictions were in place limiting the number of them to see more of the (wet) Welsh countryside people who could attend, the few who were present than they expected. were, in the main, playing a part in the proceedings. We took a ride on the Talyllyn Railway in our own The majority of the widows, Brothers, wives and private first class carriage, which formerly belonged families from all the Circles were able to watch the to the Glyn Valley tram-road near Chirk. Paul Clancy, event from the comfort of their own homes. provincial president of Droitwich and District Circle, The presidents of the four Circles would like to express is now a joint member of Stoke-on-Trent Circle and their sincere thanks to Father Bill Kilkenny and Deacon has already been of great value to us in the present Steve McKevitt. Without their excellent support, advice Zoom-laden lockdown. and encouragement, the Mass would probably not Everyone had such a good time that rooms have have taken place. As it was, it turned out to be a most already been reserved for 2021. dignified, solemn and memorable occasion that was greatly appreciated by all who saw it, either in person John May or virtually. David Brayford 40 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 A cheesy photo from Streetly Circle

John Zemek giving the Bible reading and reflection Say Cheese The global pandemic has been particularly difficult for Catenians who either live alone or do not have WiFi. Who’d a Thought It?! So, when Streetly president, Tony Fleming heard that Manly Circle marked its 300th meeting in September Joe Dawson was staying in a house without WiFi with a meeting and dinner at Manly Golf Club. and was unable to participate in Zoom meetings, Seventeen Brothers attended in person with another he thoughtfully arranged a get together in his garden 23 joining via Zoom, including 17 from the UK. Special with drinks and an impromptu ploughman’s lunch. guests included Alan Hickey, inaugural Manly president, “Joe was delighted to meet up with Tony, John Delaney Graham Short, past provincial president, and Father Peter and me for what proved to be an enjoyable, sunny Jones OSA. Zoom attendees included Ralph Fitzpatrick, afternoon and a great opportunity to catch up face-to-face chairman of Central Council, Eddie O’Donnell, GB national on the all the gossip,” said Martin Jackson. “Many thanks president, George Kazs, ANC president and David to Tony for his kindness.” Arundale, GB national vice president. He added: “Earlier this year when the country was in full Brendan O’Connell, a founding member of Manly Circle, lockdown, a number of Streetly Catenians were charged reflected on the last 28 years, in particular 1992, which with regularly contacting two or three Brothers to make was an eventful year for him. He had finished his term sure that they and their families were okay. This has as provincial president and was taking it easy, but towards worked well for several months now.” the end of the year he was elected the first grand director. Provincial president, Ray Weekes, encouraged Brendan Father Mervyn Tower celebrating the Mass to start a Group in Manly. The first meeting was held at Manly Golf Club in November 1992; it made a loss and they held another meeting to pay for the first! “Thus, the acorn was planted from which has grown the oak we witness here tonight,” said Brendan. “Membership of the Catenian Association is a privilege and membership of Manly Circle particularly so. It is not unlike Bishop Walker’s metaphoric river; there are many currents in it, all interesting and challenging; all bound together by fraternal love and friendship. The spirit of Manly Circle is real, the energy of its Brothers, the kindred spirits, the enthusiasm, the camaraderie. All combined, it is the soul Oxford Circle Celebrates of the Circle; its beating heart.” Deceased Brothers Alan Hickey helped Brendan to form the Circle in Manly, which was inaugurated in October 1993 with Alan as Oxford Circle was looking forward to celebrating Mass president. for deceased Brothers in November. Mass was arranged at Corpus Christi, Headington in Oxford and the church The week before the Circle’s 300th meeting, Alan and his was big enough to accommodate a small congregation wife travelled with the Hamers around New South Wales, while complying with the Covid protocols. and noticed a sign in Quirindi which read ‘Who’d a thought it’. Looking back at the success of Manly Circle, Alan said: Unfortunately, the week before the Mass, the second “I can only say with pride in the words of those Quirindi lockdown was announced. Undaunted, Circle president pioneers: ‘Who’d a thought it’!” Pat Mulqueen and Davide Zilli confirmed with parish priest Father Mervyn Tower that the Mass would go ahead, livestreamed. Pat and David pre-recorded the reading, responsorial psalm and bidding prayers. DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 41 AROUND THE CIRCLES

Joe and Pat celebrating their climb up Snowdon

Not Past Their Peak! Remember those heady days in the dim and distant past when we could venture outside with friends and Not the Jersey Weekend enjoy ourselves? A great virtual meeting in place of our annual Jersey weekend was enjoyed by all who attended, from Back in September, two Streetly Brothers, Joe Dawson Guernsey and across the UK. Our stalwart treasurer, and Pat Kavanagh, were having a beer with a couple Ron was also able to join us from hospital. We began of friends, when one of them suggested climbing the with our Circle meeting, then had a short musical highest peaks in Wales, England and Scotland! interlude with a student at Beaulieu Convent, a “Why not?” they all agreed, so off they trooped local school. to Snowdon in North Wales. Professor Francis Davis gave an excellent talk on Unfortunately a combination of lockdown restrictions the topic of ‘Pope Francis goes to Assisi: justice, and apathy followed, which means there have been Jersey and the world today’. He is a very interesting, no follow-up climbs at either Scafell or Ben Nevis entertaining speaker. We concluded with a toast to the at the time of writing. However, Joe and Pat have Association by our president. Brothers were then able promised to review the situation post-lockdown! to chat, catch up with faces from previous Jersey weekends and get updates on their Circles and families. Well done Joe and Pat! Our thanks go to all the Brothers for joining us from Martin Jackson around the Association and especially to John Scally for organising the agenda and content. Our president, vice president and secretary received some lovely comments from Brothers following the day. We are so glad to have kept the fraternity going, despite not having our usual gathering at the Pomme D’or Hotel in St Helier. We hope and pray that we will be in a position to hold the Jersey weekend for real in 2021. Matt Bewers Joe Callus, Raoul Chevalier and Chris Callus

A Family Affair New Members’ List At a City of Perth meeting, Brothers were delighted Albert Rhodes, Salisbury to welcome a new member, Chris Callus, son of Joe. Anthony Obiekwe, Watford Dianella member, Raoul Chevalier, a relative of Joe Brian Stacey, Canberra Dilip Wijeyeratne De Silva, Ku-Ring-Gai and Chris, was a guest. Joe Ellul, Valletta After lunch at the Circle’s new venue at Newman Siena John Saliba, San Pawl Group Centre, members were reluctant to move. Many stayed Joseph Serge, San Pawl Group Julian Holland, San Pawl Group on to enjoy a chat well into the afternoon, no longer Martin Dando Ku-Ring-Gai needing to rush home to bed now that the Circle has Marvic French Adami, San Pawl Group switched its meeting times to the middle of the day, Maurice Abela, San Pawl Group thus avoiding travel at night. The new venue is closer Peter Zammit, Valletta to home for all members and within easy reach for the Roy Field, Billericay northern and western suburb Circles, as well as being Sergio Vella, Valletta an attractive, accommodating place. Simon Michalak, Loughborough Tom Sikorski, East Grinstead

42 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 AROUND THE CIRCLES MALTA-UK JOINT CIRCLE MEETING IS A FIRST

The joint meeting proceeded normally, with the approval of the minutes and tabling of the usual reports which had been circulated beforehand. Laurence Grech, vice president of Mensija, gave a brief report on plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Maltese Circle in May 2021. Louis Cilia presented a miniature to Mensija’s immediate past president Joe Bonello, who has been a Catenian since 1998, mainly in Bournemouth, where he worked as a consultant psychiatrist. Louis praised his predecessor’s dedication and efficiency, noting that his president’s day was one of the most successful ever held. Joe thanked Louis and said he was lucky that the last social event held was his president’s day in February, a few weeks before Malta went into partial lockdown because of Covid-19. Catenian history was made in November when Malta and Gozo Province director and international vice Malta’s Mensija Circle held its first ever joint president Joe Delia remarked that the joint meeting would not have been possible without the pandemic, for it made meeting with a UK Circle, Lytham St Annes. it possible to hold it virtually, thus turning a scourge into The meeting naturally was a virtual one, with the Zoom an opportunity to emphasise the character of the Catenian link set up by David Burdess, vice president of Lytham Association. He thanked everybody for the meeting and St Annes. It was a most successful venture and a suggested that Mensija and Lytham St Annes should trailblazer for other Circles in Malta and the UK to consider a twinning arrangement. follow suit. Joe Caruana, a founder member of Mensija Circle and The idea was suggested to Louis Cilia, president of joint member of the other four Circles in Malta and San Mensija, by past grand president Tony Godden, a member Pawl Group, noted that Monsignor Mario Grech, the former of Lytham St Annes Circle and a frequent visitor to Malta. bishop of Gozo, Malta’s sister island, was to be made a Louis responded warmly to the suggestion, which was cardinal by Pope Francis later that month. He would be welcomed by the two Circles. only the third Maltese cardinal in history, and the first from Gozo. Monsignor Grech said Mass for Victoria Gozo As expected, there was a lot of preparatory work involved, Circle only a few days later. but it certainly paid off as the meeting went without a hitch and was deemed a success by all concerned. Joe Falzon of Mensija and Salisbury Circles said that the next similar joint meeting was being held on 26 November The meeting, opened by Lytham St Annes president between Salisbury Circle and San Pawl Group of Malta. Charles Murphy, was attended by 68 Brothers, including 30 visitors, and one prospective member from Malta. Eddie O’Donnell, president, Great Britain National Council, said that the first national conference of the Council is After the usual prayers, including those for deceased and being held virtually between 21 and 23 May 2021, sick members, by both presidents, Father Blake Camilleri, ending just one day before Mensija’s 40th anniversary chaplain of Mensija Circle gave a spiritual reflection on the celebrations. day’s gospel reading and on how Jesus had attacked the sellers occupying the temple grounds and overturned their Laurence Grech stalls, warning them that this was a place of worship and not a marketplace.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 43 IN MEMORIAM

DENNIS GRIEVESON Dennis leaves behind his devoted wife but sadly was not well enough to be vested. Betty, four children, twelve grandchildren Tony loved the Catenian Association and On 10 April, and seventeen great grandchildren. really enjoyed his short time in it. He was a Hartlepool Circle True to his character, he spent his last positive person and once said at a Council received the sad news days organising his requiem Mass. His meeting during a membership recruitment that Dennis Grieveson dearest wish was to be carried in and out discussion that all each of us had to do was had passed away of church by his beloved Catenian Brothers; to recruit one new Brother before we died – peacefully at the age unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the problem solved. Tony personally recruited of 92. Circle was unable to fulfil his request. three Brothers. Dennis was a However, it is hoped that a memorial Tony became heavily involved in Holy Hartlepool man all Mass will be held in the chapel in Cross Parish Church, Carshalton. He his life. He was born Ushaw College in the near future. was a member of the finance committee there on 27 October 1927 and received and acted as auditor to other parishes his early education at Sacred Heart in Southwark diocese. He ran the gift Primary School in the town centre, moving May he rest in peace aid scheme and spent many days to St Mary’s College Grammar School in delivering and collecting boxes to and Middlesbrough to complete his secondary TONY NEAL from parishioners. He prepared the parish education. Dennis excelled in all subjects, It was with great accounts whilst simultaneously attempting but he was particularly fond of mathematics sadness that Sutton to persuade Father Paul to spend more – a talent which served him well in later life. mid-Surrey Circle money on himself. During the latter part of the Second World learned of the death Tony became a governor at St Mary’s Infant War, Dennis was enlisted into the RAF of Tony Neal on 26 and Nursery Schools in Carshalton, which and at the conclusion of hostilities he was January. Tony had his sons attended. As the driving force stationed in occupied Germany. After being battled with cancer behind the resources committee, his work demobbed, he returned home and in 1950 for more than three ensured that the schools are now in he wed Betty, his childhood sweetheart, years. a considerably better position than and they went on to have four children He was born in many others. together. Balham on 30 September 1942. As a Tony will be greatly missed by Kitty, all Dennis’ skills at planning and figures child he enjoyed playing in the bombsites his family and his many friends, including quickly came to the fore in his professional of Clapham and Balham. He attended Sutton mid-Surrey Circle. career when he started work at the Bonneville Primary School and went on Expanded Metal Company in Hartlepool to Battersea Grammar School, where he before moving on to work for Cecil Yuill was a member of the swimming team and May he rest in peace Limited, one of the largest building captain of his house, as well as school companies at one time. Dennis spent the vice captain. JOHN MORGAN rest of his career with this company, rising Tony’s first job was with Ladbrokes, where City of Leeds Circle from chief accountant to become the CEO. he met the love of his life, Kitty, who he was sad to hear of the Dennis’ life was an example of the married in 1968. death of John Morgan Catenian principles of faith, family and Tony converted to Catholicism and they at the age of 90 on friendship. As a man of faith, he was a had four sons: Anthony, David, Paul and 12 May. pivotal figure in the parish of St Joseph. Stephen. Sadly, David died in 2008 and John was born in A fixture at almost every Mass, he served left them both devastated. February 1930 in the community as a governor of the local Tony and Kitty’s other sons are married Castleford, Yorkshire, secondary school, English Martyrs, and and have seven children between them. the eldest of four was renowned for his support for the young They are a close family, who have enjoyed children. The family people of the town, both in a spiritual and many holidays together in Spain, Tenerife moved to Leeds in 1935, and John financial sense. With Betty and his many and Ireland. began school at Mount St Mary’s. He friends, he went on pilgrimages throughout was not impressed with school and once the world, and he often used to say that if When they got married, Kitty introduced announced that he wasn’t going back “’cos travel broadens the mind, then a pilgrimage Tony to the people of her native Leitrim. they don’t let you buggerin’ talk!” strengthens the soul. Tony loved them and the place where they lived, and they loved Tony; the family spent Matters improved after the family moved to A devoted Catenian for over 50 years, many happy holidays there. the Gipton area of Leeds, and when John he served his beloved Hartlepool Circle left school at the age of 14 his headmaster, in every single office and his skills were After 15 years at Ladbrokes, Tony set up Mr Keogh, noted that he had a broad quickly recognised when he was appointed a commercial cleaning and refuse business vocabulary, “unusual for a child from the provincial treasurer. He served in this office with a few of his friends, which went on to Gipton Estate”. Mr Keogh would have been for many years before becoming provincial be very successful, with contracts as far impressed with John’s progression via night president, an office which gave him great afield as Dubai. school, where he studied journalism. With pride and satisfaction. Dennis was also an Tony was a popular and valued member a passion for sport, he found employment active member of the Knights of the Holy of Sutton mid-Surrey Circle. He joined in in the racing department of the Yorkshire Sepulchre and, with Betty, he attended 2012 and was on Council soon afterwards, Evening Post. many of the events they organised. serving as registrar, vice president, and president in 2017. 44 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 He was due to become provincial councillor John spent his national service in the Maureen and Stella were at home with In 1960, Doris despatched Michael to join RAF as a leading aircraftsman, specialising John until his demise and were helped by the Catenians, as she thought he needed in signalling, and served for a period in an outstanding care team to make his last a hobby outside the home. He remained Egypt, where he was frequently homesick. months happy and comfortable. Laughter a member for the rest of his life. During He married “the lovely Maureen” at St was never far away. their time in Wolverhampton, Michael was Nicholas RC Church, Gipton in 1952. They John’s requiem was a purely family affair, a stalwart of the church: he was a church had four children: Richard, Stella, Phillip and a memorial Mass will be celebrated warden, took bookings for the church and Kevin. Sadly, Philip pre-deceased him, as soon as it is possible to do so. hall, and was secretary of the St Vincent as did a grandson, Oliver, who was only 18. de Paul. John was a fixture at racecourses Michael began working in Birmingham May he rest in peace throughout Yorkshire and missed only a around the time of the IRA bombings. handful of Grand Nationals and Derbies One bomb left a crack in the side of in a career which spanned some 60 years. MICHAEL WRIGHT the building under his office window. It is impossible to date John’s retirement Michael was born Employees were not allowed to leave as he had more comebacks than Sinatra on 23 November the building until all the papers had been – eventually his editor threatened to shoot 1930 in Willenhall, locked in the safe, so Michael became him if he didn’t retire! Wolverhampton, the an expert at clear-desk policy long before As a newspaper man, John’s status was third child of Agnes the business gurus. Another time his legendary. He was also a raconteur and and Albert Wright. train crashed, and he walked home with after-dinner speaker of some renown; his He had a much older a swollen ankle. He was promoted to stories and jokes were frequently repeated brother and sister and branch inspector, which involved him by those who heard them, but John’s a younger brother, travelling round the country and being delivery was unique. Patrick. He and away from home during the week. When he was promoted again, he and Doris left John joined Leeds Circle in 1987 and for Patrick were almost a second family, so Wolverhampton for Spital, and Michael 30 years was publicity officer and master Michael exhibited many traits of a sensible worked in Liverpool, where he saw out of ceremonies. Whenever there was a oldest child, but was also a middle child his banking days. sporting, entertainment or fundraising and acted as mediator. event, he generously gave his time and He passed the scholarship exam to Michael retired after over 40 years at the talent to help ensure its success. He later St Chad’s College in Wolverhampton, bank and was fortunate to have nearly became a joint member of Wetherby Circle where he did well, was an excellent 30 years of retirement. He enjoyed his and attended both Circles until vascular swimmer and enjoyed playing cricket. retirement, was content to spend his time dementia caused his decline from 2017. He wanted to stay on to take his higher with Doris, watching the world go by from his chair. He had a heart attack in 1998, John worked for several parishes in the school certificate and go to university, but but after being put on a strict diet by diocese, including St Philip’s Church, where his mother would have none of that and Doris, he enjoyed a happy retirement until he helped to organise social evenings and organised a job for him at Lloyds Bank, she died, and a healthy one until he was raise funds for both school and church. where he started making the tea and diagnosed with cancer last year. Even He worked on the diocesan newspaper stoking the boiler for the princely sum of £2 after that diagnosis, he was only extremely for many years and was awarded an MBE per week. poorly for the last few weeks of his life. for services to charity in 2005. When Michael was a good dancer and it was at He died on 14 May, eight days after he emerged from the palace after the a dance that he spied a young lady, one receiving his 60th anniversary scroll. ceremony, he called the Yorkshire Evening Doris Hurd, who made his heart go thump Post with a frontpage lead story: ‘Morgan in a strong and determined way. He fell in Michael is survived by two children Gets Gong and Interviews Queen!’ He love instantly. He asked her out and they and five grandchildren. never missed an opportunity. married on 24 November 1956, the day John will be fondly remembered in sporting after his 26th birthday, the age the bank May he rest in peace circles across Yorkshire and he made thought it suitable for young men to have many friends with his popular newspaper a mortgage. He spent nearly 60 years PETER DUGGAN columns: Phil John, Morgan’s Yorkshire of marriage absolutely devoted to Doris. After a short illness, and Sporting Yorkshire, as well as the When she told him she was dying, he said: Peter Duggan passed books he wrote recounting times and “But that’s not right, you can cope without away peacefully in characters passed. me – I can’t cope without you.” But cope he did during the short time left to him. his sleep at Ardenlea An irrepressible entertainer, his friendship Court, Solihull, on and humour made life more enjoyable Michael and Doris had what is now viewed as a very traditional marriage. She stayed 8 August. His family for everyone who met him. For someone had been able to see with little formal education who mixed at home and looked after the children and he went off to work every day on his him up to the evening with royalty, landed gentry and sporting before he died, but heroes, he never lost his concern for his bicycle. His one foray into the domestic arts was when he was given due to Covid-19, fellow man, the faith he loved, the family friends were unable to visit to pay he adored and Tetley’s Best Bitter. compassionate leave when Doris nearly died after losing the twins. Ann and Chris their respects. had some remarkably interesting meals: Peter was born to Eric and Caroline on 16 jam on some very small thick pancakes February 1929 in Gosforth, Newcastle upon the size of crumpets and ice cream Tyne, and joined by Anthony in April 1932. made from custard. DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 45 IN MEMORIAM

Sadly, Caroline died three weeks after A requiem Mass was held at Corpus Christi, Within a short time, he became an Anthony’s birth from an infection. Stechford where he was a lay reader for instructor for new drivers. He worked for Eric married Nora Haig in April 1937 and 57 years and a foundation governor of British Oxygen until he retired. their first baby, Ann, was born in 1938, St Cuthbert’s School. A Circle Mass for Bernard met Lynn at Salford Rugby followed by Richard in 1940 and George deceased Brothers to be held in November Club; she was already acquainted with in 1944. At the start of World War II, Peter, will include Peter. his mother. They married at St Joseph’s, 11 and Anthony, 8, were evacuated to and How can one do justice to a long and Ordsall on 7 November 1970. Four educated at St Joseph’s College, Dumfries. fruitful life? Peter was a gentleman in the children followed: Karen, David, Michelle At the end of the war, the boys returned to truest sense, a man of quiet conviction and Christina, making a happy and live in Rothbury with Granny Haig and the without rancour of any sort, a steadfast loving family. rest of the family. Peter remembered this and generous friend, a man who loved his Bernard was a handyman and DIY expert period as one of the happiest times of his family, a man of whom one never heard a and could turn his hand to anything: he life. He was proud of his Geordie heritage bad word spoken, and who never uttered even built an extension to his home in and his support for Newcastle United FC. a bad word about anyone. Our thoughts Boothstown. He was the life and soul of He began a banking career in 1946, joining and prayers at this time are with his two any party, always with a smile on his face. Lloyds Bank in Newcastle as a trainee. children, four grandchildren and five He was caring to his family and would help In 1947 the Duggan family moved to great grandchildren. anyone in need. Birmingham prior to his call-up for national Eventually, Bernard and Lynn had seven service. Peter enjoyed his time in the army, May he rest in peace grandchildren. Tragically, they lost one which included being stationed in Germany. grandson at an early age and soon After national service, he rejoined Lloyds afterwards another became seriously ill Bank, and his career there lasted 44 years. BERNARD O’DONNELL and still receives treatment. Their faith and He retired from his last managerial role in Bernard O’Donnell family support enabled them to cope in Castle Bromwich in 1989. was a man whose those difficult times. This was never more After national service Peter met Josie, the character many of us true than when tragedy struck again and love of his life, and they married in October would envy: he was they lost a daughter. 1954. Clare was born in 1957, followed upright, kind, softly Bernard’s health deteriorated and sadly by Philip in 1960. Peter’s main hobby was spoken, true to his he died on 4 August, going to his eternal gardening along with DIY, reading and friends and family, reward. listening to music. Family holidays were loyal and faithful to Bernard had been a Catenian since 21 spent at the same guesthouse in Minehead his principles. July 2011 and during that time he earned for many years, so they became almost He was born in friendship and respect from City of Salford part of the family there. Salford on 27 November 1948, the Circle. Undoubtedly the Association is The unexpected death of Josie in 1990 youngest of three siblings. His older sisters impoverished by his passing. We pray for left a massive hole in Peter’s life, not filled saw him as their baby brother and looked Bernard, Lynn and all the family. until some years later, when he became after him with love and affection. Bernard friendly with Pat Killeen, a widow and attended St John’s Primary School and member of the parish. They married in St Lawrence’s Secondary School, both May he rest in peace 1996. This marriage was short-lived as in Salford. Pat developed cancer and died in 2002. After leaving school he worked in several NICHOLAS COGHLAN Again there was a void in Peter’s life which trades, firstly in a clothing factory, then New Forest Circle was filled when he and Freda Kearney, a for a company making suitcases, doing suffered the loss of widow and a longstanding friend of Peter’s deliveries and on the shop floor. He spent Nick in January of first wife Josie, became close friends. a number of years as a self-employed this year. Born in The companions enjoyed many lovely painter, travelling round the country. Later Liverpool, he was the holidays together, including cruises to the he worked for the parks department, third of four children, Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Russia. where his skills were put to use in all son of a doctor and Peter joined Solihull Circle on 15 March sorts of ways to benefit the environment. grandson to alderman 1977 and received his 40-year membership During this time Bernard acquired driving Luke Hogan, mayor scroll in 2017. He was president in 1989-90, licenses for all types of vehicles including of Liverpool. He was having been chamberlain 1980-83, and he heavy goods vehicles and public service educated at St Mary’s Catholic School served 15 years on Council, rarely missing vehicles. Through his contacts, Bernard in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, where he a meeting. He and Josie attended several started working for the British Coal Board, became head boy. national conferences and travelled with the travelling all over the country. After qualifying as a chartered accountant, grand president to Australia on One day, a friend, who had worked with he made a big decision to follow his love two occasions. Bernard at the Coal Board then moved of travel, adventure and sport and sailed to British Oxygen, saw Bernard while for South Africa in 1976 to watch the driving down the motorway. He shouted to British Lions tour and to take up a two-year Bernard, told him that they were recruiting contract with an auditing firm in Durban. drivers at BOC and that he should get On board he met his lovely wife Lyn, down there. Bernard was snapped up and who was returning to South Africa after was very well respected there. spending three years nursing in London. 46 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 After two years of auditing, Nick decided to Shortly afterwards, Nick returned home John transferred to Darlington Circle, stay and joined Unilever. Three years later, for the last time, cared for by Lyn and signing the roll on 13 December 1960. He he and Lyn were married and were blessed supported by his priest and members was secretary from 1965-68 and president with son Matthew and daughters Nicola of his parish. He passed away peacefully three years later. He served nine years on and Amanda. With much global travelling, with his family and priest in attendance, Provincial Council, was provincial president many long hours, and years living in and the knowledge that his strong belief in 1983 and Circle president in 1979-80. Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, had endured. After leaving the provincial chair he did he worked his way up the corporate ladder not hang his hat up, but took on the roles and became commercial director of chamberlain, membership officer, May they rest in peace for Unilever, South Africa. treasurer and marshal, with another secretaryship from 2000-2003. When he Nick called South Africa ‘God’s country’ JOHN D MAYNE and took full advantage of its wild open was presented with a scroll for his 50 years spaces, game reserves, unspoilt beaches John liked to use his of membership, he said he had declined and beautiful Drakensberg mountains. He middle initial. He was one for his 40th as he was waiting for joined the Mountain Club of South Africa, born in Doncaster on the big one! He received his 60th on 8 became a member of the Mountain Rescue 16 August 1927. On November 2016 from Grand President Team and spent many days climbing in leaving Doncaster David Rowley, and was described as the mountains. Nick became chairman of Grammar School, his “the Circle’s elder statesman”. the Association for the Learning Disabled father found him an He retired in 1992 but was asked to go to and championed the building of a school apprenticeship with Pakistan, where he spent six weeks sorting for black children with learning difficulties. London North East out a problem on site, and then seven Family time was spent sailing, waterskiing, Railway. Alongside years in the office on a full and a part-time camping and holidaying at their beach that he studied for basis. cottage in the Garden Route in the Cape. his Higher National Certificate through In her eulogy, Gillian asked: “What was Towards the end of his career in 2003, Nick Sheffield University, in time becoming a Dad like at home?” He was in charge of was transferred to New York to take on the chartered engineer with the Institute of maintaining the cars, the lawns (the rest role of vice president corporate audit for Mechanical Engineers. of their beautiful garden, including the Unilever, North America, and spent three He remained with the railway company extensive fruit and vegetable area, was years exploring the USA. for five years before taking a job as an Mary’s province) and the exterior of the On their return to South Africa in 2006, inspection engineer with an insurance house, which he had, in fact, designed. Nick retired to a golf resort in Durban but company based in Sittingbourne, Kent. Unfortunately, most of his skills were kept in touch with Unilever and became The job required him to move around to not passed on to his daughters, so their a non-executive director for their pension different locations and while he was in husbands had a lot to live up to. fund. He was involved in his church and Dunstable, he met Mary, who was working For a time he organised the Circle’s chairman of the parish council. for the Meteorological Office. By complete mid-month lunch, and later he enjoyed His son Matt, who had moved to London, coincidence she was from Doncaster, being taken. Sadly, his health declined became severely ill, so in 2009 Nick and although John had not known her there. due to Alzheimer’s disease, and he moved Lyn moved back to the UK to support him, Despite the fact that he moved to head to the Gardens Care Home, where the staff settling in the beautiful New Forest. office and Mary worked shifts, the courtship could not have been kinder. He stayed for Nick and Lyn became active members blossomed and they married in Doncaster 18 months and died on 24 August. on 20 August 1955. They had four of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Covid restrictions limited numbers at the daughters, ten grandchildren and two great Christchurch and Nick became chairman funeral but Mary managed to allow for a grandchildren, with another on the way. of the parish council. He joined New Catenian representation. Forest Circle, becoming president in his Their first home was in the village of second year, and was also treasurer of Rodmersham Green amongst the orchards, Burley Golf Club. He remained determined and Mary settled down to being a wife and May he rest in peace to get things done and helped others mother and the rural life. While they were to do likewise, and as a member of the in Kent, John became a Catenian, joining JEFF GREEN Swale Circle on 24 October 1956, where Christchurch Fellowship of Churches Jeff Green, a he acted as deputy provincial councillor, he was instrumental in the birth of the beloved Brother attending meetings in London, a sign of Christchurch Food Bank Plus, which has of Derby Circle, things to come. Over the next five years, been a tremendous success in helping was born in Derby Gillian, Janet and Jennifer arrived. In 1960, those in need. on 25 September John joined Whessoe to take charge of Nevertheless, with his declining health 1934 to Harold and their mechanical engineering sites up and Nick was fully aware of his prognosis and Gwendolin. The family down the country, and the family moved to prepared in detail for life’s closure, right moved to Nottingham, Darlington, where in 1963 Susan was born. down to planning his Requiem, not knowing where he attended at the time that he would witness his own Nottingham High son’s passing in Bournemouth hospital School Preparatory School, while he himself was a patient. then the senior school.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 47 IN MEMORIAM

In 1953, he went to Nottingham University Jeff died on 17 September and his He was a keen golfer, a member of the to read physics, graduating in 1956. Here Requiem Mass was held on 1 October. RAC at Epsom, credited with getting a hole he met his wife, Margaret, who was reading The Mass was celebrated by Jeff’s in one on one occasion, to match his wife biology. They were married in Tunstall on brother-in-law, Bishop David McGough. Barbara who had achieved this feat earlier. 16 August 1958. It was a fitting tribute, conducted in a He also played in the Catenian Provincial Like his father, Jeff joined Rolls Royce in gentle and caring way. Tributes were paid Golf Society. Derby after graduating. Jeff and Margaret by his son Adrian, his daughter Alison and Ken enjoyed travel, classical music, set up home in Derby and Margaret granddaughter Laura. history and horse racing, and had a motor became a teacher at St Philomena’s Alison used these words which do really cruiser moored on the Thames at the Shell Convent School. They had two children, sum up Jeff: “someone to look up to, Lensbury Club. Whilst serving out east he Adrian in 1959 and Alison in 1963. someone to follow, someone to admire, rebuilt a Fiat Topolino which he was proud Around 1960, Jeff moved to Rolls Royce someone to be proud of and someone of showing at rallies. and Associates, a new company that was to brag about, someone to learn from and Ken joined Esher Circle in 1999, serving as set up to design and manufacture reactor someone to respect, someone to listen president in 2003-04. He was reliable and plants for Royal Navy submarines. This to and someone to talk to, someone to trustworthy with a good sense of humour involved lots of travel, not least to the try and impress, and someone – most and had many lifelong friends. He also USA for three months. Around 1966, he of all – you can share everything with”. represented the Royal British Legion in was seconded to Winfrith in Dorset, which Claygate. involved a family move. May he rest in peace He is greatly missed by Barbara, Nigel In the summer of 1969, the Green family and Susan, friends and Esher Circle. moved back to Derby, to a house which KENNETH HALSTEAD AYRE Jeff and Margaret never left. Esher Circle was May he rest in peace In 1990, Jeff retired from Rolls Royce and saddened to hear of Associates but rejoined as a contractor until Ken’s death. NICK FILBEE around 1999. During that time, Margaret Ken was born in and Jeff travelled to Borneo, India, the Nick Filbee died at Colne, Lancashire on USA and China. the age of 72 at his 12 October 1931. The home in Lymington Margaret sadly died on 27 July 2008. eldest of four children, on 24 August and Jeff joined the Catenians in 1977, which he had two brothers is survived by three provided Jeff and Margaret with an active and a sister. He died elder brothers and social life and an extensive network of on 3 September extended family. Born friends. In 1982, he became president and his funeral Mass was at the Catholic in October 1947, Nick of Derby Circle and joined a group of Church of the Holy Name, Esher. was the fourth of five presidents from Province 15 who formed As a youngster, Ken was an adventurous, sons born to Terence a close and lasting bond. The group have mischievous boy who enjoyed the outdoor and Marjorie Filbee. met for a reunion every year since, 2020 life – fishing, hunting and poaching – and He grew up in the New Forest and attended being the only year they have not met due was also practical. He had a very happy Brockenhurst College, then studied law to the current situation. upbringing. in Guildford. Moving back to Lymington, In 2003, Jeff became provincial president Ken was educated locally before winning he joined Heppenstalls to complete his and in 2012, he was president of Derby a scholarship to Lancaster Royal Grammar training as a solicitor and eventually Circle again. School, and at the age of 14 another became a partner. He was renowned for Jeff and Margaret were inveterate trippers scholarship to Dartmouth Naval College his approachable manner and sense of with the Catenians, especially with as a cadet officer. He served in the Royal humour. Peterborough and Derby Circles’ trips Navy as an engineer officer, then became One partner said: “Nick built a loyal client to the Costa Brava. Jeff could not resist a marine, mechanical and electrical base during his many years here. He joining his good friend David Rowley engineer, specialising in maintaining was well respected and greatly liked. on a trip to Southern Africa in 2016. helicopters of the Fleet Air Arm. During the He also undertook charity work for many It is true to say that Jeff was a Catenian Malayan uprising and the Korean war he local groups and often stepped forward through and through. He and Margaret served on HMS Vanguard. He retired from to entertain at the Law Society annual enjoyed the opportunities it gave them. the Royal Navy in 1969 and qualified as a dinners.” building surveyor. He never practised this After Margaret died, the Catenians provided He married Anne but they later divorced profession as he went into the petroleum Jeff with much comfort and support. and the marriage was annulled; he did industry in the marine lubrication division, One of Jeff’s hobbies was silversmithing, not remarry. initially with Shell, until he retired in 1995. which he took up in the early 1970s. He During his lifetime, he developed a Ken married Barbara in 1976, and they enjoyed doing little jobs for people. When passion for classical music and was an were happily married for 44 years. the grand president’s chain of office came accomplished pianist and cello player. apart in Westminster Cathedral, there was Ken had many interests as a young man: only one man to repair it! Jeff had it sorted he was a keen motorcyclist and raced his within a matter of days and the chain beloved Manx Norton in several Isle of Man missed only one event. TT races. When asked if he had ever won a prize, he replied: “It wasn’t winning but finishing the race that was the prize!” 48 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 He was chair of the CODA Music Trust and GERALD MARTLAND Gerry became provincial president in sat on the board of trustees for almost ten 1973 and then director of Province 10. years. CODA’s chief executive said: “Nick Gerry was born on At the time of his death he was the was hugely influential in our growth and 19 February 1931 longest-serving member of Burnley Circle, was very involved in the project to create in Preston and died having completed 57 years of membership. peacefully at home in the music centre in Walkford. After stepping Gerry leaves his wife Pauline, sons Chris Burnley on 29 April. down, he continued to offer us regular and Mark, daughters-in-law Elaine and advice on legal matters. He will be sadly After national service Alison, five grandchildren and two great missed.” and qualifying as a grandchildren. teacher, Gerry moved In the 1970s he joined The Castoffs, a Gerry was a man of great wit and to Burnley to take up group who used their musical and comedic humour and during his many years in the his first teaching post skills to entertain and raise money for Association he became well known and at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Secondary good causes. Nick loved going to concerts, well liked throughout Province 10 and School, which was in the grounds of St travelling to them by public transport after the wider Association. Mobility difficulties Mary’s Church on Yorkshire Street. Gerry deciding early on that driving was not during his last couple of years inhibited rapidly progressed to become deputy head for him. Gerry’s involvement in meetings and events of the school and remained in that role He had a leading role with the Friends of but he retained a keen interest in – and when the school transferred, in 1962, to the Lymington to Brockenhurst Railway, scrutiny of – Circle affairs. He welcomed the much larger, newly built, St Theodore’s which as a non-driver, he used regularly. visitors and phone contact and his sense of RC High School for Boys. He was also a talented artist and loved humour remained undimmed. Whilst teaching at St Mary’s, Gerry met and going on painting holidays to Europe. Other Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gerry’s married Pauline. She was also a teacher interests included a love of gardening and funeral could only be attended by a small and spent most of her career at Park Hill cake decorating. His elaborate, intricate fraction of those who would have wished Convent (now St Joseph’s Park Hill) creations delighted guests at many to be there. The service was brief but in Burnley. weddings and celebrations. beautifully done. At the conclusion, a song Gerry became headmaster of St Nick loved the Isle of Wight, where he of Gerry’s own choice was played: an Theodore’s, a position he held for several had a small weekend place to indulge his upbeat and jolly rendition of Wish Me Luck decades until his retirement in 1993. passion for fossils and geology: he built As You Wave Me Goodbye. Pure Gerry! quite a collection of fossils and mineral At that time, St Theodore’s led the way in Catholic education in the local area, with samples. May he rest in peace students coming from Burnley, Pendle and His Catholic faith was very important to Rossendale. With Gerry at the forefront, him and he joined the Catenians in 1998. in 1967 the school developed a sixth form DEREK GILL At the time of his death, he was president for A-level students, initially in a prefab Derek was born in of Isle of Wight Circle, a joint member building on the school site. By 1973, a Burnley in 1933, the of New Forest Circle and had served as purpose-built sixth form building had been elder of two boys. His treasurer and for six years as provincial erected and this became so overcrowded brother Kenneth died councillor. He had many good friends in that by 1979 an extension had to be added. in 1966. both Circles and across Province. Gerry was rightly proud of a school which Derek attended Nick was a great philanthropist he described as a centre of excellence. Hargher Clough, then and supported many causes, both Under his leadership the school had exam Burnley Grammar financially and by involving himself in results well above the national average, School, leaving at 15 their administration. He was a talented, and a sixth form which boasted 270 pupils to begin a career in generous man with a wonderful sense of both sexes drawn from 14 local schools. accountancy with local firm Proctor of humour. He is greatly missed by his and Proctor. family as well as his many close friends, Throughout his career, Gerry taught A-level Derek’s early life was difficult; his locally and overseas, and especially by classics and general studies. He was mother died when he was 17 and shortly all those he has helped over the years. a charismatic figure, well-respected by colleagues and students, with a reputation afterwards he did national service with for being firm but fair. the RAF. May he rest in peace Sadly, the sixth form was closed under the At a hospital dance in 1954, Derek met Building Schools for the Future programme Kathleen, who had left her home in County in 2004, despite Gerry and many others Limerick to pursue a career in nursing. in the local Roman Catholic community From that moment, his love for her and her voicing their disapproval. homeland was sealed. Derek converted to Catholicism before they married in 1956 Gerry was enrolled into the Catenian and they lived in Burnley throughout their Association in April 1963 and became an 64 years of married life. active and enthusiastic Brother. He held many senior offices in Burnley Circle, Derek moved to the manufacturing sector, including being president four times, once in 1973 becoming the managing director following his son Chris as vice president of Tetrosyl Ltd. then president.

DECEMBER 2020 • CATENA 49 IN MEMORIAM

In 1977, he remortgaged his house The family take comfort from the knowledge He most frequently entered hill climbs, and purchased Lupton and Place Ltd, a that their father was widely known, loved trials and sprints but was equally at home run-down foundry and engineering works. and respected: “He touched the lives of at the racetrack, as team manager or driver. He transformed the company then acquired so many people and left his incredible During this period, John took on his first Thorn EMI Diecastings in 1985, and thumbprint on this earth and we will forever journalism role as the editor of the Morgan consolidated the two sites to Athletic Street be so proud to have had a father who did club magazine, in which he provided in Burnley, where the company employs so much in his life, all for the benefit of up-to-date and lively comment 130 people. Three sons and one daughter his family.” on Morgan affairs. have senior roles with the company. Derek He leaves his wife Kathleen, seven John moved to London in 1957 with a was a director for more than 40 years, children, including his late beloved son, position at the Coal Utilisation Council, stepping down as chairman in 2019. Michael, nine grandchildren and 11 great where he was responsible for setting up Derek was invited to examine the accounts grandchildren. the National Approved Coal Merchants of Burnley Football Club soon after Bob Scheme, becoming its first national Lord’s death in 1981. In 1982 he became secretary. However, John’s love of cars May he rest in peace a director of the club he had worshipped continued, and while pursuing his passion since childhood. In 1985 he left the board for racing, he met his wife Julie, who with huge regret, even though he had JOHN BROWN came from a car-mad family. They married acted for the greater good of the club, not Blackheath and in 1964 and had four children, which personal gratification. His insightful diaries Chislehurst Circle was necessitated the sale of the Plus 4 for a from that time have been a source for a deeply saddened by Morgan 4/4 with hardtop and space for number of books. the death in October a carrycot in the back! John also became He had a passion for music from an early 2019 of one of their an early enthusiast of the good life, with age. He was a chorister at St John’s long-serving stalwarts, a passion for self-sufficiency, and half his Church, Gannow, which he represented John Brown, after a garden was turned over to vegetables, at the Festival of Britain in 1951; he sang long illness bravely rabbits, ducks and chickens. at festivals in the northwest and the Isle of borne. John was a faithful stalwart of St Mary’s Man; he won the prestigious Rose Bowl John joined the Circle Church in Crayford and during the family at Burnley Festival in 1966 and in 1970 in March 1985 and, in keeping with his years he helped to run treasure hunts, became the first person to win it twice. He lifelong virtue of service to colleagues and tramps’ suppers, barn dances and his regularly sang at Blackpool Winter Gardens friends, he took on the position of secretary infamous barbecues. All who knew John and the National Eisteddfod of Wales. For in 1987, followed by vice president in found him exceptionally modest, very several decades he was one of the most 1991 and a two-year stint as president organised and extremely resourceful. sought-after tenor soloists in the region from 1992. A Brother who valued friendship with – one of his recordings of Ave Maria was He returned to the post of secretary in everyone he met. played at his Requiem. He also played the 1997. John is remembered affectionately organ in several churches. for his annual Catenian barbecues held at May he rest in peace He had an active life in the Catenian his family home on Dartford Heath from 1986 until 1991, when the event needed Association, which he joined in 1977. He PATRICK JOHN RAFTERY served as Burnley Circle president three to be cancelled at short notice because times: 1989-90, 1999-2000 and 2007-08; of a fire at John’s house – not barbecue Stan Leyland writes: and as secretary in 2004-05. He was an related! John also introduced the Circle to It is with great active visitor but, due to failing eyesight the ancient Kentish game of bat and trap personal sadness and difficulties with driving after dark, this and, due to its popularity, he developed and that of Solihull reduced in later years. He had a new lease a Province 7 inter-Circle competition Circle that I write this of visiting life when Jim Livesey happily throughout the early 2000s. tribute to Patrick John transported him. He represented Burnley John was born in 1931 in Bromsgrove, Raftery, a founder Circle at snooker and bowls for many years. Worcestershire, into a family which had member of the Circle, His other pleasures included cricket, an engineering workshop as part of its who died peacefully bridge, bowls, cruising and holidays, business, the start of John’s lifelong at home in the early especially in Australia (often coinciding passion for steam engines, motorcycles hours of Friday 24 April following a with Ashes tours), with his devoted wife and sporting cars. He spent the war years two-year battle with cancer, a fight he Kathleen by his side. as a boarder at Stonyhurst College in bore with great patience and dignity, Tributes to Derek have been pouring in, Lancashire, acquiring the skills to enable retaining his wonderful sense of humour describing him as a ‘giant of industry’, him to move into journalism and business right up to the end. I am grateful to his ‘a colossus in the town and a quite management after the end of the war. son Sean for allowing me to quote from exceptional character all round, never He spent his national service in the Tank the memorial service eulogy. afraid to speak out forcefully, often in Corps, which enhanced his engineering Born in Moseley, Birmingham on 15 July challenging circumstances’. skills and his love of all things mechanical, 1936, Pat was brought up with elder sister and which encouraged him to build and Sheila and younger brother Martin by race his own motorcycles. John quickly parents John and Dorothy in a fairly strict progressed onto his first car, a Dellow, household. before buying the first of several Morgans in 1956, a Plus 4, which he raced at Prescott, Brands Hatch and Shelsley. 50 CATENA • DECEMBER 2020 An adventurous boy, in his later youth he One of Pat’s great passions was music, a Pat was a gregarious individual who contracted polio and on recovery threw pastime he shared with family members – loved life, never really retired but did less himself into sport, enjoying water polo and mainly jazz, of which he remained a firm work after he became ill, claimed to be a cycling. He became a respected racing fan his entire life. At some point in mid-life socialist – but I agree with his son Sean, cyclist, competing in endurance events, he developed a fondness for sailing, which who views his dad as an idealist who saw including 12-hour time trials. he did with his great friends Jim and Ian the best in everyone and wanted the best He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Dunwoody, enjoying many trips across for everyone. A memorial service was School before gaining a scholarship to St the English Channel and down the French attended by close family members and Philips Grammar School, leaving in 1952 canals. virtually attended by his many friends and to take up articles with Twist & Co. Aged Catenian life was important to Pat; he Catenian Brothers. A month before he died, 21, he met Patricia, the love of his life. enrolled into North Warwickshire Circle Pat wrote a poem, The Silver Sea, included They married on 20 June 1959, shortly in October 1964 and became a founder in the order of service, which encapsulated after Pat had qualified as a chartered member of Solihull Circle on 4 October his philosophy of always being aware of the accountant. It was a marriage which was 1967. He was appointed treasurer from suffering around him but never forgetting to last 61 happy years, blessed with six 1967 to 1971, president in 1978-79, love and forgiveness. children: the eldest Sally, was quickly secretary for a period in 1989, 1995-96 Solihull Circle offers their sincere followed by Peter, Michael, Sean, Linda and from 2006 to 2012. He was proud to condolences to Patricia, their six children and Veronica. It was quite a challenge to receive his 50-year membership scroll from and nine grandchildren. I conclude with have six children under the age of twelve director Tony Stevens on 21 October 2014. the opening remark of Sean’s eulogy: at the same time as setting up his own He was a member of Council for 17 years, “Materially, he never had a lot, always accountancy firm. which benefited from his lively mind and enough, so it is somewhat of an enigma Family holidays were always camping wicked sense of humour. For many years, that he was wealthy in so many ways.” trips to Cornwall, Wales or Scotland. supported by Patricia, he led Brothers, ladies and families on an assortment After a while, he got the hang of setting May he rest in peace up, much to the relief of the children. of ‘Raf’s rambles’, often coincidentally ending up at the local hostelry.

Please keep the following deceased Brothers and their families in your prayers

August October 13 Bob Burns Epsom Circle 25 Vin McGuiness 01 Dan Gibbons Newcastle upon Tyne, City Circle Ku-Ring-Gai Circle 13 Mike Hill Tandridge Circle September 02 David Huxley Bedford Circle 14 Derek Gill 01 David Lisle Burnley Circle Scunthorpe Circle 04 John Thompson Chester Circle 15 Joe Gonsalves 20 Peter Callaghan Liverpool, South Circle Brooklands Circle 06 John Huggett Ku-Ring-Gai Circle 19 Luigi Amatiello 23 Jim Curley Crewe Circle Didsbury Circle 07 Austin Callaghan St Helens Circle 20 Peter Chick 23 John Lyons London, Charterhouse Circle Scunthorpe Circle 09 Maurice King Mansfield & Dukeries Circle 22 Tom Eastwood 23 Jim Reid Bedford Circle Maroondah Circle 11 Pat Gallagher Swale Circle 22 Aidan Stewart 29 Brian Sharkey London, Northern Heights Circle City of Lichfield Circle 11 Ken Wilson Morpeth Circle 29 Jim Allanson Reigate Circle 12 Colin Morrell Poole Circle

May we remind contributors that obituaries should not exceed 600 words, this is to allow as many obituaries to be included as possible. Please send obituaries by email, as contributions sent by post can be difficult to process and check: [email protected] May we remind all contributors to ensure obituaries have been checked with family members before sending to Catena. Please do not send photos of great sentimental value through the post.

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