Provincial Weekend

The final event of the weekend was Holy Mass celebrated by a local retired priest, Fr Colin Wilson.  Mike Fitzpatrick provided the music for the hymns.  After the mass the traditional group photograph was taken.

Congratulations to Provincial President Jim Livesey and Angela and all those who helped in organising the weekend.

Provincial Weekend - the Gala Dinner Dance

The highlight of the weekend was the spectacular gala dinner dance on the Saturday night.  Over 100 of us sat down to a splendid meal served without delays in very pleasant surroundings.  

Following a very short thank you speech by Bro. Provincial President Jim Livesey there was dancing to music provided by a DJ.  After a slow start the dance floor was rarely clear.  The photo below was taken at a quiet period.

Provincial Weekend - the walk

This year's walk was well organised by John and Sue Mills and attracted 15 walkers.  Whilst the forecast threaten rain the 15 set off in cars to Marbury Country Park where the five mile walk to the Anderton Boat Lift began.  As with most of Cheshire the land is flat but the path was muddier than we had been led to believe.  We approached the boat lift from the Trent & Mersey Canal.  The group are shown here about to reach the towpath.

 

  

As you approach the boat lift from the canal you don't get a sight of it until you are there as you are level with the top of lift.  The magnificence of the Victorian structure can only be appreciated from the grounds of the Visitors Centre with its cafe, shop, museum and viewing area.  

The Weaver Navigation is 50 feet below the level of the Trent & Mersey Canal.  Unfortunately there were no boats using the lift whilst we were there but on the bright side it did not rain.  

Preston 144 at the Provincial Weekend.

Three couples met up at Chester Cathedral and added to the Lego building of the Cathedral. 

It is now at 175,000 bricks and needs to get to 350,000.

Details here https://chestercathedral.com/visit-us/lego/ 

Vicky Kok is adding a piece to the model 

Preston 144's table at the evening Dinner Dance.

A LYRICAL BICYCLE RIDE

Saturday 2nd March 2019

Their bicycles are the fastest the world's ever seen,
From Goosnargh to Chipping for coffee and cream.
They have supersonic engines fuelled by a brew,
Passing Beacon Fell Hill and admiring the view.

They ride their bicycles around and around           

       Down every hill and up every mound.                   

       With birds abounding they spot a partridge            

And look forward to coffee at The Gibbon Bridge.

 

The return trip is harder with stomachs part full,

They find even the flat bits a bit of a pull,

But leaving Parlick behind as Goosnargh appears

It's been worth all the (blood?), the sweat and the tears.

And now as the day comes to a close,

Our bravehearted cyclists can only suppose

With food time beckoning up there ahead,

They meet Richard, Tom & Mary at The Stags Head.

With apologies to too many poets to mention, one can only congratulate the Longridge Cycle Group who keep

 "MOVING ON"!!!

PRESTON CIRCLE 14 NEWS

Preston Circle 14 held its clergy night on Tuesday 26 February at Barton Grange Hotel. A good Circle turnout, 4 priests, 2 deacons and Brothers Liam and Cosmos from the Xaverian Brothers Spirituality Centre at Tabor enjoyed an excellent meal and each others' company.

Brother President Tom took the opportunity to thank the clergy for their continuing help and support - and in fact an offer of further help was received from Brother Liam, a competent piper, who kindly offered to pipe in the Brothers, ladies and guests at the traditional Circle dinner dance and ladies' evening the following Saturday.

The offer was gratefully accepted, and Brother Liam duly obliged as over 100 Brothers, ladies and guests sat down to dine on Saturday 2 March at Barton Grange Hotel. An excellent meal was followed by entertaining speeches - and then the legendary Preston Circle 14 raffle, organised by Brother Francis in his own inimitable style, helped by the ladies. The rest of the evening was given over to dancing to the music of DJ Chris, and passed all too quickly!

Brother President Tom and Gillian and Brother Vice President Richard and Jenny welcoming guests

Brother Director Mark and Maxine, MC Peter and Joan Western, Brother President Tom and Gillian, Brother Provincial President Jim and daughter Angela - and empty soup plates!

The dancing is about to start!

The next Preston Circle 14 social event is the President's charity night, which will take place at 8pm on Saturday 23 March at Preston Grasshoppers RFC. A live band - Contraband - will provide the entertainment, and a gourmet buffet meal will be served. Brother President Tom's charity is ACN - Aid to the Church in Need - and we hope to raise a substantial amount towards this worthy cause. Please come along and support the event if you can - contact any Preston Circle 14 Brother for further details.

LONGRIDGE WALKERS EXPLORE CROOKLANDS

This leisurely walk starts from Crooklands Hotel (map reference SD 535 836, postcode LA7 7NW) 

and goes alongside Peasey Beck to Endmoor. The distance was approximately 5 miles and the terrain was grassy footpaths with one short steep climb.

On Wednesday 27th February with glorious sunshine 

19 members of Longridge Walking Group, with George the labrador puppy, set out to explore this beautiful part of the world led by honorary Catenian Peter Russell.

Walking along Peasey Beck first stop was the remains of Low Gatebeck Gunpowder works and Peter explained that we were standing on the path of the former tram which took the gunpowder to Milnthorpe.

On then to the Millenium Clock in Endmoor

Then a walk by Saint Sunday’s Beck into Stainton village and a pause for a photograph on the old packhorse bridge (probably built in the 17th Century) beside Waybend Cottage.

A mention here must go to our intrepid photographer as one can see risked life and limb to produce the above:

Charles Maher, heroic photographer!!

Moving on to the canal with the towpath going over Stainton Aqueduct, George enjoyed himself in the canal but gave wide birth to the pair of swans, The Crooklands Hotel appeared on the left and all agreed this had been a super walk and looked forward to the bar with some tempting real ales.

A couple of non walkers joining us for lunch and 21 sat down to eat with the favourite of the day being the famous "Jumbo fish and chips":

Another successful walk enjoying the wonderful countryside, good food but most importantly excellent company. Who could ask for more?