Provincial Snooker Final

The final of the 2015/16 snooker competition took place at Our Lady and St Edwards, Fulwood and was between Accrington and Preston South Circles.  The 4-1 winners were Accrington and each player received a bottle of wine, the runners up got a bottle of beer each.  Afterwards the teams and their supporters feasted on either hotpot or butter pie very ably served by Alison Wilding, wife of the missing organiser, Francis.  Also missing was the Provincial Snooker trophy, the one in the photo was borrowed for the occasion and was presented by Robert Thompson, Provincial President.  

Accrington, the winning team [l to r] Bros Paul Birch, Andy & Mike Neild, Simon Preugschat and Nick McNeil

Preston South team [l to r] Bros Bernard Unsworth, Steve Edwards, Richard Yates, Steve Seed, Robert Thompson (Provincial President) and Joe Flood.

Garstang Installation Night

(Left to right)

Robert Thompson: Provincial President, 

Carol Mastermann, Steve Mastermann: Garstang President,

Tom Ibison: Past President, Mary Ibison, Maxine Conroy and Mark Conroy: Director 

A new President and a new Brother for Preston South Circle

Debbie Edwards, Dorothy Stapley and Val from Booths

John Lea (President of Longridge Circle) and Bro. John Lee

Bro. President, Steve Edwards welcomes Bro. John Lee

Provincial President, Robert Thompson, Preston South Circle's President, Steve Edwards, Brother John Lee 

and Director Mark Conroy

New President and Brother in one night

Preston South (235) circle had a busy night at their April meeting when Steve Edwards took over the reins from Immediate Past President, Arthur Whitlock and straight away presided over the installation of a new Brother, John Lee, into the circle 

Steve is an active member of the circle organising days out at the races, rugby league and cricket all whilst holding down a full time job as Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Retired Police Officers.

Debbie Steve’s wife is busy too, running her own hairdressing business in and around Preston but that didn’t stop her organising a fantastic ladies night. Cheese and wine specialists from local supermarket, Booths, were on hand with tasty Lancashire cheeses made locally and all washed down with a nice glass of wine. Steve’s year as President is set to be an entertaining and busy one and he vowed to keep 235 as vibrant as ever throughout 2016 /17.

Double take for Preston South

Brothers of Preston South Circle did a double take at their April meeting as they welcomed new brother John Lee. Why the double take you ask? Well sitting beside him at the meeting was another John Lea (subtle difference but near enough to raise a chuckle) who has just become the president of Longridge circle.

John (Preston South) lives locally in St Oswald’s parish, Longton with his wife Janice and their three children Kaitlin, Levi and Ellie. By day he is a quantity surveyor working as the commercial manager for a major Scottish house building company at their Manchester office. As well as the obvious family commitments John seems to find time to do a great number of other things in his spare time.

John says ‘I have been a drummer in semi-professional band for many years and enjoy the buzz of live music and gigging all over the North of England. I am currently not in a band but my Son is now learning to play. We host a big live music event at home once a year, The Housegig with Henry Priestman, ex of The Christians and his side kick Les Glover raising funds for various charities whilst having a great evening’. 

As if all that wasn’t enough John spends time fell walking having already completed 150 of the 215 Wainwrights to date, enjoys mountain biking, swimming, running and is a season ticket holder at Preston North End. Phew it looks like there are 8 days in a week in Longton!

Broughton-in-Craven Circle have a new 'crew'!

Broughton in Craven Circle is proud to present their new "crew". At the helm is Brother President, Bernard Swarbrick, who is also Province 10's Chamberlain. He is ably assisted by Chris Beesley as Vice-President and Chris Nash as Secretary. 

We wish them a great "voyage".  

A new President for Burnley Circle

Retired Consultant Civil Engineer, Michael Jones, has been installed as the new President of Burnley Circle in a ceremony at Burnley Football Club attended by seventy Catenians and their families from across the North West.

Michael who is a Parishioner at St Teresa’s in Burnley has been a member of the Catenians for over thirty years and this is his third time as the President, the first one being in 2002.

On the above photograph, Burnley President Michael Jones (on the left) is being congratulated by the Provincial President, Robert Thompson

Stephanie's Final Blog from India

Click here to see Stephanie's final blog from India

New President for Longridge Circle

At their meeting on 19^th April, held at Farraris Restaurant, Longridge (which was also a Ladies evening), John Lea was installed as the new President of  Longridge Circle. He lives at Whitechapel with wife Jenny. John has held the position of  Longridge President on two previous occasions in 1984-85 and 2001-02. At the same time, Ted Donnelly was installed as Vice-President. Ted lives at Haighton with wife Janis

The meeting was well attended and, also present, where many Brothers and their wives from other circles in Province 10. Everyone enjoyed an excellent three-course meal following the meeting.

Picture shows Joan and Peter Western (Provincial Vice President). Robert Thompson (Provincial President) with Val Tudor, John Lea with wife Jenny, Ted Donnelly with wife Janis and Joe Carroll (Longridge Secretary) with wife Elaine.

Is John the youngest ever Circle President in Province 10?

Brother John Lord was installed as President of Preston & District Circle (144) at the April Circle Meeting.
John is under 50 years old and has been a member of the Circle  for four years. He is pictured here being congratulated by Provincial President, Robert Thompson.

Brother John's installation celebration was a family affair!
He was joined by his wife, Samantha and elder daughter, Rebecca, for the Circle Dinner at Bartle Hall.
Also pictured are (l to r) Shaun Aspden (Vice-President), Jean Aspden, Robert, John, Samantha, Rebecca, Maxine Conroy and Mark Conroy (Director)