Preston & District Circle's 2016 Pantomime - 'Lets be Merry Men'!

Dame Flora (Peter Van Parys)

Maid Marion (Eric Bolton) and Dame Flora

Little John (O'Donnell), Alan-a-Dale (Harry Mounsey) on the fiddle! Will Scarlett (Shaun Horsfield)

Robin Hood (John Lord), Friar Tuck (Mike Simpson)

Alan-a-Dale, Will Scarlett, Robin Hood, Brother Robert (Anthony Donlan) and Friar Tuck

"A right song 'n' dance"!
"We're men, men in tights!"

(Words fail me!)

Maid Marion, Sheriff of Nottingham (Mike Cowley),
Prince John (John Waddingham)

The Finale!

Well, it got some applause!

Cathy Simpson -
our redoubtable producer, author, musical director and choreographer!
Many thanks, Cath!
(What are we doing next year?)

Pictures by Brother Phil Bannister

Preston 144 help the homeless in Preston

Brother President, John Lord, presented a cheque for £2200 to Joe & Ruth White of the Metanoia Project at St Wilfrid’s in Preston recently.

Metanoia are a Catholic ministry working with adult and youth groups across Preston.

Alongside this work they are providing an outreach service to the homeless based in the city centre.

Each Wednesday evening the narthex of St Wilfrid’s church  is open and support is given to the homeless in the city. This includes the supply of warm clothing, sleeping bags and, importantly, a place where they will receive a genuine welcome.

Ruth & Joe and the rest of their team sit and chat with those attending and although not forcing our faith on them, give a welcome firmly based on our Gospel principles, which will hopefully help those who attend to see that they are loved and part of God’s family.

I would like to thanks the brothers and ladies of our circle and all those who attended our BBQ back in the summer for the support they gave. This donation will make a real difference to those less fortunate during the coming months.

'Our Nativity Play'...??

The 2016 Presidents and their wives got together to produce their version of an infants' school nativity play! 
This was played out infront of a very appreciative audience at the Provincial Carol Concert at Mytton Fold....

Click on the picture to watch the 'performance'!

LONGRIDGE CHARITY DONATIONS

In June John and Jenny Lea hosted a very successful Summer Fair in their lovely garden. The weather was kind, helpers were many and visitors plentiful and generous.
As a result over £3500 was raised and the pictures below show the two charities that benefitted.

John and Jenny presenting a cheque for £1845 to "Prevent Breast Cancer" a charity close to both.

 

Brother President presenting a smaller cheque, in size, but with similar value to Vine House.

 

REMEMBER TUESDAY 20TH DECEMBER CHRISTMAS MEAL AND CAROL SINGING TO OUR VERY OWN "REGINALD" TED DONNELLY ON KEYBOARD AT THE NEW DROP AND ONLY £15PP TO DINE.

 

Brother President John and Jenny with all the Brothers and Ladies of Longridge Circle wish everyone a Very Happy and Holy Christmas and hope that 2017 brings all you wish for.

Southern Hemisphere Clash!

Preston South Circle President Steve Edwards, a Wigan lad born and bred and lifelong supporter of the town’s Warriors rugby league team recently organised a trip for brothers to watch the final of the 2016 Four Nations rugby league tournament between Australia and New Zealand.  Brothers, along with family and friends, made the journey to Liverpool’s Anfield ground to observe some world class rugby, even if sadly it didn’t involve the England side.

After lunch and refreshment in a local hostelry the group made the short walk to the game to join just over 40,000 fans.  National anthems over, the crowd were treated to the obligatory Haka from the Kiwis and the battle commenced.  Being pretty neutral the crowd seemed to be firmly on the side of the New Zealanders but in the end Australia triumphed.  

Match over there was only one place to go. Back to the Black Horse to watch some football to pass the time before the minibus back home.  To use a well-known phrase it certainly was A Grand Day Out. 

L to R Brother Peter Gildert, Peter Edwards (Steve’s son),
Bro. President Steve Edwards and Bro. Richard Yates

Brother Paul Hood with his son Luke

Well done Harry

Furness Circle President, James Croskery presenting Harry Austin with the Catenian prize for “Outstanding academic achievement” at St Bernard’s Catholic high school, Barrow in Furness. 

Since leaving St Bernard’s, in the summer Harry has taken a Design apprenticeship at Bae systems. Studying for a HNC in engineering design before being sponsored on a Engineering degree course.

Longridge 'Choir 1' sing at the Extravaganza Evening

Choir 1, open to anyone who would like to sing for fun, sang to a packed Station Café on Friday 2nd December as part of the Longridge Extravaganza Evening for 2016.
The picture shows two past Catenian presidents' wives, Moira Barron and Elaine Carroll exercising their vocal chord singing Christmas Carols.
A super night was had by all before venturing off to take part in the free mince pies and mulled wine available at various retail outlets.

A VERY EARLY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM LONGRIDGE CIRCLE. 
BROTHERS AND LADIES AND DON'T FORGET LONGRIDGE CHRISTMAS MEAL AND CAROL CONCERT ON TUESDAY 20TH DECEMBER AT THE NEW DROP....... SEE YOU THERE!!!!!

LONGRIDGE LADIES EVENING

Jenny Lea and Longridge Ladies hosted a "Ladies Evening" for 62 ladies from throughout Province at Ferraris Country Hotel on Wednesday 30th November. One attraction was a demonstration of floral arranging by Sara Barrow a RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner with two traditional

 and two contemporary arrangements

These were to be raffled later in the evening.

The Ladies were greeted with a glass of "bubbly" and after watching the demonstration sat down to a super meal with choices in all three courses.
The night ended with a raffle for each of the arrangements and the final picture shows winner Moira Barron of Longridge Circle with her prize.  A big thanks to Jenny for organising the night.