Garstang Circle's Christmas Dinner

Garstang Circle held a very enjoyable Christmas Dinner with a party atmosphere at the Garstang Country Hotel on Thursday 20th December.

Below are a variety of photographs of brothers, their ladies, Circle widows andGarstang Parish Priest Father Tom Butler.  

They also include Brother President; Gerard Power, presenting Brother Tony Burrow with the Circle's 'Catenian of the Year Trophy' following his completion of nine years as Circle Provincial Councillor.

LSA Christmas family Sunday lunch

Lytham St Annes Circle again held their traditional Christmas family lunch on the second Sunday before Christmas.  After the splendid meal and frivolity particularly with flying (uncontrolled) balloons we were visited by Santa Claus who distributed presents to all the children and a few of the bigger variety.  Also four of the Circle's wives of deceased Brothers attended as guests and received their Christmas gift from the Circle.  The raffle followed and then an excellent solo rendition of O Holy Night by Gill Pope backed by the Circle choir.  Finally we all sang with gusto a range of Christmas carols including a noisy Twelve Days of Christmas played by our guest pianist.

Carol concert

Garstang Circle are to be congratulated for organising this year's carol concert.That part of the evening started with all being served with soup and a roll.  The main course was the entertainment featuring choirs from five Circles all of whom performed to a high standard.  The finale was an enthusiastic community sing-a-long.  An excellent start to the Christmas season.

Thank you Garstang.

Garstang Circle choir

Provincial Ladies choir

Lytham St Annes Circle choir

Preston & District Circle choir

Accrington Circle choir

The room to the left of the stage

and to the right.

Preston & District Circle supported the Kerala Disaster Appeal

25-Year Membership Scroll Presentation to Alan Scourfield

On Monday 19 November 2018, twelve Brothers of Furness Circle, along with their ladies and guests joined in the dinner and after proceedings where a 25-Year Scroll was presented to Alan by Brother Provincial President Jim Livesey. 

Alan is a proud Welshman, having been born in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, South-West Wales.  He joined Furness Circle in 1992 and until recently, together with his wife Anne, took a very active part in Circle affairs.  In the past, many happy evenings have been spent at BBQ parties at the Scourfield’s.

Alan was President of the Circle for two consecutive years 1997/98 and again in 1998/99, having a very successful time in office on both occasions.  He was, for a time, a joint member of the former Catenian Circle in Fleetwood.  Unfortunately, in recent years various health problems have curtailed Alan’s direct involvement in Circle and Association activities.

Alan spent a long career in the Royal Navy as a submariner.  However, Alan and Anne have nevertheless tried to continue their favourite holidays of going on cruises, where he can now view the sights from the surface!

After coming ashore, he ran a market garden business, as well as looking after the grounds at a local school.  He was also a well-respected judge of various horticultural shows in the Furness area. 

[Photo L-R] Jim Livesey (Provincial President); Alan Scourfield; Anne Scourfield

Standing, Jim Croskery (Furness Circle President)

LSA School Presentation

President (and School Liaison officer) Robert Thompson again attended the annual Presentation Evening for St Bede's Catholic High School, Lytham, held at Ribby Hall, Wrea Green.  This year the Catenian Circle Shield for service to the school was awarded jointly to Yasmine Ballout and George Craine.  They both received other trophies - Yasmine for English Literature and Achievement in Public Exams whilst George got one for Physical Education.  The photo shows the recipients holding their individual shields which they keep.

Recent events at Accrington

The Circle held its Family Sunday on 1^st July. The Mass at St.Anne’s Church, Accrington, was celebrated by Fr Simon Stamp. Following Mass around 80 people enjoyed lunch at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel.

The Annual Summer Evening Walk took place on 21^st August and around 40 people enjoyed a walk around Hurst Green following part of the Tolkien Trail. Supper was held at the Shireburn Arms. The photo shows the group about to depart.

The Circle bowls team reached the semi-final of the Provincial competition that took place on 2^nd September. Unfortunately they lost 3-2 to a good Burnley team.

On 10^th September several Brothers attended Chorley meeting to lend support to Bro Peter Hughes on achieving 40 years of membership.

After the September meeting members enjoyed another of Mike Neild’s “Call my Bluff”. Some of the descriptions of the chosen words were original and inventive and at times quite outrageous.

Around twenty members and wives attended the Provincial Ball at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel on 22^nd September. They enjoyed an excellent meal and the dancing which followed.

A small group attended the Broughton-in-Craven meeting on 4^th October. They participated in the Skittles competition which followed. Although Neil Goodall was unable to hold on to the trophy he won 12 months ago he was delighted to pass it on to another Accrington member Andrew Dabrowski.

October 10^th saw the walkers on the move again. The group of around 17 met at Lytham Hall for coffee then split into three groups for walks of varying distances. One group chose to just walk round the grounds of the Hall whilst the most energetic group continued through Lytham and round Fairhaven Lake. Lunch was taken back at Lytham Hall. The photo shows some of the group about to depart.

Burnley Circle sponsor a prize

Burnley Circle sponsored a prize for 'Contribution to the School Community' at the recent Blessed Trinity RC College prize night.  

The photo shows the winner receiving his trophy from
Burnley President, Ken Tyson, with the Headteacher,
Richard Varey, looking on.

Warm welcome at LSA

This month Lytham St Annes Circle had two out of Province visitors and the Warm Welcome Trophy was awarded to Paul Hewitt, Provincial VP of Province 4 and a member of N. Wales Circle.  The other visitor was Pete Harrington of Stourbridge and Kidderminster Circles (Province 6).  It was Pete who presented the Stourbridge crystal tankard to LSA Circle a few years ago and he had been awarded it the last time he visited the Circle.

The tankard is engraved with the Catenian logo surrounded by Lytham St Annes (89) Visitors Tankard below which is a quotation from Hamlet: 

"we'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart"

Pete Harrington, Paul Hewitt, Robert Thompson Circle President