Hartlepool circle's Golden Boy! - "Strengthen the Chain"

“Strengthen the Chain”

Province 5             Issue: 47   Date: December 2013

             Hartlepool circle’s Golden Boy!

Hartlepool Circle welcomed over eighty guests to their Gala evening at the Grand Hotel
on November the 16th. Kath Rhodes and Judith Bailey from Middlesborough Circle are
pictured conversing with a rather extraordinary doorman!

         dennis scores anotHer Half century
On the 27th of November Hartlepool Circle brothers gathered to celebrate fifty years of
Catenian membership of Dennis Grieveson, one of the most well loved and respected
brothers in Province 5. They were supported on this momentous occasion by the presence
of over twenty visiting brothers, including three priests, and principally the Grand
President –John Rayner.
The celebration has held exactly to the day that Dennis was enrolled i.e. the 27th
November 1963. The president at the time was Ted Swainston and his sponsors were Matt
Horsley, Watson and Cec Lindsey. Cec recently celebrated his fifty years of membership
and was also in attendance to add his congratulations to Dennis.

In his presentation speech John Rayner commented on the parallel paths that both he had
and Dennis had taken in their professional careers-both working at distance learning
courses to qualify after many years of hard work as accountants and senior executives.
With regard to his Catenian career Denis became Circle secretary soon after joining the
Circle, a post he held for over nine years. He was President of the Circle in 1975-76 and
after this he was elected to Provincial Council becoming Provincial President in 1986. He
was a founder member of Yarm Circle becoming its President in 1988-9 and he became a
Knight of the Holy Sepulture in 1985.
In his acceptance speech Dennis made many references to how his life and faith had been
enriched by his membership of the Association. In particular he told how a friend of his
was taken ill in London and had to be taken to hospital. However although he was on his
own he was visited very day by brothers from various London Circles who ensured thatn
his every need was catered for.
Dennis brings to six the elite band of Hartlepool brothers who have contributed to the
friendship and success of the Circle for over fifty years. The evening ended with the
assembled brothers sharing a delicious meal together and everyone would wish Dennis
and his wife Betty many more years of good fellowship.

                Hartlepool’s own Band of BrotHers

pictured left to riGHt Marty Mullins (lifelonG friend), cec lindsey (one of dennis’s
sponsors),dennis and finally eric sMitH-also 50 years MeMBer.

tyneMoutH carol concert
Monday 2nd December saw over 107 brothers from Province 5 gather at the
Park Hotel Tynemouth to celebrate one of the premiere occasions in our
annual calendar-the Christmas Carol Concert. There were entries from nine
circles this year and a great variety of musical treats on offer from Yarm
Circle’s excellent flutist accompanying a rendition of Silent Night (sung in
German), to a carol composed especially for the occasion by Hexham and Tyne
Valley Circle. All of this was on top of a singing Italian donkey from Newcastle
73 circle! The standard this year was exceptionally high and rumour has it
that some circles even managed more than one rehearsal. This as our Director
Donald Austin commented made the job of the judges extremely difficult but
in the final event Gateshead circle were deservedly awarded the winner’s
trophy. Every congratulation however should be given to the brothers of
Tynemouth Circle for organizing a splendid evening of typical Catenian
evening of fun and good company which was concluded by the assembled
brothers singing a rousing version of “Adeste Fidelis”

pictured aBove GatesHead circle in full voice led By
provincial vice president roB appleBy (pictures of otHer cHoirs
can Be viewed on roB’s weBsite)

tyneMoutH circle enrolMent
Father and Son
    Terry McQuillan writes-Tynemouth Circle 155 saw its first enrolment, at
least for a long while, of a son of an existing member when Antony Cairns was
enrolled. His father David and long standing family friend, Steve Donellan of
Darlington Circle, stood as his sponsors.
Antony is married to Cait and has two daughters, Cloe (5) and Sophie(3). He is
an accountant with Proctor and Gamble and attends the church of Our Lady
and Saint Oswin in Tynemouth Village where he is a reader and is involved
with the children’s liturgy.
On the night of Antony’s enrolment David was given a back copy of Catena
from his friend Jim Early (Newcastle 73) which coincidentally had a copy of
David winning the Circle ‘car rally in February 1991, supported by his wife
Maureen and Antony himself.

antony is pictured aBove flanked By director donald
austin and provincial president Mark kirk and circle
president MicHael reynolds, toGetHer witH His sponsors
steve donnellan and His fatHer david.

tiMe to celeBrate

                  .

Pictured above is photo of Newcastle City 73 after Circle Visitors and their
wives attending their Christmas Dinner at the Ponteland Golf Club. They are
Mr. Mario Wickremaratne, Dr. Gareth Boylan, Mr. Mario Fantin and Mr.
Detlef Hentze. Brother Carlo Rea and his wife Anna are also on the table.
There were 56 brothers, wives and guests in attendance and a great time was
had by all. (Reported by Mike McMenamin).

                        Mike Boyes award
Mike Boyes of Redcar and Cleveland Circle was awarded the KSG in
recognition of his significant involvement with the Middlesbrough Diocesan
Pilgrimages to Lourdes.
The order of St. Gregory The Great is one of the five Orders of Knighthood of
The Holy See. This special honor is awarded in recognition of someone’s
personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through
their unusual labors, their support of the Holy See and their excellent example
set forth in their communities and their countries.
For 23 years Mike has been the executive Director of the Annual Pilgrimage.
His father Dr. William Boyes was the chief medical officer of the Pilgrimage
for many years and Mike took his own son Michael, as a poorly child on many

occasions. Sadly his son died in 1993 but Mike’s involvement has continued as
a Brancardier and then as the Executive Director. He stepped down in 2013.
Bishop Terence Drainey presented him with the papal award at the closing
ceremony of this year’s pilgrimage in May.
Mike celebrated 40 years as a Catenian in January 2012 and received his scroll
from the then Grand President Tony Godden.
Mike has been Redcar’s President on 3 occasions. In 1974 when he was their
youngest ever President and again in in 1985 and 1996. Mike has been well
supported by his wife Liz who regularly attends Redcar social functions.

in recoGnition of His service to redcar circle president
Bill Moloney presents Mike witH a crystal tankard at
tHeir 700 MeetinG
            tH

The Mike Boyes visitors’ tankard will be presented to the visiting brother
travelling the longest distance to Redcar’s meeting. The brother will also
receive a complementary drink.(Contribution sent by Mark Fleming)

          Mike receives His ksG froM BisHop drainey

GatesHead circle deceMBer MeetinG
Kevin Dawson reports-
In the past Gateshead Circle have invited Brothers and their Ladies to an
Advent themed event following their December Meeting. Entertainment has
been provided in many forms, ranging from Carols being lead by element of
the Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Lourdes Choir to Brother Past Grand
President, Tony Godden KCHS, and Brother Rob Appleby presenting a slide
show following their pilgrimage to The Holy Land.

This year, however, Brother President Rob Appleby arranged for members of
the Gateshead Deanery Youth Choir to come and provide some uplifting
Hymns and Carols prior to Brother Stuart Hamilton carrying out a Charity
Auction in aid of people affected by the recent horrific typhoon that
devastated the Philippines earlier this year.

Sr Perla, a member of the Marie Repatrice Congregation, and the Catholic
Chaplain at North Tyneside General Hospital, who is originally from the
Philippines, was invited to speak to the audience about how the Typhoon had
affected a number of Phillippino Nurses who are currently working at North
Tyneside Hospital.

Br Stuart, using his exceptional talents managed to extricate sufficient money
from those present to present Sr Perla with a Cheque for £600.00 following the
evening’s activities.

president roB appleBy Meets His Guests and Makes a
presentation to sr perla

Gratias tiBi aGo
Chris Owens and the family extend their heartfelt personal thanks to all
brothers and ladies in Province 5 for their prayers and kind thoughts during
the past year especially at the passing of brother Michael on the 4th July,and
collectively wish everyone in Province a very happy and Holy Christmas.
With kind regards and blessings-Chris Owen and family.

Again my thanks are due to you all for your support-Mike

                     final word for 2013

provincial president Mark kirk and susan extend tHeir
GreetinGs to all BrotHers and tHeir faMilies in province
5 for a joyous cHristMas and a prosperous new year