Back to the Future and the Way We were!

    BACK TO THE FUTURE

 The last 'physical' Guildford Circle meeting was on 4th March 2020 just prior to the Lockdown. Since then, the Circle has used 'Zoom' to organise virtual meetings with the first being held on 8th April 2020. These continued right up to September 2021 when the first hybrid meeting took place. With the successful roll-out of vaccinations and Government restrictions allowing, hopefully future meetings will take place as normal.  

 

Below are a few photographs taken by Bro. Steve Rowden at the hybrid meeting held at the Guildford Rugby Club.

 

Final Preparations

Ready to go!

Good evening brothers and welcome!

Rogues Gallery!

Et al.!

    As mentioned above the last 'physical' Guildford event was Ladies Night in March last year. Although a blog was created to record the occasion, due to the escalation of the Pandemic and sensitivity surrounding brothers and their family members working in the front line, it was considered inappropriate to publish it. Also, the untimely death of Bro. Chris Devereau as a result of Covid was a major deciding factor. However, with the passing of time, now is a good a time as any for us to remember that happy and enjoyable evening at the Guildford Golf Club.

 

THE WAY WE WERE 

 

There was a healthy turn out of 95 brothers and ladies including National President Bro. Phil Brown who was accompanied by his wife Linda. During the meeting, Bro. Phil spoke at length on the recent voting on GBNC Strategy and Membership Work Group's Questionaire. He also addressed the Brothers and Ladies during dinner. Other visitors included Provincial Councillor Bro. Pat Gogerty and David Urch both of Richmond and Twickenham Circle. Also in attendance was Visiting Gentleman Paul McMahon and his wife Deidre.

 

Following the somewhat extended meeting, the brothers joined the ladies in the bar before entering the restaurant to enjoy a sumptious dinner. In the interests of safety and hygiene, the usual and accepted forms of greeting namely handshakes and/or kisses, were dispensed with. Both the brothers and the ladies had to use their initiative to find suitable alternatives and some examples of their ingenuity can be seen among the photographs below. On this occasion, there were no visiting clergy and the ecclesiastical duties were undertaken by Deacon Bro. Paul Page-Tickell. 

Bro. Phil speaking at the meeting on the GBNC Questionaire

 

Thanks Bro. Phil for explaining at length the GBNC Questionaire!

Visiting Gentleman Paul McMahon enjoying a pre-dinner drink with Bro. Nigel Maude

If I may say so, the meeting did go on a bit!

I think it's time for dinner!

Ready when you are!

Let's get in there!

Where are we sitting?

Hurry up Chef, they're ready to eat!

Brothers and Ladies, please remember to 'gel-up' before dining!

I've thoroughly washed my hands!

So have I!

Deacon Bro. PP-T giving his hands an 'Almighty' cleanse...

...he then dries them off.

... and takes a sniff. He likes it! 

Meanwhile, Bro. Simon and Bro. Duncan were demonstrating their version of an alternative greeting!

You put your left leg in, your left leg out etc....!

Unimpressed, Bro. Paul gives it the elbow!

Think I'll stick to a simple nod!

Because of panic buying we've made our own hand sanitizer using Aloe Vera and Vodka!

What does it taste like?

Grace before Meal

At last, I'm starving!

The elitist top table!

    The elitist top table from the other end. Good night and God bless!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bro. Terence Nagle In Memoriam

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Terence was born in Frimley Green, a younger brother for sister Maureen. They grew up playing in the grounds of Wharfenden Estate where their farher was head gardener. The site is now The Lakeside Country Club the famous darts venue. In 1955 the family moved to Guildford and Terence became a boarder at Ottershaw School. Here he made many cherished life-long friendships.

On leaving school, Terence started work at a local family run firm of estate agents in Dorking. The owners encouraged him to become a Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer which he duly did. Indeed, Terence became a well-known agent in Dorking using his entrepreneurial skills to diversify into commercial property. On one memorable occasion, having omitted the words ‘subject to contract,’ he managed to sell the same shop to two different enthusiastic buyers! However, he quickly overcame his predicament by finding a second shop to sell! 

Terence’s career in property culminated in him becoming the MD of a large property company from which he was privileged to enjoy early retirement. This provided him time to read for a degree in Theology which he completed with flying colours.  

Terence’s faith instilled in him by his parents was uppermost in his life. He was an active Knight of St Columba from the age of seventeen holding many offices in the Guildford Council. The principles of this order: Faith; Family and Fraternity were instrumental in instilling in him the courage to express openly his deep belief in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. As such, he was an active supporter of the organisations LIFE and SPUC.  

Terence met his future wife Beth when she offered to help him with a house-to-house collection he was organising for Shelter. They married on 20^th April 1974 in St Marys’ Rydes Hill and were blessed with four wonderful children: Sarah; Matthew; Peter and Theresa. It was by moving to Sutton Green in 1976 that Terence and Beth began and developed their special bond with St. Edwards, Sutton Park. They both contributed greatly to the life of the church with Terence becoming a very active member of the finance committee. 

Terence felt it a gift to be able to use his skills to assist the Catholic communities that he loved. He spent many years sitting on the diocesan finance committee, was an adviser to the Josephite Order for over twenty years and was an active school governor at both Barrow Hills and Cranmore Schools. Terence was pleased to use his knowledge and acumen in the property industry to help the parents in the purchase of both Rydes Hill and Barrow Hills Schools when they had to be sold by the religious orders that owned them. 

Terence was pleased to accept his invitation to join the Guildford Catenian Circle in July 2004 particularly because of their prayerfulness, camaraderie and focus on family. He served as a member of the Catenian Council for many years and treasured the friendships he made in both the Catenians and the Knights.  

In his latter years, Terence valiantly and stubbornly refused to allow his long struggle with ill health to interfere with his life and was completely unaware of the fine example he radiated to us all. Terence loved every aspect of his life, his choice of career, his family, his home and his faith.  

May the Lord now let him rest in peace. 

 

Bro. Terence Nagle

10 November 1942 to 11 November 2020

 

What do you want to do ?

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What do you want to do ?

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What do you want to do ?

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Bro. Harvey Palmer In Memoriam

Harvey Palmer died peacefully at his home in Guildford on 9th July 2020. His sons and daughters had spent the previous night reminiscing at his bedside. Under Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, family and friends gathered on 22nd July at St Pius X Church in Merrow to celebrate his life before his committal at Guildford Crematorium.

Harvey was born in Gosport Hampshire  on 7th May 1939 to parents Sydney and Margaret. He attended  St John's college in Portsmouth before embarking on a career in the lock industry, initially with Chubb and later ME Duffell. In 1973 he met Joan his wife, when he was working in Dublin for a couple of years. They married in St Joseph’s church, Guildford, in 1979.

Since 1977 Harvey had lived in Guildford, apart from a brief move to Wolverhampton. He worshipped at St Pius X Church. Invariably he would be found contributing to the Mass by strumming a double bass. Harvey’s professional expertise maintaining the church locks was greatly appreciated by the parish. He was part of a team that raised funds for a children’s feeding programme at St Pius X Church in Georgetown Guyana.

Harvey joined the Guildford Catenian Circle on 4th March 1998. He took the roles of Marshall and Chamberlain with enthusiasm.

He engaged with everyone positively. Neighbours, shop keepers, church groups, music groups, sports clubs, the postman or the Catenians. You could trust Harvey and his dog Scruffy to spot something awry and do something about it. The local people all referred to his pleasantness and the time he had for people. It is no surprise that nipping out for a paper would often take up to 2 hours. Harvey had a sense of integrity. He always wanted to do the right thing, not just for himself but for all, whether family or in business.

Harvey was cool. Or at least as cool as an octogenarian can get! You knew he paid attention to the whole subject of cool and not just in appearance. This was surely why he gravitated to music, favouring naturally the coolest of all music - jazz. Even his instrument, the double bass, exuded coolness. Harvey could be at the centre of the whole sound while hardly seeming to expend any effort at all. Initially belonging to a pub band, later he formed his own band “Serve Chilled” with much younger confederates. They sounded great because they had the energy and enthusiasm of youth, a force their senior leader could absorb and reflect back to them.

He could immediately relate to those he met, a knack that made him good at dealing with customers, including the toughest customers he had to deal with in Ireland, his prospective wife Joan’s family! But he succeeded and became a full-fledged member of the clan. Harvey and Joan built the kind of shared life together that could include Annie and Ellie, his daughters from his first marriage, warmly welcome their sons Stephen and Andrew, and later their wives Katie and Clair, along with parents, siblings, relatives and friends. No father could have been happier or basked more in the recognition Stephen and Andrew each received from Her Majesty and Her Majesty’s government.

His support of others as a Catenian and his generous friendship to all in the parish community, were only the most visible signs of what was within his heart. Harvey was at ease with everyone and everyone was at ease with him because all saw his unconditional acceptance. If Jesus sported a goatee and strummed a double bass in a jazz combo, he might have looked like Harvey.

Bro. Harvey Palmer 1939 to 2020

                 May he rest in Peace

Bro. Andy Owen In Memoriam

Andy was someone you wanted to be with. Always cheery, interesting, stoic, never complaining and of course, up for a chat; an active member of the Guildford Catenians for over 30 years including six as Secretary.

He was educated at Prior Park College, Bath and Bristol University. After training as an accountant he joined BAC, Bristol as Finance Director at an exciting time during the construction of Concorde and its roll out in 1969.

In 1977 the family moved to Farnham and Andy became MD of C.I. de Rougement, a Lloyds underwriting agency, commuting regularly until his retirement.

Andy enjoyed a very full life. He was a keen sportsman, playing hockey for Bristol University, West Gloucester and Basingstoke where he served as President. He was an active member of the Bourne Club playing tennis, squash and table tennis and was a valued member of the Management Committee. He also found time for golf at Blacknest and Farnham Golf Club.

Andy’s other great interest was music. He was a member of the Farnham and Bourne Choral society for forty years and at times the Treasurer. He was also in the Odd Fellows Male Voice Choir for many years and Treasurer of the Farnham Youth Choir Trust.

Throughout his life Andy always valued the foundation of love he had received at Prior Park College. It was his second family. He continued a very active involvement including 47 years on the Prior Park Alumni Committee, many as Chairman as well as a long spell as a School Governor.

After his retirement, Andy delighted in immersing himself in the Farnham scene. He acted as Trustee and Treasurer of the Farnham Institute Charity, Brightwells Gostrey Centre, the Bourne Children and Youth Initiative and was Trustee at the Maltings.

As an only child Andy loved his family life. He and Liz married in 1996 having met at Bristol University. They have a son, Simon, a daughter, Lucy and Grandchildren Luke and Gemma of whom he was very proud. Andy was a popular and gregarious man who always had a story to tell. He kept lifelong friendships from all stages of his life and had a prodigious memory for names and faces, usually finding a connection somewhere, somehow. Many benefitted from his kindness and numerous offspring of friends enjoyed work experience in his office.

An extract from: ‘’ODE TO OWEN’’ by Laurence Treeby

AJ is a tiger in everything he does

We don’t know how he fits it in

His life is just a buzz

He’s here there, he’s everywhere

He doesn’t seem to rest

In all he does he gives his full

With humour, fun and skill – no bull

He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends

May he rest in Peace

Bro. Andy Owen 1939 to 2020

This In Memoriam was written by Bro. Jim O'Donnell