Ousting Buffet

The outgoing President talks to the Membership Officer

One of the features of Catenian life is the Ousting Buffet  in which the year's outgoing Circle President is thanked for his year in office.  The Crawley Circle, which includes Horsham, held their Ousting Buffet on Saturday 21st May at the Red Lion in Handcross.

At the end of the meal, the incoming President, Mike Newman, thanked Dominic Moorhouse, the outgoing President, for an excellent and most enjoyable year.  Just the Presidential job would have been enough for most people, but during the year Dominic had also changed careers, got married, and continued his Territorial Army work. Nevertheless he had managed a busy year of Presidential duties - arranging, organising and running meetings - carrying out a visiting programme to other Circles in Sussex - and still appeared to carry out every task with ease.

The outgoing President congratulates his successor Mike Newman

Mike presented Emily, Dominic's new wife, with a bouquet for giving so much support to Dominic by carrying out the role of "first lady" during the year.

Dominic in replying presented the Partner's Vase to Iris Jordan –  the widow of a former Catenian who has herself given much support to the Circle, especially on the Social Committee -  who would be acting as Mike's honorary “wife” during the year, Mike being  a single man.  Iris was at some pains to assure everyone this would be purely a social duty! 

The new Vice-President, Edek Figura, and his wife Anneli

Dominic remarked that he and Emily had never dared to unwrap the vase in case it got broken. He then recalled that the first time he had brought Emily to a Catenian function, someone had asked him "What's the name of your daughter?"

Dominic concluded by saying that he had had a thoroughly marvellous time as Circle President and it had seemed easy because of the degree of support he had received from the members of the Circle. He would be very happy to do it again someday - after a good few years’ rest!