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Bro President wearing the
obligatory Conference Hat |
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Last weekend saw Catenians from around the UK gather for the annual National Conference, this year held in Eastbourne. Your humble scribe and her husband (Bro President Edek) drove down from Horsham to attend on Saturday, but Bros Mike and Dominic together with Bro Dominic's wife Emily made a weekend of it and lodged in Eastbourne to attend the full Conference.
The Conference proper took place on Saturday morning with further Brothers from Crawley Circle in attendance - Bros Gerry, Peter and George. I am told that it was a very interesting morning with various new ideas being suggested, including the possibility of a Young Catenians movement. A slightly less formal structure to the monthly meetings was also mooted, with less time taken up by "business" and more by networking, friendship and support. The aim underlying it all was to find ways of taking the Catenian Association forwards in our changing modern world - whilst being sure to retain its underlying ethos, dignity and many of the traditions of which Brothers are justifiably proud - and attracting a new influx of Brothers.
Tours to Arundel Castle, Brighton Royal Pavilion and Charleston Farmhouse were arranged for delegates' wives whilst all this was being discussed, although I believe some of the ladies opted for the delights of the local shopping scene instead!
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| Bro Mike with guest Lorna |
Saturday evening saw two social functions taking place, one being a formal banquet at the Grand Hotel hosted by the Grand President with entertainment by comedian Don MacLean. The other, which we attended, was a Carnival Dinner at the Winter Gardens Floral Hall, hosted by the Grand Vice-President; at this we had the pleasure of dancing to a 16-piece dance orchestra headed up by Chris Smith (lead trombone on Frank Sinatra's European tours). Bros Edek, Mike and Dominic, together with Emily, Emily's friend Lorna, myself, Dominic's father David and his wife Imelda made up a table; we had a thoroughly good time in true carnival spirit, as I think the photos reveal. There was some consternation as to whether any food would fit onto a table already laden with party poppers, whistles and those long balloons you are meant to blow up and then let fly around the room (which we did, repeatedly). Thankfully however the waiters did manage to find enough room to serve an excellent three course dinner!
The Conference was rounded off with Mass in the Congress Theatre on Sunday morning, which I'm quite sure was an inspiring occasion and a fitting conclusion to a weekend of "Faith, Fellowship and Fun at the Friendly Conference".
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| Emily, Bro Dominic, David and Imelda |
