Jim Connolly

Jim Connolly
Jim was a stalwart of Norwood Circle for many years and is greatly missed by those who knew him, both in and beyond the circle. He was born in 1936 in Faversham, Kent and educated at St Mary's in West Croydon, After school he did his national service in the Navy, then joined the London Fire Brigade where he served for 28 years, before doing ‘The Knowledge’ and becoming a taxi driver.
He met his wife Iris in 1957 and they married in 1959. Sadly, Iris died in 2013. Sadly, Jim died on 29th March, 2020 after the ‘Coronavirus lockdown’ had been implemented. A fitting memorial mass, celebrating his life will be arranged when matters allow
Jim and Iris leave two children, Anne and Peter and 5 grandchildren, and one great grandson.
Derrick Phillips writes: We have known Jim since 1964, Our children grew up together with his and we all had great fun times together. In the 60s Jim and Iris were enthusiastic members of the FSA (Family and Social Apostolate) house group in Waddon. They were also longstanding and active members of David Barrett's Walking Group. He was a particular favourite of all the children, clowning, joking and playing games. A particular memory was the day he did a "Tarzan" act, swinging across a river on the hanging branch of a tree. As a Fireman he was very fit and agile.
Jim could be very competitive! One of his favourite pastimes was the annual Treasure Hunt/Car Rally organised by a group of friends in Waddon. He thoroughly enjoyed the hunt, driving around (often at a hectic pace to the consternation of anyone in his cab) with a burning desire to interpret and find the object of the clues. Jim was also involved in the organisation of a very successful Car Treasure Hunt organised during his VP year.

He joined Norwood Circle in 1983. As a Catenian he was at first pretty reluctant to get up and speak at meetings - until he became Vice President and President 1999-2000 (offices which he approached with some trepidation) but once President he put aside his worries and became a forcible speaker, not afraid to express his opinion. He was an excellent President. He also became a prolific visitor to other Circles, even when he was in his wheelchair. Great courage, while in great pain. At Provincial Weekends he again was a great favourite with the children, playing games and clowning around with them.
He and Iris also became members of the Croydon Circle of the Newman Association until his sad leg operations
Jim was a fervent supporter of Crystal Palace Football Club. His great joy was when they reached the FA Cup Final.
For some years he and Iris and then he on his own was very dependent on a much-appreciated Carer. His children Anne and Peter were devoted to him and gave him loving support and he took great pleasure in his grandchildren.

John Woodhouse recalls visiting him in Guys hospital after his leg was amputated. He was so positive about life and he often insisted on walking up to receive communion at Mass. In later years he was confined to a wheelchair but this did not stop him as he had the car adapted. As he had been a taxi driver he was not an easy passenger and as a result I once took the wrong motorway coming back from Kent on a road I knew really well. However he did introduce me to an excellent route to Kent which I have used many times!
Simon Grummitt writes: I also visited him in Guys. He said that there was a very kind Doctor who was going to take him out for a drink and that .he was going to become legless! That was Jim all over. May he rest in peace.
Brendan Foley writes: What a character Jim was. One of the hairiest things one could experience was being driven by him when visiting other circles.
In my time as a Catenian Jim introduced a commendable number of new brothers from Addiscombe parish including Declan O’Hara.He will be greatly missed. Catena June 2020

Italian meal Shirley 2016

Families

Norwood had 3 sets of fathers and sons in the later years Bill and Kevin Beach, Eric and Luke Tope, John and Dennis Woodhouse. Dennis was enrolled in the year John was Provincial President. 

Why did Norwood close?

Why did Norwood close?

Cost. The crippling capitation fee meant that a prospective member would be paying at least £100 a year. Add to this an increase in the golf club’s charges and the cost of sandwiches. The bar was not being used enough to justify a barman on some evenings.

Fr Keith offered us the use of the hall at Addiscombe for free. This has a bar but is rather large. We did hold a Mass in the church and invite people. The dementia awareness evening was a success but attempts at recruitment failed. Similarly the deanery evening where there were several circles represented.

Recruitment. Some pulpit presentations were well received. Bill Whitmarsh even got a clap at South Norwood but there were too few of us at the back of the church and so all one could do was give out leaflets. Too many parishes represented among brothers who had moved to other areas. An attempt to concentrate on Addiscombe, Upper Norwood and South Norwood did not bring results. Involvement at Becket school fete and Coloma fete gave us some leads but hose who came along did not seem at ease. Perhaps the golf club was “pretentious”? Dennis was the last new member and he resigned in 2020 as he could not get to meetings.

Did do a presentation at the Polish church in South Norwood but they have there own society of St Joseph and the disparity in cost was obvious. They are very involved in their parish.

Spiritual needs – no take up on special days of prayer or Signposts. Masses for vocations and deceased brothers poorly attended.

Retention. The grim reaper took his toll especially of past Presidents notably Vincent Cullen and stalwarts like David Barrett and Gerry Haines and so many others. Those who opposed moving into a parish hall because we are not parish based then promptly resigned! Younger brothers did not stay.

Attendance. On some evenings we were down to 4 and heavily outnumbered by visitors. The stalwarts Bill, Brendan X 2, Philip, Colin, Mike, Declan, myself kept it going but we were “kicking the can down the road”. Sadly some did not take office so we recycled presidents notably Bill 4 times!

Perhaps Catenians were not a high priority for some.

Province was supported by myself. Brendan Foley went to provincial weekends. I was usually the only brother who went to Provincial President’s Sunday and other functions. Even in my Provincial Presidential year I usually went alone. We went from very high visiting figures to very low but still retained those regulars visiting us. Beckenham, Bromley, Croydon, Dulwich, occasionally Blackheath and Chislehurst became our patch.

Widows received flowers every year and we did keep in contact but only Renee and sometimes Wendy came to functions. In fact May Supper and clergy supper were the only functions and frankly they were dull. President’s Sunday sometimes attracted a good crowd. Masses for deceased brothers sometimes did not happen and when they did, the attendance was poor. One success was when I moved this Mass to the summer and held it on Sunday evening at Virgo Fidelis followed by an Italian meal. For once we did not need support from other circles and the younger brothers and their wives attended in strength. The monthly weekday pub lunches faded out as those who came passed on.

Ideas like family walks fell flat – Sundays are for families, well bring them along!

Visiting the sick became a phone call or email.

What are we marketing? The refusal to change with the times e.g. not changing the meeting night to later in the week, trying a different time of day on occasion like a Sunday lunch, not knowing what we are for. The atmosphere after the meeting was always congenial and interesting but can you bottle that? Age gap is a problem too.

Beckenham have given us great support and we enjoy their functions but they refused to allow us to keep our name if we merged. In effect some have joined Beckenham while others went to Central circle, Dulwich or Croydon. Croydon circle misunderstood my plea for support and started visiting in strength. This did not really help. We did co-operate on pulpit presentations at St Mary’s but the real blow was when some joined Croydon who should have joined us.

Philip Chandler’s passing was the final blow. He had husbanded our resources well. At his funeral there were several who had been brothers and left – ironic really.

Will Catenians survive? Probably not as there is such a strong feeling that women cannot be admitted. Sons of brothers can join but “practising Catholic” remains a stop to those from other churches joining. The structure is a disaster - top heavy with a central council answerable to nobody.

Refusal to change from some directors. Not really listening to those on the ground is not good although I do have a lot of time for those who take office. Too much money spent on developing and travelling overseas which is great but India and Australia and Malta should now be left to get on with it. Not enough spent on marketing at home although thanks to Sussex catenians and others this is changing for the better.

Talk of devolving to provincial councils has not been realised and in any case provinces are too big (Dover to Victoria) and provincial councils are not well supported with the same faces carrying on.

It would be a great shame if the youth work went – Bursary fund, public speaking, Flame.

Catena has changed and many do not like the new format and content. Publicity is still needed in parish newsletters and local press.

Province 7 has seen the closure of circles which used to be strong South London. Norwood, Medway Towns, Dover, Ramsgate. Perhaps like Weald of Kent we would be better off closing and carrying on in a different format!

Ultimately it comes down to brotherhood and friendship. How strong are the ties in a time like lockdown? Who contacts who in such times? Are we just a funeral club? One priest after a pulpit presentation commented “It sounds like an unreformed golf club” and he was right. OK no need for ties but you still need a jacket!

These views are my own!

John Woodhouse

The declining years and old friends

Brendan Fitzgerald again became president 2017-8, Juan Antelo 2018-9 and Bill Whitmarsh for the 5th time 2019-2020. In the process of discussing our future several brothers resigned. In the end only 14 were left of which 6 attended regularly. 

Presenting cups at sports day This photo was used for marketing

 Jan 2019 letter

v

 Maureen Reid died 2019. Teddy died in 1995 - he was famous for kissing brothers!

 Freddie Baldwin died 2006 a colleague of Harry Mellor

Tony Nicholls died 2013 and John played for the funeral

The passing of Philip really marked the end of the circle. I played for the funeral which was very well attended. 

2016-7

Dennis Woodhouse was enrolled in 2016 our last recruit! 

 Laurie Jones had been Provincial President 1994-5 but sadly resigned. Eileen Haines died in 2017

John Woodhouse played for the funeral of Harry Mellor 

Provincial President

Meopham

Blackheath and Chislehurst

Gerrard Goodhind a special scroll

The icon which was presented to many circles in my year 

Gerrard Goodhind edited Provincial News for many years and was a great loss. He often sang at Provincial President's Sunday masses.