Great Britain National Conference

Building Bridges to a Better Future

TELFORD11 to 13 May 2018

PROGRAMMEFriday 11 May

7.45am Golf Competition for the Raymond Rand and the Tom Wolfenden Trophies.The Competition (for Ladies and Brothers) will be held at The Shropshire Golf Centre, which is only a short drive from the main Conference hotel.

Arrival from 7.45am. First Tee from 8.30am. Presentation of Prizes at 3.30 pm. The cost (£30) includes tea/coffee and bacon bap on arrival and 18 holes of golf. Please contact Brother Phil Denver (Sutton Coldfield Circle) at philiplmdenver@gmail.com or 0121 3784119 to book.

Early notification from all who wish to play would be appreciated.

The Shropshire Golf Centre

6.30pm Dinner (in the Ludlow Suite)

International Centre

8.00pm

8.30pm8.45pm – 11.00pm

Welcome Event• Welcome to our overseas visitors and first-time attendees, and their ladies• Welcome and presentations• Informal gathering• Displays by various organisations and Catenian charities.No food is served at the Welcome Event. Drinks will be available from a cash bar.

Saturday 12 May

9.30am – 12.30pm Annual ConferenceLadies are invited to attend the first session of Conference to hear the National President’s address, our Remembrance of Brothers who have died in the last year, and to hear Bishop John Arnold, our keynote speaker.

International Centre

Coffee and tea will be served after the first session.

1.00pm Lunch

6.30pm for 7.00pm Grand Banquet hosted by Great Britain National President John and Pauline Hogan.

Carnival Ball hosted by Great Britain National Vice President Phil and Linda Brown.

Dancing to String of Pearls

Sunday 13 May

10.00am for 11.00am

Solemn High MassPrincipal Celebrant: the Right Reverend Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury International

Centre1.00pm for 1.30pm Farewell Lunch

Transport and Parking The main Conference hotels are on site. Guests staying at other hotels will need to make their own arrangements to get to the International Centre. There is ample FREE car parking onsite for all the events.

Ladies Tours will be provided to Attingham Park and to Blists Hill. The cost will be around £10 per person for the coach, plus any entrance fees as appropriate. National Trust members should note that Attingham Park is a NT property.

Welcome Desks will be staffed by Brothers and Ladies of Province 6. They will be able to provide information and advice as well as registering your arrival for the Conference. Welcome desks will be open on Friday afternoon in the two main Conference Hotels, with a further desk in the main foyer of the International Centre.

Accessibility The International Centre prides itself on being an accessible venue for everyone. There are disabled parking bays on-site, near the main entrance, and there is a lift within the venue, providing access to the first floor if needed.

WELCOME TO TELFORDJohn and Pauline Hogan

Great Britain National Council President Elect

Pauline and I would like to extend a warm invitation to the second Great Britain National Conference. Telford is named after one of the most innovative engineers this country has produced. He was able to bridge gaps that many people thought impossible, and in this increasingly secular world we as an Association must find this same inspiration to help our Church bridge the gaps in our Catholic communities. Come to Telford and find out how we are going to do it.

We have explored the town and surrounding areas and were amazed at how many intriguing places there are to visit. With the shopping/restaurants/cinema complex next to the hotels, Telford is the perfect weatherproof venue.

Our thanks go to everyone in Province 6 who has worked so hard to ensure we all have a great time and enjoy

ourselves. We hope you can join us.

Tony and Tessa StevensDirector, Province 6

We are delighted to welcome you to the first Conference ever held in leafy Telford. Set in the heart of Shropshire, our venue offers unique attractions. For the first time, all of our activities will be held under one roof : the International Centre, Telford.

Ladies and Brothers from our 23 Circles are working to ensure the success of the Conference and are planning a warm welcome to all our visitors. Telford is surrounded by the verdant Shropshire countryside, World-renowned Ironbridge is just down the road, and there is a host of houses, gardens and historic towns to explore at your leisure. We are delighted with what we have to offer — we know you will be too!

Danny and Marie McAreeProvincial President Elect, Province 6

The Ladies and Brothers of Province 6 are honoured and delighted that the Conference is returning to Province 6, and in particular, to leafy Shropshire. Telford provides both a great Conference venue, as well as being a gateway to the treasures Shropshire has to offer.

Marie and I are proud to be part of the Provincial team that will ensure the warmest of welcomes to Telford, and provide every opportunity for you all to sample at least some of the amazing places of interest in the area.

The Ladies and Brothers of our Province hope you will come and join us in Telford and share this weekend with us, as we look forward to meeting friends old and new.

IN & AROUND TELFORD

Telford is host to our Conference at the renowned International Centre and the two Conference Hotels, all located within a pleasant stroll of the modern South Water Centre, combining a lake, the largest shopping mall in Shropshire and one of the largest town parks in England. Outside of the town, in the surrounding Shropshire countryside, there is a

wealth of wonderful attractions, all within twenty-five minutes drive of the International Centre.

Ironbridge – the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and an opportunity to see it as it has never been seen before. The first iron bridge ever built, conveniently

adjacent to Coalbrookdale with its multiple museums.

Boscobel House – where King Charles II hid in its oak tree after the battle of Worcester. Only another thirty minutes away is Moseley Old Hall where he spent the night before escaping to France disguised as a servant.

There are many priest holes in both houses.

Shrewsbury – a lovely Tudor town only twenty-five minutes away and a great shopping experience.

Blists Hill – a wonderful Victorian Open Museum.

Attingham Park (National Trust) – an 18th century mansion with beautiful parks. Percy Thrower used to film

his gardening programmes here.

David Austin Roses – the internationally acclaimed rose grower. Take a plant home as a reminder of your stay.

CONFERENCE HOTELSFor their visit to Shropshire, members will be able to book directly with the hotel of their choice either by phone or by email. Early booking is essential and every effort should be made to secure your room by mid February to avoid disappointment. The rates quoted for all hotels are for bed and breakfast only on a per room per night basis.Friday dinner, Saturday buffet lunch and evening functions, and Sunday lunch will take place in the International Centre and need to be booked separately via the online Ticket Application Form (see back page).

The Holiday Inn TF3 4EH The designated Conference hotel, adjacent to the International Centre and only a 5 minute drive from the M54. Ample free

parking and free wi-fi, leisure facilities. 4 accessible bedrooms.Dedicated route to International Centre for wheelchair users.

Standard twin/double room BB £130.00 and £120.00 for sole occupancy.

International Hotel TF3 4EH Located next to the Holiday Inn. Free on-site parking and wi-fi. 5 accessible bedrooms.

Dedicated route to International Centre for wheelchair users.Standard twin/double room BB £120.00 and £110.00 for sole occupancy.

Ramada Hotel TF3 4NA Situated adjacent to the town centre,the hotel is a 15 minute walk to the International Centre.The hotel has a fitness centre, swimming pool and sauna.

Ample free parking. 1 accessible bedroom.Standard twin/double room BB £130.00 and £120.00 for sole occupancy.

Please book for the three hotels above by email to reservations@southwatereventgroup.com or by telephone to the Central Reservations Team on 01952 527000, quoting Catenian Conference May 11-13 2018

Debit/credit card details are required to secure booking.

Telford Hotel & Golf Resort TF7 4DT A 4 star Q Hotel with excellent leisure facilities and a golf course on site. Ample free parking. 5 miles from the

International Centre. Standard twin/double room BB £145.00 with single rooms available at £100. There are 2 designated disabled access rooms.

Please make bookings via Central Reservations Team on 0845 034 0577 quoting “Catenian Association 2018” or by email to stay@hotels.co.ukA £50.00 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking.

Madeley Court, Madeley TF7 5DW A 16th century manor houseand former monastery, situated 4 miles from the International Centre.

Free parking and free wi-fi. This hotel is not accessible to people with mobility impairments. Standard twin/double room BB £95.00.

Please make bookings by telephoning 01952 680068.Debit/credit card details are required to secure booking. Payment on check-in.

Best Western, Valley, Ironbridge TF8 7DW A 3 star hotel, 4 miles from Telford, which enjoys a prime location in the World Heritage site of Ironbridge. Free car parking and internet access. Limited disabled facilities. Standard twin/double

room BB £150.00. Please make bookings by telephoning 01952 432247 quoting “Catenian Association allocation 11/12 May”. Payment in full required

upon booking and a 3 month cancellation policy applies.

For further information or queries about accommodation, please contactPaul Henderson, Conference Organiser, on 07944 724197 or by email: paulh7136@gmail.com

GETTING TO TELFORD

By Car

Telford is easily accessed from the motorway system via the M54 with links from the M6 and M5 from the south and east. (The A5 is a viable alternative). From the north, Chester and the Wirral, the A41 or A483 are viable choices. Leave the M54 at Junction 4. The International Centre is signposted at the first island as you exit the M54 motorway slip road.

By Train

The railway station is a short distance from the International Centre. Regular trains from Birmingham serve Telford. There are connections via Shrewsbury north to the Wirral and beyond.

By Plane

Telford is more or less equidistant from Birmingham and Manchester Airports, with an hourly direct train service from Birmingham New Street (average journey time 39 minutes)

Car Parking

The International Hotel and the Holiday Inn are both on the same site as the International Centre and both have their own car parking for their guests. The International Centre has ample car parking for all other attendees at the Conference or any of the Conference weekend events.

Further Information

For further information about Telford and the surrounding area, please visit discovertelford.co.ukFor the latest information about the Conference, please go the Catenian Association website at thecatenians.com where a link will be found to the Conference website.

CONFERENCE FUNCTION TICKETSPlease book your tickets online using the online Ticket Application Form at https://goo.gl/fZJrQL

The booking line will open on 1 January 2018Please note that all tickets must be paid for in advance of the Conference opening.Any queries, please contact Brother David Lloyd: ticketsecretary@thecatenians.com