They Came from The Forest to The Forest

There was a prevailing woodland theme at our September meeting when the Circle was delighted to welcome three visiting brothers from Epping Forest Circle, to the Forest Hotel, Dorridge. The trio were headed by Malcolm Devereux who intriguingly announced that he and his fellow brothers; Pat McCreesh and John Campbell had come on a mission to North Warwickshire Circle that night!

Following our after meeting dinner, Bro. Malcolm explained that he is the son in law of the late Bro. John Bowen RIP; a founder member of our Circle, the Circle’s President in the war years 1938-1940 and a Past Grand President of the Association 1973-1974. Sadly Bro. John passed away in 2006 and whilst sorting-out personal possessions the family had come across a framed page entry from the Association’s 1937 Directory for North Warwickshire Circle, listing the founding members of the Circle, including Bro. Malcolm’s father in law; Bro. John Bowen RIP.

Bro. Malcolm’s mission that night was to present the framed print to our Circle; and this he did, with Vice President James Oliver gratefully accepting this interesting documentary record of the Circle’s history.

The directory entry lists the meeting venue for North Warwickshire Circle as the Forest Hotel, Dorridge, which following a number of venue changes over the Circle’s life, is the same again today. Another co-incidence is the fact that Epping Forest Circlehas recently changed their meeting venue to the Epping Forest Hotel.

To conclude the evening our Brother Sean Higgins and the former General Manager of The Friends Of The Holy Land, gave an account of the charity’s history, aims and objectives to help Christians in the Holy Land and a personal reflection as to the future development of the charity especially taking into account the recent troubles in Palestine and the West Bank. A collection was taken at end of the meeting which raised over £200 for the charity.

Bro. Malcolm Devereux (the late Bro. John Bowen’s son in law) presenting the 1937 framed Directory entry to our Vice President James Oliver, with Brothers Pat McCreesh and John Campbell from Epping Forest Circle.
Details of the pages from the 1937/38 Catenian Directory, listing the members of North Warwickshire Circle in their 2nd year with Bro. Edgar Ashby RIP as Circle President.

P.S There is a rumour that the Circle framed this print and that it was presented to Bro. John Bowen RIP in recognition of his immeasurable contribution to the Association; on the occasion of our 60th anniversary when Bro. Frank Vincent was President in 1995.