8/2/2019 Peter Hartnett

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In Memoriam

DON STUARTThe brothers ofEaling Circle weresaddened to learn

of the death of DonStuart on the 4th

September 2005after a brief illness.The following is an

extract from theEulogy given byAnthony Phillips.

Donald Robertson Stuart, if you knewhim as a Brother, Husband, Father, work

colleague, pupil or Friend he was aperson, who commended great respect.Whether it was his humble upbringing orhis worldly knowledge I know not, but hewas that person anyone could talk to,

confide in and if it was a problem hewould provide a reasoned approach orsolution, and yet would not suffer foolseasily. He would also tell you straight ifyou were in the wrong.

Don was born in November 1931 inDunoon into a large family. Seeing all theships coming down the Clyde gave him afeeling of wanting to move away from hisroots and so he came to London. His first

job in Acton was with a shopfitting firmand out of interest I asked who his bosswas. Long time ago, 40 years, cannotremember, was the answer, so I

prompted him with a name. He was mynext door neighbour and taught mewoodwork. That brought a broad grin tohis face as Don taught me woodwork atSt Benedicts School in Ealing. In the1960s he broadened his horizons and

went to Trinity College Dublin to take adegree and become a teacher. His firstteaching practice was in St EdmundCampion school in Essex. He thenreturned to Ealing where he established

himself in the History department. As ayoung teacher he set his cap at ateacher, Pam Simister, in the school and

married her in December 1958, snatchingher from under the noses of the English.

The Church was always an importantpart of Dons life and he made manyfriends with monks from the monasteries,especially Douai and Buckfast.

The memories of Don the teacher, the

staff at St Benedicts, the common roomand not least the large number of pupilswho learnt much from a wise man. WithPam in the junior school and Don in thesenior, I am surprised it didnt change its

name to Stuarts. As head of the commonroom, he was that person who wouldguide the young teachers and try andensure that problems were ironed outbefore they became major obstacles.

He joined the Catenian Association in1976 and soon became president, a taskhe was to fulfil twice more and the only

person to do so in Ealing Circle. Herepresented the Circle on Province,where his wise words and great wisdomwere in much demand. He was well

known throughout the Association and itwas sad that his health did not permit himto take higher office. He and I had a greatrapport and would trade words, usuallyflummoxing others who did not know whowas pulling whos leg or telling the truth.

To his family, his brothers and sister,Pam and Ian, Don was a loving anddevoted family man, an example to us all.As a dad with an only child, he was soproud of Ians achievements.

The reception of his body and theRequiem Mass were concelebrated bythe Abbot and the monks from various

monasteries. Many friends, colleaguesfrom School, the Mens club and the

Association were present.Don, you were a great brother,

husband and father, teacher, colleagueand friend and Catenian Brother; we all

valued your friendship and wise counsel.

You have gone to meet all your old pals,your just reward for a wonderful life.

May he rest in peace

PETER HARTNETT

Ealing Circle weresaddened to learn of

the death of PeterHartnett on 13th July2005 after a longillness.

Anthony Phillips

writes: Peter wasborn on 27th June1919 in Barrakilla,Ardgroom, CountyCork. He grew up on the family farm with

his two older brothers and two sisters andwent to the local school. These werehappy days, fishing with his father, startinghis love for sports with boxing andathletics. His sisters moved away and

his brothers went to America so life onthe farm was going to be his future.Having been offered the farm by hisfather he declined as he wanted to moveon and so an apprenticeship in a

carpenters was arranged. His sportingpursuits extended to cycling with dancingas a relaxation. His love of sports continuedeven when in 1943 he emigrated to London.

Having travelled around for jobs, he

settled in Ealing in the late 1940s and heattended Mass at what was then EalingPriory. A member of the Mens Club in theparish of St Benedicts, introduced Peterand he became a member for the

princely sum of 1s membership fee. Hewas to remain a very active member untilhis death and for the last few years hewas President of the Club.

He developed his work and soon was

able to take out a lease on a dance hallin West Ealing. This was a successfulventure and being short staffed one nighta young girl came to help. He took a

fancy to the young lass and so started aromance which eventually led to marriageto Lena on 14th July 1951. They were toraise three daughters, Anna-Maria,Catherine and Helena and son Paul. Inlater years the family was extended by

the birth of many grandchildren. As theygrew up the proud grandfather was everwatchful of their progress.

Business started to take off and soHartnett Bros was born, building houses

and flats all over West London. Inaddition Lena wanted to branch out andso the large house was turned into anursing home and the family moved.

In 1987 Peter took up the game of golf,

and being ever the sportsman he wassoon lowering his handicap. Over theyears he was to help many others to takeup the sport.

The deaths of the followingbrothers are announced

with deep regret

2005

March

16 Peter Bernard Dyer Kirby Muxloe

October

21 Patrick Stradling Weald of Kent

2006

February

12 Pat Liston Mandurah

March22 Bernard Langley Sheffield

April

20 Alf Stone Nottingham

29 Frank Tomlinson

Preston and District

May

01 John Hook Norwich & District

04 Simon Benson South Leicester

11 Ted Stewart York

16 Dan Brearton Sheffield

21 Peter Martin Aylesbury

22 Martin Ryan Preston and District

23 Austin Jahnsdorf Derby

May They Rest in Peace

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In Memoriam

In 1969 Peter joined Ealing Circle and

as many businessmen do, took a backseat until 1989, when he becamePresident. That was great year with manyfellow Irishmen, who were alsoPresidents in their Circles. He took his

love of golf into the Circle as hepromoted a golf day, which became verypopular and he donated the coveted cupto the winner. Catenian Golf Trips weresoon his life and he travelled around the

country and abroad for rounds of golf.His love of his homeland encouraged

him to start a Beara Association in 1980,and he was the first chairman. The manycountrymen who joined raised many

thousands of pounds for Charitablecauses. In 1988 Peter wrote a bookentitled The Life Story of an IrishCarpenter a lovely biography. The profits

went to charity.Sadly Peters active life was cruelly hit

when he was taken ill in 2003 and hewas not to recover. We all rememberPeter with great affection and offer ourprayers and sympathy to Lena, his family

and to all his friends. His Requiem Masswas held in Ealing Abbey attended by hisfamily, friends and members of theCatenian Association.

May he rest in peace

PETER PRICE

Brothers ofWakefield Circlewere saddened toreceive the news ofthe death of one of

their respectedBrothers, PeterPrice, at the age of76 on the 21stDecember 2005 in

Hull. He hadsuffered a series of debilitating strokesover a period of five years and latterly hehad been a resident in Woodlands

residential nursing home in theCottingham area of Hull. The cumulativeeffect of his several strokes adverselyaffected his mobility and reasoning buthis final hours were marked by a periodof calm and peace fortified by the

sacrament of the sick administered onlyhours before his death.

Michael Starford writes: Peter Pricewas born in Wakefield in 1930, of Welshstock, one of two children born to parents

James and Lilly Price. His sister, Doreen,was five years older than him. Hispaternal Welsh grandfather had left thevalleys to work in the Yorkshire coalfieldsat the turn of the century. Peter attended

Wakefield Cathedral school before joiningthe family newsagent and it seemed thathe was destined to continue in the familybusiness, temporarily interrupted by

national service in the RAF, until the

arrival of his children provided a changeof direction and a new entrepreneurialopportunity. He met his wife MargaretPearce at The Embassy a local dancehall in Wakefield and they were married

at St Austins church in Wakefield in1954. Peter had been received into thechurch just prior to his marriage. As anavid reader and as a consequence of hisconversion, he read widely on theology

and apologetics and would love to debatephilosophy, morals and doctrine withfamily, friends and visitors at everyopportunity. He was a Knight of StColumba and was introduced to the

Catenians by the late Brian Briggs, a wellknown local publican and formerinternational rugby league player whoseplace of business, infectious personality

and garrulous nature, provided thecatalyst for a number of Brothers to joinWakefield Circle. Peter never aspired tooffice in the Circle but was a regularattender until illness prevented him fromdoing so.

They had two children, Damian andRachael. Damian was a talented chefand it was this trait which gave Peter theambition to sell his newsagents andpurchase a country inn and restaurant in

North Yorkshire. By sheer hard work,determination and enthusiasm, Peter andhis son built up a successful business buttragically his son was killed in a roadaccident, a set back from which Peter

never really recovered. His last four yearswere marred by illness and a cumulativedeterioration in his health whichnecessitated a move to Hull to be closeto his daughter Rachael a state

registered nurse.Peter had strong views on many issues

and was a good communicator. Rachaelrelated that he had a stubborn nature andwas uncompromising in his views and

there were many differences of opinion

between them but the one special flairthat he imbued in his children was the artof communication. During the timerunning the news agency he had a

special gift in communicating with othersin all walks of life. He would treateveryone with equal respect andestablish some common ground andgenuinely set up a rapport that would

bring about a warm and friendly mutualresponse. His love of the written wordgave him many hours of pleasure and hewas a passionate rugby leagueenthusiast. He did not like change and

Vatican II left him with some traditionalconcerns but he never compromised hisstrong faith and respect for the churchand its teachings. Sadly his last yearswere affected by a loss of rational

thought but in his own simple way he

practised his faith unreservedly and

without inhibitions as best he could.His Requiem Mass took place at Holy

Cross Church, Cottingham, Hull,concelebrated by Fr Marsden and a lifelong friend and retired priest Fr Michael

Powell. We remember Peter in ourprayers and thanksgiving for his life andin the knowledge that it was a life ofhonesty, integrity, principle and goodintentions. We share the sadness of his

family in their grief, Margaret his wife,who supported him in his final difficultyears so unselfishly, despite her ownserious health problems, daughterRachael and son-in-law Paul,

grandchildren Charlotte, Helen, Jessicaand Samuel. Also a special thanks onbehalf of Wakefield Circle to the Brothersof Hull Circle who regularly visited his

Peter following his move to the Hull area.May he rest in peace

JOHN ROBERT BRUCEFebruary 18th 1933-November 15th 2005Submitted by Sheila Bruce: John wasborn in the district of Morningside inEdinburgh on a snowy morning, the only

child of Elizabeth and John Nicol Bruce.His parents were Scottish, the influence

John proudly carried with him throughouthis life. The family moved toMiddlesbrough when John was a boy,

keen on football, and was always afaithful supporter of the Borough.John was educated at Acklam Hall

Grammar School and it was here that hislove of art was encouraged. He went on

to study at the Constantine College of Art,specialising in stained glass, lettering andmosaics, and he then furthered hisstudies at Liverpool University beforedoing his National Service.

After a period of time with the RoyalNorthumberland Fusiliers, he wastransferred to the Army Education Co.and sent to the Beachly Army Training

School to teach map reading.He met Sheila during this time, and

following completion of his army servicehe returned to Middlesbrough, to teachart at a girls secondary school. Sheilaand John were married in December

1957, and then John taught at a boystechnical school for three years.

John had been brought up as a ScottishPresbyterian, and Sheila as a WelshBaptist and although neither could

remember who was the first to mentionthe subject they both felt that they wantedto build on this foundation and foundthemselves moving towards the CatholicFaith. Following a move to Crewe in

Cheshire in 1960, John then teaching at aboys grammar school, they took instructionin the Catholic Faith and were bothreceived into the Church in August 1961.

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In Memoriam

John lectured in art history for the WEA

and held several art exhibitions duringthis time. The next move was in 1964 toNewcastle-upon-Tyne where he took anappointment as lecturer in art at the SacredHeart teacher training college in Fenham.

The move to London was in 1970 withJohn as principal lecturer and head of theart department at the Maria Assumptateacher training college in KensingtonSquare, where he managed a busy and

complex course until government cutbackscaused the closure of the college in 1977,and John, along with other heads ofdepartments, remained to guide degreestudents to completion of their courses.

John took a sabbatical year andstudied educational psychology atLondon University, following on then tohis MA in the evaluation of Art Education.

He was an external examiner for LondonUniversity and also for QueensUniversity, Belfast.

Following a period of unemployment,John took a post as art master at thelocal boys school where he continued to

teach until forced to take early retirementbecause of his declining health. He haddeveloped signs of multiple sclerosis inthe early 1970s but his courage andsense of humour, and his skill in

communication, gained and retainedfriends from every walk of life, culture andany age. He would both amuse andconfuse. If asked how he was, his replywould be, astonishing. His quiet warmth

and understanding made John a verypopular man, one who was always willingto listen and ready to give support whenneeded.

Before his illness, he had been a very

accomplished pianist, and John andSheila shared their love of music throughthe years. He was always willing to shareknowledge and experience in anunassuming way, and all who sought help

or came into contact with him, left with a

feeling of worth.Following retirement John added to his

book collection and this led to a passion-ate interest in the life and works of Dylan

Thomas, several happy holidays inSwansea, and membership of the DylanThomas Society.

John was a member of the CatenianAssociation for 32 years. He was president

of Wimbledon Circle in 1976, later servedon Provincial Council and becameProvincial President in 1986. He was alsoan active member of Kingston Circle.

Brothers of Province 19 will have fond

memories of John, in full highland dress,(Bruce tartan of course) addressing thehaggis at a Burns supper.

John is sadly missed by his wife Sheila,daughter Elaine, son-in-law Tim, and

grandchildren, Alex, Robert, and Sophie,

and by his many friends and Catenian

brothers.John, husband, father, grandfather,

friend, loved Art, Music, Literature, realale and single malt, and football, butabove all, his Faith. With what richer life

could anyone have been more blessed.May he rest in peace

ALFRED STONE KSGBrothers ofNottingham 20Circle and Province

15 mourn the loss ofa cherished brother.This tribute isadapted from theeulogy delivered by

his son-in-law,Brother Paul Roper,at the RequiemMass in Saint Pauls Church, Nottingham.

Alfred was born in Warrington in 1917

one of 12 children. His early educationwas in Warrington, from where hetransferred to Montford College in Romsey,Hampshire. He went on to studyengineering at Manchester and remained

in Lancashire where he worked in theaircraft industry during the Second WorldWar.

In 1945 he met Mary at her local villagedance. They were married in 1947 while

Alfred was employed by ICI in Northwichin a job which was less than inspirational!In 1950 Alfred moved to Nottingham

with Mary and their new daughter,Madeleine, to start a business with his

brother-in-law Tom. They began dealingin tropical fish and their enterprisedeveloped into a general pet shop andlater a very successful mail orderbusiness, marketing specialist game

fishing equipment.Sport was an important dimension in

Alfreds life and as a young man heplayed Rugby Union at club level for

Warrington. Angling was a passion froman early age right through to his finalyears. He was in his element whenfishing the Dee, close to Balmoral, firstwith his brother-in-law and later with Maryand his second daughter, Charlotte.

These fishing trips became an annualpilgrimage for over four decades. Hewas also an accomplished horseman.

His other regular fishing companionwas Bishop Edward Ellis, with whom he

shared many trips to Ireland. In 1965 theBishop invited him to help with the annualDiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and for15 years he was a Chef Brancardiercoordinating the helpers, bringing to the

task his leadership and administrativeskills with generosity and humour.

Alfred joined the Association in January1969 and was an active member from the

start. He was soon invited on to Council

and served as President 1973-74.It was during his Presidential year that

Nottingham 20 Circle celebrated itsDiamond Jubilee and Alfred led a Circlepilgrimage to Rome which included an

audience with His Holiness Pope Paul VI.In 1976 Alfred was elected to NottinghamCity Council representing the Robin HoodWard and served his constituentsconscientiously for 16 years. He was

Deputy Lord Mayor 1988-89 and waselected Sheriff of Nottingham 1990-91with Madeleine as his Lady.Controversially, the Roman CatholicCouncillor for Robin Hood Ward had

become the Sheriff of Nottingham on thecasting vote of the only Communist onthe Council! On retirement from publicoffice Alfred was made an Honorary

Alderman of his adopted city.In 1990 Alfred was awarded the Pro

Ecclesia et Pontifice medal in recognitionof his many years of service to CatholicEducation on the governing bodies of theBecket School and Saint Josephs

Preparatory School. It was on hisretirement from the Board of Governorsof the latter that he was invited to itsChristmas Carol Concert in 2002 at StBarnabas Cathedral. He was not expecting

the announcement at the conclusion ofthe service that he was to receive aPapal Knighthood of the Order of SaintGregory the Great. It is recorded that thiswas one of the few occasions that Alfred

was speechless! In 2004, in full uniformand regalia, he received from BishopMalcolm McMahon OP the Papal Citationat his home Parish of Saint Pauls, Lenton.

Always a committed and active

Catholic, he worked tirelessly for theChurch at many levels. In his later yearshe helped with the work of theChaplaincy at the Queens MedicalCentre at the University of Nottingham

where he served Mass each Friday.

He became a valued member of threecommittees at the QMC dealing withpatient participation and medical ethics.

Despite the many calls on his time

Alfred valued his membership of theCatenian Association and was committedto its ideals. He attended meetings andfunctions regularly to which hecontributed both humour and wisdom.

His invariable addendum to the LoyalToast, The Duke of Lancaster, will bemissed by Brothers of Nottingham 20Circle and beyond!

To his beloved widow, Mary, and his

children, Madeleine, Charlotte andThomas, we send our condolences andthank God in prayer for the life of thisgood man, the happy repose of his souland comfort for his family and friends.

May he rest in peace