Tel: 020 7620 1818 email: cookandbutler@btconnect.com
The Catenian Association
City of London Circle
www.thecatenians.co.uk
Dinner to Celebrate the 1000th Meeting of
The City of London Circle
November 2013, Stationers' Hall, London
It is a privilege and
honour to be President of The City of London Circle of the Catenian
Association in this year of our 1,000th meeting. In view of the unique
place which the Circle holds within the Association as a whole, there is
also a feeling of responsibility for being the custodian of the
traditions that it has created and for upholding the memory of the many
distinguished men who have served as members over the past 92 years.
What would the founders of the Circle, Brothers Thomas Gordon Hensler
and Thomas Baines make of it today? They would see a Circle that
reflects the cultural shifts in society that have occurred during the
intervening years, including the role that the City of London now plays
as a global financial powerhouse. Modern professional life in the City
seems busier than ever with Brothers stretched in a number of directions
as they look to balance the pressures of work with those of being a
Catenian, engaging in charitable activities, pursuing personal interests
while, at the same time, ensuring that the priorities of family life are
met. One thing that has not changed during that time is the spirit of
brotherhood and mutual support that has been a hallmark of the Circle
since its inception.
Not only does this history cover key events; it also encapsulates the
spirit of the Circle and its uniqueness. It is coloured with the deeds
of a great many characters who have been associated with the Circle over
the years with a long list of associated achievements and honours. The
Circle’s original purpose was to be relatively small in numbers and
intimately linked with the commercial and professional life of the City.
The tradition which it established of entertaining prominent Catholic
visitors on behalf of Archbishop’s House is still embodied in our annual
Legal Night where, on 65 occasions, we have shown our support and
enjoyed the company of the Catholic judiciary.
Today, the Circle has a growing number of younger members with a variety
of links to professional life in the City. The interaction of these
members with our less professionally active, our newly retired and our
more senior Brothers, all with immense experience in a range of
professions, makes for a lively intellectual environment at Circle
dinners.
Above all, the Circle provides a place, away from the pressures of
professional life, where Catholic men can come together to pray, to
share their faith, and to socialise and engage in charitable and other
worthy activities. We pray that Catholic men will always recognise and
respond to the need for such important activities in their lives and
that the Circle will continue to thrive for another 1,000 meetings and
beyond.
DAMIAN WOODWARD Circle President 2013 - 2014
Stationers' Hall
Steeped in history and tradition Stationers’ Hall, a
Grade I listed building, was completed in 1673 after the Great Fire of
London.
Stationers’ Hall is home to the Worshipful Company of Stationers and
Newspaper Makers, which traces its origins to 15th century craftsmen and
traders who wrote and bound books or supplied writing and binding
materials. The name arose from their fixed stations — for they were
amongst the first medieval tradesmen to stop being itinerant vendors.
In 1403, a Stationers’ Guild was formed in London and, when printing was
introduced to England at the end of that century, the Guild had the good
sense to welcome printers as members. The power of print led to Queen
Mary Tudor granting the Guild a royal charter in 1557, requiring the new
Company to check and register every book published in England and giving
its members a monopoly in printing. Three years later, the Company
officially became a City of London Livery Company, 47th in order of
precedence.
Today, the Company has over 800 members, the vast majority of whom are
senior executives in a wide-ranging selection of trades within the
communications industry, from paper, print, publishing, packaging,
office products, newspapers, broadcasting and online media.