face of God's creation, he was to spend the rest of his life. It was a far cry from his native place where

'The thrush and the robin their sweet notes entwine

On the banks of the Suir that flows down by Mooncoin.'

Lesser men might have flinched at the prospect; even brave men would have given way to moments of despair. Martin Power did neither. With that dogged and singleminded persistence so characteristic of him, and spurred on by his family motto 'Nec nisi Cruce', he transformed the barren wastes of Birches Head, and new buildings sprouted from the wilderness with startling rapidity: a new church, a new presbytery, a new school. However, these material structures, solid rather than beautiful, were merely a tangible expression of the unshakable Faith that he himself cherished, and impressed, with stentorian regularity, on an awe-stricken congregation. lie was born into an age of silent films, silent congregations and noisy clerics, but his noise was never the hollow din of an empty mind reverberating through a barren soul, but rather a genuine echo of the thunder of God from His Holy Mountain.

Although he was first and last a man of great spiritual depth, he was also a shrewd operator on the material plane. lie had an eve for a good site and thought in terms of broad acres rather than cramped roods. It was due to his foresight in this matter that the sites at Abbey Hulton, Bentilee and the Archbishop McIntyre School which he acquired are all blessed with a commendable expanse of breathing space.

When he became a member of the Chapter and Rural Dean in 1949, his activities were extended to other spheres beyond the parish. lie was a Governor of Cotton College, Chaplain to the North Staffordshire Branch of the Union of Catholic Mothers and the Catholic Nurses' Guild, not to mention his services to the Holy Places for which he was created a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre, Knight Commander of the Grand Cross of Galilee and Chaplain of the Military and Hospital Order of St Lazare of Jerusalem. To all of these activities he brought the same steadfast devotion that he gave to his own people. It was a fitting finale to a full and vigorous life that he should die on his feet, engaged to the very last moment in his favourite task of offering the Sacrifice of the Mass. lie went contented and full of honours to a well-deserved rest.

Philip J O'Reilly

JOSEPH PHILIP JOHNSON (1915-1918)

Joe Johnson had a commercial career in mind when he came to Cotton in 1915. Although food was rationed and times were hard in those War years, he enjoyed his

time here and always retained a deep affection for Canon Hymers. One of Joe's great friends was Father Bernard Kelly, who died just over two months after him, and whose obituary appears in this issue. On leaving College, he joined his father's business, from which he retired in the 1960s.

For many years he did an enormous amount of voluntary work for the diocese. He was a member of the standing committee of men who assist at official events at St Chad's Cathedral. He was a founder member and

former president of the North Warwick Catenian Circle and a past provincial president. In 1967 he became a founder member of the Stratford-on-Avon Circle and took office as Chamberlain for the first year after its foundation.

He had been associated with the Birmingham Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes since it started in 1933. Apart from the War years, he went to Lourdes every year with the pilgrims, helping with the organisation and as a brancardier. He had returned from the 1968 Pilgrimage only ten days before his death which took place at his home on 13 August last. Bishop Cleary and many clergy and Catenians attended his Requiem at the Church of Our Lady and St Benedict, Wootton Wawen.

He was a most devoted son of Cotton, loyally turned up to all reunions, was a member of the St Wilfrid's and Parkers' Committee and President in the Bi-Centenary Year 1962-63. In memory of his Presidency he provided and planted the two beds of roses at the front of the College. Both his sons: Anthony and Paul were here as boys, and to them and his sisters we extend our deepest sympathy.

Owing to the kindness of his sisters, there will be a new microscope bearing an inscribed plate in Joe's memory in the new Biology Laboratory.

JAMES GERARD TRINHAM (1922-1928)

Jim Trinham, the youngest of three brothers, came to Cotton in 1922 with Jack, having been preceded by Joe in 1920. He was a quiet, reserved boy, not particularly outstanding at games or at his studies, but the possessor of a very good soprano voice which he used to good

advantage at school in the Choir, at concerts and in plays. Another of his gifts was that of mimicry and his imitations of his masters were in great demand after Night Prayers in Middle Dormitory. On one occasion, Fathers Manion, Rudman and Love stood unseen and spellbound outside the dormitory for a good ten minutes (luring one of Jim's exhibitions before they felt that some action had to be taken, Jim was very fond of Cotton and often said that his years there were the happiest of his life.

After leaving school, he tried his vocation at Mount St Bernard's Abbey where he staved for eighteen months as a Cistercian novice. As Joe has told me, the Trinhams are not at their best where silence is the rule (perhaps

they would be if they kept the rule, he goes on to say), so Jim returned home. After a long illness, he went as a layman to live at Caldy Abbey, where he had the best of both worlds, attending the services at the Abbey when he felt like it, and making himself useful in the more mundane pursuits. He also had the advantage of being under the tutelage of a fellow-Cottonian, Brother Thomas Moore, whose fame was such that the Council of Tenby has put up a memorial to him. Those of us who know both Tommy and Jim will realise what a happy couple they must have made. At Caldy Jim took part in the monastic life in which he was free to come and go as he pleased. A year or two ago he came to Cotton with Joe and,

while he was nostalgic for Cotton, he gave glowing reports of his life at Caldy. His main occupation there was helping in the Parfumerie, where he was very happy.

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