John Kerr, Chair of the board of Trustees

John first became involved with the Trust in the early eighties as a group helper with Group 89, several years later he became Group Leader and has enjoyed a long and happy relationship with all the pilgrims in that group over that period.

In 1990, John became Regional Chair at a time when the Scottish Region decided to create a new more representative structure with its own constitution, which has endured until the present day, albeit with ongoing amendments to reflect current practices.

Several years later John joined the board of the Trust and served in that capacity, with the exception of a five year break, since then.

On a professional level John has been semi retired from a senior position in the Construction Industry for the last five years, though voluntary positions seem to have accumulated in that time.

Currently he serves the Glasgow East Regeneration Agency as Chairman following many years as a Director, and is an active fundraiser for Mary’s Meals, a charity which feeds children in a school environment to encourage their education.

John has been married to Evelyn for forty two years, they have two married daughters and two lovely grandchildren.

“ It is a great privilege to be invited to hold the post of Chair of this Trust which has been a life changing experience for me, I ask for your prayers and patience, both for me and all my fellow trustees as we undertake our future service to HCPT and all our pilgrims”

Caroline Bennett

Caroline first went to Lourdes with Group 12 in 1974 following an invite from a teacher. Maurice Sauven was Caroline's group leader and Fr. Michael Hopley was her Chaplain.

"But they were more than that, they were my inspiration to all that the Trust was, is and should be about. I guess we all have such people who we cherish in that way."

With Fr. Perry Gildea, Caroline was part of a small group who radically changed the Trust Mass which was back then, by today's standards, a very solemn affair, and nothing like the inclusive mass we share today.

Pat Porter, the then National Secretary, invited Caroline to join his Hosanna House group in 1980 and so the highlight of her years since was and remains either Easter HCPT or Summer HCPT.

In 1989 Caroline became the Group 12 leader and, following the death of Pat Porter, initially took over his Hosanna House group (a double group) and more recently Group 531, her own group.

John White and Perry helped Caroline in her first steps as a Trustee, with the reassurance of Patrick Coyle "all to who I am eternally grateful for their trust and guidance".

"There are some really big cherished memories that I have about my pilgrimages to Lourdes. but there are also millions of 'moments' that I have no pictures to actually see but I can transport myself back to, by either closing my eyes - I call these 'pictures of the heart' or by retelling the event, all leave me with a sense of privilege."

Since 2006, in addition to travelling with her Hosanna House Group, Caroline has been part of the Easter pilgrimage each year assisting as a volunteer with HQ and at Hosanna House.

Dr Anthony Brooks

Anthony's first pilgrimage with HCPT was Easter 1979. He has since travelled on every Easter pilgrimage since (except 1985 while working in the Middle East).

The first four were with Group 11 – he was introduced to HCPT by Fr Paul McGinn who was at that time Chaplain to the London Hospital (and leader/chaplain of Group 11).

He subsequently linked up with Group 120 and retained that connection until 2005, when Group 120 did not travel and he came out with Group 87.

For several years he has functioned as Regional Doctor for the Met Deep South Region, and recently he has reviewed the child application forms for groups in East Anglia as well.

Fr. John Carroll

John first got involved with HCPT in 1983 as a student at the Royal Scots College, Valladolid. It was customary for all the students to travel north to Lourdes for Easter Week to help with the pilgrimage. "I just tagged along and I have been here ever since."

"My experience that first year was incredible, it opened my mind in so many ways. There was a real feeling of Church-in-action, the love and the care shown by helpers to children and vice-versa convinced me that I really wanted to be part of this pilgrimage. In the intervening 28 years I have been involved as a helper, group chaplain and musician."

In 2000 John returned to Spain and was invited by Fr Perry Gildea to help with the Group Leader Renewal weekends, a task which he found enriching for the Trust and for John personally. He was invited to join the Board of Trustees in 2007 and succeeded Fr Perry as Trust Chaplain in 2010.

Andy Clare

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Sara Clarke

Sara has gone to Lourdes with group 131/Leeds every Easter since 1994. In her years with the group Sara has been a helper, group nurse and group leader and Sara says that being group nurse is the most demanding role in HCPT. Currently Sara is deputy leader for 131 and remains involved in the daily running of the group. She also recently finished a three year term as chair of the HCPT Yorkshire region and has attended both a Yorkshire and Lancashire Hosanna House trip.

Sara's day job is a clinical nurse specialist in child and adolescent mental health services. She also works with medical HQ during Easter week supporting groups in positively managing children and young people with behavioural difficulties. Sarah's responsibilities in being a Trustee are varied but her main focus is on safeguarding issues for both children and vulnerable adults. She also has some responsibility for nursing issues for the Trust and the development of the Trust as a whole.

"I will always regard myself as being fortunate to be a member of HCPT for the experiences, faith and friendships it has given me but especially because of the enjoyment and love it brings to those who travel to Lourdes with us."

Denis Day

Denis first traveled to Lourdes with HCPT in 1984, and has since travelled regularly. He is now currently deputy group leader of his local group (his wife is the group leader) in Purley, Surrey.

Denis’s professional background is as an accountant and internal auditor until he set up his own business in 2009.

Denis was invited to join the Board of Trustees in 2010.

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Andrew Flood

Andrew has travelled to Lourdes since 1995, originally with Group 24, and later helping to re-establish Group 1 in 2000 until he eventually joined Group 42 with whom he has now been for the last ten years. He grew up 'on Lourdes', with three generations of his wider family travelling with HCPT over the years. In the past, he has also volunteered with one of the summer pilgrimage organisations and supported the set-up of a holiday for the Newman Trust, another HCPT-inspired organisation.

Andrew was part of the Trust Mass team in 2004 ("Great are the Gifts"), and assisted with the design work for the 50th Anniversary in 2006 and for the Lourdes Jubilee in 2008. In 2006, he cycled to Lourdes with IHCPT, only falling off his bike twice along the way (once while stationary at the traffic lights). He joined the Board of Trustees in 2007 and now chairs the Finance Sub-Committee.

In his spare time, Andrew works as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers where he specialises in corporate finance and infrastructure projects, including highways, schools and sustainability work for government and private sector organisations.

In 2011, Andrew married Claire, a doctor he met in Group 42.

Bridget Hanlon

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Katie Hickman

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Michael Holford

Michael first went to Lourdes at the age of 8 with his family in Group 2. His parents and grandparents have been involved from the very early days of the Trust. He then travelled to Lourdes consistently into his early 20’s mainly with Group 1. After a break he became involved again, being drawn back into Group 2 and becoming group leader. Work took Michael to Yorkshire and he handed over the group to a brother-in-law. Having acquainted himself with Group 122 in York, he has more recently travelled with them or helped centrally.

In 2004 Michael was part of the team that organised the Easter Liturgies and was then approached by the Chair of Trustees to assist with organising the 50th celebrations in 2006. In 2006 he was also approached to become a trustee. He was involved in organising the first concert in 2007 as part of the 150th celebrations.

Married to Maggie, they have three children: Eleanor, Will and Charlotte. They have all travelled to Lourdes with the Trust and also stayed at the Trust's Bartres Villa. Michael is a partner in a firm of property consultants, and is also a governor of the local catholic secondary school, All Saints.

Nicholas Kehoe

Nicholas has been involved with the Trust for over 30 years; having started out as a sixth form helper at school. He became Group Leader of Group 21 and ran the Group for over 25 years. For a number of years he was Chair of the Met NW Region – one of the largest regions, in terms of numbers of groups, in the Trust.

"It has been a great privilege to be part of the Trust and it has certainly added more to my life than I could every repay."

Siobhan Kelly

"In 1989, and 20 minutes to accept or decline, so began my journey with the Trust, a journey which like all roads less travelled has led to much challenge, excitement and lots of colour!It is hard to believe that the girl whose care was assigned principally to me for that first week will now be 40. That is when I realise that half my life to date has been spent with the Trust."

Siobhan is a solicitor practising exclusively in the area of Family Law.

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Anthony McEwen

Tony served for 31 years in the Royal Navy reaching the rank of Captain. His appointments included command of a frigate and a guided missile destroyer as well as responsibility for the output of the shore training organisation (12 establishments and 5,000 staff). Subsequently he spent 5 years in ICL (now Fujitsu) working on government and defence related IT programmes before leaving to join Fairbridge, a national charity which helps marginalised inner city young people find their way in life. He left Fairbridge in 2010 after 7 wonderful years and was appointed Branch Director for CPRE Hampshire in May of that year.

He has been a hands-on volunteer with HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust since 1992 and travels with the Royal Naval groups for the Easter Pilgrimage. In addition to his work with HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust Tony has been a volunteer on the governing body of 2 other charities and led a number of projects for disabled children and young people. He is committed to helping everyone, regardless of their start in life or their apparent abilities fulfil their full potential. As a Trustee he believes in combining proven business methods and logic to the passion with which HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust works to bring the joy of Lourdes to its many pilgrims.

Among his hobbies he includes magic and his annual show has become a somewhat chaotic, if not totally shambolic, feature of the Easter Pilgrimage for all who share the Royal Navy and Army groups’ hotel.

Ian O'Brien

Ian joined the Trust in 1999 as a helper with Group 40, and has continued to travel with the group every year, being fortunate enough to become their Deputy Group Leader in 2006. Ian has helped to ensure the group continues to grow and increase its impact in the Merseyside area. Ian has recently been working with the Trust in its development of the new website and the launch of the HCPT Cycle.

Ian is an experienced project and programme manager, working in business transformation with public, private and voluntary organisations, covering a variety of subjects including technology, engineering, innovation, training and culture. He also works with the Scout Association as a regional business advisor in the North West, looking to raise their profile, leadership and presence.

"I feel very honoured to have been asked to help support a Trust in the amazing work it does for so many people spread widely across the world."

John O’Reilly

John joined the IHCPT - The Irish Pilgrimage Trust - Group 136 in 1993 as a helper. He travelled with 136 for 7 years before taking on the role of Group Leader for Group 64. He was GL with 64 for three years: 2000, 2001 and 2002. Prior to that he was Regional Treasurer for the Eastern Region and then Regional Chairperson for three years up to 2004 when he was elected a Trustee. John was elected Vice Chair of IHCPT in May 2008 and Chair in May 2009. He was also elected a Trustee of HCPT in July 2010.

His experiences with the IHCPT have ranged from kicking football on the Prairie with his group to helping develop the carers’ on-line training course, and from dressing up for the Thursday night parties to redesigning the website and drafting policy on room sharing arrangements. "The past 18 years working with the Trust has been a huge influence on my personal and business life and I wouldn't change any of it for one minute."

Mitul Patel

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