David Taylor was installed as the Grand President of the Catenian Association at the Grand Council Meeting in Manchester on Thursday 15th May. 2008 is the Centenary for the Catenians, having been formed in Manchester in 1908. David is the 79th Grand President and will commence his Presidency by visiting the grave of the Founder Grand President, John O’Donnell, in Mostyn cemetery, the grave having been restored by the Association as a mark of respect for its founder.

David was born in Enfield, North London in 1942. After education at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George’s and the Enfield Grammar schools, he spent the early part of his career with Pearl Assurance Ltd and The Australia and New Zealand Bank. However, it was at Elliot Business Machines that his career took off and after 12 successful years, he set up his own company to sell addressing machines in 1975. He built this into a successful business, initially retiring in 1990. However he was tempted back into the industry in 1993, setting up another successful business before moving into a consultancy role in 1997. Married to Kathleen in 1965, David has four children and six grandchildren. All his children and four of his grandchildren were in Manchester to join in the Celebrations.

David is active in his own parish of St Monica, Palmers Green, North London. He worked with the late John Tominey and the Friends of the HCPT in the early 1990s and then at Westminster Cathedral set up a Guild of Volunteers and Oblates which flourishes today. Appointed a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre in 1990, he was part of the team that staged the 2000 Millennium Jubilee Mass in the NEC, which 10,000 Catholics attended. He was appointed a Knight of St Gregory by Pope John Paul II in 2001.