As a blind, naval veteran and Life President of the Hall, it was my honour to be at this super ceremony, be bossy and provide a magnificent pear and walnut “castle” cake bedecked with flags that was cut by the Mayor. https://www.pennymelvillebrown.com/recipes/apple-cake/
In 1946, Samuel Mortimer donated land on the outskirts of Fareham to Catisfield residents in memory of his son and other neighbours killed during the Second World War. Last week, eighty years later, their sacrifice was marked by a commemorative bench unveiled by the Mayor of Fareham, Tina Ellis, and the local MP, Paul Holmes. The initiative marks Mortimer’s living legacy: thriving community spirit fostered by the Catisfield Memorial Hall and Village Association .
The ceremony demonstrated the continuing power of neighbourliness with five former Chairs of the Village Association, four from the Hall Trust, others from the Catisfield garden Club, Men’s Shed , Fareham and District Beekeeping Association, Ukulele group and many other local stalwarts. The military were represented too by several Royal Navy, Royal Marines and RAF veterans with donations for the commemorative wreath and poppies destined for the royal British Legion.
Memorial Hall Chair and bemedalled veteran, Alan Baxter said, “My time in the Royal Marines taught me that building bonds between people is crucial and that is just as important for our thriving neighbourhood too.”
More information: Catisfield history: www.catisfield.com/history/catpaps/WW2Stories/WW2ExpandedStories3.htm
Catisfield Village Association: https://www.catisfieldvillageassociation.org/
Catisfield Memorial Hall: https://catisfieldmemorialhall.co.uk
