Neighbours living in Catisfield, on the outskirts of Fareham, are doubly remembering their local predecessors who gave their lives during World War 2. In anticipation of the 80th Victory in Europe Day on 8 May, members of the local Garden Club held a presentation event at the Memorial Hall built decades ago to mark those lost lives.
Local historian Doug Glading said, “I am honoured to present my book recording the histories of those local residents who died during the war. Their names are inscribed on the plaque in the Hall and have been seen by tens of thousands of people over all the decades. now we have documented the stories of how and where each died.” Each personal story can be found at CMHPlaqueResearchPresentationFinal3.pdf
Doug presented the commemorative book to Penny Melville-Brown, Life President of the Catisfield Memorial Hall and herself a royal navy blind veteran, who said, “Our mission is to provide a venue for use by everyone in the community, a place where we build the neighbourly contacts and friendships that last for years. Knowing more about those who went before means we understand better why Catisfield is so special.”
The Catisfield Garden Club, of which Doug is President and Penny a member, hosted the event which also featured a presentation about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Military service is still an important feature of the Catisfield community and those running the Hall charity. Alan Baxter (Chair) served for decades with the royal marines while fellow Committee members Roger Grove, Lyn Gannon and fellow historian, Glenn Duggan, all had successful long Royal Navy careers.