Recent CVRA Events
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Catherington “100” Lives – Sunday 19th April 2026
Jim Stone is very kindly coming to talk to us about his 38-year years as a firefighter. For over 20 years he was a member of the UKSART – who respond to both international disasters and major UK incidents.
As always at Catherington Church Hall. Time: 19:15 for 19:30 – prompt start.
The entry fee is £2.00 payable at the door or £5.00 to include a glass of red or white wine. If possible please bring the right amount of cash.
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Catherington Christmas Carols. Sunday 14th December at 5.00pm
Come and join in singing Christmas Carols on Sunday 14th December at 5pm.
We will congregate around the village Christmas Tree (just down hill from The Farmer) at 5.00pm
The Salvation Army will once again lead us with their music and carols.
Please remember a donation for the Salvation Army.
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AGM – Friday 28th November 2025
Catherington Village Residents’ Association 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 28th November at the Church Hall at 7:30 p.m. All members of CVRA are welcome.
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Summer Solstice Celebrations 2025
Come and celebrate the summer solstice on the evening of 20th June 2025.
18:00 to 22:00 at Hester’s field, opposite the church hall.
CVRA members and families welcome.
Bring a picnic and drinks. Enjoy folk music and 60s themed “hippy” tunes as well as face painting, stone painting, journey stick making. Dress up in your favourite solstice / folklore outfit and don’t forget a garland for your hair.

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Catherington “100 Lives” – Sunday 23rd March 2025
MULBERRY & THE LINK TO CATHERINGTON
1915 for a 1930 START CATHERINGTON CHURCH HALL
ENTRY ON THE DOOR £2.00 per person. (£5 to include a glass of wine)
This month we are pleased to welcome Steve Rogers and Holly Burton to talk to us about:

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AGM – Friday 22nd November 2024
Catherington Village Residents’ Association 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 22nd November at the Church Hall at 7:30 p.m.
All members of CVRA are welcome.
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Catherington Christmas Carols. Sunday 15th December at 5.00pm
Come and join in singing Christmas Carols on Sunday 15th December.
We will congregate around the village Christmas Tree (just down hill from The Farmer) at 5.00pm
The Salvation Army will once again lead us with their music and carols.
Please remember a donation for the Salvation Army.
See how much the tree has grown since this photo was taken the first Chistmas after it was planted!

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D-DAY80: HOW THE NATION WILL REMEMBER FALLEN HEROES
6th June CATHERINGTON CHURCH 19:30 for 20:00 START

On Thursday, June 6 the nation will come together to remember the tens of thousands of allied forces who gave service on D-DAY eighty years ago and helped secure the peace we in the UK enjoy today.
Catherington Residents’ Association will be remembering the 80th anniversary of D-Day with an event in the Church. Blendworth Brass Band will lead the tribute with appropriate music and we are part of the National chain of beacons that are being lit to remember the largest seaborne invasion in history. The incredible operation began the liberation of France and laid the foundations for the Allied victory the following year. Hopefully the church bells will ring out a 1/4 peal from 19:00 to remember this historic event and all those people who didn’t return to enjoy the peace for which they fought and died.
The Beacon will be lit on the top of the Church tower by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire following The Tribute at 21:15 in line with others.
Please do join us at 19:30 for a 20:00 start in the church to enjoy the music and then outside for the finale, the ‘Lighting of the Beacon’. The church can only hold a limited number of people so if you wish to come along and enjoy the music please email to make sure of a seat. There is to be a collection in aid of The Royal British Legion.
If you wish to come only for the beacon lighting you are welcome to wait outside the Church it will be lit at 21:15. The Churchyard will be unlit and is quite uneven, you may wish to bring a torch.
To book please contact
CVRATickets@elitemail.org
Please feel free to come appropriately dressed for a fun evening.
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Was That Mr Churchill In The Coalyard?
SUNDAY 2nd June 2024,
1915 for a 1930 START
CATHERINGTON CHURCH HALLENTRY ON THE DOOR £2.00 per person. Refreshment available.
The story of how and why world leaders and members of Winston Churchills War Cabinet were together in a railway siding in a tiny village on the Meon Valley Railway line in 1944.
Nick Byrne’s imagination was caught by this amazing episode in our country’s wartime history a few years ago and Nick has carefully researched and studied the story in great detail. This will be an excellent start to our D-Day events.
Please do come along and support your community.
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That’s Life for me? – Adrian Harbidge 1970-73
SUNDAY 28th April 2024,
1915 for a 1930 START
CATHERINGTON CHURCH HALLENTRY ON THE DOOR £2.00 per person.
Despite becoming Archdeacon of Bournemouth, a member of General Synod for 11 years, taking part in Lord Mountbatten’s funeral and being secretary to CVRA, any press statement about me always begins with “Former Ship’s Purser, Adrian Harbidge ……”.
Three years with Elder Dempster Lines allowed me to see ports on the West Coast of Africa and on the East Coast of America. The Biafran War had only finished a few months earlier, the Congo War in 1967 and a coup in Ghana the day before we docked – however, you’ll be surprised to learn which was the most dangerous port we visited.
A whirlpool too dangerous for an ocean-going liner to cross, the footprints where Jesus landed after the Ascension and shaking hands with Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson – all seemed part of everyday life at sea. What was more difficult to accept was the reason for pilfering British soap from the cargo, haggling over the price of a radio in New York’s equivalent of Curry’s and learning to dance uphill while the ship was rolling!
