Lord Mayor of Canterbury
Joins Celebrations of 50 Years of Canterbury Archaeological Trust
Our 50th Anniversary Evening Reception, held at the beautiful Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, Kentish Barn, on Friday 11 September 2026, was a resounding success. With almost 100 guests in attendance, the evening provided an opportunity to reflect on five decades offering a wide range of quality archaeological and outreach services, showcasing this with a fascinating curated exhibition of the rich history and achievements of CAT over these past 50 years.
We heard inspiring speeches from Brigadier (Retd) John Meardon, Chair of Trustees, and Mark Houliston, our Director, reflecting on the organisation's remarkable journey, celebrating its people and looking ahead to the future.
We were also honoured to welcome The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Alister Brady, and particularly pleased to be joined by all four CAT Directors who have led the organisation since its foundation in 1976, making for a uniquely special occasion.
The celebrations continued with our Public Open Day on Saturday 12 September, which attracted volunteers, Friends of CAT, supporters, and members of the wider community. Visitors explored the anniversary exhibition and learned more about CAT's work from our enthusiastic staff, whose dedication and expertise helped make both events so memorable.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to these celebrations. Fifty years is a proud moment, but it is not an ending. It is a platform that reminds us that quality endures when people care enough to keep renewing it. The journey ahead will bring new challenges and new opportunities, but CAT continues that journey with an extraordinary legacy behind it and an equally extraordinary team to carry it forward.
The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Alister Brady, pictured with the four Directors who have led Canterbury Archaeological Trust since its foundation in 1976 during the Trust's 50th Anniversary celebrations at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge (from L to R: Tim Tatton-Brown Director (1976-1986), Mark Houliston Director (2025 – present), The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Alister Brady, Prof Paul Bennett Director (1986-2020), Alison Hicks Director (2020-2025), Dr David Shaw Trustee, Brigadier (Retd) John Meardon Trustee
With the celebrations behind us, it's back to business-as-usual in supporting developers, contractors, architects and many more clients in getting their planning conditions discharged.
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