Destroyer making a big impression

Destroyer making a big impression

HMS Manchester – peeling away at the right – escorting the USS Harry S Truman

A PORTSMOUTH-based destroyer is impressing her American counterparts while patrolling with them.

HMS Manchester left the UK in November to join the US Carrier Strike Group 10 escorting the 102,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman operating in the Gulf region.
The group is performing a variety of maritime security roles as well as 'riding shotgun' on the Truman.
US assessors have been particularly impressed by the way the Type 42 destroyer has carried out oil platform defence duties, and by the p

rofessionalism of the British naval boarding teams.
Manchester's Commanding Officer, Commander David Dominy, said: 'HMS Manchester has proved to be a flexible, wholly effective escort in the Harry S Truman's strike group, helping to reinforce the trust the US Navy has in the Royal Navy, and our ability to fully contribute to operations.'
The deployment is the culmination of a year of preparation under a memorandum of understanding signed by the US and British governments.
Manchester has also become the first Royal Navy warship to be fitted with US equipment necessary to operate the American CIS communications system, which she was able to evaluate with an eye to the entry into service of Britain's new Daring class destroyers and 60,000-ton aircraft carriers.
HMS Manchester is due to return to Portsmouth this summer after a deployment that will have lasted almost seven months.

Sailors on parade for visit of French president

Standing proud on the deck of their ship overlooking Portsmouth harbour, these sailors are preparing to parade before the French president today.

A troop of sailors journeyed from Portsmouth to London to mark Nicolas Sarkozy's two-day visit to the UK.
The French anti-submarine frigate Latouche-Treville arrived in Portsmouth naval base yesterday as part of the president's entourage.
This morning the sailors travelled to Carlton Gardens, near Whitehall, where Mr Sarkozy and his new wife, supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni were due to lay a wreath and observe a minute's silence at the statue of General Charles de Gaulle.
Yesterday, their captain, Vincent Liot de Nortbecourt, in full uniform, visited the Lord Mayor's parlour at Portsmouth's Guildhall, a tradition for seamen visiting a foreign port.
Lord Mayor Mike Blake said: 'He was last in Portsmouth 12 years ago and was happy to be back and to see the changes that have occurred since – like the Spinnaker Tower.'
The Latouche-Treville will return to Brest on Monday.

Joy as Mary Rose scoops huge windfall

The Mary Rose is set for a dazzling new home after scooping £21m of lottery cash.

The windfall will see the 463-year-old ship housed in a world-class museum at Portsmouth's historic dockyard.
Since being raised from the seabed 25 years ago, the flagship of Henry VIII's fleet has been sitting in a temporary hall.
Without funding to finish her conservation and give her a permanent home, trustees feared the Tudor relic could be lost forever.
But the Mary Rose has been saved after beating competition from bids across the country, including Kensington Palace and the Tate Gallery in London.
Chief executive of the Mary Rose Trust, John Lippiett, said: 'It's Portsmouth's ship and Portsmouth should be thrilled.
'This going to be a jewel in the city's crown.'
The £35m project will bring the ship and the museum – currently at opposite ends of the dockyard – under one roof, reuniting the Mary Rose and thousands of her unseen artefacts for the first time in almost 500 years. Trustees plan to open the dockyard attraction in 2011 in time to exploit the 2012 Olympics.
And after gradually drying out the timbers the Mary Rose will be displayed for the first time in her full glory, with no physical barrier between the ship and the public.
Mr Lippiett said: 'This is the finest 16th century time capsule anywhere in the world and this funding shows it's at the top of the nation's priorities.'
The money – nearly a tenth of the Heritage Lottery Fund's annual budget – is even more sweet for the Mary Rose Trust after its first bid was rejected for not being ambitious enough.
But the trust still faces the tough challenge of raising the extra £14m.
It has already raised £3.5m

and has set itself just over a year to find the remaining £10.5m.
Ideas include forming a club of wealthy donors who will sign up to give long term monthly donations.
The trust is also looking into sponsorship, asking companies to provide services free of charge or at a reduced rate in return for publicity.
Mr Lippiett said: 'I'm confident we'll raise the money.
'We're at the mercy of people and how worthwhile they find us.
'And we're looking into the possibility of sponsorship deals which could be a great help.'
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock said: 'I've seen the plans and it's really exciting. They've refreshed the idea of the Mary Rose and captured people's imagination and this will keep Portsmouth on the world map.'

Warship heads out for Nato mission

HMS Hurworth leaving Portsmouth

HMS Hurworth left her home port of Portsmouth yesterday bound for the Baltic.

The Hunt-class minehunter will spend four and a half months working within a Nato taskforce, including ships from Belgium, Germany, Holland, Lithuania, Poland and Norway.
She is part of Nato's immediate reaction force, which is on standby to deploy anywhere in the region at short notice.

Portsmouth Minehunter Bound for the Baltic

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Hurworth leaves the Naval Base tomorrow (8 Jan) bound for a minehunting mission in the Baltic Sea and northern Europe.

The Hunt-class minehunter will spend four and-a-half months working within a NATO task force comprising ships from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland and Norway.

The task group – known as Standing Nato Mine Countermeasures Group 1 – is NATO’s immediate reaction force, ready to deploy anywhere in the region at short notice.

It was established in 1949 as a permanent force, with member countries providing vessels on a rotation basis. It provides a constant and visible reminder of the solidarity and cohesion of NATO, keeping strategic waterways free from dangerous ordnance.

Hurworth’s busy itinerary includes a series of exercises with other ships from the group and clearing some of the thousands of mines laid during the two world wars that still pose a hazard in the region. Goodwill port visits are planned for Lithuania, Germany and Belgium. 
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Andy Woolhead, said : “The ship will be operating in the North Sea and in and around the Baltic exercising with a number NATO nations under UK Command.  The ship's company are very much looking forward to the deployment as we travel to a number of foreign countries to participate in numerous exercises.  The autumn period has been spent preparing for this period away and we are now fully stored and ready to represent the UK in this important alliance.”

HMS Exeter Stars at London Boat Show

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Exeter is to take on a starring role at this year’s London Boat Show.

The Type 42 destroyer - a veteran of the Falklands conflict of 1982 – will host several high-profile receptions, lunches and dinners on behalf of show organisers during the ten-day event at ExCel which starts on Friday (Jan 11).

And the vessel is also open daily to visitors – more than 25,000 are expected to go on board over the ten days to learn about the role of the modern Royal Navy and how it fits in with the UK maritime community.

Royal Navy frigates have been popular attractions at the show since 2004 but this year is the first time a destroyer has been involved.

Exeter’s Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Brown, said: “I am delighted and extremely proud that HMS Exeter has been given the opportunity to represent the Royal Navy at one of the country’s most important maritime events.

“The RN is as relevant today as any point in its history and it is fitting that we are at the show as an integral part of the UK’s maritime community.”

He added: “I hope that we will be able to give the public a flavour of life on board a warship and some idea of what the RN does when we are out of sight over the horizon.”

Sadness as Fearless leaves on final journey

Fearless passes the Spinnaker Tower on her last voyage

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/latest/Sadness-as-Fearless-leaves-on.3600570.jp

By Andy Davey

A proud old navy ship that enjoyed a long career was carefully led out of Portsmouth for the final time today.

HMS Fearless, which served in the Royal Navy from 1965 to 2002, was towed out of the Harbour and into the English Channel, bound for Ghent in Belgium, where she will be broken down and recycled.
Poor weather and high winds have repeatedly delayed the final departure of the Falklands veteran, which aside from HMS Victory was the longest-serving ship in the Navy, but she finally began her final journey today.
It was a sad day and hundreds gathered on the Round Tower to pay their respects to the 12-tonne assault ship.
Among the onlookers was Derek 'Smokey' Cole, a stoker on Fearless's sister ship HMS Intrepid. 'It's very sad,' he said. 'I've served on many ships that have been scrapped but I've never taken the time to see them sail out for the last time.
'It's strange but it's probably because it was the longest-serving steam ship to serve in the Royal Navy and it is the end of an era.'
The ship served as headquarters for counter-terrorist operations in Aden in 1967, and in 1968 was the venue for talks between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith over the future of Rhodesia.
Before the Falklands War, Fearless enjoyed a brief movie career when she was cast alongside Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 as the vessel which picks up 007's escape pod.
HMS Fearless, which can carry up to a battalion of troops, also played a critical role in the Falklands War alongside her sister ship HMS Intrepid and took part in the landings at San Carlos, where she landed hundreds of Royal Marines from 40 Commando.
She also played an active role in the first Gulf War in 1990.
The ship has been replaced by HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

Seasonal Celebrations Beaulieu

 

Palace House
15th December 2007 - 1st January 2008 

Christmas at Beaulieu is a time of magic with fun, activities and entertainment for all the family.

Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538, is a place of enchantment at this special time of year. Children can delve into the Box of Delights and dress up in period costumes, there will be carol singing and parlour games from yesteryear for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors can talk to characters from Victorian times to discover what life was really like 'Upstairs and Downstairs' at Christmas time and warm themselves in front of the yule log in the hearth of the great fireplace whilst enjoying a glass of hot fruit punch. The splendid Victorian-style decorations around the house and the magnificent Christmas tree in the Upper Drawing Room will add to the flavour and charm of the season.

For shopping delights, visitors will find traditional gifts in the extensive gift shop situated in the Visitor Reception which has a large selection of motor related gifts including model cars and clothing accessories, an extensive range of books and videos plus lots more besides. Soft toys and stocking fillers for children, costume jewellery, fragrant bath-time preparations as well as Beaulieu's own wine, apple juice, cider and festive fare.

Beaulieu's Victorian Christmas celebrations take place from 11am to 4pm daily, between 15th December and 1st January, excluding Christmas Day.

HMS Gloucester returns to Portsmouth after £6 million upgrade

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Mon 17th Dec 2007

The air defence destroyer HMS Gloucester returns to her Portsmouth base on Wednesday (December 19) after a six-month, £6 million upgrade which has made her one of Britain’s most potent defence assets.

The Type 42 destroyer has emerged from a refit by Babcock Engineering Services at Rosyth with the latest maritime communications and sensor systems. They enhance her ability to interact with ease with other elements of the UK and other NATO Armed Forces.

In addition to her warfare systems, Gloucester has received a package of major work on her mechanical systems and services including the replacement of oil boilers with state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly water-making facilities.

Her hull has been overhauled and her superstructure has been fully repainted. Propellers have been refurbished and a novel addition to her hull – a ‘transom flap’ – has been fitted to improve stability and fuel efficiency.

Following highly successful sea trials, her return to Portsmouth heralds her availability as part of Britain’s Joint Rapid Reaction Force.

Her Commanding Officer, Commander Mike Paterson, said members of the ship’s company were delighted to be returning to sea to regenerate full operational capability. “Having taken delivery of a major improvement to our already significant air warfare capabilities, Gloucester will form a central element of the Royal Navy’s order of battle for years to come.

“I am extremely grateful to all who have worked so hard to ensure that the ship has left Rosyth on time, ready and fighting fit to re-join the Fleet.”

During the period she was in dockyard hands, the 287-strong ship’s company was able to make a valuable contribution to flood relief work in the Gloucester area last summer – particularly appropriate considering the ship’s 20-year affiliation with the city. The sailors were particularly successful in helping to prevent the Walham electricity sub-station being paralysed by flood water.

On a lighter note, the ship’s company also took part in Gloucester Carnival, an event that highlighted the city’s ability to overcome the disaster. Commander Paterson said: “This level of assistance to the community demonstrates the enduring flexibility, resourcefulness and relevance of the Royal Navy and its people.

“It was a great honour to be able to help our friends in Gloucestershire in their hour of need, and we were proud to share in their celebration of triumph over adversity.”

HMS Richmond returns from the Gulf

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Mon 17th Dec 2007

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Richmond returns home on Wednesday (Dec 19) from an eventful seven-month security mission in the Arabian Gulf.

The Type 23 frigate patrolled the northern Gulf as part of the UK’s contribution to security and stability in the region.

Richmond helped protect Iraqi offshore oil rigs and oil terminals - vital to that country’s economic development – and policed busy shipping lanes to protect and boost confidence in maritime trading and help to counter smuggling and piracy.

Her boarding team comprising RN and Royal Marines personnel carried out patrols and boarding operations to foster relations with merchant mariners and local fishermen. Training was given to Iraqi Marines and Naval staff in boarding and command and control operations, allowing them to carry out security duties in the future.

In September Oman was struck by Cyclone Gonu and Richmond was able to help the disaster relief effort by providing 7,000 bottles of drinking water.

After handing the reins to her sister ship HMS Argyll last month she paid a formal visit to Ras Al Khaimah when they hosted Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi – the first visit to the Emirate by a Royal Navy warship in two years.

But Richmond’s busy deployment was not over. She worked closely with the Yemeni Coastguard to arrest 13 suspected people smugglers, covertly tracking two suspicious dhows as they headed towards Somalia and coordinating their interception and seizure.

Her Commanding Officer, Commander Piers Hurrell, said: “I am delighted to bring HMS Richmond safely home after a demanding seven-month operational tour. During this time Richmond has contributed much to the maritime stability of the Middle East and thoroughly enjoyed training and working with the fledgling Iraqi Navy and Marine forces.”
Richmond covered 25,000 nautical miles during the deployment and her Merlin helicopter flew 104 sorties in the Gulf, spending a total of 250 hours in the air. The ship’s galley prepared 155,600 meals and cooked 35,680 sausages, 2,024 kg of bacon and 13,600kg of potatoes.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary - Drug Busters of the Caribbean!

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Wed 12th Dec 2007

British naval forces have notched up another counter-drugs success in the Caribbean with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship RFA Largs Bay intercepting over half a tonne of cocaine on her first ever operational patrol.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned force which supports the Royal Navy Fleet. RFA Largs Bay is currently tasked to provide support to UK Overseas Territories and to assist in the joint international effort in disrupting the flow of narcotics from South America to Europe and the USA.

The Royal Navy and RFA have had a series of successful operations to foil the drug smuggling cartels.
In the latest swoop, RFA Largs Bay tasked her Royal Navy Lynx helicopter - from 815 Naval Air Squadron based at Yeovilton in Somerset - to investigate a small fishing boat that was stopped in the water eight miles ahead of the ship and some 390 miles north-east of Barbados.

As the 16,000-tonne Largs Bay and the Lynx approached the fishing vessel, the aircrew witnessed the fishermen hastily dumping their dubious cargo into the sea. The Lynx, tasked to hover over the bales to mark their position in the rapidly diminishing light, simultaneously managed to track the fleeing smugglers.

RFA Largs Bay’s sea boat was then launched. Despite the bales of cocaine being weighted - and the difficult twilight conditions - the crew managed to recover some 575 kg of cocaine before being forced to leave as darkness approached. There was also a need to catch up with the suspect vessel as it attempting a sharp getaway.
Meanwhile, the Lynx rapidly refuelled and was re-launched in hot pursuit. RFA Largs Bay once again intercepted the drug smugglers, who were now motoring without lights and clearly had no desire to communicate. Flag state approval was sought to despatch elements of the embarked US Coastguard Law Enforcement Detachment to question the rogue skipper; this was eventually received and the fishing boat subsequently boarded.

RFA Largs Bay is now escorting the Venezuelan fishing boat Astromelia and her crew to a rendezvous with a Venezuelan naval vessel for hand over and due process.
Commanding Officer of RFA Largs Bay, Captain Ian Johnson, said: “RFA Largs Bay is at the cutting edge of the International fight, against drug smuggling. I am delighted that we have successfully secured a significant amount of cocaine, with a European street value estimated at some £20 million and once more dealt a significant blow to the drug cartels. It is particularly satisfying given that this is the ship’s first operational deployment after commissioning, and demonstrates the Government and MOD’s ongoing commitment to keep narcotics off our streets”

Secretary of State, Des Browne, said:
“The Navy and RFA have once again struck a major blow against the blight of drug dealers. I would like to thank them for this valuable contribution to keeping our country safe.”

Farewell Pitt Street Baths

This Art Nouveau baths and gymnasium were built in 1910-11 as the Royal Naval School of Physical Training, when the armed services were worried about the lack of fitness of new recruits. It has a twin in Chatham in HMS Pembroke - now used by the University of Greenwich. The gymnasium had the highest hall in Portsmouth - better for tranpolinists than the new gym at HMS Temeraire. When the navy moved out, they were so fond of Pitt Street that they took sections of the semi-circular railings and installed them in Burnaby Road as well as a fireplace and photographs..
In the 1980s the city council acquired the building and wanted to demolish it. The Department of the Environment refused to list it and issued a certificate of indemnity against listing. But we managed to contact a national sports body which was looking for a home for talented local athletes including children who had to travel up to the Midlands to train. They put money into refurbishing the building - the swimming pool was filled with foam blocks for trampolinists But the building was not well maintained.

When Centros Miller applied for outline permission to redevelop the 'Northern Quarter' they showed a big road parallel to the existing oneway road which roars between the baths and the dockyard wall. In the Society's objection we suggested that the road south could be accommodated under the new structure, but despite the unnecssarily and enormous acreage given to roads, including a turn into the dockyard which the MOD say they don't need, outline permission was granted - though the 'reserved matters' criticised by the Society have still not been agreed.
A condition was that the athletes should have other provision provided before demolition - and a News reporter says they are going to Southampton for three months and then to another facility. But the planning department did not put a condition of salvage or a photographic record on the outline planning permission, and only the railings are likely to be saved. There is salvageable stone and excellent brick as well as the roof trusses...
Generations of local people learnt to swim in Pitt Street, even if they were not in the services, including my children. We feel angry and sad that inept planning has put paid to a useful and decorative piece of Portsmouth's heritage.
Celia Clark

Solent Waterfront Strategy

You can take a local marine business to the water...... but, can you really?
Even with the considerable greater length of coastline to be had from its location on and around an island, Portsmouth currently offers comparitively little in the way of direct access to the sea for the very many marine businesses located in the city.
Whilst not every such firm will be wanting to actually launch ships and boats into the water as such there will be many that would benefit greatly from having better access to vessels both in and just out of the water and yet others that could just operate more effciently if they could be located actually by the water's edge.
Martin Hendry of Adams Hendry Consultants will be addressing this issue at next Wednesday evening's meeting of The Portsmouth Society when he will speak about the study they are undertaking to support development of the strategy which will help marine businesses gain greater access to waterfront facilities.
The meeting on Wednesday next 5th December will, however, be firmly landlocked at The John Pounds Centre, Aylward Street off Queen Street and starts at 7.30pm. Members of the public are most welcome as ever to sample the sense of local involvement which is the essence of The Portsmouth Society and admission is free and complimentary refreshments will be available at the end of the evening.
No one attending on this occasion is in any way likely to get wet, unless of course it rains!

http://www.portsmouthsociety.org.uk/

Portsmouth Reflections

Portsmouth Reflections - just the ticket for Christmas!
Neil Marshall has published this innovative book of Then and Now pictures - with contributions from Celia and Deane Clark, JA Hewes, Eddie Wallace, John Brownlee, John Sadden, Michael Zeffert and others. The recent photographs were taken from exactly the same spot at the same time of year as the old pictures - to get the shadows right - and he also indicates the exact location and direction of the images on sections of Ordnance Survey maps.
The text has interesting reflections on how the city has changed.over the years and Andy Wing's drawings of naval and military characters, playbills and posters enliven the pages.
If you would like a copy they are available at branches of The News at £12.99

Contract signed for £5.49 million Mountbatten Centre funding

A major £20 million development of the Mountbatten Centre into a 21st century flagship sporting facility took a major step forward this week with the signing of a £5.49 million contract with Sport England.

Last month Portsmouth councillors gave the final go ahead for the new-look sports complex which will provide top class community facilities for sports-lovers across the city.

Sport England is contributing £5.49m towards the total £19.955m cost of the scheme, with the council paying the rest. Under the terms of the Sport England funding, the council would have to return up to £2.49m if the Pyramids Centre on Southsea seafront is sold.

The council has bid for Portsmouth to become a pre-Olympic Games camp for 2012 - with the planned facilities at the Mountbatten Centre holding the potential key to hosting some or all of a national team.

Work on the new 50 metre swimming pool is starting at the Mountbatten Centre on Monday 7 January 2008, to the south of the main building on an existing car park.

Cllr Terry Hall, the council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "This is fantastic news for the city and will go a long way towards our vision of a healthier Portsmouth.

"We have also just completed our contractual arrangements with Broadwater Leisure Ltd - one of the main local authority leisure management contractors in the country - to ensure the project is delivered on time and within budget.

"The new centre will create a focus for sport and fitness which will be the envy of our neighbours, and is a great boost for the city's regeneration. It's brilliant to think that by the summer of 2009 we are going to have a much-needed new swimming pool and other superb community sports facilities for the whole city to be proud of.

"Work on the new gymnastics centre is already well under way, and should be completed by the end of January.

"This redevelopment will bring major investment into existing facilities, including the main sports hall and the athletics and cycling tracks. It will provide a superb multi-sport village, linked to a sustainable network of other community sports facilities across the city - such as Admiral Lord Nelson, St Luke's and Priory Schools and Highbury College.

"The existing facilities will remain open during the work and disruption will hopefully be kept to a minimum."

Around 85% of the new eight-lane pool will be available for community use.  Divided by a moveable boom into two community pools - one with a moveable floor so it can have different depths, including one suitable for children or other learners - there will also be a 12.5m separate teaching pool.

Early Bumper Christmas Present For Rowans Hospice

Portsmouth Naval Base staff present £8,444 to Lesley Woodcock (front, middle) from Rowans Hospice

The Rowans Hospice at Purbrook received an early bumper Christmas present, when colleagues from Team Portsmouth at Portsmouth Naval Base presented the specialist care charity with a cheque for £8,444.

The spectacular sum was raised by RN, Industry and MOD employees through various initiatives including car boot sales, boxing events, entertainment and the Basin Run – a fun run around the base.

Captain Chris Usborne, Captain and Executive Personnel said: “Portsmouth Naval Base is passionate about getting involved in events that will make a difference for others. We are delighted that The Rowans Hospice will be able to make use of these funds for their very valuable cause.”

Two Portsmouth Warships Return Home For Christmas

Two Portsmouth warships which have been operating in opposite parts of the globe have returned home for Christmas.

Type 42 destroyer HMS Southampton and minehunter HMS Middleton returned to the Naval Base today.  Southampton has been protecting the UK’s interests in the South Atlantic for eight months while Middleton has spent four and-a-half months as part of a Nato force across northern Europe.

During regular patrols around the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Southampton provided reassurance to inhabitants of the UK overseas territories. She visited 14 foreign ports during the deployment and took part in large-scale exercises with forces from Chile, the United States, France and Argentina.

Southampton also trained with UK troops in the Falklands and conducted a disaster relief exercise in South Georgia, linking up with British forces and scientists from the British Antarctic Survey.

Her journey home via West Africa has included port visits to Cape Town, Lobito in Angola and Lagos, Nigeria. Commanding Officer, Commander Richard Morris, said: “The technical, logistical and human factors of operating a warship thousands of miles way from the UK for eight months are considerable.

“The successful conclusion of the deployment is a credit to the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who serve as Southampton’s ship’s company.”
Middleton meanwhile has spent most of her deployment on mine clearance operations in the eastern Baltic. She worked alongside 21 other ships from 11 nations clearing mines from both world wars off the coasts of Estonia and Lithuania and visited St Petersburg to further Nato and Russian relations.

In October the group worked in the more exposed waters of the English Channel, carrying out mine clearance in the Bay de Seine. The deployment was rounded off with exercises off Germany and the fjords of Norway.

The task group also acted as NATO’s immediate reaction force, on call to deploy anywhere in the region at short notice.

Middleton’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Steve Holloway, said: “Having worked with a multinational force for four months, we are confident in our ability to clear vital areas from historic ordnance that still presents a danger to today’s mariners.

“We have also proven we can turn our hand to most situations through a developed understanding of one another’s methods. It has been a busy but rewarding deployment.”

HMS SOUTHAMPTON returns to port

HMS SOUTHAMPTON returns to port after eight months
Families await return of loved ones, for some after the longest period at sea...

Nearly eight months after passing Round Tower as she left Portsmouth, today HMS Southampton will pass the same landmark as she sails back in to her home port.
Waiting on the quayside in Portsmouth Dockyard will be the families of many of the Ship’s Company, some of whom will have travelled many miles to see their loved ones return from what, for many, will have been the longest time they have spent away from home.
During her deployment Southampton has visited fourteen countries, sailed in two oceans, and covered over 33,000 miles. She has trained with warships from Chile, Peru, France, Argentina and the United States, in addition to working alongside British forces based in the Falkland Islands.
As Southampton prepared to return to Portsmouth, the Commanding Officer, Commander Richard Morris commented: “The technical, logistical and human factors of operating a warship thousands of miles away from the UK for eight months are considerable. The successful conclusion of the deployment is a credit to the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who serve as Southampton’s Ship’s Company.”
The Ship will spend the early part of 2008 undergoing routine maintenance while the Ship’s Company will undertake continued training in order to prepare themselves and the Ship for her future programme.

Isle of Wight Festival is a sell out

The Isle of Wight Festival 2008 is now officially sold out.

The 50,000 tickets to the award winning festival have been snapped up in about a week.

With a line up that boasts The Police's only UK Festival date, iconic punk rockers, Sex Pistols and Brit winners, the Kaiser Chiefs, it is not hard to see why.

Festival Promoter John Giddings said: "All we need now is glorious sunshine again'!

Now in its seventh year the Isle of Wight Festival always delivers a mixture of new, established and legendary artists on the bill.

As well as the headliners, also appearing throughout the weekend will be Grammy Award nominee, Lily Allen, Q Award 'Best New Act' winners, The Enemy, Brit Award winner of Best British Female Solo artist, KT Tunstall, legendary punk rockers, Iggy and The Stooges, Manchester maverick, Ian Brown, plus The Kooks, N.E.R.D and James.

A host of the hottest newcomers have also been confirmed, including Kate Nash, Hoosiers and Scouting for Girls.

The Isle of Wight Festival takes place Friday 13th - Sunday 15th June at Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight.

Reflecting on children at shops' fun day

Love Albert Road event organiser Ian Parmiter with eight-month-old Alana Hayes holding a stick of Albert Road Rock PICTURE: MICHAEL SCADDAN (075041-0037)

Hundreds of families descended on Southsea to celebrate their independent shops.

Love Albert Road was promoting the shopping area in Southsea.
But the focus of the day was children rather than shopping.
There was music and a range of festive treats as well as an alternative Santa – with youngsters encouraged to give presents to him for the big man to pass on to needy charities.
Ian Parmiter, who organised yesterday's event, was thrilled with the way it went.
He said: 'Everyone has been getting the spirit of things and having lots of fun.
'The whole idea is to promote the road – there's a lot going on here.'
There was live music from the Salvation Army band and an African women's choir.
Mr Parmiter added: 'It's been just what we wanted. This hasn't been so much about shopping as it is about the children.'

Portsmouth Papers still fab at forty

The 40th anniversary of the Portsmouth Papers is being celebrated with the publication of a new booklet in the local history series.

Settlers, Visitors & Asylum Seekers is the 75th Portsmouth paper to have been published.  Covering an enormous range of subjects, there's sure to be one to interest everyone - from the history of the city's pubs and breweries and the artist WL Wyllie, to the origins of the city, the Second World War and postwar rebuilding, Portsmouth's novelists, the railways, the Civil War in the town and the growth of Southsea.

The first paper in the series, Portchester Castle by Professor Barry Cunliffe, was published in 1967. 

John Stedman, local history officer, said: "To have published so many entertaining, informative and scholarly booklets over such a long period is a remarkable achievement for a council.  Outside London there is no similar series of local history publications devoted to the story of a single town, or covering that story so comprehensively.  Portsmouth should be proud of this achievement."

Review copies of this or other booklets in the series are available from John Stedman, editor of the series, at Portsmouth City Museum & Records Office, Museum Rd, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ   tel. 023 9282 7261 Fax 023 9287 5276, john.stedman@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Portsmouth Papers are available from the City Museum & Records Office, The Central Library and on-line at www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk

Get the New Year off to a cracking start

If you've overdone it on the turkey and mince pies, seen enough television repeats to last a lifetime and can't face the thought of the January sales, why not try something different this festive season and visit one of Portsmouth's fascinating museums?

Several are open on New Year's Day (Tuesday 1 January) including the City Museum, D-Day Museum, Cumberland House and Southsea Castle.  Normal opening hours apply and there's sure to be something to interest all the family.

Admission is free except at the D-Day Museum. Free entry is also being offered at Southsea Castle over the holiday period - the castle is open on 27 December and 1 January from 10am - 5.30pm.

Exhibitions at the City Museum include 'A Study in Sherlock': Uncovering the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection', 'An Artist's Impression of Portsmouth' by Barry 'Baz' Hobbs, and the Southern Ceramic Group annual exhibition.

David Evans from the museums service said: "If you're fed up with sitting in front of the TV and fancy a change, Portsmouth's museums are definitely worth a try. Plus a trip to the City Museum, Southsea Castle and Cumberland House won't cost you a penny - great news if you've overspent on the Christmas presents."   

City Museum and Records Office
Museum Road
Portsmouth

Open 10am-5pm

NB The Searchroom is not open on 1 January.

Southsea Castle
Clarence Esplanade
Southsea

Open 10am - 5.30pm

Natural History Museum
Cumberland House
Eastern Parade
Southsea
Open 10am - 4pm

D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery

Clarence Esplanade,Southsea

Open 10am - 5pm

http://www.portsmouthcitymuseums.co.uk/

Park and ride for Christmas shopping

Portsmouth's Christmas park-and-ride, which allows a family of shoppers to travel into the city for just £2, is operating again on Saturday December 15.

The service, from Portsmouth City Council, is also running next Saturday - so it's just the ticket for Christmas shopping.

Once again, drivers can park at Lakeside, the home of IBM at Northarbour. The £2-per-car fare allows them and all their passengers to travel between Lakeside, the city centre and Gunwharf Quays.

Passengers can hop around the different drop-off points on the same ticket.

Buses run every seven minutes between Lakeside and the city centre, with alternate buses going on to Gunwharf Quays.

The park-and-ride runs from 9am to 6pm and there is no charge to park. The £2 fare is a contribution towards the council's costs in providing the bus service, which is operated by First Hampshire & Dorset.

Last year nearly 4,000 people in almost 2,000 cars used the service, easing congestion on city roads and helping bring business to local shops.

A toilet is provided in the car park and is fully maintained while the bus services are operating. First Hampshire & Dorset provide staff at the site.

An artist's impression of Portsmouth

A Portsmouth-born multi-media artist is exhibiting some of his work at the City Museum and Records office until March 2008.

A hugely talented, self-taught musician and film-maker, Barry 'Baz' Hobbs produces work with outstanding social comment inspired by history, religion and consumerism.

'Portsmouth - an artist's Impression' is a multi-media show featuring video and paintings exploring three themes:

• Postcards from the Front describes Portsmouth's rich history as an important naval port and a popular seaside and holiday resort
• Downtown, showing how Portsmouth has become  a vibrant and modern multicultural city
• An Artist's Impression - contemporary and understandable abstract work that explores Portsmouth's natural surroundings

David Evans from the museum service said: "The exhibition aims to give the viewer an informative, thought provoking experience, enhancing their awareness of local surroundings while being rooted in an art-based programme."

Lake of Lights 2007 21st December

A Huge Success.

Lake of Lights 2006 was a huge success. 2000 people lined the edges of Canoe Lake in Southsea to reflect upon their own memories in a tranquil and peaceful setting. The lake itself was covered with over 1500 lights, each signifying an individual memory or battle against cancer.

The event not originally planned as a fundraising occasion merely as an awareness raising spectacle, thanks to the generous donations of so many people ended up raising £6000.

Another hugely popular part of the evening were the memory cards available, of which 2500 were filled out, each with a special memory or person written on. These are now in the process of being added to a book of celebration which will go on show in the Oncology department of St Mary's Hospital in the summer of 2007.

Many thanks go out to anyone who helped in making the event such a huge success and adding to the fantastic atmosphere that transpired on the night. Lake of Lights will be happening again this year and once again on the longest night of the year December 21st 2007. The plan is to make the event even larger with even more lights covering the lake.

Working with Fort.

FORT Cancer Charity was founded in 1992 as Friends of Oncology and Radiotherapy Trust and although based within St Mary's hospital Portsmouth, works throughout the region within all the hospitals and also within the community.

 

http://www.lakeoflights.org.uk/

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to Share Breakfast with Santa!

Santa Claus will be taking a break from his busy schedule on 15th December and heading to The Boardwalk, Port Solent to enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Surf Grill Shack.

He would love for you all to join him between 9.30am and 11am where he will also be giving out sweets and balloons, and will gladly receive any Christmas letters that you wish to bring.  Breakfast is free for children visiting Santa, and accompanying adults can enjoy a full English for just £3.95.  

“Santa is a great friend of The Boardwalk,” commented Centre Manager, John Holt.  “He’s really looking forward to meeting the children of Portsmouth, who he knows have been all good boys and girls this year.”

Once breakfast is finished, why not visit The Boardwalk’s Odeon cinema, where ‘Kids Club’ starts at 11am with a screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks.  The film cost £2.50 per child and accompanying adults go free.  Alternatively, you can enjoy the new family film from Disney, Enchanted, where the real and animated worlds collide in this fairytale adventure.

All mapped out - the Big Pompey Day Out Exhibition

An exhibition of maps created by local children has gone on display at the City Museum and Records Office.

The children were taken out for a day to remember as a reward for achieving over 120 hours of extra learning on Saturdays with the Children's University, run by the Pompey Study Centre. All the children were given the opportunity to make their own Pompey Map from places they thought made Pompey great - including the football club, the beach, museums and many other Portsmouth attractions.

A guided tour round Fratton Park proved the highlight of the day, followed by a return to the Pompey Study Centre where they created their own unique views of the city to take home on an A1 poster for their bedroom wall.

Bryony Kelly from the museums and records service said: "The maps are all personal to the children as they include locations in Portsmouth that mean something to them - for example their school - and they created their own key. This exhibition really does put Portsmouth on the map, but from a child's perspective."

The exhibition is open from 1 December to 3 January 2008 at the City Museum and Records Office, Museum Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ and admission is free.

The Children's University aims to help children find out about themselves, learn in fun situations, encourage them to find out what they are good at, as well as meeting people from other schools and experiencing new environments and is for children in Years 4 to 7. For more information please contact Jo Valentine at the Pompey Study Centre on 023 9286 4121.

Discover the paintings you own at the City Museum

10 December 2007 -

An inspiring exhibition to mark the publication of Portsmouth's oil paintings by the Public Catalogue Foundation is opening this week at the City Museum and Record Office.

The exhibition contains a selection of over 70 items from the catalogue, giving an idea of the range of the collection, both in artistic content and period.

David Evans from the museums service said: "We have tried to explore the reasons for collecting each painting,  the techniques of  painting in oil, acrylic or tempera and some of the issues in looking after them.  Using the catalogue as our starting point has allowed us to hang paintings together that might otherwise be separated in a more conventional exhibition.  This has resulted in some interesting comparisons and means there is something for everyone.

"The catalogue has made the paintings more accessible to the people who truly own them - the residents of Portsmouth.  The money raised from the sale of the catalogues at the museum will go directly back into caring for the paintings."

Over 800 oil paintings in Portsmouth City Council's collections have been illustrated and included in the impressive new book published by the Public Catalogue Foundation earlier this year.

The City Museum and Records Office is open 7 days a week, except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free. You can find it at Museum Road, Portsmouth. Their phone number is 023 9282 7261 and you can email them at mvs@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Display set to show off paintings

An exhibition to mark the publication of Portsmouth's oil paintings is opening next week at the city's Museum and Records Office.

There are more than 800 oil paintings in the council’s collections which have been included in the new book published by the Public Catalogue Foundation earlier this year. The exhibition contains more than 70 items.
David Evans, from the museums service, said: ‘We have tried to explore the reasons for collecting each painting, the techniques of painting in oil, acrylic or tempera and some of the issues in looking after them. Using the catalogue as our starting point has allowed us to hang paintings together that might otherwise be separated in a more conventional exhibition. This has resulted in some interesting comparisons.’
He added: ‘The catalogue has made the paintings more accessible to the people who own them – the residents of Portsmouth. The money raised from the sale of catalogues will go back into caring for the paintings.’
The City Museum and Records Office is open every day, except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 10am to 5pm and admission is free.