September/October 2020
Southsea CELEBRATING 15 YEARS IN PRINT
Lifestyle
THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM FROM SHETLAND TO OLD PORTSMOUTH Page 6
Photo: Will Hutchinson
CONTENTS 12 CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER 20 DOES YOUR HOMEMADE MASK WORK 24 COOKING THROUGH COVID 27 TOTALLY WELL 28 MOSAIC OF LIFE 32 AFRICA AND THE SOLENT 34 SOUTHSEA CHOIR HITS THE RIGHT NOTE 40 PLAY ON PLAY ON 42 OPENING DOORS AND MARKETS
CONTRIBUTORS Kate Thompson is a Southsea writer with a passion for uncovering quirky human interest stories Neil Maxwell is director of Fry & Kent Estate Agents, and a volunteer crew member of the RNLI Rosie Wiggins is a Southsea writer and researcher, passionate about the city’s diverse creative community Daniel Nowland has loved food his whole life, and spent ten years working as the Head of Technical for Jamie Oliver. He is now the owner of The Southsea Deli and organiser of supper clubs, workshops and other food events in Southsea. Luke Newton is a Personal Trainer and founder of SWEAT Southsea and the Fitness Festival Southsea Lifestyle Produced by Salad Publishing Ltd Editor: Kevin John Dean Editorial assistant: Kai Austin Dean Creative Director: Zirrinia Austin Dean Social media: Urban Salt
A
s we move into the autumn and we tentatively explore our brave new world, we are focusing on comfort. And what can be more comforting than food, enjoyed at home or in a local restaurant, carefully monitored and as clean as a new napkin ring? See Daniel Nowland’s article, of The Southsea Deli, talking about the joys of home cooking (p.24). Luke Newton of Sweat Southsea, considers the importance of ‘wellness’, well beyond flexing our muscles or running full pelt along the promenade (p.27). And Kate Thompson has briefly moved away from looking at other people’s abodes to describe the amusing challenges of creating her very own mosaic garden in central Southsea, (p.28). Take care, take comfort and we will be back again in November. Kevin John Dean
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SERVING OLD PORTSMOUTH FOR OVER 200 YEARS - THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM
F
ounded in 1784, The Duke of Buckingham has had several names above the door including, ‘The Green Dragon’ 1794, ‘The Cambridge Tavern’ 1855, and after major developments in 1905, it became the ‘The Duke of Buckingham’, as it is known today.
With the onslaught of Covid19 and the subsequent lockdown, the Duke of Buckingham stepped up to the mark and under Andrew’s leadership, launched its own food hub to ensure the elderly and vulnerable of Old Portsmouth could access a hot, daily 6
Photos: Will Hutchinson
Chef Proprietor, Andrew Harvey, along with his wife Fiona and daughter Charlotte, also Andrew’s three brothers, Chefs Ross & Ian, not forgetting technical and media man, Philip, are the backbone of this thriving family business. Together, they are proud custodians of this historical gem on Old Portsmouth’s High Street.
meal. With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, a staggering 20,000 plus meals have been delivered to homes since the second of day of lockdown. A service that is still in operation to the present day, something Andrew is extremely proud of. The venue has recently returned to a semblance of normality, focussing on what it does best, as a family friendly Free House, serving great beers, wines and spirits, but with a BIG focus on great food served seven days per week. Chef Andrew draws his inspiration from his heroes Bocuse & Escoffier, and, being classically trained, consistently serves lovingly prepared pub classics, using local produce and the very best seafood, sourced from Shetland. The recent launch of fish & chips is proving to be a huge hit, along with an extensive choice of seafood specials. The home-made pies are belly-busting and delicious. The portions in general are not for the faint hearted. Sunday Roasts are, simply put, epic with the choice and value ensuring you return for more.
With the recent success of ‘Eat Out and Help Out’ the Duke is launching its own offer for the month of September, with all Mains Course ½ Price, Tuesday to Thursday (terms & conditions apply). Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday midday - 9pm Friday & Saturday 11am - 10.30pm Sunday 11am - 6pm Booking Advisable Tel: 023 9229 4491 Email: hospitality83@gmail.com Facebook: @thedukebuckingham Twitter: @SHCatering0 Instagram: @thedukebuckinghampub The Duke of Buckingham, 119 High Street Old Portsmouth PO1 2HW 7
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THE GOODS YARD Open for business as usual
Floorboards, reclaimed doors, radiators bought & sold Garden furniture, gates and railings
Plus a large range of antique and retro furniture Parking at Johnstone's Decorating Centre
GOLDSMITH AVENUE, FRATTON, PORTSMOUTH P04 OBT
TEL: 023 9281 8703 - 07503146108 10
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CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER! Neil Maxwell
T
he last few months have shown a sustained level of activity for both lettings and sales. With the pent up demand of the last few years released onto a market with a limited amount of available property, we’ve found prices to be consistent and competition for popular properties to be high. There have been many people for whom outside space has become an absolute priority, or are choosing to move from larger conurbations to enjoy the Common and seaside, with all of these factors adding to the fervour in the marketplace. Keeping up with the pace of enquiries has been a welcome challenge, though on one very busy day recently I was interested to see how many calls we had dealt with, as the phone had been non-stop. We’d dealt with 437 sales calls in one day, which kept the five of us working that day on our toes!
Portsmouth. It was just an empty shop, but we got planning permission and I made all the signs myself and kitted it out with second hand furniture. Most of the houses we sold were flat fronted one or two bedroom terraced houses left in the spaces that had not been bombed in the war. I liked helping people who thought they could not own their own homes get a mortgage and buy a home and get on the housing ladder. It was very difficult then, especially for women, or first time buyers. I was one of the first estate agents to employ women as negotiators. My daughter-in-law Frances was the second woman sales negotiator in the whole city. My daughter Rosalyn was the Saturday girl whilst still at school. Her headmistress said that girls studying for O-Levels should not work at offices, but I thought she should!
Our recent re-brand which we’ve carried out to celebrate our 50th anniversary of trading has been well received, and this prompted us to contact Bill Fry who established Fry & Kent in 1970 and is now in his nineties. Bill is fondly remembered by customers to this day and he was kind enough to write the following article for our website and in-house magazine.
I started Fry and Kent as I wanted independence, to be my own boss. We chose the name because Fry was our name and Kent was my wife Rosemary's maiden name. The nasty term used for small businesses like ours then was a ‘bucket shop’. We were not part of the establishment. We were new. The first office opened in Stoke Rd, Gosport. It had been a butcher's shop then soon after I expanded into Grove Road South, in 12
Bill Fry
It is wonderful how Fry and Kent have developed since 1970. Sadly my son David who worked with me has passed away, but I am delighted at how the firm has become so successful. I always wanted it too, and I am so impressed with the offices, the staff, and the wonderful way they advertise and adapt to change. Happy fifty years Fry and Kent!
BROAD STREET, OLD PORTSMOUTH £818,000 EPC D • Impressive Four Storey Town House located in the fashionable district known as Spice Island in Old Portsmouth. • Roof top terrace with 360-degree views. • Three double bedrooms including a beautiful balcony and luxury en-suite in the main bedroom.
SEAGERS COURT, OLD PORTSMOUTH £820,000 EPC C
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• Attractive three-bedroom family home that is beautiful presented throughout. • Impressive 21ft fitted kitchen/breakfast room complete with a large skylight window. • Reasonable sized landscaped rear garden with raised planter and paved patio.
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DESIGN HOUSE SOUTHSEA
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REFURBISHING ITS SHOWROOMS We will be returning to normal opening hours in early September, ready to help with made to measure soft furnishings, carpeting, furniture and gifts Thank you for your continued support .
55-57 Marmion Road Southsea PO5 2AT
Tel/Fax 02392 838038 www.designhousesouthsea.co.uk 14
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V
isit Coastal Remedy and you’ll discover natural and organic beauty brands, candles, artwork, jewellery, books, indoor plants, zero waste living products and many other products that have been carefully chosen to complement a balanced and happy lifestyle. Owner Becky moved to Southsea from London in 2015 but when the weekly commute finally took its toll, she embarked on her own wellness journey.
It’s a delightful place to browse and indulge, whether you are buying for others, or seeking the tonic of self-gifting. From a natural scented candle, bath salts, an acupressure mat, to supplements, aromatherapy oils, mindfulness magazines, cooking and lifestyle books, there’s a lot to choose from! Head to 13 Marmion Road in Southsea to find Coastal Remedy. Instagram @coastalremedyuk
Photo: Lucy Poulaki. Lucy’s Instagram @worldwanderinglens
Having refocused and changed the direction of her life, Becky has created a space where people can feel relaxed and buy products that are aimed at making them feel good.
Step inside and you will find an oasis of playful calm; the light, fresh and airy ambience is punctuated by soothing sounds from a traditional record player while a diffuser gently scents the atmosphere.
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DOES YOUR HOMEMADE MASK WORK?
This article was first published in The Conversation https://theconversation.com/uk by Simon Kolstoe, Senior Lecturer in Evidence Based Healthcare and University Ethics Advisor, University of Portsmouth.
I
f a surgeon arrived at the operating theatre wearing a mask they had made that morning from a tea towel, they would probably be sacked. This is because the equipment used for important tasks, such as surgery, must be tested and certified to ensure compliance with specific standards. But anyone can design and make a face covering to meet new public health requirements for using public transport or going to the shops. Indeed, arguments about the quality and standard of face coverings underlie recent controversies and explain why many people think they are not effective for protecting against COVID-19. Even the language distinguishes between face masks (which are normally considered as being built to a certain standard) and face coverings that can be almost anything else. Perhaps the main problem is that, while we know that well-designed face masks have been used effectively for many years as personal protective equipment (PPE), during the COVID-19 outbreak shortages of PPE have made it impractical for the entire population to wear regulated masks and be trained to use them effectively. As a result, the argument has moved away from wearing face masks for personal protection and towards wearing “face coverings” for public protection. The idea is that despite unregulated face coverings being highly variable, they do, on average, reduce the spread of virus perhaps in a similar way as covering your mouth when you cough.
20
But given the wide variety of unregulated face coverings that people are now wearing, how do we know which is most effective? The first thing is to understand what we mean by effective. Given that coronavirus particles are about 0.08 micrometres and the weaves within a typical cloth face covering have gaps about 1,000 times bigger (between 1 and 0.1 millimetres), “effectiveness” does not mean reliably trapping the virus. Instead, much like covering our mouths when we cough, the aim of wearing cloth coverings is to reduce the distance that your breath spreads away from your body. The idea is that if you do have COVID-19, depositing any virus you may breathe out on either yourself or nearby (within one metre) is much better than blowing it all over other people or surfaces. So an effective face covering is not meant to stop the wearer from catching the virus. Although from a personal perspective we might want to protect ourselves, to do so we should be wearing specially designed PPE such as FFP2 (also known as N95) masks. But, as mentioned, by doing so we risk creating mask shortages and potentially putting healthcare workers at risk. Instead, if you want to avoid catching the virus yourself, the most effective things to do are avoid crowded places by ideally staying at home, don’t touch your face, and wash your hands often. TWO SIMPLE TESTS If effectiveness for face coverings means
preventing our breath travelling too far away from our bodies, how would we go about comparing different designs or materials? Perhaps the easiest way, as demonstrated by several increasingly shared pictures or videos on social media, is to find someone who “vapes” and film them breathing out the vapour while wearing a face covering. One glance at such a picture dispels any suggestion that these face coverings stop your breath escaping. Instead, these pictures show that your breath is directed over the top of your head, down onto your chest, and behind you. The breath is also turbulent, meaning that although it does spread out, it doesn’t go far. In comparison, if you look at a picture of someone not wearing a face covering, you will see that the exhalation goes mostly forward and down, but a significantly further distance than with the face covering. Such a test is probably ideal for examining different designs and fits. Do coverings that loop around the ears work better than scarves? How far under your chin does a covering need to go? What is the best nose fitting? How do face shields compare to face masks? These are all questions that could be answered using this method.
But, in conducting this experiment, we should appreciate that “vaping” particles are about 0.1 to 3 micrometres – significantly bigger than the virus. While it is probably fair to assume that the smaller virus particles will travel in roughly the same directions as the vaping particles, there is also the chance that they may still go straight forward through the face covering. To get an idea of how much this might happen, a simple test involving trying to blow out a candle directly in front of the wearer could be tried. Initially, the distance coupled with the strength of exhalation could be investigated, but then face coverings made from different materials and critically with different numbers of layers could be tried. The design of face covering that made it hardest to divert the candle flame will probably provide the best barrier for projecting the virus forward and through the face covering. Try to blow out a candle using different masks. Without any more sophisticated equipment, it would be difficult to conduct any further simple experiments at home. However, combining the above two tests would provide wearers with a good idea about which of their face coverings would work the best if the aim was to avoid breathing potential infection over other people.
21
O
MAYA MAGIC
pening a resturaunt is a difficult undertaking at the best of times, without the upset of having to close 3 months later due to a global pandemic. So, it says a lot about the quality of the food and the resilience of the team that Maya is back and as popular as it was before the lockdown. “The eat out to help out scheme, has… helped out, but our weekend bookings, (without the scheme), are just as good,” said Chris Ball, the chef who opened Maya with his business partner Rob Lee. “Rob became a dad for the first time, last week - this is turning into quite a momentous year” said Chris.
As the resturaunt name might suggest, the cuisine has South American influences, but before you conjure up visons of heavy meat dishes with side orders of tacos and refried beans,
Maya is the polar opposite. Choose from a menu of light, but plentiful tapas dishes, that will please not only the ardent meat eater, but also vegetarians. And because Chris holds back on cooking with a lot of dairy products and wheat, vegans and people with gluten intolerances are catered for too. Each dish is carefully prepared and pops with flavour and by using a carefully calibrated charcoal oven some of the dishes have a delicate smokey flavour. Aubergine is glazed with harissa and served with sesame, mozzarella and a bravos sauce, spiced chicken is cooked in a tinga marinade and salmon fillet comes with a passion fruit tiradito and crispy squash. “Most people find 3 or 4 dishes are sufficient, so that you can eat well for about £25 per head (before drinks),” explained Chris.
Situated in the former Jubilee Tavern, the restaurant is longer than it is wide, but by reducing the number of covers from 54 to 38, people can be seated with plenty of distance between them. Some of the tables are also divided with Perspex, held in a gold frame, which is a theme that’s used throughout the décor, with touches of gold, dark wood and grey walls.
“I was able to put the lockdown to good use by experimenting with some new dishes. We are going to regularly change the menu so that people will always find something different to try,” said Chris.
It all makes for a magical and stimulating evening, led by a team who will always rise to a challenge. www.mayasouthsea.co.uk Instagram: @mayasouthsea 15 Jubilee Terrace Southsea PO5 4BS 23
COOKING THROUGH COVID Daniel Nowland
T
he ‘C’ word has rocked our world this
in demand, not a shortage in supply. Covid
year, from how we socialise, to what
didn’t change the amount of eggs our hens
we’re eating. The panic buying we saw
lay, or the ability of farmers to produce
in March made many of us realise we had
wheat. However - we saw a huge increase in
been taking our food supply chains for
people cooking from scratch to pass the time
granted. Whilst the egg and flour shortage
at home. Hopefully some of the sourdough
was short lived, it was created by an increase
virgins are still baking, and sharing the love
24
of warm bread with their friends and family. Learning to cook from scratch
is
a
valuable
skill, regardless of any pandemic. It can save you money, bring a dimension of content, and give you better nourishment and nutrition than pre-prepared or processed foods. Jamie Oliver’s “5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food” is an
amazing
book
for
helping you turn simple and humble ingredients into something delicious, quickly and easily. For many people, lack of
confidence
Daniel of The Southsea Deli. Photo by Carrie Lavers.
and
organisation can be the biggest barriers to cooking at home. I would always advocate giving your kitchen a de-clutter, investing in a good sharp knife and if possible, try to plan some of your
independant food store, or the Hampshire farmers market could be the inspiration you need to enjoy some delicious seasonal fruit and veg.
meals for the week before you go out
Living on the South Coast, we’re lucky to
food
correct
have tonnes of nutritious food growing on our
ingredients at hand will make you more likely
doorstep, whether it’s tomatoes from the Isle
to cook, and less likely to cave and order
of Wight, or incredible root veg from
a take-out!
Hampshire. If you’re looking to up your veg
shopping.
Having
the
We’re all aware now more than ever of the importance of eating well, for the benefit of our bodies and our immune systems. This doesn’t have to involve “dieting”, but could
intake, you could check out local veg ninja’s Bellord & Brown. Their instagram is full of the good stuff, and they also offer home delivery to the Portsmouth & Southsea area.
simply be eating more fresh veg and less
Covid may have taken a lot of our freedoms,
processed food, whilst still enjoying the odd
but let’s not let it take our love of cooking and
sweet treat or take-out. A trip to a local
good food. Stay safe and eat well people! 25
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TOTALLY WELL
Luke Newton of Sweat Fitness takes a sideways look at how there's more to keeping ourselves fit and well than simply exercising
M
any of us have suffered varying degrees of social isolation over the past few months. Although isolation might be perceived as being negative, I’ve heard countless accounts of people who used the isolation they encountered as an unexpected chance to reflect on their lives and their futures. The chances are that most of us are somewhere in the middle – having had our deep and meaningful moments, alongside less inspiring days, drinking too much wine or bingeing on chocolate biscuits. At the start of the year, my life and business partner Tina was about to announce the launch a new wellness festival at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard. We wanted to base the festival upon the 6 pillars of wellness, each entwined with the other: physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual wellness. The festival didn’t go ahead of course, but we strongly believe in the importance of those 6 pillars to help achieve a healthy and fulfilling life. They now seem more important than ever. We ran an anonymous survey of seventy-five of our gym members and over 90% suggested they were exercising though lockdown to serve their mental wellbeing, as much as for the physical benefits. I’m not sure we would have had such a response pre-COVID. It really is positive to consciously exercise to look after ourselves for more than just our physical wellbeing. Many of us are realising the importance of nurturing more meaningful relationships, of spending
our time and our money more wisely, of supporting local businesses, and considering our responsibilities towards the environment. In short, assessing what really matters to us.
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE I think that to find true wellbeing, we need to look at each aspect of wellness. We may not have come out of lockdown with abs of steel, but we could take steps to be less sedentary and to exercise or train daily. I was recently surprised by a group of my friends joining a WhatsApp group with the intent of being more active and healthier. Without COVID, this would never have been mooted. The conversation was centred around feeling better, having more confidence, being better people, and better parents. Most friends, acquaintances, and clients I’ve spoken to in the past few months have a newly-found openness to discussing wellness, and it is really refreshing. I hope that the conversations continue, and I hope that our local authorities join in and support us too. We have an opportunity as a community to close roads to traffic, to eat, exercise, cycle, and play outside. Our island city is compact and could be the first in the UK to truly put pedestrian and cycle traffic first. We have an opportunity to reverse some of the impacts our lives have on our oceans. As a coastal city, let’s have those conversations whilst understanding it is about our collective wellness – with each aspect entwined. 27
MOSAIC OF LIFE Kate Thompson
W
hen we came up with the idea of making a mosaic in our postage stamp sized courtyard garden in Southsea, we had little idea of the joy and full-on stand-up rows that would ensue. Sitting back this week enjoying the sunshine and listening to the tinkling of the water from the fountain, I can fully appreciate the colourful backdrop we have created around our pond. There are shells, old tiles, smashed crockery, funny faces and even delightful blue and white casserole lids are stuck on the wall. At the water line there are mirror shards that glitter and
28
reflect the water below. Collecting the stuff that would be part of our mosaic was great fun and involved much mooching in charity shops to find just the right piece. Before long we had a couple of trunk loads of bits and pieces. My sister stumbled across a fantastic haul of tiles while out on a walk in the depths of Dorset and manfully staggered back to her car with bags filled with the ceramic booty. Meanwhile I had been studying Kaffe Fassett’s visual treat of a book, with ideas for mosaic projects large and small. I found myself particularly drawn to the images of his back
tantrums - as fast as the stuff stuck to the wall, gravity would get involved and bits of cups, plates and tiles would slide slowly down the wall to litter the bottom of the pond.
garden where every last inch is covered in jewel coloured ceramic snippets. In a previous life I ran an art cafe and created a giant grape vine to adorn the front of the building made out of papier mache for the grapes and pairs of tights stuffed with newspaper for the tendrils - so I’m happy to think big. Our snapper friend Julian came for socially distanced coffee recently and declared we were well on the way to becoming like Nek Chand who created an amazing sculpture garden in India that covers 40 acres, completely built from industrial and home waste. ‘If only we had the space’, I mused and I could see my ever patient partner, Paul, starting to twitch nervously as he’d have to do the dirty work, while I offer sound advice and encouraging words. We started sticking bits of smashed crockery and tiles to the wall in the midst of a heatwave. Paul crammed his 6ft 3 frame into the corner pond as he attempted to attach items to the wall with a concrete based mix, with the consistency of over-cooked porridge. Inevitably these sticking sessions would end in
Eventually it would all get too much for Paul and in a hail of expletives, he would extricate himself from the pond and storm off inside. Many’s the time I was left to quite literally pick up the pieces, coaxing bits of pottery back into position and jamming sticks against it to hold it in place. Fearful the mosaic could bring our relationship to an abrupt end, I suggested a trip to Fishbourne palace near Chichester to find out how those masters of mosaics, the Romans, did it. We marvelled at the designs created all those years ago and listened intently for any tips that might help us to make sense of our own mosaic - and salvage the broken pieces of our love. Eventually I was able to ask my burning question to the expert who was showing us around. “How did the Romans stick mosaics to the walls?” I pleaded. The answer is simple - they didn’t. Turns out the Romans would make mosaic panels on the flat floor and then attach these to the walls once they were dry. With this new, but ancient knowledge, we took a deep breath and managed to finish the mosaic. A couple of years on, the memory of the pond mosaic has eased to the extent we are talking about extending the visual treat to the courtyard floor … what could possibly go wrong? 29
M JW CARPENTRY All aspects of carpentry undertaken. Built-in wardrobes and bespoke fitted furniture, doors, windows, stairs and kitchens fitted or repaired, flooring, sash window and general carpentry repair and more.
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30
M: 07882 713349 mjwcarp@hotmail.co.uk
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IT’S BEEN MANY A YEAR SINCE SOUTHSEA HAD ITS VERY OWN INDEPENDENT, NEW BOOKSHOP. PHIL AND MEL OF PIGEON BOOKS GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEIR BACK STORY AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE...
“A
fter a year of bringing our little travelling pop-up bookshop to wherever we could find it a temporary home, we’re delighted to say we’ve finally settled somewhere permanent you’ll be able to find us at 1 Albert Road, open Monday to Saturday.
We still have the same great selection of fiction, both contemporary and classic, general nonfiction, diverse children’s books, LGBTQ+ fiction and non-fiction, graphic novels and much more - and of course we will order in anything that we don’t have on the shelves.
2020 has been an interesting year, and nothing has quite gone according to plan but we’ve done our very best to create a bright, safe, welcoming space to get away from the world for a little while and a small but carefully-curated range of books with something for everyone. We’ve still got plenty of fun events in the pipeline - and as soon as we can find a way to do things safely, watch this space for news of book clubs, readings and author events.” 31
AFRICA AND THE SOLENT
In celebration of October’s Black History Month James Rayner talks about some of the discoveries he made for his recent book
F
rom as far back as the Roman period, people of African origin have played an important part in British
history. Every corner of the country has its own unique story of how black and mixed-race people have made their mark – and the Solent is no exception.
Barracks on the Isle of Wight . My research for The Isle of Wight’s Missing Chapter focused on the Island’s black history, and has uncovered over 100 men and women of African origin who were either born on the Island, lived there, or just visited – all before the Second World War. Some of the
Starting in the Tudor period, we can find evidence of
visitors were very well-known
individuals of African origin,
people like King Cetshwayo
from
a
West
diver,
investigating
African
of the Zulus, Prince Alemayehu
Solent
of Ethiopia, the black British
shipwrecks in the 1540s, to
circus owner Pablo Fanque
freed black slaves being
and
disembarked on the Isle of Wight in the 1570s. Recent
of
African
or
born as far back as the
Mary Rose originated from
Georgian period along with
Morocco or Algeria.
32
model
Caribbean heritage being
one crew member of the
In 1796, over 2,000 black and mixed-race Caribbean prisoners of war who had been fighting for the French, were brought to be held at Porchester Castle. Some were eventually sent to France in exchange for British prisoners but others enlisted in the British Army and remained longer. For example, in 1804 one of the former prisoners, a mixed-race Haitian soldier called Toussainte Ruppian, was stationed at Parkhurst
Jamaican
Islanders
research proves that at least
By the 17th century, North African pirates were often visiting the waters of the Solent, and during the Georgian period numerous black servants worked in the grand houses of the gentry. Black soldiers were not uncommon too, and records for the Isle of Wight show black and mixed-race men from Haiti, Guadeloupe and Barbados serving in British regiments.
the
Fanny Eaton. I also discovered
newspaper reports of black men
and
women
settling
on the island throughout the 19th century. There’s sure to be similar discoveries to be made in Portsmouth. Did the dockyard employ any skilled black shipwrights? Were there any Caribbean lady’s maids working for the well-todo of Southsea? And did any black actors make their debut appearance at the New Theatre Royal? There’s certainly much more black British history still to uncover, and it’s up to all of us to bring these stories to light.
James Rayner was born on the Isle of Wight. He has written various articles for print and online magazines. The Isle Of Wight’s Missing Chapter, is his first book, published by The Book Guild Ltd, £9.99 www.bookguild.co.uk
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33
SOUTHSEA CHOIR HITS THE RIGHT NOTE Kate Thompson
C an
antando Female Voice Community
agreed it was a good cause for us to support,”
Choir has been hitting the right note
added Becs.
during the lockdown, raising money for
important
cause
and
continuing
to
sing safely.
Becs friend and choir member Clara Flethem was then able to take the activity to a new level by using video recordings of the individual signers to create a polished
The brainchild of founder Becs Robertson, the
final film with each track.
choir boasts 42 members and they have managed
Shonagh Dillon, CEO of Aurora New Dawn, said:
to keep singing despite
“We are so touched by the
the restrictions.
efforts of the choir and in
Becs explained they have
particular Becs. We feel
utilised the latest technology
like
to capture their voices singing
alongside us for the whole
a variety of tunes - and they
of lockdown and they just
have raised a whopping
kept going, releasing songs
£3,920 so far for the Aurora
week after week. The fact
New Dawn charity.
they
“When the lockdown came,
a
take things a bit further and record our singing to support a good cause,” said Becs. ‘Something Inside So Strong’ was the first song they recorded and Becs admitted it put her technical abilities to the test.
to
is their
towards the retention of our
real feeling of sisterhood
got used to it, that was when we thought we would
falter
they have raised will go
a large group, and there is a
keep going. It has been a learning curve but once we
didn’t testament
walked
for survivors. The money
keep the choir going. We are
“We’ve used Facebook Live on a closed group to
have
commitment to raise funds
we were all determined to
between us.
they
helpline which we are continuing post lockdown for the foreseeable. The choir has done amazingly well by raising so much money and so much awareness. They have energised us at Aurora and we will be forever grateful to them.” “It has been a strange experience but singing with the choir has helped us to come through this – we will be doing a virtual gig at the Jolly Sailor on August 29 and we hope to ultimately raise £5,000 for Aurora
Each choir member recorded themselves singing and Becs
New Dawn,” added Becs.
mixed each of the 42 voices to create the final track.
You can find Cantando Female Voice Community
“Aurora New Dawn charity kept popping up on my
Choir on Facebook Cantando Female Voice
Facebook feed and when I put it to the choir, they
Community Choir
34
We will be back in the new year. Here are some of the lectures we have planned: Art Inspired by Wine Collecting the Grand Tour: A Look at the Enlightenment of the English Gentleman The Mystery of Holbein’s ‘Ambassadors’ Beethoven at 250 Punch & Judy Still Loving Still Life Prague - The City of the Winter Queen The Phoenix at the Fall of the Empire George Chinnery
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND HOW TO BOOK, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.pidfas.org.uk
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CAR SALES THE GARAGE WITH A GOOD REPUTATION
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36
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I
PUT A SPRING BACK INTO YOUR STEP
sola Holistics, a small local business offering complementary therapies, is very happy to be back in business.The last few months have been a strange and stressful time for all of us, causing anxieties and strains, both physically and emotionally. Holistic therapies are a great way to help recharge and revive our minds and bodies, and to also help boost overall wellbeing and reduce stress levels. By implementing new health and safety measures in line with government guidance, all our clients can be sure they are both safe and comfortable throughout their treatment with us. One of our most popular therapies is Reflexology, which works upon the ancient principle that there are reflex areas in our feet, that have been mapped out and correspond to all of the glands, organs and parts of the body. Stimulating these reflexes with pressure can prevent and relieve health issues, work towards your overall general wellbeing and help combat a large range of problems from migraines to back pain, sinusitis to anxiety.
38
Reflexology is a painless treatment, during a session your feet are gently warmed up and stretched to prepare them for treatment. Pressure is then applied with the therapist’s thumb and fingers over your sole, toes, sides and top of the feet. Once all areas have been covered, your feet are then treated to a relaxing massage.
If you would like to experience the benefits of reflexology or another holistic therapy, including a range of massages, aromatherapy and reiki, Isola Holistics is ready to welcome you to their tranquil treatment room in the heart of Southsea. To find out more or to book please visit www.isolaholistics.com
EVENTS AND GARY’S GALLEY
T
he interior and exterior refurbishments at the Royal Naval Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club are now complete, using
the best of contemporary design without sacrificing the rich heritage of this historic building in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth. Keeping everyone Covid-safe since reopening has been our absolute priority and we've
had
bespoke
professional
risk
assessments carried out to ensure we are protecting our members and customers. So if you're looking to hold a family event, including weddings, birthday celebrations and anniversaries, you can be sure you are in safe hands. Not forgetting the panoramic sea views and a variety of catering options to choose from. Bookings are open to everyone so please don’t hesitate to discuss your requirements with our friendly sales team.
Our head chef, Gary, has been cooking at the club for twenty years, formerly serving admirals and generals during his service in the Royal Navy. Gary's Galley continues to produce high quality food and his Sunday roasts delivered directly to people’s doors have attracted a huge amount of positive feedback. Gary uses fresh local ingredients, including meat products from the renowned Southsea butchers, Buckwells. It all makes for a delightful occasion and makes catering for the family on a Sunday, much less of a chore - and the portions are generous. Gary’s Galley ordering and menu information can be found at www.garysgalley.com. Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club 17 Pembroke Road Portsmouth PO1 2NT Tel: 023 9282 5924 Email: info@rnc-rayc.co.uk 39
PLAY ON, PLAY ON Rosie Wiggins
W
ith the recent easing of lockdown measures, across a number of sectors, including theatres, music and performance spaces. As one of the first sectors to close in March, and the last to be able to open, what does this mean for the city’s numerous cultural venues…
It could be some time before the thriving entertainment scene returns, but that doesn’t mean an end to our local events industry – far from it. The lockdown has shown that if there’s one word to describe Southsea creatives, it’s ‘resilient’.
Beloved Southsea landmark The Wedgewood Rooms is one such venue, its doors remaining closed since late March. ‘Our business revolves around the most dangerous things anyone can do in this pandemic,’ says Geoff Priestley, general manager. ‘Unlike pubs we can’t open on small numbers. We need to be 50-66% full just to break even.’
Tash Hills
Earlier this year, Jazz songstress Tash Hills was in studios recording new original music, but lockdown forced a change in her plans. ‘It was a choice,’ says Tash, ‘Either sit there and do nothing, or grab the opportunity to make the best of it.’
Even as lockdown lifts, Scott Ramsay, director of Creative Harbour, notes that the public might not be ready to return.
So, with the help of her partner Ashley, Tash recorded and produced her new single Stepping On Out - entirely remotely. The process took three months, but her hard work paid off: Tash’s single was recently featured on BBC Introducing. Now, Tash embraces remote working: ‘There’s always more to learn’.
‘Only a third of the British public are happy to attend events; another third might be persuaded depending on a range of factors, but the rest won’t engage until a vaccine is found.’
Production company Trash Arts have also been embracing the “new normal”, finding innovative ways to make films and host events.
Scott Ramsay
40
‘With minimal actors and crew you lose the normality of closeness,’ says Sam, ‘We’ve lost that communal vibe.’ Geoff Priestley shares a similar sentiment on the Wedge: ‘I miss the buzz. That moment when the crowd roars when a band finishes their first song. The emotion is so strong you can almost touch it.’ Sam Mason Bell
‘We had to adapt,’ says Trash Arts filmmaker Sam Mason Bell, ‘Now we have one actor and a skeleton crew, and we film outside to maintain social distance.’ Their creativity is working, as Sam and his team just wrapped on the upcoming horror film Senseless.
For Tash, losing her live performances was particularly difficult. ‘It’s like going to church; it’s like therapy. When I perform, my pent-up frustrations just disappear. I miss being able to sing away the blues.’
At the time of writing, the government has announced a £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to save as many of the UKs cultural and heritage assets as possible, some of which is targeted towards performance venues… ‘Given the return on investment and number of jobs involved, the government won’t be able to save everything,’ says Scott Ramsay, ‘Monthly losses will outstrip the recovery fund when the furlough scheme ends.’
Omar Mahmood Lagares
Trash Arts have also moved their open mic night, Open Ya Mouth, from Albert Road to Facebook live. Its host, Omar Mahmood Lagares, is finding a way to recreate the supportive, encouraging energy of Open Ya Mouth remotely. ‘We take video submissions, and we host a Facebook livestream for everyone to share their wonderful works’, says Omar. Trash Arts may be adapting, but Sam admits the pandemic has had a significant effect on his work.
‘Live events will continue,’ says Scott, ‘But now our challenge will be to make sure cultural experiences can include everyone – so that no one is left behind.’ It is more important now than ever to support local venues and artists. See Tash Hills on Facebook. Buy merchandise from The Wedge on their website, or donate via their crowdfunding page. See Trash Arts’ website and Open Ya Mouth on Facebook
Photos by Paul Windsor, who specialises in music/band photography. Paul has been working on a new collection of photos, see Facebook Portsmouth Artists in Lockdown 41
OPENING DOORS AND MARKETS
A
lthough there may not be enough ‘live’ events to constitute our Southsea Lifestyle ‘What’s On Guide’ there is a gradual re-opening of our larger public venues. Expect a restriction on indoor visitor numbers and other measures to be in place. The D-Day Story has re-opened (daily) 10am 5pm and with manoeuvres taking place to float the enormous landing craft tank 7074, across the water, from Portsmouth Naval base, it can only be a matter of time before it is installed in the brand new, wavy building, standing alongside the museum. The Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery has also opened its doors, with Portsmouth Revisited II, the second part of an ambitious, permanent show of over 100 works of art, exploring Portsmouth’s history and inhabitants. (Tue - Sun)10am - 5.30pm.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s attractions have also returned, but pre-booking is essential www.historicdockyard.co.uk Aspex Gallery along with its cafe and shop has returned with a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to build a large bronze statue, to celebrate the ‘Luna Park’ Southsea Dinosaur, which made a visit to Southsea Common in the summer of 2010, see www.aspex.org.uk for details. The Love Southsea Markets continue in Palmerston Road: Sat 5th, Sun 6th and Sat 19th September. And Sat 3rd, Sun 4th and 24th October. Look out for abundant stalls of fresh, local produce when Hampshire Farmers Market comes to town on Sun 20 th September and Sun 18th October, also in Palmerston Road. 42
Empty Debenhams. Photo: Ming Wu
Southsea’s empty Debenhams Store, now known as Handley’s Corner, (after the original store, Handley’s, which was eventually merged with Debenhams in the 1970s)... is to be the venue for a series of pop- up indoor markets. Called the ‘We Create Market’ it offers local creatives the opportunity to show and sell their work in a large, affordable space, following government guidelines. The new market replaces the Crafts in the Tower, makers markets, which cannot open due to the limited space at the Square Tower. Various collaborators are supporting the venture, including; Portsmouth Creates, The Maker’s Guild, The University of Portsmouth and Victorious Festival, who are managing the markets. Launching on 12th & 13th September and then the second weekend of each month until the end of Dec. See https://wecreatemarket.co.uk to book a stall.
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