Southsea Lifestyle August / September 2021 by Salad Publishing

Southsea August/September 2021

Lifestyle

LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR’S VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL Find out more on pages 26-27

WALLPAPER AT DESIGN HOUSE SOUTHSEA Design House Southsea is delighted to be one of the first retailers in the UK to present the Designers Guild autumn collection of panelled murals available from September. Drop into our beautiful new showroom to take a closer look at our comprehensive wallpaper collection along with textiles, carpets, sofas and other furniture.

55-57 Marmion Road Southsea PO5 2AT

Tel/Fax 02392 838038 www.designhousesouthsea.co.uk

• Fabulous Carpets from Greendale, Brintons and Ulster • Crucial Trading/Alternative Flooring Specialist • Fabulous Vinyl Tiles from Amtico, Karndean and Polyflor • New Click only Vinyl Planks and Tiles from Karndean • Fabulous Quickstep Laminate Flooring • Oak Floors – Engineered Planks and Solid Click • Fabulous Bamboo & Unnatural Flooring • Supersoft Carpets in Twist & Saxony Pile

A pleasure to come home to... 31 The Square, Petersfield, Hampshire t: 01730 262223/267381 e: sales@waterloovillecarpets.co.uk

WORK IN PROGRESS

2013

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 Emma Beatty teaches journalism at the University of Portsmouth. She has lived in Southsea for thirteen years, and has two children 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 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 Web design: Daniel Sweeney

CONTENTS 8 SUSAN SAYS NO WAY TO THROWAWAY SOCIETY 12 COMPUTER SAYS NO! 20 WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY & HELP CHILDREN? 24 PLAY, TRAIN AND COMPETE IN ONE OF UK’S MOST SUSTAINABLE SPORTS CENTRES 26 VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL 34 BUYING LOCAL FOOD 40 SOUTHSEA PAST AND PRESENT

s a child I’d love to flick through coffee table books featuring birds eye views of the world below, shot from the window of an areoplane or even a space craft. Today, birds eye views come cheap, thanks to drone technology, but I’m still drawn to these familiar but altered images, where people, traffic, and buildings become part of a Gulliver’s World. There’s a good example on p.27 featuring the Victorious Festival sat on a rugged apron of land with thousands of people reduced to minuscle dots. Closer to the ground we have a beautiful house that features a sub-topical garden in Welcome Home (p.8). while Daniel Nowland encourages us all to shop local and to buy British produce (p.34). Finally, Emma Beatty has found an unlikely link between the 1960s band Manfred Mann and the artist My Dog Sighs, but maybe, just maybe, if we take a view of the world from above, we can see how we are all inter-connected? Kevin John Dean

CALLING ALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Southsea Lifestyle is the only lifestyle magazine delivered to people’s homes across the city. Affordable advertising rates and a loyal readership, no wonder 75% of our advertisers have been with us for 2 years or more. Just request a media pack for our October/November edition. Call: 07981 867826 e: info@southsealifestyle.com

SUSAN SAYS NO WAY TO THROW-AWAY SOCIETY Words: Kate Thompson. Photos: Anya van Nieuwkerk

hen Susan van Nieuwkerk and her family moved into their central Southsea home, they reckoned they would be there for five years at the most. Twenty-three years later, she still loves the four walls that have witnessed her young family grow up and fly the nest. And it is the walls that have provided the inspiration for Susan to express her natural ability with colour, texture, and creating a distinct look.

have bought a bigger house but it was the outside space that was important to us,” she said. The kitchen has been the one room that has received the most attention, with an extension to the back and side to substantially enlarge the space. “We’ve got a south-east facing garden and the kitchen opens onto it — in the summer my children were out there all the time.

“We never dreamed we would be here this long but the house has evolved with us.

“Having lived here this long, the house has had several incarnations. My friends joke that if you stand still long enough you will be painted.

“We were looking for a house with a decent size garden — for the same price we could

Cont’d p.10

“I find it really satisfying to decorate and several pieces of furniture have been painted over again as taste and colour schemes changed. “I’m passionately against our throw-away society and hate to think of things going to landfill. I enjoy repurposing things and love things that have patina and character. “As far as I’m concerned, the more battered and rusty something is the better,” she said. When asked to list some of her favourite things, Susan doesn’t hesitate. “The metal cabinet in the lounge which was an old tool cabinet, my metal cabinet in the kitchen which is from an Indian hospital and my chair and artwork in our bedroom. “The artwork was a cheap garish canvas from TK Maxx which I painted over and I fell in love with a chair in Cox and Cox a few years back until

I saw the price. “So I did my own version, reupholstering with rugs and cushion covers,” she said. The 70 ft garden has a tropical feel with banana plants, bamboo and tree ferns aplenty. “I’ve always been into gardening, and when my husband hit 40, he suddenly had an epiphany. “A lot of people like their garden to have crisp, neat edges but we have a more organic approach. “Often we’ve said there’s no room for any more plants but somehow we always manage to squeeze in another one. “When our children were little, it was their space filled with sand pits and slides. But it has had another reincarnation to become our tropical space — and I really wouldn’t be without it.”

5, Clarendon Road, Southsea

COMPUTER SAYS NO! Neil Maxwell

p and down the country there is now a shortage of property coming to the market, with plenty of buyers desperately looking to buy their dream home, or even just something that vaguely meets their requirements. This is helping to keep house prices very buoyant of course, but I’d not want to give the impression house owners are in the midst of some sort of goldrush either, especially as experienced surveyors aren’t afraid to correct house values — which helps to keep prices in check. Getting the price of your property correct is not something an algorithm from an online portal can predict, particularly in our city where the legacy of World War Two left gaps in traditional streets of two and three bedroom houses that were subsequently filled by much larger homes or flats. A good example of this was a sale of a four bedroom 1980s townhouse with garage, plus parking, in a street where the rest of the properties tended to sell at around £220,000.00. The owner had booked four valuations and I was the last appointment. I provided a valuation of £290,000.00 and the owner was overcome with shock and instantly accused me of over valuing the property, just to gain the instruction, as he had received three other valuations of £250,000.00. On returning to the office, I discussed the valuation with

my colleagues who all concurred with my recommendation. I started to look around for more comparables to justify my valuation to the owner and happened to find an online notice detailing the exact property and there, sure enough, was a predicted valuation for the property of £250,000.00. The algorithm had taken the average value for the street, added two bedrooms, and come up with a £250,000.00 valuation, which the other agents had relied upon. I popped back to the house and showed the owner my findings who subsequently agreed to allow me a short contract to try and sell the property. We ended up achieving in excess of the asking price, to both mine and the owner’s delight. Working with the customer to achieve the best possible price for a property isn’t just a moral obligation, it’s a legal obligation under the estate agents act, which we at Fry & Kent vehemently adhere to. It’s also a two-way street, because if the owner wishes to try for a higher price than our initial recommendation then we always respect their decision (within reason), because ultimately nobody knows the exact price a property might achieve. From then on, it’s in the hands of the surveyors to certify the price — and also protect buyers from making costly errors.

CAPTAINS ROW, OLD PORTSMOUTH - £970,000 • Outstanding Family home positioned on the edge of the Camber Dock • Four double bedrooms • Over 1,600 sq. ft of luxury accommodation and a terrace with views of the Harbour • EPC Rating D

BROAD STREET, OLD PORTSMOUTH - £775,000 • Beautifully presented three bedroom Grade II listed end of terrace • Situated in the heart of Old Portsmouth • Stunning views of Portsmouth Harbour and the Camber Dock from the rooftop terrace • EPC Exempt

MALVERN ROAD, SOUTHSEA - £632,000 • Substantial five bedroom Victorian terrace situation in Central Southsea • Over 2,000 sq. ft of versatile accommodation • Enclosed rear garden with double gates to off-road parking • EPC Rating D

THE CARPET CAVERN “Traditional values, Modern materials”

The Carpet Cavern is a new carpet and flooring store run by JDS Carpets ltd. With 20 years experience in the trade we can help you with all your flooring needs. We have 100s of top branded carpets, vinyls and LVTs to order as well as bargain price roll stock, remnants and rugs!

Supplied and professionally fitted or just supplied and locally delivered, we have something for everyone from budget ranges to the high end Rolls Royce of ranges! Come to see and feel the materials for yourself in store. Our products are not just good value, they are guaranteed and come with great aftercare too!

The Carpet Cavern 48 Cromwell Road, Southsea PO4 9PN Tel: 07730653809

MARKET DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

•

LOVE SOUTHSEA MARKET Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

7 & Sunday 8 August 14 August 4 & Sunday 5 September 18 September

10am-4pm Palmerston Road precinct www.lovesouthseamarkets.co.uk

•

Ladies Occasion Wear 33B Marmion Road, PO5 2AT

HAMPSHIRE FARMERS MARKET Sunday 15 August Sunday 19 September 10am-2pm Palmerston Road precinct www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk

www.lisadawsonboutique.co.uk

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BALLET CLASSES COME TO MILTON

aren Forbes a well known and highly respected dance teacher has begun teaching

ballet classes at Milton Village Hall. Dance and movement is

important to the development of children and Karen is offering classes to children from as young as 18 months old upwards. Karen who has run a successful dance school in Wimbledon, and has done so, for thirty years loves teaching

and

her

passion,

kindness and enthusiasm for her subject is contagious. Some of Karen’s pupils who began coming to her classes from a young age have gone on to study at some

of the most prestigious dance schools including Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and The Royal Ballet School, but what gives Karen the greatest pleasure is knowing that all her pupils are gaining a love and appreciation of not just dance, but art and music. “I like to make the classes really magical, with lovely music, something for my pupils to always enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives’ said Karen. Plus if you are that little bit older there are ballet classes for adults with some experience on Thursday evenings, the perfect way to rid the body of the week’s

Karen with some of her pupils

stresses and strains and to get those endorphins flowing. Why not book a trial class with Karen in September?

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WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AND HELP CHILDREN IMPROVE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS?

he Literacy Hubs in Portsmouth, is looking for volunteers to assist with 1:1 reading and support on a range of exciting published projects at its after school sessions.

to open two more hubs by 2023, which will mean we are providing 1 to 1 support to more than 300 children a week.” The Literacy Hubs is supported by The University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council. The education charity was set up by Becca Dean MBE in 2020. The first hub, The Pompey Pirates, launched in September in the heart of the Charles Dickens ward, where 44 per cent of children live in poverty.

Nearly a quarter of the children in Portsmouth live in poverty. Children from low-income backgrounds are twice as likely to fall below expected levels of reading and writing by age 11 than their peers from wealthier homes.

The hub, which looks like a pirate ship, is a learning programme for children aged nine to 13, who have been referred by their school as they will benefit most from the support. They attend sessions once a week, after school, for a year. The ‘Young Pirates’ are able to publish their writing in the form of storybooks, studio recordings, which were broadcast on Express FM, and films. Charlotte Harding, trustee of the charity, said: “We’re looking for volunteers to help us reach more children in the city, especially as we aim 20

If you enjoy mentoring and supporting people, and want to see the young people of Portsmouth thrive, then visit www.theliteracyhubs.co.uk for more details on its work and information on how to get involved.

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Have you always wanted to paint and draw? Maybe you’ve attended art classes in the past, but became disheartened? Or perhaps you've become a ‘lockdown artist? Or you’ve simply never tried to paint or draw before, but would like to begin? Whatever your background or experience, you will be very welcome at The Omega Art School, (for adults). Taught by professional artists and tutors the school is run along the same lines of a

traditional art school, with carefully planned lessons, short lectures, demonstrations, work sheets and even home assignments. Tutors include: Kevin Dean, Jacqui Mair, Sadie Tierney and Chris Wood. In order to be COVID-safe we are limiting our numbers in the autumn term to just 8 places per class. All classes are £298 per term including materials.

Starting Monday 13th September - 15th November 2021, 6.45 - 9.15pm - BEGINNERS EVENING CLASS Starting Thursday 16th September - 18th November 2021 10am - 12.45pm - IMPROVERS CLASS Starting Thursday 16th September - 18th November 2021 2 - 4.45pm - BEGINNERS CLASS Please email omegaprintmakers@gmail.com to receive a full programme and booking details.

the Omega art school 2 Omega Street Southsea PO5 4LP 22

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PLAY, TRAIN AND COMPETE IN ONE OF THE UK'S MOST SUSTAINABLE SPORTS CENTRES

he University of Portsmouth’s new Ravelin Sports Centre is an outstanding new sports centre for students and local residents. Superb facilities include a 25m 8 lane swimming pool, 175 station gym, climbing wall, ski simulator, and community orchard.

Located in Ravelin Park, Museum Road, its spaces exploit natural light and ventilation. The sports hall is located at the top of the building, allowing for natural light from its roof lights to minimise energy consumption. The 8 lane swimming pool on the ground floor is glazed enabling swimmers to have views of the natural green spaces outside, creating the feeling of open-air swimming in the park. Ravelin Sports Centre will utilise renewable sources of energy from 684 photovoltaic roof panels and internal heat recovery systems. Pool water is reused for toilet flushing and a new community orchard is part of a sustainable drainage system. A green roof has also been installed and sown with grass and wildflower seed.

With views to the historic parkland outside, taking a dip in the pool will seem like swimming in the open air. Rising from basement to roof, the impressive climbing wall will challenge your skills. Using the latest fitness technology, a workout in the gym or virtual skiing will keep health goals on track. Ravelin Sports Centre has been designed to the highest sustainability credentials for sports centres in the UK. This facility is aiming to be net zero carbon ready and has received a top rating of ‘Outstanding’ at design stage from BREEAM UK, the world’s leading sustainability assessment for buildings. 24

The green feel for Ravelin Sports Centre extends through its design. From the distinctive natural terracotta cladding that has been selected to blend with the historic buildings nearby to the ethos of extending the activity inside this modern sports facility into the landscape of Ravelin Park through new pathways and a wildflower amphitheatre for outdoor events. The amphitheatre and surrounding park has been sown with a vibrant mixture of wildflowers, herbs and perennials including daisies, cowslips, yarrow, thyme and chives. 140 new native trees have been planted and bat and bird boxes are planned to increase fauna and biodiversity. For more information visit: https://sport.port.ac.uk/southsea-lifestyle

ictorious Festival (27th-29th August) is the perfect place to spend your bank holiday weekend with a line-up brimming with heavyweight headliners — Madness, The Streets, Royal Blood & Nile Rodgers & Chic plus family favourites & up and coming artists including Annie Mac, Craig David, Ella Eyre, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Jade Bird, and loads more!

Set in a stunning seafront setting with a metropolitan backdrop, Victorious is the ultimate festival experience. Alongside the scenery, you’ll find over 10 stages packed with entertainment, bustling markets, a champagne

bar in a historic castle, an enormous free Kids Arena (Saturday & Sunday only) and an amazing atmosphere. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.victoriousfestival.co.uk 27

WHY YOU NEED A WILL

e often hear about the importance of making a will, but many take little notice until it is too late. If you watch the TV programmes about tracing heirs it is often implied that even if there is no will there are always beneficiaries who will inherit your estate. Recently I spoke to the second cousins of a recently deceased man. He had not made a will on the basis that he knew his estate would pass to them as his legal next of kin. When he died they discovered this is not the case and the estate that he left behind will go to the crown. The only way his family will inherit is if they appeal to the Treasury Solicitor, and even then they

are likely to only receive a payment to reimburse them for any expenses they have incurred in their time and effort. A will is the only way to ensure that you have control over who receives your money and possessions. The cost is usually the reason for not signing such an important document but for £220 plus VAT for a simple single will and £360 plus VAT for a simple will for a couple, it is worth paying for an experienced local solicitor to prepare your new will. jenny.walker@cognitivelaw.co.uk Tel: 02382 410013

THE POWER OF AN LPA

e all like to think that mental illness such as dementia or severe accidents will not happen to us, but sadly this is not always the case. If you were to lose capacity without an LPA set up, your loved ones may not be able to deal with your property or finances easily, nor make the choices you would make regarding your health and well being.

There are two types of LPAs, one for property and financial affairs, the other for health and welfare. Setting these up gives you the peace of mind to know that if you were unable to deal with your own affairs someone you chose could help you with them. These are usually created at the same time, but this is not essential, once set up you can relax safe in the knowledge that these documents

could be utilised if the need ever arose. Unlike working in a legal firm, as a freelance solicitor I have the freedom to arrange appointments outside of standard hours, such as evenings and weekends, and at convenient locations other than an office. I can tailor my services to your needs and work at your pace, instead of being driven by targets. My overheads are also lower than a typical practice enabling me to be very competitive with my fees. Freelance solicitors are still fully qualified lawyers, and are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. If you would like more information on this area of law, or to book a free no obligation appointment, please email me at: Annabelle@acjlaw.co.uk or call 07591 527713

Lasting Powers of Attorney Annabelle C Jones

LLM

Solicitor

LPA Specialist By setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) you can appoint people you trust to make decisions with or for you in case an accident or illness in the future means you are not able to make the choices on your own. If you would like to know more about creating your LPA, contact Annabelle for a free no obligation discussion.

Annabelle C Jones, Solicitor Email: Annabelle@acjlaw.co.uk Phone: 07591 527713 Website: www.acjlaw.co.uk Annabelle C Jones is a freelance solicitor, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE PASTRY CORNER

tep into the Pastry Corner on Grove Road South and your eye is immediately drawn to the display of cakes and pastries. “Our most popular

patisserie is the white chocolate cheesecake, but every month we also sell thousands of chocolate-dipped macaroons,” said Alex Bishop, the owner, who trained at Highbury College and went on to work as a pastry chef at Michelin star restaurant L’ortolan as well as the renowned Le Papillon Patisserie in Woking. However, the cakes and pastries that sell so readily at the front of the shop make up just a small part of Pastry Corner’s business, take a look over the top of the shop’s high counter and you can see Alex and her team busily preparing beautiful celebration cakes, traditional picnic hampers, sharing boards, and buffet catering for all occasions, from birthdays to weddings and funeral wakes. “I started the off-site catering in 2012 in a small way, but it took off and we soon had to take on

premises in Netley.” explained Alex. “In time I felt we needed more public-facing accommodation, so I was delighted to find this beautiful shop with its high ceilings and lots of space for all our food preparation. We took a chance and opened during lockdown, but as life steadily returns to normal and more events are taking place, I think it was a chance worth taking,” said Alex, smiling broadly. 12 Grove Rd South, Southsea PO5 3QT thepastrycorner.co.uk Telephone: 07828515036

Offer ends – 31.10.2021

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The Garden Southsea Florence Road, Southsea PO5 2NE t: 02392 008555

e: garden@themercercollection.co.uk www.thegardensouthsea.co.uk

Relaxed dining in the heart of Southsea. Located just moments away from the Seafront, The Garden is nestled amongst the trees in a beautiful courtyard. Come for our rustic woodfired Pizza, a delicious grilled steak with fresh salad and a crisp white wine, or maybe just a slice of homemade cake and a cappuccino. Book your table in our beautiful bistro, cosy cabin or laid back garden now. Open daily from 9am to 9pm (last booking 7pm). Vegan menu and kids menu available.

Southsea Lifestyle offer One child eats free with every adult main meal purchased, 3-5pm weekdays* *Advance bookings only. Terms and conditions apply

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BUYING LOCAL FOOD Words: Daniel Nowland

hopping locally and buying British are things most people know in the back of their mind as “good to do”, but it’s likely that many don’t fully understand why. Without getting preachy, I want to explain a little more about the issues and how we can all do our bit to help, knowing that every pound spent on food is a vote for the system which produced it.

Interestingly for many, British farmers have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. UK poultry, pork and beef farmers do not use any hormone growth promoters, they have low levels of antibiotic use, and generally the allowances for space and enrichment of the environment are higher than most other countries.

Shopping locally for food produced in the UK can do so much positive stuff for everyone involved in the supply chain. First and foremost, buying British food keeps the cash in the UK, supporting the economy and helping to reinvest in British producers. Of course we have nothing against producers outside of the UK, but you can guarantee shoppers abroad are also prioritising their local producers too, and rightly so!

In my previous life as a member of the Jamie Oliver food team, I used to travel the world researching and investigating food production in countries such as Brazil, Thailand, Australia and the USA. Whilst I visited producers who were leading the way of positive change in these countries, I also saw first hand examples of abysmal animal welfare and toxic farming practices which would put you off meat for life. Fortunately for us, the UK baseline for animal welfare in food production is very good, and standards such as free range and organic are even better. Some small shops, including my own, sell locally-produced cured meats from British pork and beef, which are a brilliant alternative to those produced in Italy and Spain, and essentially taste incredible. Of course there are many products we all love which are simply not produced in the UK due to our cool and unpredictable climate. These include olives, citrus fruits, bananas etc, which we are forced to import all year round. Fortunately for us on the south coast, we have some of the best weather in the UK, and those in the know will regularly enjoy incredible tomatoes, aubergines, garlic,

and even padron peppers grown on our doorstep on the Isle of Wight. These products arrive on our shelves super fresh, and best of all, taste incredible. Before opening The Southsea Deli, I never fully appreciated the variety of British cheese available to us. Whilst I won’t stop buying Greek feta, Italian Parmesan, or a good French Brie, I can’t believe the incredible variety of cheeses produced in Somerset, Dorset, Isle of Wight and even here in Hampshire. One of my personal favourites is the Isle of Wight Cheese Co’s soft blue cheese. It’s like a cross between Camembert and Gorgonzola, with a slight ooze, a full flavour, and creamy texture. It’s no surprise it’s the deli’s best selling cheese!

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SUMMERTIME AND THE CYCLING IS EASY

Southsea Cycles 235-237 Albert Road, Southsea PO4 0JR

@southsea_cycles www.southsea-cycles.co.uk Tel: 023 9229 7549

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ARTABELLE FURNITURE MAKING & RESTORATION

ucian Ercolani, Herman Miller, George Nelson, Florence Knoll, John & Sylvia Reid… What do these people have in common? They are all furniture designers, dating from the 1920s to the present day, all well known for their timeless designs.

wood turning. All very useful skills when you need to

Artabelle Furniture, a small

Mike is also a talented bespoke furniture maker, and

start-up

drawer knobs for a Victorian dresser, restore a cabinet top covered in water marks, or simply “disappear” small dents on a table top.

company

will be able reproduce that elegant chair you saw

based in Paulsgrove,

online, or create that cabinet which you just can’t find

repairs, restores, and refinishes all timber furniture, antiques

and

modern, but also specialises in the restoration of classic designs such as Ercol

dining sets, George Nelson for Herman Miller glass cabinets, Florence Knoll coffee tables, John & Sylvia Reid credenzas, and many more… Artabelle Furniture is run by Mike Screen, an exteacher of design technology who also taught wood work, with a degree in fine art and sculpture. He accumulated over 35 years of knowledge and experience in furniture making and restoration, coupled with an in-depth knowledge of furniture structural design, metal work, colour matching, and

repair a chair seat that’s coming apart, turn new

and needs to fit in an odd shaped corner. Mike’s talents do not stop there. As an artist and sculptor, he also designs, creates and decorates mechanical and wooden toys as well as repairs them. So, if you still have that lovely wooden horse you inherited from your gran, but it is stuck in the attic because it is looking old and damaged, Mike is guaranteed to bring it back to its former glory.

www.artabelle.eu admin@artabelle.eu Call: Isabelle on 07973 269 673, Mike on 07546 497 945

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SOUTHSEA PAST AND PRESENT My Dog Sighs and Manfred Mann. By Emma Beatty

MY DOG SIGHS INSTALLATION Did you manage to go inside My Dog Sighs installation in the derelict ballroom of The Queens Hotel? Upstairs, above the abandoned casino that had been the haunt of trespassing teenagers? Some of whom claimed to have seen the ghost of an old barman still floating about? It was an amazing event for Southsea – breathing muchneeded life into one of our many a b a n d o n e d buildings and putting Southsea on the map for its wealth of street artists. It was quite an achievement for the artist whose huge eye murals watch out all over the city. He funded the ar t installation through crowdfunding, even having to remortgage his home. The project took a year and a half to complete, and included a series of sculptures of strange little figures that he called the Quiet Little Voices. The beautifully lit show wove in all the familiar strands of his art – the empty drinks cans, huge single staring eyes with the elegant curving eyelashes, and a new strand of smaller pieces dedicated to the 300 pigeons who 40

roost in the building, including a sort of giant wicker nest, delicately woven, as a centre piece. . This latest exhibition was a very rare chance to go into this local building that has sat empty for some 40 years but was once a thriving part of Southsea’s music scene. The eerie glitter ball and abandoned red velvet bar are still so evocative of a time that must have been so full of life.

MANFRED MANN PLAY KIMBELLS

My Dog Sighs’ Eye

By strange chance, I happened to chat about that very same building a few weeks ago with Paul Jones – lead singer of Manfred Mann – who remembered playing there in the ‘60s – when it was Kimbells, one of the liveliest music venues in the city.

“As a band, Manfred Mann regularly used to play Kimbells on Osborne Road every Thursday. It was a great venue. They had tea dances and things in the early ‘60s. I always liked that view, coming off Osborne Road, looking across the Common out onto the Solent. That’s changed very little. All the big bands used to play there. It was quite a scene.”

“I’ve got vivid memories of Portsmouth live music back then – especially seeing Roy Young in the ‘50s — the legendary rock and roll singer, pianist and keyboard player — at Portsmouth Guildhall. It was a fluke that we got to see him, we had tickets for Craig Douglas, but he had tonsillitis and had to pull out. Roy took over – our win; he played and sang like a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. “I grew up in Portsmouth, and it always gives me a nostalgic feeling going back to play the King's Theatre there as I remember being dragged in as a child to see shows like Carousel, and Lonnie Donegan. “I live in Essex now, but went to school in Drayton and then Portsmouth Grammar. You could say I learned to sing at Portsmouth Cathedral where I was a choir boy. “The city’s changed radically since then, I remember the Guildhall used to look out over beautiful trees and parks. And the mudlarks too, down between the station and the dockyard. When the tide was out, they used to dive for coins. It was extraordinary acrobatics. What a way to earn money.”

Legendary pioneers of British Rhythm & Blues, The Manfreds, are coming to the King’s

The Manfreds, photo: Judy Totton

Theatre on 17 October as part of a UK tour with Georgie Fame. Founded as Manfred Mann in 1964 with hits such as ‘5-4-3-2-1’, ‘Pretty Flamingo,’ and ‘Mighty Quinn’, they disbanded in the ‘60s and reformed as the Manfreds in 1991 with original singer Paul Jones alongside founding members Mike Hugg and Tom McGuinness. 41

Southsea Lifestyle

Helping local businesses grow for the past 16 years If you would like to join them, ask for our media pack today info@southsealifestyle.com

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‘SENSE OF FREEDOM’ Charlotte Cornelius Design Compeition Winner 2021

t’s doubly rewarding for us as we present the completed handmade ring to Dr Debbie Lashbrooke.

The ring is even more stunning than we could have imagined. Every element of it tells a story and it really encapsulates the power and beauty of the building blocks of life. We can’t wait to see it auctioned to help bring us closer to the gene therapy for Rett Syndrome which will be life changing for our Lottie and many others. Best wishes Debbie Dr. D A Lashbrooke

DEBBIE’S INSPIRATION

Our Design Competition winner, is mother to Lottie who has the rare genetic condition called Retts Syndrome and her design was inspired by the genetic research involved in the charity Reverse Retts. The DNA theme and the Bird in flight combine to make a wonderful finished piece which Debbie has donated to be auctioned at their Christmas Fund Raising Gala.

“We feel so blessed that not only did this years design competition give a fun and creative focus for so many of you who both entered & voted in your hundreds. We couldn’t be happier with the result as the winning ring will highlight the wonderful work going on to combat Retts syndrome and support their incredible families. Thank you again to all who took part and you’ve plenty of time to get your creative juices flowing ready for next years challenge!"

My beautiful daughter Lottie has Rett syndrome. She is locked into a body that can’t walk, talk or breathe as it should. Clinical studies have shown that this devastating condition can potentially be cured with gene therapy. Her freedom, and that of so many others with genetic disease can be unlocked by science. In a year when the understanding of DNA and genetics has given us a vaccine that will save many lives, the importance of science in giving us back our lives and liberty cannot be underestimated.

I am a GP and my artistic and design skills are most definitely not my strong point, but for me this ring symbolises freedom in its very purest sense. It would be donated for auction at the Reverse Rett London 2021 gala event. www.reverserett.org.uk. If you would like to see your own design come to fruition visit our Bespoke Commissions page for inspiration or call us on 07880705981 - our friendly team are always happy to help and guide you as you embark on this wonderful journey! To see the wining ring in detail visit the blog on our homepage Charlottecornelius.co.uk

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KINGS THEATRE

WHAT’S ON

Tue 3 Aug OPEN DAY 10am, 2pm Sun 22 Aug FIREMAN SAM LIVE/SAVES THE CIRCUS 10.30am, 1.30pm Thu 26 Aug POP PRINCESSES 1pm, COMPLETE MADNESS 7.30pm Fri 27 Aug STRICTLY MUSICALS 7.30pm Sat 28 Aug 80S MANIA 7.30pm Sun 29 Aug THAT’LL BE THE DAY/35TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 7pm Wed 1 Sep THANK ABBA FOR THE MUSIC 7.30pm Fri 3 Sep ALL SINGING ALL SWINGING - STARRING RAY QUIN 7.30pm Sun 5 Sep JACK Off the Telly 8pm Tue 7 Sep THE WALL OF FLOYD 7.30pm Wed 8 Sep IMPOSSIBLE: Impossible 7.30pm Thu 9 Sep SUN RECORDS: The Concert 7.30pm Fri 10 Sep GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN 7.30pm Sat 11 Sep DREAMBOYS Too Hard to Resist 7.30pm Sun 12 Sep THE GLEN MILLER STORY Astor Big Band 4pm Tue 14 Sep THE DRAG BALL 7.30pm Wed 15 Sep BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR Green Film Programme 7.30pm Sat 25 Sep Rob Beckett plus support WALLOP 8pm Sun 26 Sep THE GEORGE MICHAEL STORY 7.30pm Thu 30 Sep T REXTASY The Greatest Hits Tour 7.30pm Fri 1 Oct CELINE Live in Vegas 7.30pm Sat 2 Oct CARPENTERS GOLD 7.30pm Albert Road, Southsea PO5 2QJ. Box Office: 023 9282 8282 http://kingsportsmouth.co.uk

NEW THEATRE ROYAL

Wed 18 Aug FRANCIS ROSSI ‘I TALK TOO MUCH’ 7.30pm Sat 21 Aug THE WORLD FAMOUS ELVIS SHOW 2021 7.30pm Sat 4 Sep BARRY STEELE IN THE ROY ORBISON STORY 7.30pm Thu 8 Sep SIMON AMSTELL: SPIRIT HOLE 8pm Fri 10 Sep PATTI BOULAYE – ARETHA AND ME 7.30pm Thu 16 - Sat 18 Sep MY FAIR LADY 7.30pm (Sat 18, 2.30pm & 7.30pm) Tue 21 & Wed 22 Sep THE SCARLET WOMAN 7.30pm Fri 24 & Sat 25 Sep MUSICALS UNLOCKED 7.30pm, (Sat 25, 2.30pm & 7.30pm) Thu 30 Sep DAD’S ARMY RADIO SHOW 7.30pm Fri 1 Oct PAUL ZERDIN HANDS FREE 7.30pm

Sat 2 Oct THIS IS THE FUTURE 2pm/6pm Sun 3 Oct THORRIBLE HISTORIES – GORGEOUS GEORGIANS AND VILE VICTORIANS! 1.30pm/4pm 20-24 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth PO1 2DD T: +44(0) 23 9264 9000 www.newtheatreroyal.com

PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL

Fri 6 Aug RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC 7pm Fri 13 Aug KING OF POP 7pm Sat 21 Aug SAUSAGE & CIDER FESTIVAL 6pm Sun 22 Aug REVOLUTION PRO WRESTLING 3pm Fri 3 Sep BIG MOUTH COMEDY FESTIVAL 7pm Sat 4 Sep BIG MOUTH COMEDY FESTIVAL 3.30pm Thu 9 Sep SHALAMAR 7pm Fri 10 Sep BEN PORTSMOUTH – THE KING IS BACK 7pm Tue 14 Sep THE BOYS ARE BACK! 5IVE/A1 DAMAGE/911 7.45pm Fri 17 Sep THE STORY OF GUITAR HEROES 7pm Tue 9 Sep JOHN BISHOP 7.30pm Thu 30 Sep JAMIE CULLUM 7pm Sat 2 Oct YUNGBLUD 7pm Mon 4 Oct TAILENDERS 7pm Guildhall Square, Portsmouth PO1 2AB Tel: 0844 847 2362 www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk

PORTSMOUTH MUSEUMS

FAMILY FUN Sun 8 - Mon 9 Aug A FEAST FIT FOR A KING Sun 15 - Mon 16 Aug BANANA-RAMA Sun 22 - Mon 23 Aug POMPEY OLD, POMPEY NEW The opportunity to discover more about Portsmouth, its surroundings and history – as well as a nutritional lunch to enjoy. Free for 5-11 year olds in receipt of free school meals, otherwise £20 per day. 11am-3pm The grounds of Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery portsmouthcitymuseums.co.uk

WEDGEWOOD ROOMS

Thu 5 Aug FLO & JOAN: Before The Screaming Starts 7.30pm Mon 9 Aug OPEN YOUR MOUTH - THE RETURN 8pm Thu 2 Sep GRANDMAS HOUSE 7.30pm Sat 4 Sep GOLDEN TOUCH FESTIVAL 2021 1pm Sun 5 Sep ROCK THE FOUNDATION Featuring WHO’S WHO and THE ROLLING TONES 7.30pm Wed 8 Sep HALLAN 7.30pm Thu 9 Sep GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY Chronicles 15th Anniversary 7.30pm Fri 10 Sep THE WENDY JAMES BAND 7.30pm

Sat 11 Sep FLOU SANDERS: Say Hello To Your New Step Mummy 7.30pm Wed 15 & Thu 16 Sep TASH - Teenage Wildlife Tour 25 Years Of Ash 7pm Sat 18 Sep PSYCHED FEST 20212pm Sun 19 Sep ROB NEWMAN: Philosophy Show 7pm Tue 21 Sep STEVE ‘N’ SEAGULLS 7.30pm Wed 22 Sep NIGHT FLIGHT 7.30pm Thu 23 Sep TIM BURGESS 7.30pm Sat 25 Sep STICK IN THE WHEEL 7.30pm Mon 27 Sep NERINA PALLOT 7.30pm Tue 28 Sep THE BLINDERS 7.30pm The 30 Sep HENGE 7.30pm Sun 3 Oct THE SUBWAYS - YOUNG FOR ETERNITY 16TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 7pm 147b Albert Rd, Southsea PO4 0JW Box Office: 023 9286 3911 Email: tickets@wedgewood-rooms.co.uk https://www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk Southsea Lifestyle makes every effort to ensure that the information in our listings is accurate at the time of publishing. It cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. We recommend that you call ahead to check times and dates.

The Arts Society Portsea Island looks forward to resuming our normal lecture programme, as soon as possible. In the meantime a programme of Zoom meetings can be accessed by members on our website:

www.pidfas.org.uk

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Your local & Family Owned Funeral Home of Portsmouth & Southsea 90 Elm Grove, Southsea, Hants PO5 1LN Tel: 023 92 875575 • info@mayfieldsfunerals.co.uk

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Southsea Lifestyle August / September 2021

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BUYING LOCAL FOOD

WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY & HELP CHILDREN?

PLAY, TRAIN AND COMPETE IN ONE OF UK’S MOST SUSTAINABLE SPORTS CENTRES

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SUSAN SAYS NO WAY TO THROW AWAY SOCIETY