by Howard Bowden. When The Beatles released their 1969 single The Ballad of John and Yoko – opening line: ‘Standing in the dock at Southampton’ – it would become the first of THREE number ones in just 32 months to reference events in the SO postcode area. Two years...
Book review: Hollow in the Land by James Clarke
reviewed by Frances Churchward. Hollow in the Land is a collection of short stories about life in a Lancashire valley. All of the tales are narrated in the first person and include stories about a range of people. The actual settings for most of the stories are within the...
First union for disabled people launches, renewing fight for equality
The Disability Union has launched, in order to build power and a national voice for disabled people powerful enough to influence policy; whilst also helping people with their day-to-day disability struggles. The date of this launch is significant as last month marked the 25th anniversary the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. The...
Book review: Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson
Reviewed by Frances Churchward. This is a story about a fourteen year old girl named Ro who lives with her single mother, Bonnie. Bonnie, who appears to be unconcerned about her daughter’s wellbeing, neglects Ro. Bonnie is a hoarder so that the house is filled with paper to the...
Southampton Foodbank – Christmas Appeal
by Joe Dukes, Chairperson – Southampton People’s Assembly. Volunteers working at Southampton City Mission know all too well that Christmas is a time for giving. Foodbank distribution centres are providing unprecedented amounts of food parcels across the city – and demand continues to rise over the festive period....
Opinion: being a refugee is not fate, it’s fortune
by Lewis MacLean The tragic story of an entire refugee family drowning in the British channel last month might’ve hit me harder, more than most. This is because I probably met them. Back in August I spent a few weeks volunteering for Care4Calais working with refugees and I recognise...
Suburban Safari: Testing the Test Way
by Katie Isham. Pulling on my walking boots I felt like I was embarking on a legitimate walking mission. Not many Suburban Safaris have necessitated this level of commitment. Yet for this adventure, I dug the old clunkers out the bag for life and laced them up with bits...
Reader’s letter: Southampton City of Culture – a call to arms
Since moving to Southampton as a fine art student in 1995 I’ve always felt the city had enormous potential. Now as the director of a growing arts charity (aspace), which over the last 20 years has reimagined lost buildings in Southampton with art and heritage, I am thrilled to...
Reader’s letter: why isn’t the media calling Priti Patel right wing?
Dear Editor, With the many media reports about the Priti Patel’s bullying inquiry, I have seen no reference to her being right wing. Compare this to ANY reporting of Jeremy Corbyn by the media: ‘left wing’, ‘hard left’, even ‘far left’. His supporters are always ‘left wingers’. Laura Kuenssberg...
Southampton – City of Culture?
by Charlie Hislop. City of Culture? Southampton? Really? Too right! The announcement that we are competing to be UK City of Culture 2025 is the best news for the city in a long time. Strange right now with COVID lockdowns, theatres closed, and empty streets – but what an...