by Tom Wardle. One Saturday morning in mid-March 2020, I was invited down to the Guildhall to cast an eye over Southampton’s preparations for the coming Coronavirus pandemic. At that point, nobody really knew what to expect, whether it was safe to so much as touch a door handle....
Southampton band Delays trending on Twitter with help from The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess
by Sally Churchward. Last night (August 10), Southampton band Delays were (rightfully) ahead of gossip about TV stars Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer in Twitter polls, thanks to Tim Burgess’ Listening Party. Users of the micro blogging site listened along with Aaron Gilbert and Colin Fox of Delays to...
Opinion: we all deserve to live somewhere we love, let’s make Southampton a National Park
by Manthan Pathak. One of my earliest memories is jumping between the roots of trees on a street in Northam, one after another until I ran out of pavement. The only rule was to avoid touching a root. It was, for a 3 or 4 year old, a thrillingly...
Creative writing: poetry by The Village Boy
Born in the UK, The Village Boy is a written and spoken word poet of Sierra Leonean descent. Inspired by the power of words as a medium and his love of music he integrates the two to create a journey through the emotional psyche. In Sierra Leone the term...
Opinion: Southampton SolFed, fighting inequality with direct action
by Southampton Solidarity Federation. Southampton Solidarity Federation is a local organisation active in Southampton for the last two years. Their mission is to work against systems and structures which value some people more highly than others, whether that’s on the basis of wealth, citizenship, gender, race or class. It...
Electric bike tours launch in Southampton
Electric guided bike tours have been launched in Southampton, bringing an alternative outdoor activity to the city. The initiative has been launched by Made in:Here and See Southampton, in a first for Southampton. A group, of up to 16, will be provided with electric bikes, sanitised helmets, insurance, and map...
Author talks, children’s storytelling and group discussions at October Books
Independent bookshop October Books in Portswood, Southampton, continues its programme of events, both in shop and online, this month. The programme for August gets underway tomorrow evening (Thursday 5th) with a livestream with James Dyke, author of Fire, Storm and Flood: the violence of climate change. Register via Eventbrite...
Walk: The Itchen Navigation, Shawford Down
by Nathan Goldsmith. I’ve been spending a lot of time in Brighton – where my partner lives – and the New Forest – where I work – recently, and so coming back to Southampton to stretch my legs when I get a chance feels like a real treat. Following...
Suburban Safari: Town Quay: From Park to Pier
by Katie Isham. Parks and boats are a staple of life in Southampton. This wander will show you the best the city centre has to offer. No longer must you choose between waves and flowers. Here you can enjoy both. With a bonus of some historical sights as well. ...
Pop up garden hits Portswood high street to highlight Climate and Ecological Emergencies Bill
Last week (23rd July) Portswood-based activist and volunteer Phine Dahle hosted a tea party with a green agenda, and a pop-up garden to bring nature into Portswood high street. Invitees Alan Whitehead, Shadow Member for Energy and the Green New Deal, and Councillors Satvir Kaur and Gordon Cooper joined...