A campaign to commemorate the pilots and navigators of the Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU), who served during the Second World War, is looking to find the living relatives of these local war heroes. The PRU, which was tasked to provide up-to-date intelligence to strategically plan the Allied actions...
Heritage
Steamship Shieldhall Charity receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
The Steamship Shieldhall Charity, a group of volunteers based in Southampton operating the heritage steamship SS Shieldhall, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. Shieldhall...
Heritage: Do you know your streets in Southampton?
By Martin Brisland. Do you know your streets in Southampton? Where do you think Southampton’s High Street is? Many would assume that the precinct area around the entrance to Westquay, with its large shops,is the High Street. In fact, the area from the Bargate down to Town Quay is...
Heritage: Did you know that a Shirley man played an important role in the development of antibiotics?
By Martin Brisland. Edward Penley Abraham was born in 1913 in South View Road, Shirley. A blue plaque is displayed on the house near the current site of King Edward VI School. He attended from 1924, but at that time it was in situated in Havelock Road. The BBC Radio...
Interview: Dr Abdoulie Sanneh chats about this weekend’s BBAM Festival in Southampton
By Sam Wise. Photo by Charlie Hislop. On Saturday 28th September, a festival of black business, music and arts will be held between 11 am and 7pm in Guildhall Square. This is the second year for BBAM (Black Businesses, Art and Music) in Southampton. Last year, there were 5000...
Review and reflections: What’s there for ordinary folk at Southampton International Boat Show?
By Sam Wise. Southampton is an odd city; on the sea, historically interwoven with it, and yet it has little impact on many of the ordinary people who live here. We are surrounded by boats; cruise ships, yachts, dinghies, and all manner of other vessels, but, in my experience...
‘Reclaiming the Narratives’ – Black History Month South official launch on Monday
Image: Lou Taylor at a previous BMHS launch. Black History Month South (BHMS) has announced the official launch of its 2024 celebrations with an event themed “Reclaiming Narratives,” set to take place on Monday, 23rd September 2024. The event will run from 11am to 2pm at St Mary’s Fire...
London-based artist Ian Giles Unveils new LGBTQIA+ commission ‘Everyone Involved’ in Southampton
Main image by James Asher. Southampton’s ‘a space’ arts presents Everyone Involved, a major new commission by acclaimed London-based artist Ian Giles, which launched on the 23rd of August at the historic God’s House Tower in Southampton. Ian Giles enlivens queer archives by collaborating with LGBTQIA+ pioneers to amplify...
Artists sought for Southampton Black History Month Mural
Black History Month South are looking for artists to design an image for a large scale printed mural which will be displayed on St Marys Fire station, Southampton. Artists are being sought to design a mural that celebrates the Windrush Generation. The present printed vinyl mural located on the...
Opinion: writing a new chapter of hope
By Manthan Pathak. First came the trauma. Then the fight. Now the hope. It’s been an emotional couple of weeks. I’ve watched in horror as extreme violence by the far right, targeted at immigrants and all people of colour, has disfigured our country. Perhaps it’s useful here to offer...