by Sally Churchward. For generation after generation of children brought up in the city, the Children’s Pleasure Park in Southampton Sports Centre has been a brightly coloured, joyous presence. From days out spending tokens on round abouts and trampolines to birthday parties with as many ‘goes’ as you can...
Heritage
Southampton school reunion to become annual event
Following a successful event last year, organisers of a reunion of pupils from a Southampton school are planning on making it an annual gathering. Those who attended Southampton Grammar School for Girls, Southampton College for Girls or Hill College between 1907 and 1989 are invited to a reunion at...
Heritage: remembering Southampton historian Elsie Mary Sandell
by Martin Brisland. All Sotonians with a love of local history should read the excellent books of Elsie Mary Sandell. Elsie’s family lived at 78, The High Street, Southampton where she was born on February 5, 1891. Her family later moved to 63 Portswood Road. She was the daughter...
Free accessible Southampton guided heritage tours launch this weekend
by Laura Ferreira. The first specially designed accessible city centre tour from SeeSouthampton will take place this Sunday 12 March at 11.30 am. This tour was designed for people with learning and physical difficulties including those who use a wheelchair or a mobility scooter. The route aims to provide...
Heritage: remembering Southampton’s beloved ice rink – and its DJs
by heritage editor Martin Brisland. Did you skate at Southampton Ice Rink? If so you would have to be of a certain age as on August 22nd 2023 the ice rink will have been closed for 35 years. Southampton’s very first ice rink was situated on Charles Knott’s Banister...
Suburban Safari: Avenue Park
words & photos by Katie Isham. Between Southampton and Eastleigh sprawls much green space. But it’s disappearing. The grassland that was once rampant, is incrementally invaded by housing estates and development. It’d been a few years since visiting the fields I’d once discovered after seeking an alternate car park...
Heritage: School reunions – the past is a foreign country
by Martin Brisland. Have you been to a school reunion? I recently attended a school 50 year reunion. For months, since I first heard about it I was apprehensive as I had not set foot inside since I left. Fifty years is a very long time, in fact the...
Heritage: the volunteers sharing the best of Southampton with visitors
by Martin Brisland. For more than ten years, a band of volunteers have been quietly promoting Southampton, by helping the passengers from cruise ships calling in for the day, mainly German – Aida and Mein Schiff, and Italian – MSC. They call themselves “The Cruise Welcome Team”. Jack Wilson,...
Suburban Safari: A New Year in Old Town
by Katie Isham. A new year seems apt for a visit to the Old Town area of our fair city. This part of our history is wonderful to visit any time, but during the dark winter days when moonlit moments outnumber the daylight hours, it’s an interesting time to...
Heritage: remembering when Christmas REALLY was cancelled
by Martin Brisland. Did you know that Christmas was cancelled in the mid 1600s? Oliver Cromwell, a statesman and general responsible for leading the parliamentary army against the Royalist forces during the English Civil War, took over England in 1645. He believed it was his mission to cleanse the...