By Mabel Wellman. Since I was in primary school, I have enjoyed exercising. I was around ten years old when I got my first set of dumbbells with my pocket money. My step dad bought me a set of weights, dumbbells and barbells from a neighbour too not long...
Opinion Pieces
View from the Kingsland: Rock Bottom
By Nick Mabey. Considering we’ve only amassed a grand total of one point from nine games, it’s surprising Saints have only just arrived at the bottom of the table (discounting goal difference moments here and there). We had Wolves to thank for elevating us to 19th until this past...
Opinion: Anti-racism – a call to action
By Manthan Pathak. This summer, the country endured a series of racist attacks that were perhaps the most vivid expression of hatred we’ve witnessed in decades. Now, we face the threat of that hatred spilling onto our streets again. As an anti-racist campaigner for 30 years, I write these...
Opinion: Home thoughts from ‘abroad’
By Martin Brisland. Image – Shanklin Old Village Earlier this year I managed to break my humerus bone where it joins my left shoulder. Not feeling up to a long-haul holiday and looking for a recuperative trip, we crossed the water and spent an extended time on the Isle of...
Letter: Why are our Pride crossings so neglected?
By Mabel Wellman. Did you know Southampton has two pedestrian crossings gilded in a stripe of rainbow colour, to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community? We do! They are situated on Commercial Road and Above Bar Street near Watts Park. However, they are not well looked after, sadly. The rainbow crossings...
Victorious – what to love besides the music
By Sally Churchward. Additional reporting: Spring Wise. Victorious is, of course, a music festival. But while the bands are obviously the big draw, there are other attractions that make it special. Here are some of the things besides big names, that make those three days on Southsea Common so...
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...
Reader’s letter: So what happened in Southampton on Wednesday,7th August?
By Jayanti Shah MBE. In response to the article ‘Southampton’s anti-fascist counter demonstration – last night we took our country back’ So what happened in Southampton on 7th August? 1 A large number of people came out to show community unity. It would have been a larger crowd but...
Opinion: Isle of Wight Festival 2024 – our accessibility nightmare
By Sam Wise. Sam Wise shares his family’s experiences at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival. We were more than excited at booking our tickets for the Isle of Wight festival. The lineup may not have been the strongest, but Green Day at the top of the Sunday bill...
Opinion: What can we hope from Great British Energy?
By Mabel Wellman. After 14 years, the Conservatives have been defeated. Perhaps the most interesting thing we can expect to hear more information about from the new Labour government is the creation of the public company, Great British Energy (GBE). GBE will work with industry and trade unions to...