Portsmouth, Hampshire

"Somewhere beyond the sea...my lover waits for me.."

As a young lad I had great eyesight for long distances. As we sat on the pebbled beach at Southsea it was always me that first spotted a slight bump in the horizon as the then huge incoming ocean liners, The Queen Mary, The Queen Elizabeth, The Mauretaina and many more coming home from New York down the Solent towards Southampton.... [more]

Ferry Slipway

This slipway was built in 1960. Prior to that time ferries left from Portsmouth Point.

"Kiss Me, Hardy"

I've only been onboard the Victory once. It was enough to profoundly strike my imagination. I stood where Nelson fell ! It brings tears to my eyes to think of it now as I write. She is an incredible vessel. You can almost hear the cries and commands shouted out during naval battle.

And what a genius Nelson was. To... [more]

THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD

This was to me, as a young lad, one of the best places in the whole world!

There was nothing more appealing to me than being at this great vantage point for the Portsmouth Dockyard. I could have stayed there all day watching our British Navy aircraft carriers, battleships, submarines and cruisers contrasted to the masts of our most famous... [more]

Art Exhibition, Old Portsmouth.

My grandparents Bert & Dorrie Hedger started this amature exhibition in about 1965, and carried on until my grandfather died in 1982. I recognise several of the paintings as being by my mum Rita Grant, as I was taken down there every weekend from the age of three.

THE MUDLARKS

We used to go down to Sallyport from 1954 -1958 ..there were a lot of local 'urchins' called the 'Mudlarks' who would stand in the knee deep, sloppy black mud below the pier to the ferry when the tide was out and people would throw them pennies which they had to find in the mud.They'd end up covered from head to... [more]

Swimming at Sallyport

The outfall from the power station made the water warm here so that we swam all year round - not for those who didn't know the currents. The visitors were amazed at our apparent hardiness, or perhaps foolhardiness.

Dancing at Neros

In 1977 I was the Wrigleys rep, I was 21. I stayed in Hayling Island Holiday Inn, being from the Watford area. I was in charge of Fine Fare, Southsea. I used to drive into Portsmouth and dance at Neros. Great Memories. My week started at Dorchester, then I moved on to Bournemouth and Southampton and went back to Watford on... [more]

Hampshire Photographic Memories

This photograph of The Hard, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour, shows at least three pubs - including The Victoria and Albert in the centre of the picture. The many waterfront drinking houses would have tempted Portsmouth's shifting population of sailors. On the extreme right are the premises of the now defunct National Provincial Bank of England.

Picturesque Harbours Photographic Memories

Carriages standing in front of an imposing line of banks, taverns and offices epitomise bustle, trade and commerce. The timber floating loosely in the dock has been off-loaded from a boat, probably one engaged in the Baltic trades; the wood is being stored in the dock to save quay space whilst awaiting further transportation.

Hampshire Photographic Memories

This photograph of The Hard, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour, shows at least three pubs - including The Victoria and Albert in the centre of the picture. The many waterfront drinking houses would have tempted Portsmouth's shifting population of sailors. On the extreme right are the premises of the now defunct National Provincial Bank of England.