Portsmouth Families

A Memory of Portsmouth.

Both my parents were born in Portsmouth & grew up virtually opposite each other. My paternal grandparents lived at No 1 Station Rd, Copnor, and my mother lived at various addresses in portsmouth - latterly St Bernards, 37 Copnor Road, next door to the Hardesty's who owned the bicycle shop. Another great Aunt lived at St Leonards, No 49 Copnor Rd, and another one at 23 Station Rd. My maternal gt grandparents ran a grocery shop in Charlotte street, & had lived at Sheffield Rd. My parents were married at St Albans Copnor, where I was also christened. Later our family moved to Bedhampton, while I attended Kentridge High School in Southsea, then The Priory on Hayling Island, and finally Havant High School before eventually in the early sixties doing a Dress Design course at Portsmouth College of Art & design. My aunty used to be manageress at Smith & Vosper - the well known local bakery chain - in Lake Road. Many years later, when our eldest son had his OU degree presentation at Portsmouth Guildhall, which I passed daily en route to college, and which stood tall among all the other buildings; I couldn't believe how it has all changed - and not for the better! When I remembered the days spent sketching, and eating Verrechia's gorgeous ice cream in Victoria Park, and various other places along the seafront, I was so disappointed and have no desire to go back again!