Memories Of My Love Of Portsmouth.

A Memory of Portsmouth.

Born in Oxford, I moved to Portsmouth in 1952. My Father was in the army department constabulary, now the MOD Police, and we lived at 9, then 8, then 13 York Terrace, Hilsea in married quarters, my Father was based at Hilsea Depot opposite Old London Road. My Father came from Swadlincote but all of my mothers family came from Eastney originally, many in the Royal Marines at Eastney and Deal and one based on the Royal Yacht Britannia. My grandmother did a lot of needlework for the marines, and another Aunt worked for Cawtes the cleaners in their shop in Highland Road, almost opposite Eastney bus depot, as the trolleybuses stopped outside the shop you could look down into the shop and see her working. They all lived in Tokar street, Eastney. I was educated at St Francis school, Hilsea, now flats, Northern Parade School and the Northern Grammar school, all in Portsmouth. Long evenings playing football and cricket in the field behind York Terrace and bounded by Peronne Road and Bapaume Road bring back very many happy memories playing late into the summer evenings. Working at James Clarke and Eaton, built on former MOD land where my Father worked, Whitbreads, J.E.Smiths coal merchants, and eventually various plant hire companies over the years, I have now retired to Clanfield just outside Portsmouth. Portsmouth has changed beyond belief in many ways, but I still feel attracted to the city with many memories, mostly happy. I also worked for three years at the Portsmouth Ambulance Service main station on the Eastern Road, and after getting married, ran a newsagents shop firstly at Copnor, then North End. Would love to hear from anyone that knew me or people with similar memories.
Peter Whyatt, Peter.whyatt1@ hotmail.co.uk

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