Families share some favourite photos which feature Southsea dinosaur Luna Park 10 years ago

Looming over family photos on Southsea Common 10 years ago was a prehistoric visitor. Aspex Gallery director Joanne Bushnell looks back at some dinosaur-bombed snaps...
Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: (left to right), Michelle Roberts with Erin Roberts, Sam Roberts, Luna Park, Jacob Bradley and Claire Bradley. Picture by Lynne HiscockFamilies have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: (left to right), Michelle Roberts with Erin Roberts, Sam Roberts, Luna Park, Jacob Bradley and Claire Bradley. Picture by Lynne Hiscock
Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: (left to right), Michelle Roberts with Erin Roberts, Sam Roberts, Luna Park, Jacob Bradley and Claire Bradley. Picture by Lynne Hiscock

If you grew up around Portsmouth in 2010 what an extraordinary experience it must have been to go to Southsea Common and find a ‘life-size’ Ultrasaurus had come to visit for the summer holidays!

It’s rare to meet someone that was not fascinated by dinosaurs at least at some point in their childhood. It was kids, and their parents and grandparents, desperate to entertain them through the long vacation, that were Luna Park’s biggest fans.

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At 16m tall, kids and families had fun playing with the dinosaur. Joanne Mitchell’s photograph shows Daniel peeking out from behind the war memorial with Luna Park looking majestic. ‘You can tell how big it was from the size of the people and the Spinnaker Tower is in the background’.

Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: Daniel Mitchell from the Cenotaph by Joanne MitchellFamilies have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: Daniel Mitchell from the Cenotaph by Joanne Mitchell
Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: Daniel Mitchell from the Cenotaph by Joanne Mitchell

Martin Giddey also successfully captured the scale of the artwork with his tiny grandson sitting on the tail while visiting the ‘much-loved dinosaur’.

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Residents are encouraged to share their memories of Southsea dinosaur Luna Park ...

Lynne Hiscott’s image shows a classic group portrait with a difference, ‘After walking around the dinosaur we sat on the beach. I looked round, noticed that Ultrasaurus seemed to be looming over them and thought that it would make a great picture.’ It did! A classic ‘who invited him?!!!’

As part of Luna Park 10 Years - Celebrating the Southsea Dinosaur we are collecting people’s photographs and memories of that time to create a public archive. Do you have memories or photographs of you, your child or grandchild with Luna Park?

Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Picture by Martin GiddeyFamilies have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Picture by Martin Giddey
Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Picture by Martin Giddey
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You can share your pictures by sending them directly to [email protected] and you might just get to see them reproduced in this column in the coming weeks! We are also taking a selection of images to include in Heather & Ivan Morison’s digital work Luna Park 10 Years.

Visit lunapark.land to see the virtual reality version of the Ultrasaurus back on Southsea Common, and from the website you can access the chat bot to share your thoughts about the past and future. Or why don’t you call Luna to share your story? We have a dedicated phone line where you can leave a message. Just call 07488 266872 and Luna will answer!

Your images and memories will form a key part of the new work we are developing for next year. Please visit our Crowdfunder page crowdfunder.co.uk/southsea-dinosaur to help us commission a lasting tribute to our long gone and much missed visitor.

Next week I’ll be looking at how people got creative with the dinosaur with beautiful, strange and fun results.

Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: Dave Rodrigues showing the fun you can have with perspectiveFamilies have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: Dave Rodrigues showing the fun you can have with perspective
Families have shared some favourite photos of Luna Park, the Southsea dinosaur. Pictured: Dave Rodrigues showing the fun you can have with perspective

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