Coronavirus: Portsmouth rallies as Royal Navy warships, churches and families sing Pompey Chimes amid health crisis

CHURCH clocks rang out and warships sounded their horns as Portsmouth united to show its ‘true blue’ Pompey spirit today.
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Portsmouth rallied at the stroke of 3pm as part of a city-wide effort to sing the Pompey Chimes.

Chants of ‘play up Pompey, Pompey play up’ – more often heard during matches at Fratton Park, home of Portsmouth Football Club – echoed out as people sang from windows, balconies and gardens.

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The clock at St Mary’s Church, in Fratton, chimed on the hour playing out its usual Pompey Chimes.

Elsewhere, the city’s dockyard was awash with noise as Royal Navy warships, including frigate HMS Kent, £1bn destroyer HMS Dauntless and minehunter HMS Chiddingfold, joined commercial vessels in sounding their horns.

Pompey superfan John Westwood was overwhelmed by the display. He said: ‘It makes me proud to be part of Portsmouth. It epitomises Portsmouth’s back-to-the-wall defiance. Pompey is at its best when it has its back to the wall. There’s no greater club or city anywhere.

‘You can never break the spirit of Portsmouth. It’s embedded in our DNA; defiance, bravery, loyalty, honour and spirit – it’s what defines the people of Portsmouth.’

Portsmouth port joins in for the Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020Portsmouth port joins in for the Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020
Portsmouth port joins in for the Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020
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It followed an idea floated by Pompey’s Haji Mnoga on Twitter, which gained the backing of Portsmouth International Port, the Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Guildhall, the Diocese of Portsmouth and Pompey mainstay Alan Knight.

The idea was embraced by young and old, with 92-year-old Cosham resident Lorna Kerry donning a Pompey scarf and singing along from her front door step.

She said: ‘I though it it was a very idea – it definitely took people’s minds off things.

HMS Chiddingfold takes part in Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020HMS Chiddingfold takes part in Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020
HMS Chiddingfold takes part in Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020
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‘I have lived in Portsmouth for more than 70 years and its wonderful to see the community coming together.’

Penny Mordaunt, Portsmouth North MP, was among those joining in the celebration.

The former defence secretary, who shared pictures of her cats on Twitter with the signs ‘bing bong, bing bong, bong boing, bong bing’, in front of them said: ‘We have all had to deal with some very tough things in the last few weeks, to look after our loved ones and to care for others.

‘Some, most directly involved in the response, will already be exhausted. We all know we are just at the beginning of this.

Grant Morris and family sing the Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020Grant Morris and family sing the Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020
Grant Morris and family sing the Pompey Chimes on March 28 2020
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‘Moments like this are so important to keeping us all going and reminding us that we are not alone.

‘The Pompey spirit will see us through the hard, sad times to come. I have never been so proud of our city. We are there for each other.’

Also joining in the action was Pompey fans Sarah Hayes and her three girls, Lottie and Maizie, both aged five, and Libbie, 12.

They all sang outside their house in Tottenham Road, Portsmouth. Sarah, 34, said: ‘With what’s going on in the world at the moment nobody knows whether they’re coming or going. So we just needed something to cheer us all up,’

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Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP, said it was ‘fantastic’ to see the city come together and that his thoughts were with all the island’s residents working ‘on the frontline to keep us all safe’.

‘Portsmouth has shown from its proud past that as a city we are stronger when we’re together,’ he said. ‘Current times are tough, but I know we will come out of this better and more compassionate for each other.’

Lorna Kerry, 92, took to her front door step in Cosham to join in with the event. Picture: Lorraine HughesLorna Kerry, 92, took to her front door step in Cosham to join in with the event. Picture: Lorraine Hughes
Lorna Kerry, 92, took to her front door step in Cosham to join in with the event. Picture: Lorraine Hughes

Lieutenant Harry Eaton, navigation officer on minehunter HMS Chiddingfold, ensured she was heard and activated her ‘Pompey Chimes' siren.

He said: ‘It’s not lost on us how lucky we are in the navy to be classed as key workers and still see our shipmates every day.

‘Especially for those isolating alone, I hope the sirens and the message was heard loud and clear – we are there with you.

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