Masts and yards galore in throwback to bygone age in Portsmouth | Nostalgia

This marvellous view was sent to me by Ursula Strange of Fareham who tells me the photograph was taken in 1974 when the tall ships race arrived in Portsmouth.
By Bob Hind
Published 19th Feb 2021, 18:17 BST
With Broad Street nearest the camera, the Outer Camber with sailing ships and Portsdown Hill in the distance this vista is almost 3D.With Broad Street nearest the camera, the Outer Camber with sailing ships and Portsdown Hill in the distance this vista is almost 3D.
With Broad Street nearest the camera, the Outer Camber with sailing ships and Portsdown Hill in the distance this vista is almost 3D.

What with Broad Street at the bottom, the ships in the centre and Portsdown Hill in the distance, it gives a very 3D effect of the area.

At that time I was living near Guildford and as soon as I saw that the Italian sail training ship Amerigo Vespucci was to be in port I knew I had to be down in Portsmouth to try to get on board her.

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As luck would have it she was alongside South Railway Jetty and open for visitors.

Cyril Kimber, the man in the blitzed Commercial Road photograph. Picture: Mick Kimber collectionCyril Kimber, the man in the blitzed Commercial Road photograph. Picture: Mick Kimber collection
Cyril Kimber, the man in the blitzed Commercial Road photograph. Picture: Mick Kimber collection

So, with my mini-skirted fiance in tow, we made our way through the Semaphore Tower arch, the gateway to the empire as it used to be called.

We then made our way up the gangway to board the ship. A bucket list in one hit.

It was absolutely amazing and my year was made.

Little did I know that some 20 years later I would actually go to sea in sail.

Can anyone remember or name any of the people involved in dressing the 1977 St Mary’s Hospital carnival lorry?Can anyone remember or name any of the people involved in dressing the 1977 St Mary’s Hospital carnival lorry?
Can anyone remember or name any of the people involved in dressing the 1977 St Mary’s Hospital carnival lorry?
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That happened when I sailed on the barque Prince William for two days around the Isle of Wight. Marvellous.

Climbing the mast at HMS Ganges was a thrill but to be up a mast at sea and out on a yardarm was something completely different of course.

Broad Street has changed somewhat since 1974, now one way for half the street.

It also looks as if the tram run-around tracks have been tarred over.

Can anyone confirm otherwise?

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• Last Friday I published fascinating then and now views of Commercial Road one of which was taken during the blitz and included three girls and a soldier walking past Mcillroy’s.

Mick Kimber tells me the soldier was his late father, Cyril Kimber, who was then aged 22. He was a member of REME.

A Landport lad by birth he joined the army for the duration and when the war was over he went into the dockyard.

Unfortunately, working on submarines he contracted asbestosis and had to leave. He then went on to work in the Tarmacking industry.

In the hand-tinted photo we see Cyril aged 22.

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• Crayston Webster, of Lee-on-the-Solent, sent me the photograph of St Mary’s Hospital staff preparing a lorry to take part in the 1977 Southsea carnival.

At that time St Mary’s was a fully-functioning hospital and extra busy after the closure of the Royal Hospital in Commercial Road.

Crayston does not know the names of anyone in the picture so if you can assist it would be interesting to know.

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Related topics:PortsmouthFarehamPortsdown Hill

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