My daughter was fascinated by the landmark ladybirds in Portsmouth

Memories were stirred for Jackie Baynes by the picture immediately above and the one below.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2016, 06:20 BST
How many of you, like Jackie Baynes, remember good times in the Black Cat Café on The Hard or even at the Wimpy Bar next door?How many of you, like Jackie Baynes, remember good times in the Black Cat Café on The Hard or even at the Wimpy Bar next door?
How many of you, like Jackie Baynes, remember good times in the Black Cat Café on The Hard or even at the Wimpy Bar next door?

It was the Black Cat café on The Hard, Portsea, which triggered the first recollection.

Jackie, from Old Portsmouth, says: ‘My Auntie Elsie, who lived at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, used to enjoy having lunch or tea in this cafe on her visits to Pompey for shopping.’

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And then to the photo of the steam train crossing St George’s Road, Portsea, adjacent to the old Ladybird clothing factory.

LANDMARK The Ladybird clothing factory in St Georges Road, Portsea, with its distinctive logoLANDMARK The Ladybird clothing factory in St Georges Road, Portsea, with its distinctive logo
LANDMARK The Ladybird clothing factory in St Georges Road, Portsea, with its distinctive logo

She continues: ‘It brought back very good memories of me and my then young daughter travelling down to Portsmouth from our home in Three Bridges to catch the ferry across The Solent to visit my family at Gurnard, Isle of Wight.

‘We always looked out for the red-spotted ladybirds as the train approached Portsmouth Harbour station.

‘It was one of the sights along the way I used to occupy her on the then rather long journey.’

Related topics:Old PortsmouthIsle of WightPompey