Portsmouth February 2020 review – A month of storms and the arrival of Covid

FEBRUARY was very much a month of storms as the south coast was battered by a procession of low pressure systems rolling in off the Atlantic.
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First to unleash her wrath was Storm Ciara which hit Portsmouth on the weekend of the 9th and 10th. Known as an extratropical cyclone, Ciara was the worst storm to hit the south coast since 2013 and unleashed heavy rain and winds in excess of 70mph which left hundreds of homes without power.

There was widespread travel disruption with ferries cancelled and trains cancelled after trees fell on the line.

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A huge storm surge also caused the closure of Clarence Esplanade as the waves penetrated through sea defences.

A resident struggles to walk as waves batter the Pompey coastline as Storm Ciara unleashes her wrath.A resident struggles to walk as waves batter the Pompey coastline as Storm Ciara unleashes her wrath.
A resident struggles to walk as waves batter the Pompey coastline as Storm Ciara unleashes her wrath.

However, despite the inclement weather the Portsmouth spirit was very much evident as some residents revelled in the stormy conditions.

Eddie Grelra from Southsea decided to visit Clarence Esplanade to take ‘the perfect selfie’ in front of the raging sea.

Decked out in a green one-piece rain coat and plastic shopping bags over his shoes, Eddie said he spent 30 minutes trying to get the perfect shot.

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The 36-year-old added: ‘I saw the weather and thought – why not?’

An artist's impression of what the Coastal Forces Museum will look like. Picture: Studio MBAn artist's impression of what the Coastal Forces Museum will look like. Picture: Studio MB
An artist's impression of what the Coastal Forces Museum will look like. Picture: Studio MB

Two residents were even seen going for an open water swim. The brave bathers were spotted by Andy Waller who was out taking photos of the storm.

Andy said: ‘They went out in the water for about 20 minutes, just staying in the surf zone.’

Only a week after the dissipation of Ciara came the arrival of her bigger angrier brother, Storm Dennis. While Hampshire was spared the full force of Dennis - which unleashed a top wind gust of 140mph - he still left a wave is disruption in his path.

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The month started with a preview of the America's Cup racing planned for the Solent in June. Sadly it was one of many events that was not to be.

Dog walkers from Doggie Holiday Homes, from left, Donna Marshall, Helen Humphries, Fiona Quade and JoJo Goodwin, who faced having to get a licence to walk their dogs at Browndown

Picture: Sarah Standing (140220-7669)Dog walkers from Doggie Holiday Homes, from left, Donna Marshall, Helen Humphries, Fiona Quade and JoJo Goodwin, who faced having to get a licence to walk their dogs at Browndown

Picture: Sarah Standing (140220-7669)
Dog walkers from Doggie Holiday Homes, from left, Donna Marshall, Helen Humphries, Fiona Quade and JoJo Goodwin, who faced having to get a licence to walk their dogs at Browndown Picture: Sarah Standing (140220-7669)

Plans were unveiled for a £1m museum in Priddy's Hard, Gosport in memory of the Coastal Forces, reservists who help repel enemy efforts during the Second World War, run by the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

And on a similarly maritime theme, it was revealed that Saga Cruise’s new liner Spirit of Adventure would be named in Portsmouth – a major shot in the arm for the city’s ambition to increase its cruise liner trade. The cruise industry would, of course, take a battering later in the year but the ambition for the city remains.

A memorial service was held at Portsmouth Cathedral in memory of John Jenkins, the 100-year-old D-Day veteran who died in January.

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Schools were warned that they must do better as education leaders were to be summoned to Whitehall to explain why GCSE results in Portsmouth were lagging behind the rest of the country.

Storm Ciara showing her full force at Southsea.
 
Picture: @MBaily_PhotosStorm Ciara showing her full force at Southsea.
 
Picture: @MBaily_Photos
Storm Ciara showing her full force at Southsea. Picture: @MBaily_Photos

But in happier news, the Kings Theatre in Southsea was given confirmation of a £3m loan that would help it redevelop and face the future with optimism. Again, anyone reading this story in February could have had no idea of the devastation to the arts that coronavirus would bring later in the year.

The most bizarre story of the month was probably that dog-walking firms in Gosport were told that they would need a licence to walk dogs along the beaches at Browndown Ranges, which is open to the public except during military exercises – because of a 60-year-old by-law brought in to prevent prostitution and gambling.

Signs were put up warning that from April 1 any dog walkers running a business and using Browndown must pay £360 for a licence. Non-commercial use is still allowed.

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Section 4 of the Browndown and Rowner Military Lands by-laws 1954 prohibits trade or business on the land – initially brought in to prevent prostitution and gambling – and carried a £500 potential penalty.

Storms Ciara and Dennis may have caused damage, but it was a storm of a different kind brewing in the Far East which would inflict its first tentative impact on our shores this month.

For the first time we saw the arrival of Covid-19 as the virus began to gradually exert its influence on our lives - little did we know then that almost a year later it would still be having such a massive impact on humanity.

The memorial service for D-Day hero, John Jenkins at Portsmouth cathedral.
Picture: Habibur RahmanThe memorial service for D-Day hero, John Jenkins at Portsmouth cathedral.
Picture: Habibur Rahman
The memorial service for D-Day hero, John Jenkins at Portsmouth cathedral. Picture: Habibur Rahman

With disruption to education and the closure of schools now synonymous with the pandemic, February was the first time one of the region’s schools had to close its doors to pupils due to Covid.

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The first case in a school was in Southampton, where a independent school was closed when pupils developed Covid symptoms after a trip to China. Then, on February 12, two days on from the first incidence, a pupil from Bay House School in Gosport was sent home to isolate due to family members having to take a Covid test after a trip abroad.

On Valentines Day the impact of the virus within the wider community was seen for the first time as Kingston Crescent Surgery in Portsmouth was forced to close after a ‘suspected case of Covid’.

At 4.30pm, without warning, patients were abruptly asked to leave and the surgery was closed with immediate effect. This case turned out to be negative, and the surgery reopened shortly after, it would set the tone for the next few weeks as the pandemic caused previously unimaginable disruption – rendering Brexit a mere after-thought.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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