Retro

Southsea Regatta revellers turn out in droves for annual boatfest - Nostalgia

The forecasters have promised us a fabulous weekend so we should see scenes a little like this during the next few days, although I expect there might be more flesh on display.

Retro

Houses wrecked to order. A painting by local artist George White shows houses that had to be wrecked on council orders in the 1960s. Picture: John Porter collection

Derelict Portsmouth homes were vandalised by council to keep squatters out - Nostalgia

My photograph of Blackfriars Road, Somers Town, on Monday last brought a tale from John Porter, a demolition man in 1960s’ Portsmouth who also sent me the painting above.

Retro

rw AWAITING A PROPER CAPTION AND DETAILS Hilsea 1947

Portsmouth car ferry high but not quite dry - Nostalgia

Steady the buffs! Here we see the Isle of Wight car ferry Hilsea almost on her beam ends. The photo was loaned by Katy Ball although it originated from the Evening News.

Retro

Pompey's famous Fratton Park home as you will never have seen it before

Check out these fabulous pictures of Fratton Park we stumbled across when going through the News archive.

Portsmouth fc

Jimmy Dickinson in the England squad for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.

Pompey legend makes England World Cup squad - Nostalgia

To see a headline in The News proclaiming that a Pompey player – the legendary Jimmy Dickinson – had made the final 21 players to appear in the World Cup finals would bring joy to all fans.

Retro

Watch the D-Day 75 Drive to Remember convoy leave from Southwick Park

MORE than 70 vehicles and their owners have gathered to recreate the journey General Eisenhower made on June 5, 1944 to visit troops based at the American airfield at Greenham Common hours before D-Day.

Defence

The D-Day 75 convoy group gathers at Southwick House before setting out to recreate the journey that Eisenhower took on June 5, 1944.

9 of the vehicles taking part in the D-Day 75 Drive to Remember convoy from Southwick Park

Defence

Members of the eastern Europeans displaced persons choir who lived in the former HMS Daedalus naval camp at Bedhampton after the Second World War.

They fled the Soviet army and ended up in a choir at Havant - Nostalgia

The current influx of eastern European workers is not the first time we have welcomed these nationalities to our shores.

Retro

HMS Victory in the 1920s. Compare her to today and there is little difference. Picture: The News archive.

Bulging Victory looks much the same today as 97 years ago - Nostalgia

If the vintage car were not in the photograph and it was in colour this photograph could have been taken yesterday. As we know, HMS Victory’s hull is bulging and to save weight the upper masts and yards have been removed. Just the fore, main and mizzen main masts remain.

Retro

The Royal Marine Cadet Fife and Drum Band, Eastney Barracks, 1950. Picture: Michael Harris

Royal Marine cadet musicians at Eastney Barracks - Nostalgia

Wouldn’t their mums have been proud of them… Above is a 1950 picture of lads in the Royal Marine Cadet Fife and Drum Band at Eastney Barracks.

Retro

There is a 60th anniversary school reunion this coming Saturday of former Copnor schoolgirls.

Copnor girls on school trip 60 years ago - Nostalgia

This coming Saturday (June 22) there is a 60th anniversary reunion of girls from Copnor Secondary Modern Girls School in Portsmouth.

Retro

The sloop HMS Egret sunk by a guided missile in August 1943. Picture: Martin Longhurst collection.

Memories of first Royal Navy ship sunk by a guided missile - Nostalgia

Martin Longhurst contacted me about his late father Herbert who served in the sloop HMS Egret, said to be the first ship sunk by a guided missile, and this was in 1943.

Retro

Devastation on Newcomen Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth. This was July 16, 1944, after a V1 landed between Newcomen Road and Winstanley Road, killing 25 people.

Hitler's last throw of dice kills 25 in Portsmouth - Nostalgia

I meant to mention it last week but it went out of my mind, but on June 13, just seven days after D-Day, it was the 75th anniversary of the first V1 flying bomb to land on London.

Retro

Dwight Eisenhower back in Portsmouth, August 6, 1963.

D-Day mastermind Eisenhower returns to Portsmouth - Nostalgia

I last published this photograph some five years ago believe it or not, but I thought it worthy of putting it in again for obvious topical reasons.

Retro

A registration form to join the 49th Portsmouth Scouts who were attached to HMS Adamant. Image: John Hocking

Mystery Portsmouth Scout troop given grand title of 'Reserve Fleet' - Nostalgia

John Hocking has contacted me about a scout group that used to meet at Stamshaw Junior Girls’ School in Portsmouth. As you can see, the address on the registration form is the Royal Sailors Rest Mission Hut, Tipner.

Retro

Admiral Alan West with former Arethusa boys.

Did you train in Arethusa before joining the Royal Navy? - Nostalgia

I wonder how many ex-Arethusa boys still survive in our area? I’ve received a photograph from an E Walker, of Bridgemary, Gosport, but unfortunately no contact details. Mr Walker says he trained on Arethusa II from 1946 until 1948 when he joined the navy proper at HMS St Vincent in Gosport.

Retro

HMS Hercules of 1868 vintage in Portsmouth Harbour about 1902. Picture: Robert James postcard collection.

Did HMS Hercules become training ship Fisgard? - Nostalgia

I think it’s a pity we do not have enough ships named after Roman and Greek mythical heroes. I know we had them in the past, ships like Arethusa and Argus to name but two. But what about HMS Hercules? The name gives strength to any ship don’t you think?

Retro

Born on HMS Victory. A section of the birth certificate of Mary Ann Gordon born at 10pm on November 26, 1837, in HMS Victory.

Southsea Regatta revellers turn out in droves for annual boatfest - Nostalgia

Derelict Portsmouth homes were vandalised by council to keep squatters out - Nostalgia

Portsmouth car ferry high but not quite dry - Nostalgia

Pompey's famous Fratton Park home as you will never have seen it before

Pompey legend makes England World Cup squad - Nostalgia

Watch the D-Day 75 Drive to Remember convoy leave from Southwick Park

9 of the vehicles taking part in the D-Day 75 Drive to Remember convoy from Southwick Park

They fled the Soviet army and ended up in a choir at Havant - Nostalgia

Bulging Victory looks much the same today as 97 years ago - Nostalgia

Royal Marine cadet musicians at Eastney Barracks - Nostalgia

Copnor girls on school trip 60 years ago - Nostalgia

Memories of first Royal Navy ship sunk by a guided missile - Nostalgia

Hitler's last throw of dice kills 25 in Portsmouth - Nostalgia

D-Day mastermind Eisenhower returns to Portsmouth - Nostalgia

Mystery Portsmouth Scout troop given grand title of 'Reserve Fleet' - Nostalgia

Did you train in Arethusa before joining the Royal Navy? - Nostalgia

Did HMS Hercules become training ship Fisgard? - Nostalgia

Baby girl born in HMS Victory - Nostalgia

Does anyone remember this long-forgotten secret D-Day landing strip near Portsmouth?

Roman discoveries in Meon Valley spark debate over circus maximus

Retro

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