UNLOCKING HAMPSHIRE’S PAST

Celebrating the County’s Historians & Archaeologists

Saturday 19th September 2026, from 9:30 for 10:00 start, to 16:30.

St Peter’s Pastoral Centre, Jewry St, Winchester, SO23 8RY 

Fee £20 ( £10 for Hampshire Field Club Members)

For full details click Here

Unlocking the Past with Archaeological Science: insights from Hampshire and beyond

Study Day

Saturday 20th June 2026

10.15am to 4.30pm

Art Gallery Lecture Theatre, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY

£23 to members, £27 non-members, £17 f/t students & under 18s

(prices include tea/coffee/biscuits, lunch not provided) 

Click Here for full details

The Heritage Fair will be held on Saturday, 6th June 2026 in Southampton City Art Gallery (ground and 1st floors) from 10.00 to 16.00

Up to 30 local heritage societies will each have a table with information about themselves - and the opportunity to join. 

There will also be talks (in the lecture theatre) and guided walks around the city.

More information to follow.

Add to your diary NOW

Entry FREE but charges for Talks and Walks.

Programme for the Day - Click Here

List of Socieies participating in the Fair - Click Here

Welcome to the 180th anniversary of the Opening of the (old) Southampton  Cemetery, an event FoSOC are celebrating on the

10th May 2026

Town Crier – Alan Spencer

Will announce the start with - Sea Cadets at 10.00am followed by a prayer by The Bishop of Winchester and an address by the Lord Mayor of Southampton then Sea Cadets from 10.15am for 30 minutes

The Choir - 11.00am – 11.45am                                  inside the Anglican Chapel

Talk - Inside Non-Conformist Chapel

12(noon) – 1pm Bookings only

The Shantywomen 1.00pm - 1.45 outside/large gazebo.  

Walk - Structure /History– 1.50 - 2.50

Walk – Trees/Shrubs flowers 3 -   4pm

Mike Blatchford & the Haze Band 4-5pm outside large gazebo.

King Edwards VI School- Artwork & book will be on show.

Refreshment from 1.00pm – 5 pm inside the Non-Conformist Chapel - no charges but donation gratefully received. Three acts outside but if raining will be inside either Chapels - Thank you!

### *Unto Southampton We Do Shift Our Scene*

**A witty wander through the city’s literary past**

The Sarah Siddons Fan Club Theatre

This April, as part of the National Year of Reading, the Sarah Siddons Fan Club invites residents and visitors alike to take a step back in time—preferably while walking forwards.

Audiences are invited to join *Unto Southampton We Do Shift Our Scene*, a lively literary promenade through the old town of Southampton. Guided by the benevolent spirits of the philanthropist Henry Robinson Hartley—whose legacy eventually gave rise to the University of Southampton— and Miss Emily Fitzhugh, one of Southampton’s Georgian society ladies. Intimate friend of the famed Fanny Kemble and her aunt Sarah Siddons and the benefactor of an extensive private library to Southampton’s first public library. This theatrical stroll uncovers the city as seen through the words of writers, poets and dramatists who passed through its streets.

Performed by a small ensemble portraying the Kemble family—some of the greatest actors of the Georgian and Regency stage—the event blends history, humour and dramatic readings into an engaging open-air performance. Expect poetry, prose, scandal, satire and the occasional musical interlude, all against the atmospheric backdrop of Southampton’s medieval walls and quays. Even the giant of literature makes an appearance: the tour pauses for a Shakespearean moment from Henry V, reminding us that “Unto Southampton we do shift our scene.”

**Performances:** Sunday 2pm, Mon–Wednesday 7pm, 19–22 April 2026

**Duration:** Approximately 90 minutes (walking tour)

**Starting Point:** Holyrood Church, High Street, Southampton Old Town

** Tickets at WeGotTickets  'Unto Southampton we do shift our Scene'

Come for the history. Stay for the drama.

 And if you happen to meet a thirty-foot giant along the way—well, that’s Southampton for you.

The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust has been added to the list of local societuies to be found in 'Useful Links'.  Click here, and then scroll down the page untill you get to the entry for The Spitfire Makers

If you then click on the link to their websiteyou will find a lot of information about where Spitfires were built in Southampton in addition to theirfactory at Woolston.  Of particular interest are two maps (one in Woolston and one in Shirley) showing places where blue plaques can be found, together with two trail, linking the different venues.

Highly recommended - both the website and the maps

Study Day: A Day at the Spa

10:15am - 4pm

Southampton Art Gallery,  Lecture Theatre

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, this study day will take a sojourn into Regency Southampton to explore the town as it might have been around the time of Jane Austen’s residence in the early 1800s.

Speakers will include Dr Cheryl Butler, Dr Maria Newbery, Andy Skinner, Helen Howe and Jane Glennie and will explore varied topics including: ‘Sea Bathing & Taking the Waters’, ‘Tea-Drinking- A Cup of Scandal Broth’, ‘Southampton and the Second Hundred Years War’, ‘The Georgian Town via the Art Gallery Collection’, ‘The Austen Sisterhood & the Navy.’

The day will also provide an opportunity to visit the Jane Austen display in the museum galleries.

Tickets: £30

southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk/events/study-day-jane-austen-and-southampton/?source=scc

Sugar, Slaves & Seabathing

Black History Month, Hidden History Walk

11am -12.30pm

Starting point: Holy Rood Church, High Street, Southampton.

The Southampton of Jane Austen’s Day was watering place famed for sea bathing, but it was also a town dominated in politics by the ‘West Indian Party’, plantation owners who fought against abolition and made their money from sugar and rum. It was a town of admirals, shipbuilders and colonialists who were at the forefront of a growing empire.

Tickets £7

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub

It was the moment two Glswegian icons took to the Solent to showcase the power and beauty of steam.

Cliick Here to read the full article with amazing photographs from the Daily Echo of today's date.

‘Black Georgians’

Black History Month, Hidden History Walk

With the God’s House Tower Guides.

11am -12.30pm

Starting point: God’s House Tower, Town Quay Road, Southampton.

Jane Austen’s Southampton was a multicultural society, not only the plantation families and their black servants, there were also black soldiers who served with Wellington, black sailors who served with Nelson, as well as abolitionists, actors, writers.

www.godshousetower.org.uk

The City of Southampton made a Presentment to Court Leet this year, concerning the proliferation of Purpose Built Student Accommodation in Southampton.

 1-We urge the  City Council to draw up and adopt a plan covering the number of Purpose Built Student Accommodation Buildings("PBSA") in the City. There has been a proliferation of these buildings in recent years and no doubt they have filled a need . But there should be a limit in the number of future PBSAs imposed by the Council and taking into account:

a) the need in Southampton for brownfield sites which could be developed for housing

 b) a realistic expectation that student numbers in the higher education sector are not going to continue to rise to the extent that they have in recent years.

c) that the size and nature of individual units of accommodation in PBSAs do not  make them suitable for use by people who are not students. Students, by their nature, are transitory and only occupy the units during their time actually spent at university.  The LPA will be very familiar with the National Space Standards. The design and method of construction of some PBSAs do not always lend themselves to conversion to these standards

2- This is not an anti student or anti university argument. It is excellent  that our two universities-the University of Southampton and Solent University continue to attract students in large numbers from within the UK and abroad. They provide enormous boosts to the local and regional economies and add prestige to the City.  According to the latest Times survey nearly 40% of the Southampton University students are from overseas, though whether that figure is distorted by the universilty having campuses in India and Malaysia I do not know. For Solent University the figure is about 20%.

3- But these benefits also come at a cost to the city  which with its current boundaries has little scope for expansion. There is an acute need for accommodation in the non-student sector. It has been argued that by providing PBSAs for students this frees up accommodation in the private sector for families and working people. But no reliable or compelling evidence has been provided to support this contention.

4-There are brownfield sites in  Southampton which could be developed for housing  but which seem to have been earmarked for PBSAs. These include Seaview in Millbrook Road East, Commercial Point, Portswood Centre and a proposed 11 story building in Shirley. There does not seem to have been a proper analysis by the City Council of the need for student accommodation versus non-student needs.  So there is currently no enforceable policy covering this situation.

5- The University of Southampton has not yet published any plan, backed up by evidence, setting out its projected student numbers and their accommodation needs.

6- The need for future and large scale accommodation for overseas students must be regarded as questionable. Relations with China, for example, are probably cooling down for political/geopolitical reasons which are beyond the scope of this paper. Has Brexit had an adverse affect on student numbers from the EU? Will Southampton University's new Indian campus reduce the number of students arriving here from India?

8-There seems to be a creeping tendancy, when a site becomes available, to take the soft option and either earmark it for a PBSA or to allow those companies which specialise in student housing to get permission for yet more student housing without sufficient consideration of other housing possibilities.

9- Many PBSAs for the above reasons have built-in obsolescence. So, Southampton City Council-don’t just stand there. Do something.

“Tea & Money” Coffee House Conversations

2pm-5pm

God’s House Tower

“No coffee, I thank you, for me - never take coffee - A little tea if you please”

Emma

The Georgians invented the Coffee House; a place to go and discuss the important issues of the day, so join us for tea and cake and learn a something about the banking crisis that rocked the Austen family, and hear the stories of the poor debtors who found themselves in God’s House Prison when Jane lived in Southampton.

Event supported by the Royal Society of Arts

Tickets £8 (including tea & cake)

www.godshousetower.org.uk

Jane Austen & the Navy

Costumed Guided Walk of Maritime Bursledon, with Hamble Valley Guides

11am -12.30pm

Starting point: Bursledon Station carpark

A walk around the picturesque riverside village of Bursledon that celebrates the Austen family’s Naval links; including the ship building yard that produced HMS Elephant, (whose notable captains include Admiral Lord Nelson and Frank Austen), and Brooklands, the home of Admiral Thomas Williams, husband of Jane Austen’s cousin, Jane Cooper, and a visit to St Leonards church, where the builder of HMS Elephant, George Parsons, has a memorial.

Our guide will be dressed in beautifully recreated Georgian costume to lead this stroll around the beautiful village of Bursledon, which was largely rebuilt in the eighteenth century following a disastrous fire.

Tickets £10 

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/HAMBLE-VALLEY-WALKS

All at Sea with Jane Austen

11:30am – 6pm

Cruise, SS Shieldhall

“I can safely say, that the happiest part of my life has been spent on board a ship”

Persuasion

A maritime cruise on the Shieldhall. Water parties and yachting were favourite pastimes during Jane’s time in Southampton and she took trips to Hythe and Netley. Her landlord, the marquis of Lansdowne, almost drowned when his catamaran capsized, the friends of Austen, the Lances, also had a shock when their family yacht foundered!

Relive some of Jane’s trips with an excursion on Steamship Shieldhall, which is also celebrating a birthday this year, 70 years young! The cruise will pass down Southampton Water, into the Solent and will then enter Portsmouth Harbour, before returning to her Southampton berth. The Shieldhall Padre will be on board to conduct a Merchant Navy Day Service.

See website for information on Tickets and boarding

https://ss-shieldhall.co.uk/

Literary Netley

Guided Walk with the Hamble Valley Guides.

11am-12.30pm

Netley Abbey, Netley Village

This walk tells the stories of those associated with Netley Abbey and its ruins, starting with the arrival of the Cistercians who built the abbey and taking the story through to the nineteenth century with readings and poetry.

Tickets £10

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/HAMBLE-VALLEY-WALkS

Pattens to Peartree

All-day CIRCULAR walk

10.30am

Starting point: St Michael’s Square, Bugle Street, Southampton

“Martha and  I made use of the very favourable state of yesterday for walking, to pay our duty at Chessel.  We found Mrs Lance at home and alone, and sat out three other ladies who soon came in. We went by the ferry and returned by the bridge and were scarcely at all fatigued ”

Recreating Jane Austen’s walk from Southampton to visit her friends the Lance Family of Chessel House, with a stop at the historic Peartree Church, inspiration for Thomas Gray’s Elegy in a Country Churchyard.

This is a 5-mile circular walk, with a stop at lunchtime to view Peartree Church.

Bring a packed lunch.

Teas and Coffees will be available at Peartree.

Tickets £10

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub

In 1588 England was being threatened with invasion by the world's super-power, Spain.  The town of Southampton was on the front line; at the beginning of August the massive Spanish fleet - The Armada - was approaching the Isle of Wight.

The Sarah Siddons Fan Club are organising a series of events during the first week in August 2025 to commemorate the events of 1588

The Sarah Siddons Fan Club Theatre is a partner in the University of Southampton’s Maritime Britain Project: English Merchant Shipping, Maritime Communities, and Trade from the Spanish Armada to the Seven Years War c1588-c1765. Their role is to add a creative response to the research that has come from this two-year project, and over a week of events in August 2025 we will be focusing on the people and events in Southampton in 1588.

For a full list of events organised by the Sarah Sions Fan Club in 2025 relating to The Armada, click here

2nd August - Study Day - 10.30am - 5.00pm - The Masons' Hall, Albion Place, Southampton

For more information, click here

3rd, 4th and 5th August - A Pageant - The Rev Shapcott's Historical Armada Pageant - 7.30pm each evening at St Michael's Square, Bugle Street, Southampton

For more information, click here

6th August - Guided Walk - 11.00am - 12.30pm - Discovery & Empire - Starting at Holyrood Church, High Street, Southamopton

For more information, click here

7th August - Guided Walk/Talk/Walk - Discover God's House Tower

11.00 Guided Walk around God's House Tower

13.00 Talk:The Defence of the Realm

14.00 Guided Walk around God's House Tower

For more information Click here

Tea & Scandal!!

2-4pm

Townhill Park House (aka The Gregg School)

Join us for a dish of tea, cakes and gossip, in the company of writer & historian Dr Cheryl Butler, in the beautiful Walnut Room, of Townhill Park House.

“This is a sad story about Mrs Powlett. I should not have suspected her of such a thing.”

Jane Austen to her Sister Cassandra,

Southampton 1808

Hear about the scandals of the day that so enthralled and entangled the Austen Family: an aunt on trial, the Hastings Conspiracy, bankruptcy and the Powlett Affair! Not to mention the transgressions of Memory Middleton and his wife, the Jamaican Plantation heiress Anne Morse, owners of Townhill Park House: events that inspired plots in Pride & Prejudice and Sanditon!

Booking information: events@thegreggschool.org

Jane Austen & Southampton Spa

11am-12.30pm

Starting point: Tudor House, Bugle Street, Southampton

Jane Austen spent three key parts of her life in Southampton, firstly as a seven-yearold child on a stay as part of her education, as a seventeen-year-old young lady and acknowledged ‘flirt’ who came to enjoy the balls and entertainments of the popular spa town and, finally, as a mature woman about to embark on her writing career and residing in Castle Square.

Join Dr Cheryl Butler, author of “Jane Austen & Southampton Spa” to f ind out why Southampton was important in the life of the author and how it influenced her writing.

Tickets £9

https://southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk/events/jane-austen-walking-tour/ 

https://tudorhouseandgarden.com/

Town, Military and Naval: Old Cemetery Connections with Jane Austen’s lifetime

Walking tour with The Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery.

11am-12.30pm

Meet at Cemetery Gate, Cemetery Road.

The tour includes Austen family graves along with other notables from the period; naval, military, businesses and friends.

See website for ticket information

https://fosoc.org/

Netley Abbey, Monks, Marquess and Mystery

Guided Walk with the Hamble Valley Guides.

11am-12.30pm

Netley Abbey, Netley Village

Inspiration for Jane Austen’s gothic novel Northanger Abbey, this walk celebrates the medieval Netley Abbey’s link to the gothic literature - a romantic ruin that inspired not only Jane Austen, but also Horace Walpole and Thomas Grey

Tickets £10

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/HAMBLE-VALLEY-WALKS

The Friendship of Jane Austen & Martha

2pm

Tudor House, Bugle Street

A  dramatic monologue with the actor Jane Glennie, about the lifelong friendship between Jane Austen and Martha Lloyd, who came to live with the family when they moved to Southampton.

Tickets £12

https://southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk/events/ friendship-jane-austen-and-martha/

“Tea & Austen’s Women”

2pm

October Books, Portswood

The Georgians invented the Coffee House; a place to go and discuss the important issues of the day, but for women it was the tea room, so join us for tea (or coffee!)  and find out about the lives of women who lived in Southampton alongside Jane Austen. Their lives were often restricted, but new opportunities did occur to make a living, such as the writing of novels.

Alongside the growth in the popularity of tea, bookshops that were also circulating libraries were also a new phenomenon. What better place then to have a discussion than a bookshop!

Join Dr Cheryl Butler author of “Jane Austen & Southampton Spa” and “First Impressions: Jane Austen’s Southampton Circle 1780-1820” at October Books.

Tickets £5

https://octoberbooks.org/pages/events

“But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea”

Mansfield Park

'The Stinking Fish of Southampton’

Street theatre perambulation with the Sarah Siddons Fan Club Theatre

24th - 26th June

7.30pm

Starting from Holy Rood Church,

High Street, Southampton.

“Beware of the insipid vanities and idle dissipations of the metropolis of England;  Beware of the unmeaning luxuries of Bath and of the stinking fish of Southampton”

Love & Freindship (sic), 1790.

Jane Austen

A whole new production, reflecting on the social circle of Jane Austen. Join Mrs Austen as she introduces you to her friends, neighbours, acquaintances and potential husbands for her unmarried daughters and visit the site of the Austens’ home, the assembly rooms & bathing establishment and meet wealthy merchants, Army deserters, famous actors, debtors and dashing Naval officers.

Tickets £10

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub

Old Town Community Forum (OTCF)

Every Friday 3pm – 5pm Chatty Café continues at God’s House Tower. Just drop in for a cuppa and a chat.

Sunday 4th May, 7.30 pm in 02 Guildhall.  Royal British Legion VE 80 Concert.  Check out this link for further information on the concert and other VE day activities:  https://visitsouthampton.co.uk/80?utm_ID=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery

Saturday 10th May.  Herbert Collins Centenary Walk of the Garden City Estate at Swaythling, starting at 2pm (90 minutes) meet at Market Buildings, Swaythling. Tickets are £5 each. Booking at https://hamblevalleywalks.org.uk/programme-booking/

Saturday 17th May, 11am to 1pm, OTCF Community Planting event on St Michael’s Square.  Following on from last year’s successful inaugural planting session we are delighted that Mayfield Nurseries can come again with plants, baskets and tubs for you to plant up yourselves.

Sunday 18th May 2pm (90 minutes) Southampton Old Cemetery.  Free guided walk but please book at link shown.  ‘Lives Lost At Sea’. Stories of people buried at the cemetery with association with Southampton Docks.  Booking at: https://fosoc.org/upcoming-events/

Monday 26th  May to Sunday 1st  June 2025, Urban Wild - this is a city-wide festival celebrating local wild places and the connection, creativity, and community that surrounds them. Friends of Town Quay Park will be running an event on 27th May.

Monday June 23rd Friends of Town Quay Park AGM at Ironside Court at 7.30pm

Our OTCF summer meeting will be on Monday 30th June at God’s House Tower 6.00 – 7.30pm.  The Autumn meeting is provisionally set for 20th  October Save the dates now!

At our Forum meeting on 7th April, Councillor Bogle undertook to provide feedback on a number of issues that were raised.  We have received this information: 

·       A tourist office is being looked at but another group is looking at how to deliver ‘Destination Southampton’ which was formed as part of our City of Culture bid.  The welcome to visitors at the cruise terminal that involves See Southampton and GO Southampton has been a key area of progress but more can still be done.

·       The concerns raised about the construction debris at the rear of Shanghai 1814 have now been logged with the Council.

·       There is an upcoming Cabinet meeting on Food Waste implementation on 29th April and a briefing paper went to Scrutiny (OSMC) yesterday (Thursday 24th).  A copy of the Cabinet report can be found here:  https://www.southampton.gov.uk/modernGov/documents/s79683/Food%20Waste%20Collections.pdf

A copy of the Briefing Paper to Overview & Scrutiny Panel can be found here:

https://www.southampton.gov.uk/modernGov/documents/s79671/Appendix%202%20-%20Food%20Waste%20Collections%20briefing%20paper.docx.pdf .

In other news:  Reflections on VE Day, 8th May, 1945, from Sotonopedia.  “The docks were full of troop and cargo ships and all the ships’ sirens sounded at midnight.  Church bells rang out from St. Michael’s as Holy Rood was in ruins.  Army trucks and jeeps rode in procession through the town, blowing horns.  In every street, bunting stretched from side to side and flags and other decorations hung from almost every house.   At the Civic Centre, huge loudspeakers were made ready to relay Churchill’s official ceasefire speech at 3pm.  (……)  For several days after VE day, there were street parties, bonfires and services of thanksgiving in all the churches.  In total, the Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs. J. C. Dyas) attended 111 street parties.”  More information can be found here:  http://sotonopedia.wikidot.com/page-browse:v-e-day-celebrations

West Gate (or Westgate) will shortly be updating their D-Day exhibition with the addition of information and photos about VE Day.  Entry is free and West Gate is open on Sundays from 10-12 and 1-3pm.  There are also displays on the Mayflower and Jane Austen.

In City News, the Leader reports on a visit to a food distribution charity.  There’s also news about camera enforcement beginning in East Park Terrace; Bitterne Precinct Play Park is now open; VE Day celebrations; a range of cultural activities; a new energy advice service; a free parenting programme; advice on booking a COVID-19 vaccination for those eligible and latest roadworks.  More information on these can be found here:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOUTHAMPTON/bulletins/3dd67e0?reqfrom=share

Culture Vulture has information about painting workshops, talks, yoga in the Bargate, tour of Tudor House this Sunday and the Tapestry Festival in Western Esplanade in July.  For more information and booking details on these, follow this link:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOUTHAMPTON/bulletins/3dd6e20?reqfrom=share

Sugar, Slaves & Seabathing

‘Thinking Thursday’ Guided Walk

11am – 12.30pm

Starting point: Tudor House, Bugle Street, Southampton

The Southampton of Jane Austen’s day was a watering place famed for sea bathing, but it was also a town dominated in politics by the ‘West Indian Party’, plantation owners who fought against abolition and made their money from sugar and rum. It was a town of admirals, shipbuilders and colonialists who were at the forefront of a growing empire.

The walk was commissioned as part of the outreach programme of the university of Southampton’s AHRC funded English Maritime Communities and Trade research project. https://maritimebritain.org/

Part of the Tudor House Thinking Thursday, see their website for ticket information https://tudorhouseandgarden.com

Southampton Archaeology Society

Study Day - Sunday, 14th June - 10.00am to 4.30pm

A study day in which contributors will speak about Saxon and Medieval Southampton, Winchester and sites further afield. It is based on a new book "Producers, Traders and Consumers in Urban Societies in Southern Britain and Europe".  The book is dedicated to Mark Brisbane.  Mark managed the Southampton City Council Archaeology unit and created the Museum of Archaeology from 1978 to 1989.  In 1989 he moved to Bournemouth University where he is now Emeritus Professor of Medieval Archaeology.

The Speakers and Themes confirmed so far are:

Mark Garner - Boundaries and Burials: Hamwic's extent and its cemeteries

Ian Riddler - The SOU 20 Seax, adult male dominance in early Hamwic

David Hinton - Gold, silver and coins in Hamwic and beyond

Stephen Rippon - Roman Bath's Archway Project

Mark Malty - People and animals in Roman and medieval Winchester

Dan Carter - HAMPOTS: Hampshire Post-Roman Pottery Type Series

Duncan Brown - Pottery in Public

Location - Avenue Hall. St Andrew's United Reformed Church, The Avenue, Southampton, SO17 1XQ

Tickets - £21 SAS members, £25 non-members, £15 students & uner 18s

Enquiries - southamptonarchaeology@gmail.com

Website - https://southamptonarchaeology.co.uk

Jane Austen’s Show Tunes:

A Musical Journey through the songs of Charles Dibdin

Doors 7pm for 7.30pm Concert

St Michael’s Church,

Bugle Street, Southampton.

“With out Music, Life would be a blank to me”  Emma

2025 is the 280th birthday of son of Southampton Charles Dibdin, as well as the 250th birthday of the town’s most famous resident, Jane Austen. Austen hired a piano whilst she lived in Southampton on which to play the tunes of one of her favourite composers, Charles Dibdin.

This performance celebrates Austen’s Dibdin with a performance of his popular songs, which Austen loved and sang, brought to life by talented local folk musician Jeff Henry. Accompanying Jeff will be historian Nicola Pritchard-Pink, who shares insights into Austen’s song collection, revealing what performing Dibdin’s lively show songs at home might have been like for this famous author.

The setting for this concert is the historic medieval church of St Michaels, the oldest building within the old town dating from 1070 and well-known for its musical output and concerts. Guides will be on hand to highlight the history of the church.

Tickets £10

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub

Pear Tree Church Open Day,

Exhibition & Talk

Jane @ Peartree, 2pm – 4pm

Free Event

The historic Pear Tree Church was opened in 1620. By the eighteenth century it was the most fashionable church in Southampton, said to be the inspiration for Thomas Grey’s Elegy in a Country Churchyard.

“Everyone who comes to Southampton finds it either their duty or pleasure to call upon us”

Elizabeth Butler Harrison, cousin to Jane Austen, was a member of the congregation. Jane stayed with the family when she was seventeen and stood as god-mother to her cousin’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth Matilda Butler Harrison.

Visit the Austen family memorial and the exhibition on the history of the church used by the Austen family. You can also sit on the writer’s bench commissioned to commemorate Austen’s link with the Church, and enjoy an afternoon talk on Jane & Peartree at 2.30pm.

Refreshments will also be available at the Church

https://www.peartreeandstmarkschurches.org

Jane Austen at Westgate Tower

Sundays 

10.00-12.00  &  13.00-15.00

Westgate Tower, Westgate Street, Southampton

Free to enter

Explore Westgate Tower, with a small Jane Austen display highlighting her connections with Southampton.

Sundays 6 April, 4 May, 8 June,

‘Jane Austen in Georgian Southampton’ walking tour

Departing from Westgate at 11am

http://www.seesouthampton.co.uk

Trafalgar Days

Costumed Guided Walk in the company of the Sarah Siddons Fan Club Theatre.

Pre-booking strongly advised.

2pm – 3.30pm

Starting point: Holy Rood Church, High Street, Southampton.

Join our costumed guides and hear Naval stories and links to Admiral Nelson and Frank Austen, a tale of beef burgers, flogging and gambling, including a visit to St Michael’s Church to view the ‘admirals memorials’. Led by Institute of Tourism Guides who specialise in Austen tours, joined by actors who will give short readings from contemporary eighteenth century letters, poems and novels, appropriate to each stopping point.

Tickets £7 (early bird discount)

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub

“NB There will be very few Dates in this History”, Jane Austen’s History of Southampton

 Costumed Guided Walk in the company of the Sarah Siddons Fan Club Theatre.

Pre-booking strongly advised.

11 am – 12.30 pm

Starting point: God’s House Tower, Winkle Street, Southampton.Join our costumed guides and take a walk around old Southampton and find out about what inspired Jane as a writer, where she lived, who her neighbours were, the latest gossip, where to meet Mr Darcy.

Led by Institute of Tourism Guides who specialise in Austen tours, joined by actors who will give short readings from contemporary eighteenth century letters, poems and novels, appropriate to each stopping point.

Tickets £7 (early bird discount)

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub

Walking with Jane & Mr Darcy

10am

Meet at St Michael’s Square

A well-being walk - with the real Mr Darcy - Mark Darcy (not only a well-known character in the Bridget Jones novels and based on Mr. Darcy) but also local wellbeing guru Mark Darcy of Mark Darcy New Wellbeing.

As our Mark Darcy says, “The purpose is to bring people together to help improve their lives, health, and wellbeing while having meaningful conversations and connections. I encourage everyone to bring an open mind and a willingness to learn and share. The possibilities are endless, and you have many reasons not to come, but I promise you will not regret it, so maybe make a different choice and create a new experience.

For this walk, alongside Mark, Austen historian Cheryl Butler will explain how ‘melancholia’ was treated in the time of Jane Austen when Southampton was a watering place and health spa. The talk and walk will be 2 hours, around 3 miles, at a very easy pace; no worries about pace at all.

If you have any questions, please get in touch by emailing: mark@markdarcy.co.uk.

Booking: via Eventbrite. The cost is £10  and all the money goes to New Forest Wellbeing Community Interest Company.  We kindly ask that if for any reason you cannot make it, please cancel your registration at least 48 hours before the walk. This will mean someone else can take your space and enjoy the benefits. No refunds but it will go to this good cause

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellbieng-talk-walk-with-jane-mr-darcytickets-1246986753949?aff=oddtdtcreato

JANE AUSTEN WALKING FESTIVAL

“I walk. I prefer walking”

Walking became very popular in the eighteenth century, doctors promoted it for health reasons, fashionable leaders of society liked to be seen strolling – they were known as loungers – although Elizabeth Austen described the Duchess of Devonshire and her sister as being: “dressed like their maids” and that they “strolled about Southampton like showmen.” The passion for the picturesque encouraged walks in the countryside, and the obsession with the gothic led visitors to medieval ruins. Jane Austen, like her most well-known heroine Lizzie Bennet, liked a long walk, such as the five miles she travelled to visit her friends the Lances.

The Southampton Jane Austen Walking Festival has embraced all these themes, you can join us as a ‘lounger’, as a Lizzie Bennet, or just for the pleasure of a healthy walk.

4th April – 7th September

In the Footsteps of Jane Austen

Fridays at 2pm and Saturdays at 11am

Starting at the Bargate

A traditional guided walk in Jane Austen’s footsteps with the Southampton Tourist Guides. Find out about Jane and the time she spent in the old town of Southampton.

Tickets £10

https://wegottickets.com/TourGuides1976

A VERY RESPECTABLE COMPANY, EXHIBITION:

Jane Austen & her Southampton Circle

From 29th March – October

Sea City Museum, Southampton

“My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.”

Persuasion

Jane Austen’s circle of friends and neighbours included Ann Newell - her next-door neighbour, an absentee landowner of plantations and slaves, Charlotte Fitzhugh, who married into a wealthy East India Company family and was a superfan of Austen’s favourite actress Sarah Siddons and Anne Middleton, the mixed-race plantation heiress born in Jamaica, who married in India and who had her private life splashed across national newspapers. Women who could easily find themselves portrayed among the characters found within the pages of Mansfield Park, Emma and Sanditon. Descendants have loaned items from family archives to provide new and largely unseen material linked to Austen and her networks, including the Austen Family Household Book.

https://seacitymuseum.co.uk/whats-on/jane-austen-exhibition/

A new book “First Impressions: Jane Austen’s Southampton Circle 1780-1820” has been published to run alongside the exhibition.

https://www.hobnobpress.co.uk

For a full list of all the events in Southampton organised by the Sarah Siddons Fan Club, click Here.

CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON SOCIETY

Minutes of the Society’s 61st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 25th March 2024 at 7.00pm

at

Elizabeth Kell Community Hall, Bellevue Road, Southampton

1. Opening the Meeting and Welcome: 18 members were present

2. Apologies for absence: 9 members sent apologies

3. The minutes of the AGM held 27 February 2023 [distributed prior to the meeting]

No corrections

4. Matters arising None

5. Simon Reynier [Chair]: The Society’s Annual Report

At last year’s AGM, the chair enjoyed the Lord Mayor’s description of her meeting with the royal family. Seven talks have happened this last year, with topics such as the Mayflower Theatre, and Thomas Lewis. Thanks to John Avery for organising these talks, which he has been doing for the last 14 or 15 years. The meeting gave John a vote of thanks. The guided tour of St Denys Church was followed by tea and cakes. This was a fascinating tour and the church has interesting history. A new initiative is the 350 anniversary of Isaac Watts. Arthur Jeffery, previous chair, had produced a leaflet and booklet about Isaac Watts. These documents were never published, however, but we are hoping to share this work with the committee organising the anniversary meetings. There will be an event at the Isaac Watts statue toward end of June and a second event in the Avenue Church, perhaps in October.

Through the year, we have been looking at planning applications, which is a major activity. The Council’s senior planning manager is well aware of the Society and takes note of our comments. The Bargate development came to a halt around 8 months ago. The Council’s planning manager has found out that the investor is still keen to go ahead. A new builder has to be found. It is unknown whether there will need to be a change of plans, and new planning application, because of the increased cost of construction. No new application has been submitted as yet. The site was busy this morning, with scaffolding being removed. Other major development sites such as Toys R Us, Debenhams, Odeon Leisure world are all also on hold, presumably also because of increased costs. There will be a new planning application for the Sports Centre for this reason. The aparthotel on the roundabout on Hill Lane and Winchester Road applied three times before finally getting approval: the final application had a reduced number of bedrooms and increased number of parking spaces. We had argued against this aspect of this application. It was suggested however that next year the planning committee should be more vigorous in its comments. The Olleco site is situated near Central Bridge opposite the preexisting student accommodation. A previous application for this site was approved for an 11 storey block housing 450 students. A new application was however submitted for a co-living venture for 400 residents, with shared facilities such as kitchen, gym, social space and laundry. This is the first co-living proposal in Southampton, which does not have a policy on such schemes. This 17 storey car-less development was approved. There is a risk for tenants and also the developers if there is antisocial behaviour or people with incompatible lifestyles. It will be interesting to see how well this scheme works. There are concerns about the impact on infrastructure of such high density schemes. (The temporary toilets in Mayflower Park have still not been replaced.) Student accommodation an older block in Hulse Road is to be demolished and replaced with a larger building with twice as many students. This was unpopular with residents of Cavendish Grove whose gardens will now be overlooked. St Mary’s College playing fields are now redundant, and an application proposed to provide build 84 affordable family homes. Local residents had concerns about site drainage, water run-off, parking and traffic. The loss of green space goes against Council policy. This application was refused as the developers were not offering a satisfactory alternative to compensate. The new development at the North East Quadrant of the Highfield Campus planning application has not yet been determined. A major application has been submitted for Town Quay, with a new hotel, three 20 storey tower blocks, another smaller residential block, and expanded marina. This application is still to be determined. Public access and traffic are a concern. We also pointed out the need for signage to explain the heritage. We were moreover concerned about the lack of shadow diagram and computer generated images of views from local parks. A Bernard Street application for an aparthotel was refused. The proposal had no shared amenities. There is a local rationale for aparthotels, for example people going on a cruise. (We remain one of the most polluted cities partly because of cruise ships and the traffic they generate.) Note that most applications are approved, notwithstanding concerns that we raise.

6. Reports:

             Hon. Membership Secretary                                     Paul Brown

We have a total of 82 names on the books. Around 40 have renewed already, even though we have not yet sent out reminders, since next year’s rate has not yet been set.

             Hon. Treasurer Report                                               Mary Gravell

This has been a good year for the accounts. We have reduced our losses from £817 last year, to a loss of £208 this year. In 2022 we had made a donation contributing to Arthur’s seat. Our costs continue to rise, speakers, printing and distribution. The balance at the end of the year was £3694.62p. There are annual fees for our web site, zoom meetings, and public liability insurance. With our current rate of expenditure, our reserves should allow the society to remain viable, whatever changes lie ahead, for several years.

              Approval of Accounts to 31.12.2023

Vote to approve: unanimous.

7. Nominations for the Society’s Officers and elections to office

              Chairman:                                                                     Simon Reynier

              Hon. Secretary:                                                             Andy Gravell 

              Hon. Membership Secretary:                                        Paul Brown

              Hon. Treasurer:                                                             Mary Gravell

Voted in unanimously

8. Nominations of Executive Committee Members and elections to office

               Newsletter Editor and Webmaster:                              None at present

               Speaker Secretary:                                                      None at present

               Members without Portfolio:                                          Sarah Chorley, Marian Hubble, Brian Sefton, Peter Stone

Voted in unanimously

9. Voting on the Society’s Committee’s proposals [as circulated to Members in advance of the AGM] to;

                 i. To agree the Society’s activities and frequency of meetings

                 ii. To agree to new subscription rates for the year from January 2024

The chair double checked that there was no volunteer for Speaker Secretary. John Avery explained the difficulties of this role such as ensuring access to the Hall, and also competition with other groups who can pay speakers higher fees. Going forward therefore we will have to stop organising monthly talks. We may or may not be able to continue with occasional talks.

The editor of the Review and Newsletter, Brian Sefton, is also stepping down from this position. Joyce Lewis volunteered to take on the role of producing the Newsletter.

Voted in unanimously.

With no Speaker Secretary there will be no programme of talks. Without speaker fees and room hire our outgoings will therefore be reduced. The subscription should therefore also be reduced. It was proposed that £5 per year, a single flat fee, should be sufficient to cover our likely expenses. A higher subscription fee would allow us to make charitable donations in line with the aims of the society. It was proposed that £10 would be more suitable. A vote was taken on this amended proposal for next year’s fee.

Voted unanimously with one abstention.

Next year’s subscription fee will therefore be £10 per person. Those who have already paid at last year’s rate will be refunded (unless they wish to convert the extra amount to a donation). It was noted we can revert to our previous module operandi if a Speaker Secretary does come forward in future.

10. Collection for the Lord Mayor’s charities The Lord Mayor is our President. We wish to support the Lord Mayor’s charities. An overview was provided of these: Saints Foundation, Oasis Southampton City Farm, Southampton Sea Cadets. A collection for these charities was made. A total of £114.50 was raised on the night.

11. Any Other Business The situation of South Stoneham House was raised. It was proposed the Society write formally to the Save Britain’s Heritage group to ask this house and its gardens to be added to their register of properties at risk.

Voted for unanimously

On completion of the business there were refreshments.

12. Date of Next AGM: 25th March 2025.

CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON SOCIETY

Agenda for the Society’s 61st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 25th March 2024 at 7.00pm

At

Elizabeth Kell Community Hall, Bellevue Road, Southampton

1. Opening the Meeting and Welcome

2. Apologies for absence

3. The minutes of the AGM held 27 February 2023 [distributed prior to the meeting]

4. Matters arising

5. Simon Reynier [Chair]: The Society’s Annual Report

6. Reports:

Hon. Membership Secretary                           Paul Brown

Hon. Treasurer Report                                    Mary Gravell

Approval of Accounts to 31.12.2023

7. Nominations for the Society’s Officers and elections to office

Chairman:                                                      Simon Reynier

Hon. Secretary:                                              Andy Gravell

Hon. Membership Secretary:                         Paul Brown

Hon. Treasurer:                                              Mary Gravell

8. Nominations of Executive Committee Members and elections to office

Newsletter Editor and Webmaster:                 None at present

Speaker Secretary:                                         None at present

Members without Portfolio:                             Sarah Chorley, Marian Hubble, Brian Sefton

9. Voting on the Society’s Committee’s proposals [as circulated to Members in advance of the AGM] to;

i. To agree the Society’s activities and frequency of meetings

ii. To agree to new subscription rates for the year from January 2024

10. Collection for the Lord Mayor’s charities 

11. Any Other Business

On completion of the business of the AGM there will be refreshments

Postponement of the City of Southampton Society AGM

Unfortunately, it has become necessary to postpone our Society's Annual General Meeting which was to have been held on Monday 26th February. A number of our Executive Committee are indisposed or otherwise unavailable which will render the meeting inquorate. We regret any inconvenience to Members.

The postponed AGM will now be held on Monday 25th March at 7.00 pm at the Kell Hall, Belleview Road, SO15 2AY.

Please attend prepared to offer to serve on the Society’s Committees.

The Hartley Library is holding an exhibition that marks forty years of collecting archives at the University of Southampton since the arrival of the papers of the first Duke of Wellington in March 1983.  This bought to Southampton the University's first manuscript collection, leading to the creation of the Archives Department and the development of a major strand of activity within the University Library.  In the ensuing four decades the Archives has expanded the scope of its collecting, set out its collection policy, including one of the largest collections of Jewish archives in Western Europe.  This exhibition is a celebration of forty years of collecting at Southampton, illustrating something of the variety and range of material now held in the Special Collections.

The Exhibition is open on weekdays from 10am to 4 pm

16 October - 15 December 2023

8 January - 16 February 2024

at The Hartley Gallery

Leve; 4

University of Southampton

A talk is being given by Ally Hayes and Wendy Stokes on the Bevois Mount Artists in the Lecture Theatre on the ground floor of The Art Gallery/Library on Wednesday, 11th October, at 10.30am.

The West Gate Tower is holding a free exhibion of the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims leaving Southampton 400 years ago ... and much more.

The display will shortly be enlarged to iclude a Large Matchstick Model of the Mayflower created by David Reynolds - The model and its display case took over two and a half years to complete from over 100,000 matchsticks, 1.5 litres of PVA glue and a litre of gloss varnish.

(David has created many matchstick models including the Ocean Liners - Queen Mary, QE2 and the Titanic, together with Henry VIII's Mary Rose and HMS Victory. He holds the Guiness World Record for the largest Matchstick Structure/Sculpture for a replica of an Offshore Oil Production Platform entitled'Cathedrals of the Sea' which is on permanent display at Ripley's Museum, Panama City Beach, Florida)

Entry is FREE and the exhibition is open on Sundays, from 10.00am to 3.00pm

Entry to the Exhibition is via the steep stairs outside West Gate Hall.

Talk ‘The History of Mayflower Theatre’ by Holly Scott. 25 September 2023

Holly Scott leads on the Mayflower Theatre’s heritage programme, which includes delivering historical and backstage theatre tours as well as working with volunteers to organise the theatre’s archive.

Holly’s Talk

The ‘Mayflower’ originally called the ‘Empire Theatre’ was part of the Moss Empire theatre group and opened with the Rudolf Friml show ‘Winona’ with a cast of over 100 on 22 December 1928. Friml is better known for the show ‘Rose Marie’.

In 1933 the arrival of cinema led to the installation of a projector and a screen which could be raised and lowered at the front of the stage.

In 1950 the theatre became part of the Rank Organisation and was re-named as the ‘Gaumont Theatre’ hosting concerts by many famous rock and roll bands, including Bill Hayley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens while continuing to act as a cinema between concerts. Programmes continued until the end of the 1980s, when performances began to require larger concert halls and arenas for their shows.

In 1982, the Rank Organisation submitted a ‘Change of Use’ planning application to the City Council to convert the building into a Dance Hall or Ten Pin Bowling Alley or for Bingo. This was refused. The City Council instead offered to buy the building and did so for £650,000 and the £3 million cost of refurbishment. This led to the setting up of a charitable trust and a lease with a peppercorn rent. In the meanwhile1983 saw the building awarded grade II listed status.

The theatre closed for the work in January 1986, and re-opened as ‘The Mayflower’ [following a public re-naming competition] on 24 February 1987, with a production of ‘Peter Pan’ starring Bonnie Langford.

Musicals made up a big part of the turnaround of the theatre. 1990 brought a full-scale version of ‘42nd Street’ followed by ‘Evita’ These proved huge successes and along with the pantomimes, ensured the continued success of the theatre, 1994's ‘Dick Whittington’, starring Lesley Joseph and John Nettles attracted 126,256 theatregoers, a record.

‘Cats’ also arrived in 1994, bringing an audience of 125,000. This was followed by many other shows, including ‘The Phantom of the Opera’

In 2003, the theatre closed for refurbishment again, the main purpose being the change from a raked to a flat stage for the benefit of dance. The theatre reopened, with the large-scale production of ‘Miss Saigon’.

In 2009 there was a major change to the backstage areas, including a new scenery dock, at the same time the stalls and the circle bar were refurbished.

After a 4-week run of ‘War Horse’ in September 2018 all of the seats in the stalls and circle were replaced by 1,659 brand-new wider ones and the auditorium was redecorated in its new and current royal red and gold colour scheme.

Holly’s enthusiasm for the theatre’s history shone through to engage with her audience some of whom had worked in front-of-house and behind-the-scenes, so leading to a spirited question and answer session to close the meeting.

Holly Scott leads on the Mayflower Theatre's heritage programme, which includes delivering historical and backstage theatre tours as well as working with volunteers to organise the thetre's valued archive.

Here is your opportunity to learn about the Mayflower Thaetre's rich and exciting history from the Empire Theatre of 1928, through the iconic rock and roll years at the Gaumont and so on to the Mayflower Theatre as it's known today.  Holly has stories and anecdotes from the past and will explore the Theatre's challenges and celebrate its triumphs.  She will share insights into how the theatre runs, from the orchestra pit to the fly floor!

Remember - The Hall door will close at 7.05 pm for security purposes and no further admittance will be possible.

A Book Sale is taking place in The Bitterne Local History Society shop for one week from Monday, 25th September 2023 (10am to 4pm)

The address of the shop is 231 Peartree Avenue, Bitterne

A chance to see behind the scenes at the Archives which are the home to the Wellington Papers, plus exhibition, tea and talk.

To mark the fortieth anniversary of the archives of the first Duke of Wellington at Southampton, we are hosting a behind the scenes day on Friday 7 July 2023.

 There will be a chance to meet the curators, see a selection of gems from the collection, find out about aspects of curation, including conservation work. An exhibition outlining work on the collection over the forty years will be on show in the Level 4 Gallery and there will be a talk by Dr Zack White and tea in the Library Conference Room.

 Date: Friday 7 July 2023

 Time: 1000-1200 OR 1400-1600

 Location: Hartley Library, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ

 Tickets are free but booking is essential

Your help please !

A lady from North Caroloina, USA, has left a message for Members on our website (www.coss.org.uk).  She would like our help in identifying the church in this picture; the building is thought to be, or have been, in Southampton.  As illustrated the east end appears to be sealed off - perhaps prior to re-modelling or demolition ?

Do you know the building and its history ? If so please email info@coss.org.uk

A liink to the presentation (complete with videos) given by Jasmine Noble-Shelley of the Maritime Archaeology Trust can be found on the 'Talks' tab together with notes on the talk complied by Brian

City of

Southampton                                                                                        

Society                                                                                                   Established 1962

     Registered Charity

     Number 1006256

CONSTITUTION

(Revised and re-issued 2023)

 1.      NAME

The name of the Society shall be the City of Southampton Society.

2.    OBJECTS

The objects of the Society shall be to promote and encourage the following aims by charitable means but not otherwise :-

 a)         To encourage high standards of architecture and town planning in Southampton.

 b)         To stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and character of the city and its surroundings.

 c)         To encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general public amenity or historic interest.

 d)         In furtherance of the foregoing objects but not further or otherwise the Society shall have the following powers : -

            (i)      To arrange and provide for, either alone or with others, the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures, classes, seminars or training                            courses;

            (ii)     To write, print or publish, in whatever form, such papers, books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents, including films and                               recorded material, as shall further its objects, and to issue or circulate the same whether for payment or otherwise.

            (iii)  To do all such other lawful things as shall further the charitable objects of the Society.

 3.   MEMBERSHIP

Ordinary membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Society.

There will be two categories of Corporate Members

     Category A      Voluntary Organisations

     Category B      Commercial Establishments

 Corporate Membership shall carry one vote for each subscription.

 In each of the above, membership shall be deemed to have lapsed if the subscription, due on the First of January in any year, be unpaid two months thereafter.

 4.  SUBSCRIPTIONS

 Subscriptions shall be determined annually at the Annual General Meeting subject to reasonable notice of any change being given to members.

 Any person joining the Society on or after the First of September in any year maybe admitted to membership on payment of a subscription calculated at half the annual subscription, the full subscription becoming due on the First of January following.

5.  MEETINGS

 An Annual General Meeting shall be held in or about February of each year to receive the Executive Committee’s report and audited accounts and to elect officers and Members of the Committee. The Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings of the Society shall be held, and shall give reasonable notice of such meetings to all members. Special General Meetings of the Society shall be held at the request of fifteen or more members.

Ten members personally present shall constitute a quorum for a General Meeting of the Society.

On any motion in which members of the Society, the Executive Committee or any sub-committee are equally divided, the Chairman or any other member acting as Chairman shall be empowered to use a second or casting vote.

6.  PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

The Lord Mayor of Southampton shall be invited to become President of the Society during his or her term of office. The President shall be asked to chair the Annual General Meeting and can attend meetings of the Executive Committee if he or she so wish.

 Vice-presidents shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and elected for life at the Annual General Meeting.

7.  OFFICERS

Nominations for the election of Officers must be received by the Honorary Secretary on a date to be determined but not later than seven days prior to the Annual general Meeting. Such nominations shall be in writing, supported by a seconder, and the consent of the nominee must first have been obtained. The Officers shall consist of: -

Chairman; Vice-chairman; Honorary Membership Secretary; Honorary Secretary; Treasurer;

Honorary Editor.

The Honorary Secretary, membership Secretary, Treasurer and Editor shall be elected annually.

 A Standing Committee of the Officers shall be empowered to deal with urgent matters arising between Executive Committee Meetings.

8.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and not more than ten further members. Nominations for the election to the Executive Committee must be received by the Honorary Secretary on a date to be determined which must not be later than seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be in writing supported by a seconder, and the consent of the nominee must first be obtained. The Executive Committee shall be elected annually.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt further members who shall serve in an advisory and non-voting capacity.

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for running the affairs of the Society and may make decisions on its behalf. Five shall form a quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee may set up from time to time such sub-committees as it deems necessary for the efficient running of the Society. All acts and proceedings of such sub-committees shall be reported back to the Executive Committee as soon as possible.

9. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION

The Executive Committee shall out of the monies received by the Society pay all proper expenses of administration and management of the Society and shall use the residue of such monies as it thinks fit for or towards the objects of the Society.

10.  INVESTMENT

All monies at any time belonging to the Society and not required for immediate application for its objects shall be invested by the Executive Committee in such investment, securities or property as it may think fit, but so that monies subject or representing property subject to the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners shall only be invested in such securities as may for the time being be prescribed by law.

An account shall be opened in the name of the Society with such financial institution as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. The Executive Committee shall authorize in writing four members of the Executive Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the Society. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the four authorized signatories.

 11.  BORROWING

 Subject to such consents as may be required by law, the Executive Committee may borrow for the objects of the Society such monies at such rate of interest and in such manner as agreed upon by the Officers.

12.  AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting provided that reasonable notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members and provided that no alteration shall be made to Clause 2(Objects), Clause 13 (Dissolution) or this clause and no alteration shall be made which would have made the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.

13.  DISSOLUTION

The Society may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by two-thirds of those present voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days‘ notice shall have been given to the members. Such resolution may give instruction for the disposal of any assets held or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institutions or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose as may be approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, or other authority having charitable jurisdictions.

Signed ………………………………………………………… Secretary 

…………………………………………………………………..

Signed …………………………………………………………  Chairman 

………………………………………………………………….

CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON SOCIETY

Minutes of the 60th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held on Monday 27th February 2023, in Southampton at the Kell Hall.

 Marian Hubble as Acting Chairman welcomed the Society’s President, The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Jacqui Rayment.

Apologies; Andy & Mary Gravell

The minutes of the AGM held 22 February 2021 by Zoom were accepted and signed as a true record.

Matters arising. None

Election of Officers; The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Jacqui Rayment presiding;

            Those elected were;

Chairman                                                                     Simon Reynier  

Secretary                                                                      Andy Gravell

Treasurer                                                                      Mary Gravell

Membership Secretary                                                 Paul Brown

Editor                                                                           vacancy

Speaker Secretary & Webmaster                                 vacancy [John Avery pro tem]

Committee Members                                                     Sarah Chorley, Peter Stone, Mary Taylor

Planning & Environment Group

Lead                                                                             Marian Hubble

Convener                                                                      Simon Reynier              

Group Members                                                           Stephen Connolly, Andy Gravell, Judith Hope,                                                                                         Graham Linecar, Brian Sefton, Peter Stone

 Andy & Mary Gravell will need to be confirmed in office on their return

Voting on the Society’s Committee’s proposals [as circulated to Members in advance of the AGM] to;

  i.  To amend the Society’s Constitution

 ii. To agree to new subscription rates for the year from January 2024

 The Proposals were passed unopposed.

AOB     None!

The Business of the Annual General Meeting was followed by refreshments provided by the Membership and organized by Beverley Holmes. The cash collection for the benefit of the Lord Mayor’s Charities amounted to £120.00 there was a £10 donation via our card reader and a £15 Christian Stewardship voucher. A total of £145.00.

CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON SOCIETY

 Agenda for the Society’s 60th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 27th February 2023 at 7.00pm

at

Edmund Kell Unitarian Hall, Belleview Road, Southampton

1. Opening the Meeting and Welcome

           Marian Hubble [Acting Chair] will ask the Lord Mayor The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Jacqui Rayment to Preside.

 2. Apologies for absence

 3. The minutes of the AGM held 28 February 2022 [distributed prior to the meeting]

 4. Matters arising.

 5. Marian Hubble [Acting Chair].  The Society’s Annual Report;

 6. Reports

            Hon. Secretary                                                        Mr.Brian Sefton

            Hon. Membership Secretary                                   Mr.Brian Sefton [for Mr.Keith Baldwyn]

            Hon. Treasurer Report                                            Mr Simon Reynier [for Mary Gravell who is away]  

                         Approval of Accounts to 31.12.2022                                                                    

            Hon. Editor REVIEW                                               Mr.Brian Sefton

 7.  Planning & Environment Sub-Committee and Specialist Officer Reports;

            Speaker Secretary                                                   Mr.John Avery                                             

            Webmaster                                                              Mr.Simon Reynier                                                               

            Planning & Environment Administrator                    Mr.Simon Reynier

 8. Nominations for the Society’s Officers and elections to office

            Chairman

            Vice-Chairman

            Hon. Secretary

            Hon. Membership Secretary

            Hon. Treasurer

            Hon. Editor

 9. Election of Executive Committee Members

            Speaker Secretary

            Webmaster

            Planning & Environment Administrator

10. The Lord Mayor is invited to give an account of her year and chosen charities and to conclude by inviting the Society’s newly elected Chairman to take charge of the meeting;

 11. Voting on the Society’s Committee’s proposals [as circulated to Members in advance of the AGM] to;

              i.  To amend the Society’s Constitution

             ii. To agree to new subscription rates for the year from January 2024

 12. Any Other Business

 13. Close

 On completion of the business of the AGM there will be refreshments and a retiring collection in aid of the Lord Mayor’s charities

CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON SOCIETY

Minutes of the 59th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held on Monday 28th February 2022, in Southampton at the Kell Hall.

John Sanders as Acting Chairman welcomed the Society’s President, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Alex Houghton.

 Apologies; Mrs Ghilhouni, Ms McGillivray, Mrs Wetherall.

 The minutes of the AGM held 22 February 2021 by Zoom were accepted and signed as a true record.

 Matters arising. None

 Acting Chairman John Sanders’ Report;

I never had any intention to hold the CoSS Chair but, when our highly respected and sadly missed Chairman – Arthur Jeffrey – asked me to do my utmost to provide the continuity and enthusiasm that his steerage had provided, I felt very honoured, so was happy to promise that I would do so.

It was though not my intention to hold on to the arms of the chair which is why I am currently “Acting Chairman”.   But my promises to Arthur remain so I am to continue if there is no other volunteer[s] to take over.  Perhaps there is someone who might like to become Vice-Chairman and, in effect, Chairman elect.

One matter that Arthur would be particularly pleased to hear is that the CoSS plaque commemorating Jane Austen has been moved from its inconspicuous position within the NST City to a much more meaningful and viewable location in the revamped Mayflower MAST building.  Thanks go to Michael Ockwell [CEO of Mayflower Theatres] for his understanding and support of our request.

We have also enthusiastically supported the bid for Southampton to become the 2025 City of Culture.  Unfortunately, due to the secrecy and confidentiality of the bid, we are unable to share details of what the bid contains but rest assured we will do all we can to ensure that the bid is successful and that the resultant opportunities are fully grasped.

The pandemic has been difficult for everybody, not just for those who have directly suffered from COVID-19.  Meetings, whether casual or formal, have been difficult for everyone meaning that progress on various projects that the Society had been planning have had to be put on the proverbial backburner.

Simon and his colleagues on the Planning & Environmental Sub-Committee have continued working hard in monitoring applications that have been referred for the opinion of CoSS.  This is important work that must continue unabated. 

Your Executive Committee [EC] recognises though that there are occasions where planning applications go beyond the specific and legal obligations, that we often have to comment on.  Whether this be significant developments that have a far wider potential impact on the future of our City [such as the Toys’r’Us site or major traffic management] or might be particularly emotive [such as the Northam Gasholders or anything with even a loose connection with the Spitfire], we need to have a mechanism so that we can call on wider CoSS, or indeed residents’ opinions.  This is particularly important given that the media are so more frequently quoting that “the City of Southampton Society says ….”.  Whilst this is great recognition of CoSS we have to take care that we are quoted in context.

You will know that we are planning an interesting and widespread series of Open Meetings over the next year but we do need your support for helping us to choose the subjects and attending and then to actively attend. If any of our members are experts in preparing the use of Zoom in a bi-fold mode so that both actual and virtual attendees can fully take part in future meeting please contact me so we can discuss.

Thank you all for your recent support.  John

Officer’s Reports;

 Note: In order to save time in the meeting's proceedings and so reduce the risk of the still prevailing covid infection the Society's Officers Reports had been distributed in advance by e-mail [copies are available from the Society's Secretary, briansefton@btinternet.com].

 The topic of membership numbers was questioned as after a year when membership subscriptions had been waived there had been a poor response to renew. Membership Keith Baldwyn is preparing to prompt waverers.

Election of Officers;

The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Alex Houghton presiding;

The current Executive Committee and Planning Group members all agreed to stay in place and were re-elected unopposed. They are;

Chairman [Acting]                                                        John Sanders  

Secretary                                                                      Brian Sefton

Treasurer                                                                      Mary Gravell

Membership Secretary                                                 Keith Baldwyn

Speaker Secretary & Webmaster                                 John Avery

Committee Members                                                    Sarah Chorley, Peter Stone

 Planning & Environment Group

Lead                                                                             Marian Hubble

Convener                                                                      Simon Reynier              

Group Members                                                            Alec Samuels, Brian Sefton, Keith Baldwyn 

                                                                                      Andy Gravell, Peter Stone

 AOB   None!

The Business of the Annual General Meeting was followed by refreshments and a taxing quiz by Geoff Watts.; 'How Well Do You Know Southampton?' - The collective answer being; 'Not as well as we should perhaps' as we puzzled over versions of the City Coat of Arms and images of sculptural features that we pass daily. We thank Geoff for a stimulating quiz and the hint of a need to improve our powers of observation.

Geoff has kindly donated his fee to ShelterBox, a charity providing essentials to those in need in Ukraine.

Contact 'ShelterBox' for more information and an opportunity to contribute

The Minutes of the 2022 AGM were read and Agreed at the 2023 AGM on 27 February 2023

Item 8                   Nominations to the Executive

                                                  Nominee                          Proposer                         Seconder

Chairman                                        Simon Reynier                      Brian Sefton                            Marian Hubble

Vice Chairman                                Marian Hubble                      Simon Reynier                        Graham Linecar

Secretary                                         Andy Gravell                        Simon Reynier                         Brian Sefton

Membership Secretary                   Paul Brown                          Simon Reynier                         Peter Stone

Treasurer                                         Mary Gravell                         Marian Hubble                        Graham Linecar

Editor REVIEW                                Brian Sefton                         Simon Reynier                         Peter Stone

Iem 9                Election of Committee Members

Speaker Secretary                           Vacancy

Publicity Officer                               Vacancy

Webmaster                                       Simon Reynier

P&E Administrator                           Simon Reynier

Committee Members                        Peter Stone   

                                                           Sarah Chorley

                                                            Keith Baldwyn     

The Nominations were all approved at the 2023 AGM on 27 February 2023

Proposed updates to the Society’s Constitution for consideration at the 2023 AGM

Some minor amendments to the Constitution are proposed by the Society’s Executive Committee and require the approval of the Membership; 

Paragraph 3 of the Constitution – MEMBERSHIP – at present reads;

Ordinary membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Society.

Junior membership shall be open to persons over the age of sixteen years engaged in full-time education.

There will be two categories of Corporate Members

Category A       Voluntary Organisations

Category B       Commercial Establishments

Corporate Membership shall carry one vote for each subscription.

In each of the above, membership shall be deemed to have lapsed if the subscription, due on 1st of February in any year, be unpaid six months thereafter.

              The Executive Committee recommends;

Discontinuing ‘Junior Membership’ entirely and that all other Membership classes should commence on January 1st each year. Also that Membership will have been deemed to have lapsed if subscriptions remain unpaid after two months.

Paragraph 3 will then read;

 Ordinary membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Society.

 There will be two categories of Corporate Membership

Category A       Voluntary Organisations

Category B       Commercial Establishments

Corporate Membership shall carry one vote for each subscription.

 In each of the above, membership shall be deemed to have lapsed if the subscription, due on 1st of January in any year, be unpaid two months thereafter.

Paragraph 10 – INVESTMENT– the first part at present reads;

All monies at any time belonging to the Society and not required for immediate application for its objects shall be invested by the Executive Committee in such investment, securities or property as it may think fit, but so that monies subject or representing property subject to the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners or of the Minister of Education and Science shall only be invested in such securities as may for the time being be prescribed by law.

 The Executive Committee notes that the relevant cabinet minister will change from time to time so it may be wiser to refer just to the Charity Commissioners.

 The first part of Paragraph 10 will then read;

 All monies at any time belonging to the Society and not required for immediate application for its objects shall be invested by the Executive Committee in such investment, securities or property as it may think fit, but so that monies subject or representing property subject to the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners shall only be invested in such securities as may for the time being be prescribed by law.

 Also in Paragraph10, the second part at present reads;

An account shall be opened in the name of the Society with the Southampton branch of Lloyds Bank plc, or with such other financial institution as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. The Executive Committee shall authorize in writing the Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary Secretary of the Society and two members of the Executive Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the Society. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the four authorized signatories.

 The Executive Committee suggests that;

 It is not necessary to refer specifically to Lloyds Bank but rather to such financial institution as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. Also that the four authorized cheque signatories do not need to include ‘the Honorary Treasurer’ or ‘the Honorary Secretary’ in particular. The Committee suggests that any four members of the Executive be authorized to sign cheques. The second part of Paragraph 10 will then read;

An account shall be opened in the name of the Society with such financial institution as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. The Executive Committee shall authorize in writing four members of the Executive Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the Society. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the four authorized signatories.

Paragraph 13 – DISSOLULTION – reads;

The Society may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days ‘notice shall have been given to the members. Such resolution may give instruction for the disposal of any assets held or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institutions or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose as may be approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, or either authority having charitable jurisdictions.

The Executive Committee suggests that

1.the word majority in the first line should be omitted

2.the word either in the penultimate should be changed to other.

 Paragraph 13 will then read;

The Society may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days ‘notice shall have been given to the members. Such resolution may give instruction for the disposal of any assets held or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institutions or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose as may be approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, or other authority having charitable jurisdictions.

These updates were approved by the membership at the 2023 AGM. 

City of Southampton Society              Proposed Subscription Rates for 2024

The Society's Committee propose the following Increase in subsrcition rates for 2024

Members rate to increase from £15 to £20

Member couples  increase from £25 to £35

Seniors (65 years plus) from £12,50 to 17.50

Senior Couples (one person 65 years plus) from £20 to £30

Commercial Organisations from £30 to £40

'Not for Profit' Organisations from £20 to £30

In each case this is an increase of approximately 33%

Therese changes were agreed by the Membership at the AGM on 27th February 2023

The Council has submitted plans for a major upgrade of the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre.

For full details see the entry in the Planning Applications section of this website

On 9th March 2023 there was a presentation at MAST Mayflower Studios on the sadly unsuccessful bid by Southampton to be nominated as The UK City of Culture 2025.  Following this the Council frelaesed, for the first time, details of their bid.  An extract follows, provided by the Echo.

THE Southampton UK City of Culture 2025 bid is being released to the public in full for the first time today.

A 30-page document entitled Make it SO reveals the details behind the £1.5 million three-year campaign which made Southampton the first city on the South Coast to reach the final, eventually losing out to Bradford.

It reveals the desire to 'make Southampton a place to come to, not through' while 'renewing the city's spirit'.

The document reads: "There will be a buzz about Southampton: there will be more opportunity, more to enjoy. We will feel proud of ourselves and our city. We will make waves, regionally, nationally and internationally."

A programme of live events to celebrate 365 days as the UK's City of Culture would have included a performance of Henry V by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the immersive art experience Step Inside, a floating show including a flotilla of international vessels, and a high-flying circus event during the opening weekend.

A Minecraft building project for youngsters to reimagine the future of the city, a choreographed light projection across Southampton landmarks, a new inclusive city festival Queertonia, and a collaboration with Titanic Belfast on our common story of the 1912 maritime tragedy would also have featured.

Also in the offing was a light trail around Riverside Park, 100 years of Southampton's social history told through jazz and The Fishcotheque, an innovative art installation based on the sounds of the seas.

Plans were in place for a re-imagining of Guildhall Square through a joint commission with London's Somerset House, as well as neighbourhood hubs in five areas currently lacking cultural provision.

A new Creative Land Trust in Old Northam Road and a Southampton Creative Enterprise Zone would 'give more graduates more reasons to stay in Southampton to build their lives and businesses here'.

In stating the case for Southampton to be the UK City of Culture 2025, Make it SO reports: "The bid consultation has electrified civic leaders, local entrepreneurs, businesses, health care experts, artists, young people and Southampton’s diverse communities.

"Being UK City of Culture will expand our horizons and open the way to economic and social change. 2025 will be the year to celebrate our diversity, give respect to our different traditions, give voice to our stories, transform opportunities for the under-represented, and reach out to the world. We will find a new pride in ourselves.

"As much as the physical regeneration of our infrastructure, we need regeneration of the city’s spirit. Culture can do that. The bid consultation … uncovered widespread feelings of exclusion and lack of confidence.

"The award of UK City of Culture and 365 days of cultural events will give us the means to improve city life, lift spirits, transform the way we see ourselves, and how others see us. There will be changes to the cityscape …The real challenge is to change minds."

The document reveals the bid process began in 2018 with a conference of 250 city representatives.

Following unanimous cross-party support, it was one of the largest consultations ever undertaken in the city and involved 149 hours of consultation with more than 1,000 people in virtual workshops, 16 cross-sector working groups and residents and councillors in each of 16 electoral wards.

An impressive 82 per cent of respondents to the city survey supported the bid.

It was needed because 13.5 per cent of over 16s in Southampton have long-term mental health challenges, nearly 4 per cent above the national average, and only 40.7 per cent of pupils achieve grade five or above in English and Maths, compared to 49.9 per cent nationally.

Going forward, Southampton Culture Trust plan to re-package elements of the bid to be rolled out over the next three years, albeit at a different scale and pace, to maximise the legacy of the bidding process.

The planned significant Spitfire Monument, in Mayflower Park, commemorating active service and engineering innovation, could still be in place by 2025 with various heritage assets also due for restoration.

The overall objectives are to boost tourism and the local economy; make Southampton more attractive to inward investors and make the city a better place in which to live, work, visit and play.

The CEO of Southampton Culture Trust, said: "Our feedback during the process was that the city’s bid was exceptional and now it gives us great pleasure and a sense of pride to release the bid to everyone.

More than anything the process of going through the bid has energised not only the city of Southampton but the whole region where we have the support of all our neighbours.”

The document, which excludes confidential financial content following consultation with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is available at southampton2025.co.uk

A recent article appeared on the BBC website which is reproduced in full below. Whilst the city of Southampton Society applauds the proposed improvements to Central Station, these fall far short of our aspiration for a Fully IntegratedTransport Hub. Passengers arriving in Southampton by train, possibly for the first time, have little guidance how to get to the city centre and are discouraged by the steep walk uphill. The proposed scheme does nothing to alleviate this situation.

Work on £5.5m Southampton Central Station revamp set to begin.

By Maria Zaccaro

BBC News

Work on a £5.5m scheme to transform a railway station is set to begin.

A new passenger waiting lounge as well as bus stops, taxi ranks and parking spaces will be created at Southampton Central Station.

The changes will include a new taxi waiting area for 10 vehicles along Western Esplanade and a taxi rank for five vehicles within the forecourt

The work will start on 13 February and will be completed by November.

During that time there will be no buses and no taxis on the south of the site while all car parking will be moved to the west, according to Southampton City Council.

The scheme, which will also see the revamp of the forecourt on the south side of the station, is part of a wider transport plan set to transform several areas of the city centre.

The city council said work on the forecourt was expected to be completed by July.

During the construction phase the existing south-side bus services will either be available on the north side or at the bus stops outside Marlands Shopping Centre.

The authority said the scheme would "significantly" boost visitor numbers and improve passengers' experience.

It will be funded with government cash and a £1.3m contribution from South Western Railway.

Please find below details of upcoming lectures hosted by the Portsmouth Historical Association branch which may be of interest to your members. We would be grateful if this information could be circulated to anybody who might find it useful!

14th February 2023 - From Hope to Terror: the French revolutionary rollercoaster, 1789-94, Professor Dave Andress, University of Portsmouth

14th March 2023 - Amiral/Père Thierry d’Argenlieu and the Free French – the Solent connection 1940-44, Professor Adrian Smith, Emeritus Professor of Modern History, University of Southampton.

18th April 2023 - HMS Victory - Facts and Myths, AJ Noon

9th May 2023: Russia and the West: the Origins of the Crisis in Relations, Dr Paul Flenley, University of Portsmouth. 

All visitors are very welcome to attend – each lecture is £3, or free for full members of the Historical Association. Venue for talks:  Room 2.01 Park Building, King Henry I St, Portsmouth PO1 2BZ  All talks start at 7pm and finish no later than 8.30pm. For further information or to be added to our email distribution list please contact Kate at portsmouthhistorybranch@gmail.com 

Southampton City Vision

The Executive Committee of the City of Southampton Society has attended various drop-in sessions held at local libraries organised by the team that prepared the draft City Vision.

Following an extensive discussion a response was sent to the Council expressing the views of the City of Southampton Society.  A copy of the response can be found in the 'Documents' tab of this website.

Alec Samuels 1930 - 2022

 Alec Samuels died peacefully in his sleep following a short illness on Monday 7th November with his daughter at his bedside. Members of the family had spent much of the previous day with him.

 Alec Samuels JP BA (Cantab.) Magdelene College 1949-1952 Barrister came to Southampton in 1954 to take up the position of Reader in Law at the University of Southampton. He became Ward Councillor for Bassett in 1976 and Leader of Southampton City Council in 2002. He oversaw major developments in the city such as the building of the Ikea superstore, the Carnival UK headquarters, and the revamp of Guildhall Square. Among other activities he was a School Governor of King Edward VI School 2001-2015, a Director of Southampton Voluntary Services 2007-2011and was a long serving Committee Member of Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society

 Alec published widely on a variety of legal topics. Particularly in matters of property, his most recent paper ‘Leasehold: From the ground up. Leasehold law: a blessing or a burden?’ was published in June. He also wrote widely from a comprehensive knowledge of our city; the history of significant residents, of the green spaces and the built environment. There will be a number of his essays included in the November edition of the Society’s magazine REVIEW.

 Alec Samuels was as a great asset to our Society in its various campaigns and his expertise will be sorely missed.

 Alec is survived by his second wife Jenny and children Emma, Bernard and Martin and their children.

His funeral will be held at 1:45pm on Tuesday, 22 November, at Wessex Vale crematorium (SO30 2HL). Followed by a reception, with light refreshments, immediately afterwards. Full details of the location and timings can be found at https://alecsamuels.muchloved.com.

 Alec asked that there be no flowers, but that people should instead make a donation to the Southampton Commons & Parks Protection Society, with which he was very much engaged.

Margaret Carter  1931 - 2022

We are sad to inform Members of the passing of Margaret Carter who died on 6th November. Margaret attended City of Southampton Society meetings regularly before her long and final illness. She will be remembered in the city for her role as Chairman of The Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestra. Margaret was also for many years secretary to the Governors at Taunton's Sixth Form College and she together with her husband Philip were long standing members of the Team of Bellringers at Winchester Cathedral.

Her funeral will take place at Romsey Abbey, on Friday 25th November at 12:00 pm. No flowers, please, but donations to 'Parkinson's UK' or 'Romsey Abbey Charitable Trust' will be greatly appreciated.

The Southampton City Vision, new Local Plan.

The Draft Plan with Options has now been completed and the period of Public Consultation has now started.  It runs from 31 October 2022 to 23 December 2022.  Details of the plan and how to submit comments can be found at City Vision | Your City Your Say Southampton

The public are also invited to speak to the team responsible for the plan at one of the drop-in sessions at the City's libraries.  The dates and times are as follows.

Bitterne Library - Wednesday, 9th November - 3pm to 7pm

Portswood Library - Wednesday, 16th November - 3pm to 7pm

Central Library - Tuesday, 22nd November - 11am to 7pm

Shirley Library - Wednesday, 30th November - 3pm to 7pm

Woolston Library - Tuesday, 6th December - 3pm to 7pm

Lordshill Library - Thursday, 15th December - 3pm to 7pm

The City of Southampton Society, Executive and Planning committees, will meet to agree a response on behalf of the society.  Members are encouraged to submit their own comments.

The City of Southampton Society attended a zoom meeting with a representative from British Rail to discuss the proposed new Waterside Line from Southampton Central Station to Hythe Station.  After the meeting we submitted the following comments.

We heartily support the proposed passenger service that is to run between a new station at Hythe and Southampton Central Station and will press for the existing line to Fawley to be incorporated in due course.  The scheme fits well with the ‘Joint South Hampshire Strategy’, ‘Policy K - Transport for South Hampshire’ that specifically mentions reopening the freight line to passenger traffic.  It also sits well with Southampton’s ‘Local Transport Plan’ and the city’s ‘Local Development Plan’.

Your presentation dwelt largely on the works required on the Waterside while less was said of the benefits to Southampton.  First and foremost of these would be a considerable reduction in commuter traffic by private car on the Redbridge and Millbrook Roads leading to reduced congestion and improved air quality.  The new Waterside rail stations and the services to and from must be sufficiently attractive for the otherwise car user.  Heavy Goods Traffic would find the port more accessible.

It is to be hoped that the rail timetable will include stops at Redbridge and Millbrook stations for those working locally and for those passengers seeking onward journeys on the Romsey line and on to Eastleigh.

At central Station the under-used platform 5 is to be bought into use as the terminus for the service at Southampton.  The Local Government’s former ‘Connecting Southampton – Better transport for a sustainable city - Central Station Interchange’ suggested a layout for the south side of the station.  We believe that the increase in passenger footfall will require the interchange to be extended to encompass the area south of platform 5.  Engagement on the matter between Network Rail and Southampton City Council will be required.

The City of Southampton Society decided to raise funds in appreciation of HM The Queen’s service to the nation and the 56 years of peace. The project began in 1990 and by 2001 £67,000 had been subscribed toward the cost. An application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Southampton Council also contributed to the cost.

After its successful completion and being placed in Andrews Park it became an attractive feature in the busy park.

Skate boarders began to gather and damaged the stone work. About 10 years after the installation repairs were undertaken and CoSS contributed toward the cost of repairs.

The city bye law to prevent skate boarders damaging property dates from 1977 with a penalty of 5 shillings [now 25 pence]. The city council takes minimal action against skate boarders and there is regretfully much evidence in the city of problems of damage to stonework.

The funds collected were in excess of the actual work and the rules of the Charity Commission require that such funds be used on similar projects for the good of the public. The society therefore funded the Titanic Book of Remembrance in 2011. 

Arthur Jeffery 1936-2021 

A Tribute by Marian Hubble

Arthur joined the City of Southampton Society [CoSS] when he was developing the Jane Austen Heritage Trail during the early years of the 2000’s. CoSS promoted the project but the idea was uniquely Arthur’s own. He worked tirelessly on its creation and design and in the summer of 2006 the Society celebrated the launch of the Trail at the Dolphin Hotel, supported by the Sarah Siddons Fan Club theatrical group and dedicated by the Rev.Tim Dayton.

Having joined CoSS. he quickly became immersed in the running of the Society and was swiftly elected on to the committee, eventually taking on the role of Chairman, a position he held until his death.

CoSS always has a project in the making.  Arthur enjoyed a challenge and he took an active part in establishing the Green Open Spaces Award project, an enterprise shared with Southampton Common and Parks Protection Society.

His interest in Southampton was a driving force in his life. Arthur masterminded the commemoration of the 350th Anniversary of the Mayflower. His interest in the subject was undiminished and when the 400th Anniversary ‘Safe Harbour’ event took place in August last year, Arthur was one of the four persons who officially re-dedicated the Mayflower Monument.

Arthur’s geographical knowledge of Southampton was impressive. He knew every highway, bye-way, greenway and park.  He grew up near to the Common and was acquainted with its history and geography down to the finest detail.

This familiarity with the City proved invaluable whilst Arthur served on the Society’s Planning & Environment Committee.  His reference map was an aged instrument, well worn and resembling a lace tablecloth. Arthur, in his role as secretary, took copious notes which were rendered legible by his very competent p.a. Gill.

Arthur was a true Sotonian; born here and educated at Taunton’s Grammar School in Highfield.  On leaving school he went to Manchester University and on his return to Southampton worked first for ISR [The International Synthetic Rubber Company] in Hythe as a Statistician, and then as Import / Export Manager with Racal Recorders.

Arthur’s invisible presence may be detected in all parts of the city.  He will be remembered for his dedication to Southampton, which he helped to shape.

May he Rest in Peace

SCAPPS and CoSS  organised the 2017 Green Open Spaces Award for the eleventh time.  This project, which is generously sponsored by two members of CoSS, has achieved great success by promoting interest in our local parks in the city.

The Green Flag Award acknowledges the importance of Southampton Common and the Central Parks, but our own award scheme emphasises the need for local communities to identify with their local public open space.

Past winners are:

• St James’ Park, Shirley
• Sholing Doorstep GreenThe Shirley Warren Community Garden
• The Woolston Millennium Garden
• Shirley Pond/Lordsdale Greenway
• Portswood Recreation Ground
• Cedar Lodge Park, Shirley
• Town Quay Park
• Daisy Dip, Lobella Road

Where no “Friends” groups had existed before, we found that following the receipt of the Open Spaces Award these parks have set up local Friends of the Park groups. 

P&O Cruises held the Naming Ceremony at Southampton of its new flagship Britannia. The ceremony was performed by HM The Queen accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

The biggest ship designed exclusively for Britain, Britannia is P&O Cruises latest 'modern classic' heralding a new era of holiday choice.

Britannia's most outstanding design statement is reserved for her three deck high atrium with illuminating star burst sculpture and also provides the largest British Spa at sea, a state of the art theatre with LED wall, four pools, gym, with a multi million pound art collection including a specially commissioned representation of the 'Spirit of Modern Britain' from artist Johnny Bull.

Our grateful thanks to Ann MacGillivray of solutions-southampton for the images of the ceremony.

Images copyright Ann MacGillivray 10th March 2015 with permission of P&O Cruises

By Arthur Jeffery

On 9 August 2012 several CoSS members took part in a walk from St Mary’s Church along Chapel Road, once a causeway which flooded at high tide, down to the site of Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

We were following in the footsteps of King Henry VIII, who made the pilgrimage in August 1510 whilst on his first visit to Southampton as King.  It is said that the King was welcomed to the Chapel by the Town Hermit, a certain William Jeffery.

The Chapel’s remains are under the north entrance of the former Town Depot, adjacent to the American Wharf in Elm Street.  If and when the Town Depot site is redeveloped, archaeologists will have an opportunity to examine the Chapel’s structure in some detail.  Nearby there is a large stone-built grain store which hopefully will also be excavated.

On that hot Sunday afternoon, our pilgrimage began with a service at St Mary’s and then we walked behind the cross bearer down to the Chapel.  A brief second ceremony was held there. 

Remember, that part of the city is still called “Chapel”.

[Interestingly the city archaeology department chose to commemorate the 500th anniversary of walk by the King in 2012 and not in 2010]