By Laura McCarthy. Like many people, I found coping with the stresses of the COVID-19 epidemic led me to pick up a new hobby. I was part-way through my teacher training when lockdown started and, later, when the summer arrived, I was faced with endless empty weeks. No chance...
Features
Experience: black velvet dress at the school disco
By Spring Wise. When I was ten, there was a school disco. My auntie took me shopping and bought me the most beautiful dress I could imagine. It was black velvet and made me feel like an Old Hollywood movie star. I chose it, no one chose it for...
Opinion: writing a new chapter of hope
By Manthan Pathak. First came the trauma. Then the fight. Now the hope. It’s been an emotional couple of weeks. I’ve watched in horror as extreme violence by the far right, targeted at immigrants and all people of colour, has disfigured our country. Perhaps it’s useful here to offer...
Southampton’s anti-fascist counter demonstration – last night we took our country back
By Sam Wise. Last night, Southampton made me proud. I’m sure everyone was aware of the brief spate of far-right violence that had happened in the last week or two, using the excuse of the tragic stabbings in Southport to justify “peaceful protests” which devolved into fighting with the...
Anti-racist meeting held ahead of demonstration in city centre
By Sally Churchward. “I am a migrant who has lived here for 20 years. I haven’t been able to leave my house or let my children out since this started and it’s making me a nervous wreck.” “I support older people and now they’re talking about racism – I’m...
Review: Southampton Ghost Tour
By Vicky Greer. We’re greeted in St Michael’s Square with the sight of seagulls fighting over discarded chicken. It’s not part of the Southampton Ghost Tour, but it feels like an omen for the grisly stories to come tonight. Our haunted walk around Old Town is presented by Supernatural...
Interview: Millie Manders on songwriting, speaking out and playing in Southampton
By Vicky Greer. Pictures by Billie Perrett. In an industry that oftentimes feels overrun with corporate labels, unaffordable gig tickets and ambiguous politics, Millie Manders and the Shutup are a breath of fresh air. They consistently use their platform to call out injustices in the world and use their...
Photos: RSA Southampton July event
Photos by Chris Moorhouse. Last week In Common editor Sally Churchward, alongside Port Welcome Ambassador Yana Shkuropat, were keynote speakers at the latest Royal Society of Arts Southampton event, exploring The Southampton Narrative and Civic Pride. The event, held at Mettricks Guildhall on Thursday, July 18th, was attended by...
Southampton peace protest against Gaza genocide
By Nazrin Wilkinson. Hundreds of Southampton residents marched peacefully through the city on Sunday 2nd June, to protest against the ongoing Israeli offensive against the Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 36,000 people have been killed. The march, organised by the Southampton Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) with the support...
Pride Month starts today
By Mabel Wellman. Today marks the start of Pride month across the world. Cities and towns internationally will be having LGBTQIA+ Pride events, some of which will be for celebrating the entire community, whereas some other events such as Trans Pride and UK Black Pride will be to give...