by Sally Churchward. Hopes of Southampton becoming City of Culture 2025 were dashed last night, when Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries announced that Bradford had won the title. Southampton, and fellow runners up Durham and Wrexham, didn’t leave empty-handed though as, for the...
Features
Satvir Kaur on her journey from inner city shop girl to the new leader of Southampton City Council
Words by Sally Churchward. Pictures by Chris Moorhouse. Following the local elections on May 5, 2022, the Labour Party took control of Southampton City Council. Satvir Kaur, the council’s new leader, reflects on her journey from Southampton’s inner city to being in charge of her home city, becoming the...
The arrival of Basque refugee children to Southampton 85 years ago was remembered at a ceremony at the weekend
by Martin Brisland. “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” – this 19th Century spiritual song has had many versions, notably by Paul Robeson in the 1920s. It was sung by him at a 1930s charity fundraising concert for the Basque children at the Albert Hall. The song was...
Tribute: remembering a friend to many, Jim O’Sullivan
by Lew. Last Sunday, Southampton lost a dear son as Jim O’Sullivan passed away unexpectedly. He was a familiar and beloved person in and around Southampton, particular within the music and arts community. His dedication to local music was also proven by his meticulously woven alternative music podcasts. As...
Pleasure Beyond Measure – free online local music archive for Southampton
Phase 2: The Pete Holden Bequest by Geoff Wall. Southampton has always boasted an incredibly diverse and prolific local music scene, but lacking any major commercial success or identifiable sound (prior to Craig David and Artful Dodger), the spotlight has fallen elsewhere. As a consequence, far too many bands...
Ukrainian refugees helped to settle in Southampton with community effort
by Sally Churchward. A group of Southampton residents are pulling together to help get Ukrainian refugees settled and established in the city. Melanie Tudjaroglu and her friend Kasia Davenport have been amongst those volunteering at the city’s Polish Club to help sort and pack donations for Ukrainian refugees. With...
Heritage: what’s in a programme?
by Martin Brisland. Having reviewed a number of shows for In Common, I was at the Mayflower Theatre recently to review Matthew Bourne’s brilliant Nutcracker! production. Equal to the high standard of the ballet was a superb full size 24 page glossy programme. One of the premier theatres outside...
What do Sotonians think about Southampton being shortlisted as City of Culture?
Southampton has been shortlisted to the final four to become UK City of Culture 2025. But what do people who live in the city think about its culture and what it would mean to Southampton if it wins the bid and becomes the next City of Culture? We spoke...
Southampton shopworker calls on council to make bus stops safer
by Sally Churchward. A Southampton shopworker will be addressing the council this week, in a bid to make the city’s bus stops safer for shift workers. Beccy Ruddick, who works in a supermarket in Southampton, has to catch the bus to work at 5am, a time when it’s dark...
Photos: a walk around Eling
by Mike Daish. I went out walking around Eling again a few days ago and took a few photos along the way. It is amazing to see the intricate details of the things living on the old pipe that runs along side the toll bridge. Like little explosions of...