By Sam Wise. Open mic nights have their stars; theoretically the deal is that anyone can turn up and play, but there are certain people who everyone knows have got a bit extra. They always get put in a good slot, they can turn up late and still make...
Local Heroes
Lawrence of Arabia and his Southampton connections
By Martin Brisland. Many will know the epic film Lawrence of Arabia which won seven Oscars in 1962. Peter O’Toole played a British officer credited with leading the Arab revolt against the Turks in World War One. The film, now considered by many to have racist overtones, with a...
The volunteers helping solve Southampton folks’ money worries
By Megan Streb. On a typical Wednesday morning, a handful of volunteers gather at St Albans Church in Swaythling. They are there to help resolve Southampton residents’ financial problems, one at a time. “It’s all about the client – how they are, how they are affected by having debt....
Southampton Collective: A local gem
by Charlie Hislop “There are so many small community gems in Southampton that we should be proud of.” Those are the words of someone at the Southampton Collective’s first ‘Annual Do’ at Mettricks, in Portswood, on Monday evening. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one of the thirty or...
Southampton’s only specifically designed accessible allotment opens
Its been a long journey for the dedicated team of volunteers, but we after their recent Community Action Day,the only specifically designed Allotment s for residents with disabilities in Southampton is open. A spokesperson for the group said, “its been a real achievement by a team of volunteers who...
Vandals trashed the only Enabled Allotments in Southampton but volunteers wouldn’t give up
When a St Denys resident asked the council about the availability of dedicated allotments for folk with disabilities in Southampton, the answer was “I don’t think there is one”. Indeed most of the allotment sites she visited were inaccessible, so she raised the issue with some residents in St...
Under the Covers – August: Meet prize-winning Totton-born author/illustrator Kim Hillyard
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. Images by Jasmine Joynson. In just a few years Totton-born children’s author and illustrator Kim Hillyard has cornered the market in life-enhancing stories featuring quirky animal heroes. So far she’s featured a fly, a hamster, and a mammoth in her beautifully illustrated stories for...
Review: The Stage at The Greedy Flea, featuring The Guillotine Union Boys, The Mercantile Flea, July 15, 2023
by Joy McKay. It’s half past six on a Saturday evening and I’m in a supermarket, Nothing unusual in that, except I’m not. I’m at The Greedy Flea, the bar/ coffee lounge at The Mercantile Flea, a relative newcomer to the Southampton music scene. The Flea opened in 2021...
Under the Covers July 2023: Meet local prize-winning children’s author Ali Sparkes
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. As the long summer holidays approach, parents all over Southampton will be juggling jobs and other commitments while keeping their children entertained. So it seems a good time for some reading recommendations! Not only is time with a book immensely enjoyable – when it’s...
Southampton-based author Yarrow Townsend shortlisted for national children’s book award
Southampton-based author Yarrow Townsend has been shortlisted for a prestigious children’s book award. The Branford Boase Award acknowledges particular talent among debut children’s writers alongside the hard work of their editors. Yarrow’s book, The Map of Leaves, has been shortlisted for the award, alongside six others. Yarrow said: “To be...