What's On at the Discovery Centre

I have been sent a PDF version of the 'Summer 2007 What's on Events, Classes, & Workshops' in the Gosport Discovery Centre. You can see the list at the What's on page at the Discovery Centre and as I add the events etc. to Gosport.info What's On pages. I have put this here as some of the classes have started and a few will start shortly, so you will need to check if there is anything that you may be interested in. I understand that you can pick up the leaflet at the Discovery Centre and other Gosport Libraries or if you contact me ian@gosport.info I could email you a copy of the PDF . Ian

Rubbish Collection

I see on the news that more areas are to have their rubbish collected fortnightly, 'as it encourages recycling'. Gosport has been fortnightly for two years or so and heard that the Council was criticised for having a low recycling rate, hence all the hassle that some people have had with notes through the door from the Council about their rubbish, as some I know of are of an older age group, you would think that there would be some tolerance , in particular as the things some seems to be doing wrong are things that had to do when younger, sorting items in to bags or putting item for recycling that used to be recycled but are not now. Ian

Gosport's Summer

If you live in Gosport, I hope that you have been able to take advantage of the good weather over the last few weeks, after months with rain every day, I have not noticed any up to a few days ago. You can have a look at Gosport Weather Station (Weather in Gosport) seems 1.8mm of rain 30th March and none til 24th April. Ian

Tug of War - Gosport Highland Games

Just to let you know that no more applications can be accepted for the Tug of War teams for the Gosport Highland Games at Gosport Park on the 5th May from 11am. Programmes £1.

Strange, as far as I know no St Georges day events for the 23rd April this year. Ian

Anns Hill Cemetary War Graves

I have received the following series of e-mails (edited by me) do you have any comments? You can read the information at Anns Hill Cemetery War Graves. Ian Jeffery

I have received the following email re my notes on Ann's Hill cemetery, and thought I would forward it to you, along with my interest in what you might think? The reply I sent is also forwarded, and as you can see from that, I am concerned about publishing! I suppose it could be done, and any profits (which I doubt there would be) donated to either the Royal British Legion, or just a thought, providing a brass plaque, commemorating the names of all the civilian war deaths, that happened in Gosport!

I wonder whether this issue could be raised on the website, to seek opinions, and to gauge whether there would be enough interest to go ahead and publish! the ideal thing would be for a sponsor/s to donate cost of the publishing, after which all money raised could go to one of the two suggestions, or perhaps something else? Den

Hi Den, I have read with great interest your article about War Graves on the Gosport Info site.
I was wondering if you have published it at all, even if it is only like photo copies made easier to read by stapling it together. I know it could be printed off the computer but at the moment do not have a printer that works!! Lesley

Hi Lesley, Many thanks for your kind words on my efforts. The original edition, copies of which, were given to Ann's Hill cemetery office, and to central Gosport library and town hall, should be available for members of the public to consult. I have never published further than that, as I would not feel right charging for my research about people, both service and civilian who gave their lives, that we that have come afterwards, can be free.

I have to say, that it does make me think, should there be sufficient interest in making the research available in this form, but how to do so would have to be tactfully done, so as not to upset any remaining family members. I wonder what other readers of the web site might think about it? Den

Salvation Army Table Top Sale 12th May

Gosport Salvation Army at The Crossways is running a table top sale on 12th May.

Doors open at 10.00am for buyers (9am for stall holders - stalls at £5/table by calling me on 023 9255 2248 of 01489 566804). There will be refreshments and cakes on sale too. Emma Jones

Support Requested

Ross Nicholl and Chris England who live in Gosport are motorcyclists raising funds for our work by riding from Lands End to John O’Groats in 24 hours. They are doing this trip on May 26th just a few days before our big national event called the Big Fish Supper.This year we are launching a theme "Do it in your wellies" to make fundraising more fun. John Field, Fundraising Manager, Fishermens Mission.

If you wish to donate, please go to the website or Tracy at Mather Hse, 4400 Parkway, Whiteley PO15 7FJ


Following the successful ‘Design a Garden’ Challenge days at Brune Park Community College, we are hoping to get started on the re-build of the garden very soon but the school has a shortfall of funds and was wondering if anyone/ society, etc. would like to sponsor this project? Lyn Wakeford at LWakeford@PortsmouthEBP.co.uk

Gosport Highland Games - Tug of War Teams

The search is on to find Gosport’s champion tug-of-war teams who will be crowned by the Mayor next month. The Gosport Highland Gathering is a line-up of fun events to raise money for Mayor June Cully’s charities and will be held at Gosport Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 5th May) from 11am - 4pm.

Recycling and Bins Charges

I was not sure whether to add this item to this blog or the other that I do called 'Money Whinge' where I put down things that annoy me with a money or money linked theme.

I hear today that Councils will be allowed to charge for the quantity of waste taken. If Gosport was to do that they will have to sort out the glass recycling, which is not collected with the recycling bin. You have to take it to a glass bin in car parks and so on dotted around Gosport. It is OK for me as there is one in Whites Place which I pass a couple of times a week, but only have a bag full of glass once a month or less. I know of people who do not, and add it to their waste, due to the amount they have or as they do not have a convenient bin.

Now if there was a charge it may encourage more to put the glass in the bin, but as I said I go past the Whites Place bin and at least 3 times this year at least one section of the bin is full, so there are boxes and bags of bottles, piled around the bin. How many more bins or times a year would Gosport need to empty the bins. Of course this also answers the criticism of Gosport made by local papers and politicians, as I could see if we were as bad as they say there would be a risk of someone breaking the bottles around the car park, would the Council be responsible for any damage? I feel I could point this out as only a month or so ago I e-mailed the Council about the full bin, even then it was a couple of weeks before it was emptied.

The Gosport recycling does seem to cause some confusion. I understand in some areas letters are put through the door. The people who receive them see them as threats. I do some gardening including some bungalows in the Elson/ Hardway area, an elderly lady received one of these letters, as she was sorting out the recycling items and putting the different types in different carrier bags, she thought that she was helping, but the Council were not happy as the plastic bags were in the bin. She said that,'they will have to sort it themselves'. Which is I suppose what the Council want. The authorities talk about recycling of the past, but do not seem to want to look at how it was done then. Even I remember the recycling of 'tin foil' - aluminium foil, I think most of the 'Guide Dogs for the Blind' were paid for by it. I also feel it is odd that household batteries are not recycled, as I understand they contain metals, some of which I understand, have a value others are toxic, so should they be buried or burnt? Ian

Haslar Hospital History

At the closing of RMH Haslar 31st March, now taken over by Portsmouth Hospital Trust, Eric Birbeck of the Haslar Heritage Group allowed me to add the photos and lists of Senior Staff at the hospital from 10th October 1753 to Gosport.info.

I did add the information from The Commanding Officers page on the 1st April, but the formatting of the dates went wrong, I think I have now sorted it all out now. I hope that you find the information and photos interesting. Ian

Gosport Weather

Well it has been warm and dry for the year. Over the last week I have been doing a big gardening job, for me. Removing two patios, laying a lawn and putting back the patio a bit lower, as well moving some plants around and all but one day it was sunny and warm. A web site where you can see Gosport's Weather.

I am sorry that the Gosport.info update is a day late this week. This morning when I would normally be updating the web site, I was at Stanley Park with my sister, brother-in-law and nephews helping them to do better than last year at the Free Spirit Self Defence Association (Ju Jitsu) annual Easter Egg Hunt. Again the weather was warm and sunny, makes a change from a week or so ago as we were not getting a day without rain. Yes we did fairly well, and the organisers must have spent a lot of time preparing for the event that lasted about 2 hours at a very low cost. Ian.

Bridgemary Celebration of Youth 2007

If you are, or know of anyone 11 to 17 in the Bridgemary area of Gosport, perhaps you could direct them to this Page for all the events that are happening this year, so far, football, breakdancing and skateboarding are a few of the events. Watch out for more. Ian