Gosport.info - Update November 2007

1) Thank you to those who sent in the information about their Christmas Fairs/ Fayres etc. after the October Update Email. If you went to one or more of the events perhaps if you saw something special or different or would like to write an article, you could email an item with or without photos to add to the web site.

2) Thank you to all those on Gosport Borough Council who made it possible for the items about Gosport.info to go in to the December 2007 issue of the Councils newsletter. Remember a free entry for all Gosport linked businesses and organisations can be added to Gosport.info, just send me the details. In the same newsletter there is good news about the ferry pontoon, if you do not live in Gosport you can read it on the Council web site

3) I know Gosport.info web site is due for an update, or so I have been told by 2 web designers, who phoned for business but when they hear about the number of pages and the level of income, they are no longer interested . I did started looking in to making the web site about 8 years ago, though I did not get the site on the Internet until 18 months later. So I accept that its style is a bit old fashioned. I use Net Objects Fusion 9 (from version 5) I have been trying out Ubuntu Linux, the Net Objects software will not work on Linux, so am seeing if I can use Nuv, though it seems to do each page separately, someone has suggested using something that you can use from a web browser, any suggestions about what I could try, gratefully received, though I do need something that can work with the current site at least for a while.

4) I understand another site in Gosport, covering Lee, has a lot of interest in the site due to the forum. There was one set-up by Craig Jones and MyGosport.org, but understand they did not get much interest. I believe that the Gosport.info Blog at http://gosportinfo.blogspot.com/ can be used in that way. I will try to add more to it but you can add comments, or just carry on sending me your emails, which I find a great help.

5) Nick Millerchip a Gosport resident have recently launched a new Internet startup company and we are looking for some local press coverage. The following is a brief synopsis of our site Spondoola at www.spondoola.com aims to make life just that little bit easier. Whether its a quote required for property maintenance or pet grooming. Bookkeeping or blind fitting, Spondoola allows the user to upload their request for free. Registered suppliers (businesses) are able to search listed RFQ's (Request For Quotes) and tender for the work.
Jey Muir sent the following. The Utility Warehouse Discount Club (UWDC) at www.millrig.co.uk have just introduced a couple of new services that I thought might be of use to your readers if there is anyway for them to be given a wider audience: 1. We now have a process for all local fund raisers, scouts, cubs, swimming clubs, football clubs, gym clubs, coffee groups, church groups etc, to be able to get an income every month towards their fund raising activities. 2. The second service we have introduced is a combined package of broadband with a free Lap Top computer with a lifetime warrantee. 3. The third new service is the ability of giving residential and business customers a new telephone line with its own local number (02392 us), that plugs into your router and it only costs £2 per month. This service should not be confused with VOIP or Skype, but a true 2nd (or 3rd) phone line. Ian

Requests - Are You There - Family History

Perhaps if you have something to add to the above sections on Gosport.info you may wish to add them here to save waiting for me to add to the main web site. I will receive an RSS feed of anything added so will add the information to the main site from the message I receive. Let me know if you try it and have any problems. Ian

Using Gosport.info Blog as a Forum

I have heard that some like to use a forum with web sites, rather than setting up a separate forum I believe this can be used in a similar way, by adding comments to messages and possibly starting a post, let me know if you try and how it goes.

To start it off do you wonder if there is more to the closing of Daedalus than health and safety, the obvious idea may be to build more houses say like Cherque Farm, I managed to get lost in there a few days ago. Perhaps there is a report on Hampshire Constabulary as it seemed they had some costs there and perhaps they have a financial shortfall or some other problem, I suppose we will find out in time. I do wonder if they build all the houses in Gosport that they plan, it may be a good idea to keep some flying in Lee, as it may become the only way in and out of Gosport. I accept that more houses are needed but they always seem to forget that unless more jobs are in Gosport, people will have to travel in and out.

Let me know what you think? Ian

Gosport.info - Update October 2007

1) I wish to thank John Bull for sending me the information about Holy Trinity's Christmas Market on the 17th November. If you are having a similar events over the next couple of months, please email me the details so I can add it to the What's on and perhaps on the Home page for the week before.
2) Thank you to those of you who have advised me of changes to Gosport business and organisation details. I have made some changes where I have noticed and had a pen and paper to note them down, but have seen businesses open, close and move since the last big check. I hope to at least check on the businesses in the main shopping roads over the winter, but if you see something where you live and are able to send me an email that would be a great help and I hope that more accurate information will help businesses and their customers.

3) I have been put forward to be the Newsletter Editor and Secretary of the Friends of Gosport Museum, this I expect to be confirmed at the AGM on the 31st October as I understand no others have been put forward, in fact I have been asked to prepare the next Newsletter for early November. I wonder if anyone would like to receive the Newsletters by email in PDF. If some would, I will suggest it to the committee, though if you are in Gosport, I would hope that you would wish to join so that you can attend the talks and other events. Details can be found on the leaflet on the Museum on the Mezzanine floor in the Discovery Centre £5 per year £7.50 family membership. I can email an application form if you wish. I also hope if space to use some of the Memories of Gosport over time. I will not use any until I have emailed and had a reply confirming that the writer has no objection. Ian

Gosport.info - Update September 2007

1) The Gosport History Archive at www.gosporthistoryarchive.org.uk was set-up within Gosport.info to give somewhere for the St Vincent Local History Club to put their archive of photos, research and talks, partly to celebrate their first 20 years. I understand that a book was the first idea, but both that and a commercially produced web site proved expensive or there were other problems. I hope you find the information most so far from Mrs Joan Russell and Mr David Maber very interesting, I expect you will agree that there is a great benefit to Gosport.info to have the information, you can get to from the 'History' page, then follow the link from,'Gosport History Archive Website'. I am now the meetings secretary of the club and Joan Russell did suggest that perhaps I would be able to add more from the club, so hope that over the next year more people from the club will add more history, photos and memories of Gosport to that section. If you have items that you will be happy to add to Gosport.info, please send them to me.

2) I received the following from Councillor Peter Chegwyn; 'One thing you might mention sometime, if you think it appropriate, is that all 5 County Councillors representing Gosport divisions now have their own grants budget. Each of us has £10,000 per year to spend on supporting community groups and projects within our own divisions- sports clubs, youth groups, community associations etc. Any organisation with a project that needs some extra funding should contact their local County Councillor for an application form:

Bridgemary & Peel Common: Denis Wright

Lee-on-Solent & Grange: Margaret Snaith

Leesland & Town: Keith Gill & Peter Edgar (Two-member division)

Elson, Forton, Hardway: Peter Chegwyn

3) I have been asked about adding a request for the where about of some prize cups and plaques. One was the Burbridge Gosport Schools Diving Cup for an annual competition on the towns open air swimming pool near Walpole Park. He was the winner for 1958 and 1959 and just wondered where it may be now. Also a number of cups and plaques awarded by the Gosporteers, some of which were donated as memorials have been given out, but there has been a problem with the records. If you come across any cups of the annual type please let me know and I will put you in touch with someone to talk to, I am sure some arrangements can be made. You made find them in lofts and sheds, perhaps if you and the organisation agree I could also add the information from the cups to Gosport.info. Perhaps you have the cups where a new one is given each year, I would be happy to also add those details to the web site.

4) Thank you to those who have sent in details of businesses and organisation to add to the site,and changes to the current information, I plan to have it on over the next couple of weeks. Over the winter I will be updating the site with new businesses that I have in a list to contact and I hope to do a check on the businesses and organisations on the web site, to check still correct. I also plan to add some photos from my old photos and take some more of the current Gosport. There are a number of other things that I feel need updating. Perhaps if there is something that you feel needs looking at first, you could let me know and I will try to fit them in.

5) I bought some badges and pens at the beginning of the year (from the Google Adwords money) to give out, mostly at the events. I have very few pens left, but even after my sister gave out about 60 badges at the Leesland Park 'Park Fest 07' she also gave me some photos at the event and information about the bands to add to Gosport.info, I have about 100 badges left. If you could make use of one or more please let me know how many you want with your address and I will see if I can send them out. They will go to people in Gosport first as I will be able to deliver them so saving on postage, but if I have some left I will send them out. Dimon Estate Agents have said that they will donate some small card calenders as they did last, which I will send out with the cards as last year and deliver the balance in Gosport, but if you would like one or more please let me know. Ian

Gosport.info - Update August 2007

1) Last time I asked if some of you would try putting 'Gosport.info' (without the quotes) in your browser to see if the web site came up. Thank you to all of you that did, and advised me of the results. Broadly it seems most browsers found the web site at www.gosport.info though unfortunately it seems from some replies that IE7 does not and requires the full www.gosport.info to be put in, it may be due to the way IE7 has been set-up on each computer. I was asking this as I thought Gosport.info would be fine so started doing the sites publicity in the form Gosport.info rather that the full www.gosport.info. It seems I will have to go back to www.gosport.info.

2) The Gosporteers and Provincial Society 51st Vehicle Rally is at Stokes Bay Gosport, next Monday the 27th (the Bank Holiday) from 11am to 5pm.
'Area Events & Children's Entertainments - 'The Tigers' Children's Motorcycle Display Team - Other Displays.
Parade Around Gosport & Lee-on-the-Solent of Classic & Vintage Cars & Vintage Buses
Admission £5 Accompanied Children Free - surplus for good causes including the Mayor of Gosport's Charities.
I will also be there with a stand so you can come and tell me what you think can be done to improve Gosport.info.

3) I have been asked to go on the radio and talk bout Gosport.info it is Express FM www.expressfm.com 93.7 FM at 11:15am Friday 24th, in Portsmouth, it also covers the Gosport area. I have not done anything like this before, but I hope that it will mean even more people sending in information, memories and photos of Gosport now and in the past, to be added to the web site.

4) The Leesland Park www.leeslandpark.ik.com 'ParkFest 07' plans are well underway for Saturday 22nd September afternoon and evening. Have a look at their web site for details so far, but will have live bands, children's entertainment, stalls, information stands, ale etc. and hopefully food. They are also asking the following; 'Would you like to promote your organisation, host a stall, recommend a band etc? For further information or to submit an idea please contact Phil Sandall, tel: 023 9252 7310 or email philip.sandall@btopenworld.com.' I am going to have a busy day as it is the same day as the Gosporteers Michaelmas Fayre (and I believe the Alverstoke Michaelmas Fayre) I am due to have a stand t the Leesland and Gosporteers event, so if you see someone rushing in with a bike trailer trying to put up the stand it will be me. You will be able to make a day of it morning/ early afternoon Michaelmas Fayre, then on to the Leesland Park for live music, food and drink.

5) I have added the details of Regency Investments to the Businesses Section under 'Gambling' in error and apologise for any confusion. I understand Regency Investments is a 'Professional Horse Laying Service' I was not sure what it was as I do not know much about horses. It explains it on their web site at http://www.freewebs.com/regencyinvestments/ . I have now put it on 'Financial' and 'Business and Fund-raising Opportunities' so I hope that is better. I understand that it is run from Bridgemary. Ian