Portsmouth, HMS Victory c.1960

Photo ref: P100045

I was born in portsmouth in 1962, many parts of the city have completely changed from when I grew up there. The part of portsmouth I was born in (born at home malins road) was demolished in the 70s, I remember the bulldozers and brick dust, we watched as they knocked down my dads (rip) local pub the centaur and we were still living in our house when the bulldozers were only a few doors down. I saw the area I ...see more

In 1972, when a mere slip of a boy of 40 summers, my late wife, two children and I flew from Australia on our first trip to Europe. Whilst in London, we travelled by train to visit my cousins Peter & Val Hatswell who lived at "The Stillions "on Windmill Hill, Alton. They took me to 13 Leonard Road, Landport, Portsmouth, the house with a bright red door where my father was born on 23rd September ...see more

I've only been onboard the Victory once. It was enough to profoundly strike my imagination. I stood where Nelson fell ! It brings tears to my eyes to think of it now as I write. She is an incredible vessel. You can almost hear the cries and commands shouted out during naval battle. And what a genius Nelson was. To break conventional naval tactics and completely fool the Spanish Armada by a frontal attack compared to ...see more