February 20, 2013

The History of Thruxton Race Circuit, Andover, Hampshire, by Trevor Swettenham

Filed under: Experience Days,Hampshire Sports Activities,Hampshire's History — davidmoldon @ 4:52 pm

Thruxton pit lane 1968

The land was originally purchased by the Air Ministry in 1940 for a three-runway airfield from the Thruxton Manor Estate. They were tested by the Blenheim’s of the No. 2 School of Army Co-operation on 22^nd June 1941. Unfortunately the concrete surface proved too rough, resulting in three tyres bursting causing the opening to be delayed until August while tarmac was laid. It was used throughout the war for many sorties including glider preparation for the famous doomed Arnhem operation and later by the Americans using Typhoons and Mustangs for raids on Northern France. After D-Day aircraft and pilots from Thruxton were sent to squadrons in Europe which had suffered losses. Towards the end of the war R.A.F. Thruxton was allowed to run down and finally became inactive in 1946. The following year the airfield was leased by the Wiltshire School of Flying and it built up a large training organisation. In 1958 the land passed to private ownership after being put up for auction and whilst the WSF continued to occupy it under the terms of the original lease, the perimeter track started to be used as a racing circuit by motor bikes. Soon car and bike events were being held about twice a year.

In 1966 the BARC began negotiations with the owners of the airfield for a permanent base after motor racing ceased at Goodwood. By October 1967 planning was finalised and an ambitious deadline of 1^st March 1968 was set for the completion of a new circuit. With a huge effort from the contractors the whole 2.356mile perimeter circuit was resurfaced, spectator banks built, marshals’ posts constructed, telephones installed and pit and race control buildings built. The teams worked through the winter, helped by good natural drainage and normal flying activity on the airfield around the construction work. Remarkably the first practice day was held on 2^nd March and the first race meeting 17^th March 1968. The first International meeting followed quickly, when Easter Monday held the first Thruxton Formula 2 race. 4,500 grandstand seats were built in time for that meeting although the last of them were put in place on that Sunday evening! 10,000 spectators paid 10shillings to attend the event which included a Red Arrows display. Jochen Rindt, wearing an open faced helmet and goggles, won the first F2 race that day and completed a hat-trick over the next two years as some of the finest drivers in the world made Easter Monday at Thruxton a famous event.

Thruxton 23rd April 1973. Super Vee

In 1969 Thruxton featured in an historic television broadcast when the very first colour edition of Grandstand, included a special meeting on 15^th November. The BBC1 ‘Grandstand Colour TV Meeting’ was broadcast on the very first day of colour transmission. A year earlier during a TV meeting, Mini Cooper S driver Ken Costello had a camera strapped in and wrapped in foam rubber but the weight penalty slowed the car too much for him to feature in the results!

In 1970 Rindt completed his hat-trick in the Wills Trophy F2 race, fending off the challenge of drivers like Jackie Stewart, Derek Bell and John Watson in front of a 30,000 strong crowd. But all was not rosy as by the summer of the same year, the use of the circuit was challenged by Hampshire County Council. A public enquiry was held and among those to give evidence in support of the circuit was Graham Hill. The enquiry lasted 22 days but the decision of the Minister was not announced until March 1972. His ruling was that the circuit could only be used for racing on 21 days each year. Immediately, a small group of local objectors announced plans to continue their attempts to have use of the circuit further reduced. Fearing complete closure of the track, the circuit reached an out of court settlement limiting the racing to 12 days each year, a situation that remains to this day.

F2 start, 8 Rindt, 12 Courage, 22 Beltoise

Thruxton Easter Meeting 1979, my two boys by a TR3, wonder if it still exists?

The racing however, was going from strength to strength, when championships such as European GT, Formula 5000 and Formula 3 made Thruxton one of their rounds. The Formula 2 championship featured throughout the seventies and into the early eighties and in 1984 a significant development was completed at the circuit when the new race control and pits complex was completed. Three years later the whole circuit was resurfaced and the notorious bump at Church removed. In 1985 Formula 2 was replaced by F3000 and Emanuele Pirro triumphed to be the final winner of the Jochen Rindt Trophy. The spiralling costs of holding a round of the European Championship forced the BARC to change their Easter Monday fixture to sportscars and then Formula 3 and British Touring Cars.

In 2001 there was again a complete overhaul of the venue with the removal of the famous pedestrian bridge and the building of two tunnels under the circuit allow both pedestrian and vehicular access whilst the track was in use; something only pedestrians could have done in the past.

Racing continues today with prestigious events such as the MCE British Superbikes Championship, The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, The Delphi British Truck Racing Championship, and The CSMA Big Weekend, the latter being the first to bring in side shows and alternative entertainment for those who may not like motor racing!

Check out the racing at Thruxton in 2013

Experience days at Thruxton

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September 18, 2012

Portsmouth vs Southampton, the truth and a fascinating history

Filed under: Hampshire's History,Hampshire's South Coast — davidmoldon @ 2:16 pm

Southampton and Portsmouth are separated by hundreds of years of inter-city conflict. The bad feeling between the Football clubs, who have met relatively few times, is a reflection of history. From the twelfth century onwards until 1835, Southampton officially owned the port of Portsmouth, which led to constant disputes over who controlled trade in the docks. Therefore the animosity between the two cities is one that stretches back for almost 800 years. The ill-feeling between Southampton and Portsmouth stems more from civic rivalry than from any true animosity between the Football clubs.

Read some interesting facts about each town today from yescando

A short but fascinating history of Portsmouth by Colin Wintle.

Charles Dickens Birthplace, 393 Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth

Southampton, a short history by Colin Wintle

Southampton Town Quay

Judged by any standards, Southampton is a great provincial city and port. Although rooted in the distant past, it lives and expands in the present — and looks confidently to the future; happily, despite ravages of war, much of its historic past remains, not only in its excellent museums but also, and more dramatically perhaps, in the medieval stones which still stand as silent witnesses amid a bubbling modern life which gives it quite a metropolitan aspect.

As a maritime base it enjoys the unique and valuable phenomenon of being served daily by the Solent with double tides. This may have given rise to the theory (staunchly maintained by some citizens) that it was not at Bosham, in Sussex, but at Southampton that King Canute (to teach his courtiers a lesson) had his famous, if farcical, adventure with the incoming tide. In 1016 he had been offered the Crown at Southampton, after Ethelred the Unready had fled from Denmark’s victorious invaders.

Those with a yen for historic, if legendary, spots should go to Canute Road, near the waterside, and ponder for themselves. The most imposing building in that road is the former South Western Hotel, which was patronised by passengers using the Transatlantic ocean terminal and is now the regional headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (1977). More History

100 years separate these photos, in 1912 RMS Titanic left Southampton on her first and last voyage, in 2012 the 3 Queens left Southampton to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

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September 7, 2012

Welcome to the Diving Museum, Gosport, Hampshire.

Filed under: Days out with the Kids,Hampshire Museums — davidmoldon @ 5:52 pm

I had been told by a business colleague about a Diving Museum in Gosport and until yesterday it was something I needed to look at one day. Well yesterday, September 7^th was one of those magic days you get in September and I decided to take a look. The drive down from the M27 was easy and I arrived in no time and there as I turned into Stokes bay Road was the Diving Museum, car park and a Café looking out over the Solent.

I said it was one of those special days, people were swimming and the holiday atmosphere, maybe a tad late was there to be seen. The Café was doing a roaring trade with ice creams were going as a quick as they could be poured, if that is what you do.

The museum was easy to navigate and well laid out, and I am sure there is something to interest young and old, take a visit to the Diving Museum.

More Museums in Hampshire

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June 14, 2012

Marwell Zoo’s 40th anniversary, a tribute to John Knowles, OBE

Filed under: Days out with the Kids,Hampshire's History — Tags: History of Marwell Zoo, John Knowles OBE — davidmoldon @ 2:32 pm

Prezwalski’s horses at Marwell, early acquisitions and a breeding programme success.

When I realised that 2012 was the 40^th anniversary of the opening of Marwell Zoological Park, I was determined to do this event justice. The zoological park is situated in the estate of Marwell Hall, a Grade I listed building where Henry VIII is believed to have courted Lady Jane Seymour. During World War II, an area within the estate was used as an airfield.

My parent’s farm adjoined the Marwell estate and in 1970 when John Knowles bought the estate it caused some problems in our household as my Father was all for the Zoo, whereas my Mother was very friendly with Lady Kelburn, say no more and read John’s book, My Marwellous Life in Zoos and Conservation.

Buy his book The unfortunate Victor, 1977

Having just read his book, a great read, I can only sum up his fantastic achievements in three words, Desire, Determination and Dedication, without one of those he would surely have failed. He openly admits that lady luck often played a part in Marwell’s success, and one very sad occasion on 15^th September 1977, Victor the Giraffe was to capture the hearts of TV viewers around the world, and thus put Marwell firmly on the Zoo map.

In 1999, the zoo lost all of its penguins (22 African and 5 Macaroni) to avian malaria. There were other cases in the UK but Marwell was the only zoo to lose its entire colony, which had arrived only two and a half years before to stock the new Penguin World exhibit. After consulting with experts, the exhibit was restocked with Humboldt penguins, which whilst endangered in the wild, are present in greater numbers in captivity.

Princess Royal visiting the new penguin exhibit with JK, keeper and penguins that did not survive.

The achievements at Marwell are too many to mention here, but education of school children in England and returning endangered species back to the wild are just two of the many achievements John accomplished during his 30 plus years in charge of the Zoo. To avoid the problems of inheritance tax the Zoo in 1978 became the Marwell Preservation Trust and many twists and turns have brought it to the superb Tourist Attraction it is today.

Rejected Cheetah cub being hand reared.

The Poitou donkey or Poitou ass (French: baudet de Poitou), also called the Poitevin donkey, the mammoth donkey or simply the Poitou, is a breed of donkey originating in the Poitou region of France. One of the most distinctive donkey breeds, it is also among the rarest and least-known. The “friendly, affectionate and docile” Poitou donkey is “the oldest breed approved in France”.

This lucky one was brought back from France by John and lived out it’s life on a nearby farm.

Keeper Bill Hall, also cricketer for Owslebury and general funny man, always needed! He appeared so many times on the TV, I think they gave him an equity card.

Thanks to Marwell and Eileen Good for the photographs.

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June 6, 2012

Hampshire, a county full of surprises and interests to holiday makers.

Filed under: Hampshire's History — Tags: History of Hampshire — davidmoldon @ 4:16 pm

Hampshire is one of the few counties to have prospered after the Second World War, formerly being mainly an agricultural county, it is now seventh wealthiest county in the UK. Overspill of bombed-out Londoner’s and a much improved rail and road network has made Hampshire a very attractive place to live.

HISTORY

Bronze Age farmers lived at Quarley, and numerous Iron Age hill forts adorn the chalk uplands, both inland and on the coast. There were many Roman villas in the north-west of the county, in addition to the towns at Winchester (Venta Belgarum), Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum) and Southampton (Clausentum); they also had potteries in the New Forest and weaving works at Winchester.

One of the major landings of the West Saxons was in Hampshire when they invaded in the late 5th century, and Jutes (thought to have come from Jutland) also landed here at that time. Part of south Hampshire was conquered for a time by the Mercians in the second half of the 6th century before the Wessex kings recovered it. Winchester became the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and later of England, until the Normans moved the administration to London. The area was subject to many raids by the Danes during the Saxon period, but was relatively peaceful in mediæval times. In consequence, few castles were built. The prosperity of the area was based on its rich agriculture, especially wool, and on the activities of the busy port at Southampton. With no coal or iron ore to be worked, the industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries was over-shadowed here by the modernisation of agriculture.

Over several centuries a series of castles and forts were constructed along the coast of the Solent to defend the harbours at Southampton and Portsmouth. These include the Roman Porchester Castle which overlooks Portsmouth Harbour and a series of forts built by Henry VIII including Hurst Castle, situated on a sand spit at the mouth of the Solent, Calshot Castle on another spit at the mouth of Southampton Water, and Netley Castle. Southampton and Portsmouth remained important harbours when rivals, such as Poole and Bristol declined, as they are amongst the few locations that combine shelter with deep water. Southampton has been host to many famous ships, including the Mayflower and the Titanic, the latter being staffed largely by natives of Southampton.


*March 5th 2006, Southampton Airport.*	Saturday 12th & 13^th 1981, Calshot Spit.

Hampshire played a large role in World War II due to its large Royal Navy harbour at Portsmouth, the army camp at Aldershot and the military Netley Hospital on Southampton Water, as well as its proximity to the army training ranges on Salisbury Plain and Isle of Purbeck. The Supermarine Spitfire was designed and developed in Southampton, evolving from the Schneider trophy winning seaplanes of the 1920s and 1930s. Heavy bombing of the factory in September 1940 destroyed it as well as homes in the vicinity, killing civilians and workers. World War II hit Southampton particularly hard because of its strategic importance as a major commercial port and industrial area. Prior to the Invasion of Europe, components for Mulberry Harbour were built here. After D-Day, Southampton docks handled military cargo to help keep the Allied forces supplied, making it a key target of Luftwaffe bombing raids until late 1944. Aldershot remains one of the British Army’s main permanent camps. Farnborough is a major centre for the Aviation industry.


Far left Mutt Summers, centre R.J. Mitchell, far right Jeffrey Quill. 1936	*Jeffrey Quill and Leonard Snaith 1981*

The Isle of Wight has traditionally been treated as part of Hampshire for some purposes, but has been administratively independent for over a century, obtaining a county council of its own in 1890. The Isle of Wight became a full ceremonial council in 1974. Apart from a shared police force there are now no formal administrative links between the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, though many organisations still combine Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch also fall within the traditional county of Hampshire, but were ceded to Dorset in the local government reorganisation of 1974.

Hampshire is a popular holiday area, with tourist attractions including its many seaside resorts, the maritime area in Portsmouth, and the motor museum at Beaulieu. The New Forest National Park lies within the borders, as does a large area of the South Downs, which has now become a National Park. Hampshire has a long maritime history and two of England’s largest ports, Portsmouth and Southampton, lie on its coast. The county is famed as home of writers Jane Austen and Charles Dickens and the birthplace of engineer Isambard Kingdon Brunel. Hampshire is blessed with some of the most beautiful countryside and accessible coastline, offering a wide variety of sporting facilities and leisure activities. Whether you stay in a Country Pub, a Bed and Breakfast or a fine Town Hotel, the welcome is always warm, and you are never far away from something to do, rain or shine. Hampshire is a great place to take a short break, fantastic food and wine, great walks with Pubs at the end, Heritage in abundance and Theatres offering a wide range of entertainment.

Towns and Villages in Hampshire

History and Heritage

Where to Stay in Hampshire

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April 25, 2012

SeaCity Museum, things to do on a wet day in Hampshire

Filed under: Hampshire Museums,Things to do on a wet day in Hampshire — davidmoldon @ 5:13 pm

The new SeaCity Museum in Southampton has been eagerly awaited with the 100 anniversary of the sinking of Titanic being in this year. I was invited to look around and duly parked off Cumberland Place on the A3024, and this is only a short walk to the museum across the park. It was a dreadful day with heavy rain most of the day, so a nice dry museum was an ideal place to get out of the rain. I have been in many museums, history is one of my favourite subjects, and I was not disappointed with SeaCity.

You should allow at least 3 hrs for your visit, the layout because it is the old law Courts could be easier to navigate, but there are some fascinating displays there, and with the aid of interactive technology, the children and adults really get the most out of the museum.

Maybe it’s me but Law Courts give me the shivers, but being a heritage site, even the signs saying Court 3 cannot be removed. The plus bit is the Gents toilets use the original police toilets, even the doors are original. One Court Room, can’t remember which number has been cleverly refurbished to house the Titanic enquiry, with images and voices taking you through the process that White Star had to go through after the tragedy.

In another hall is a history of Southampton, very interesting to those of us who only know Southampton the way it is today, in 1912 Southampton was as many Cities were a divided town for those that had, and for those that had a struggle to make ends meet. This is why Titanic was such an event because for many of the 500 employed to work on Titanic it must have been Heaven sent, better pay and not just for one day as many dock workers were employed.

There is room for future development, and hopefully they can get Miss Britain III down from Greenwich Maritime Museum where Hubert Scott Paine donated her after the fantastic efforts to win the Harmsworth Trophy in September 1933.

Well worth a visit, but give yourself plenty of time.

More Museums to visit in Hampshire

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February 14, 2012

Hampshire Museum longlisted for Family Museum Award

Filed under: Days out with the Kids,Hampshire Museums — davidmoldon @ 5:40 pm

Cumberland House Natural History Museum in Portsmouth has been named as one of the 20 museums longlisted in the Family Friendly Museum Awards, organised by The Telegraph and Kids in Museums. Visitors were able to nominate museums for the award before a panel of volunteers whittled over one hundred museums from across the country down to a 20-strong longlist. Portsmouth City Council are delighted that Cumberland House was named in the top 20. One of the highlights of the popular and free museum is the butterfly house where you can see a variety of butterflies and the cocoons they emerge from. It is a great way of bringing Eric Carle’s popular ‘The very hungry caterpillar’ story to life. The museum also tells the story of local wildlife at the riverbank, marshes, woods and urban areas of Portsmouth. You can learn more about the geology of the area and look at fish and insects in the aquarium and meet ‘Emily’ the dinosaur. Dr Jane Mee, Portsmouth City Council’s museums and records service manager, said: “We are delighted that Cumberland House has been named in the top 20.

It is really popular with families, particularly those with younger children, who particularly enjoy the butterfly house, the ice-age display and individual specimens – like Emily the dinosaur. “As the museum is in a listed building we are restricted in what improvements we can make, but this year we have improved access at the entrance and added a fully accessible toilet and a buggy park, which has helped to ease congestion. However the quirky, domestic scale building is all part of the attraction and children enjoy exploring all the nooks and crannies and passageways. “Thank you to everyone who supported Cumberland House in the Family Friendly Museum Awards- fingers crossed we will now make the shortlist.” The longlist will now be discussed by a panel of distinguished judges who will draw up the shortlist which will be announced in April 2012. The shortlist will then be anonymously road tested by families and the winner will be announced in May 2012. Cumberland House Natural History Museum is situated on Eastern Parade, Southsea (next to Canoe Lake). It is open every day from 10am – 5.30pm. Entrance free.

See more things to do at half term in Hampshire

What’s on in Hampshire

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May 13, 2011

Free day out for the kids at Southsea Castle

Filed under: Hampshire Museums — davidmoldon @ 1:13 pm

Yellow Kite Cafe takes off at Southsea Castle

Free entry to Henry VIII’s seaside bolthole is the icing on the cake as Yellow Kite Café opens its flagship venue at Southsea Castle on Saturday 14 May.

Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Culture said: “I’m delighted at this new venture with social enterprise company, Yellow Kite, which means visitors will no longer be charged to look around Southsea Castle.

“The new addition of a café within the walls of the castle is a real treat and another excuse to pay a visit. I’m sure Henry VIII himself would be delighted with all attention being paid to his historic legacies, such as the impressive development of the Mary Rose museum, and now the cafe at this much loved castle.

“The free entry is small token for our residents especially, and we hope many people take the opportunity to visit this impressive landmark, and of course try the refreshments at the new café.”

Funded by the Healthy Towns initiative, the Yellow Kite Café is a social enterprise, not for profit company, aimed at providing great food and good value for local communities.

The western bailey of the castle has been refurbished to house new 60 seat contemporary café, revealing previously unseen Tudor walls.

The Yellow Kite café, which also has a café at the D-Day museum, boasts a daily menu which includes such delights as fresh home made soup, cheese and chorizo omelettes and cream teas with raspberry scones.

Gambol Parker, chief executive said: “Yellow Kite is a social enterprise which means we’re about serving great healthy food which is also good value for money. And because Yellow Kite is a social enterprise, it means the money we make gets ploughed back into the local community.”

The castle is open eight months of the year from every Easter, and the cafe will be a permanent addition during these times. The café will be open everyday, except Monday until the end of October and has a string of special events lined up for the summer.

More info on the Castle and other historic places to visit in Hampshire

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March 7, 2011

Free Hampshire Aviation Museum that’s a great day out with the children.

Filed under: Hampshire Museums — davidmoldon @ 10:19 am

The Cody Replica which first flew in 1908 from Farnborough

No other location in the world has contributed so much to the development of aeronautical science over more than a century than Farnborough, Hampshire.

This site is recognised internationally as the home of British aviation, where the first attempts to gain mastery of the air were achieved as a result of outstanding efforts by a small team of dedicated engineers, military administrators and self-taught pioneers. Their initial success led to the research and development base, the Royal Aircraft Establishment that went on to make an enormous to winning the Second World War and taking the industry into the Jet age, changing the world we live in today.

Since 1993, the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, a registered charity has campaigned successfully to save the most important buildings on this site, and make available to the public the story of Farnborough’s unique aviation history and the air science that it spawned. In 2003 FAST opened a new museum in the original Army Balloon School Building (which later saw the formation of The Royal Flying Corps in 1912). Since then, the trust’s collection of aircraft, artefacts, records and major exhibits has expanded considerably and in 2008 a new Cody Pavilion was opened to celebrate the centenary of SF Cody’s first flight anywhere in the UK in 1908. As well as a highly accurate full size Cody Flyer replica, built in just 18 months by FAST volunteers using representative materials, the pavilion tells the complete story of the life and achievements of this amazing American-born pioneer.

THE DAWN OF AERONAUTICS

In the Victorian era, Britain maintained a global Empire, with the World’s largest Navy and Army. Air Power was still in the future but aeronautical progress in other countries could not be ignored and the British Army started balloon experiments in 1878 at Woolwich Arsenal . In 1882 this moved to Chatham and a Balloon School was established nearby. In 1890 the balloon Section, Royal Engineers, was formed and moved again, this time to South Camp, Aldershot. It soon outgrew this site and so the Royal Engineers balloon School transferred to nearby Farnborough. The new Balloon School was built in 1904-05. Farnborough was established as Britain’s main aeronautical centre for research and development and, during the First World War, also served as a factory for the construction of complete aircraft. Throughout the rest of the 20^th Century this became the heart of a massive expansion of experimental workshops, laboratories, test cells and aircraft hangars.

This is a fantastic FREE museum run totally by volunteers who are keen to answer questions regarding the many exhibits including hands-on flight simulators that children can have a go at.

The exhibition halls in the museum display many historic jet engines and components, tested by jet pioneer Sir Frank Whittle, including a complete W2 engine from the Gloster E28, the first British jet aircraft to fly and the after-burning rear section of the first supersonic engine intended for the Miles M52 experimental high speed research aircraft (later cancelled).

In October 2008, the new Cody Pavilion was opened to house the full-size replica of Cody’s British Army Aeroplane No 1A – celebrating the centenary of British powered flight.

The prototype two-seat Jaguar B was used for many years at Farnborough for test purposes. It had been built as the first of 200 Anglo-French Jaguars purchased by the Royal Air Force and serving from the 1970s until 2007.

The museum is open ONLY weekends and Bank Holidays, make it one on your list to visit. See more on The History of Aviation.

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A Hampshire History

The history of Hampshire covers major events that have helped to shape our county and make it the seventh wealthiest in the country. We encourage you to add your memories before it is too late, don�t put it off, Grandparents this is a call to action.

A history of the marine industry in Hampshire