SouthseaScene

This November we commemorate 100 years since the end of the WW1 as part of or annual remembrance services and events: Monday 29 October - Monday 12 November - Royal British Legion knitted poppies project will be on display on the pillars of the Guildhall and around the balustrades of the WWI memorial. ‘Standing in Silence' - photography exhibition by University of Portsmouth student John Farnhill at St Thomas’s Cathedral, Old Portsmouth from 30 October - 11 November and at St Mary’s Church, Portchester Castle 20 – 25 November 10am – 4pm. Thursday 8 November at 11:00am - Gardens of Remembrance service at the WWI memorial, Guildhall Square. Saturday 10 November - Pompey Pals 24 Hour Vigil to Honour The Fallen of WW1 at the Cenotaph from 10am until 10am on Sunday 11 November. Sunday 11 November at 6:00am - Lone Piper plays in Guildhall Square to signify the moment the Armistice agreement was signed 100 years ago. Sunday 11 November from 9:30am-10:00am - Royal Naval Remembrance Servic...

Award-winning pianist Steven Osborne will be in concert at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 5 November. Steven is one of the most highly regarded pianists in the world. His numerous awards include The Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year (2013) and two Gramophone Awards. You can learn more about Steven from his blog where he has reflected on why people go to concerts and reminisced about attending a concert that his wife, who is also a musician, took part in. The responses to his blog post offered different motivations to why people attend concerts: One audience member said, “It’s about the experience and emotion connected to music. You lose yourself, it's overwhelming & uplifting.” A mother brought her 7 and 12 year-old boys to a concert to show them that there is a new world where beautiful music exists. In Portsmouth, one person goes regularly because the music takes her mind away from her anxiety and depression. Whatever your motivation might be, ...

Black History Month (BHM) is held every October with the aim of promoting knowledge of black history, culture and heritage, and positive black contributions to British society. In support of BHM the University of Portsmouth, in conjunction with the Multicultural Staff Network and Student Union and Portsmouth Film Society, is supporting various activities throughout the Month. Events also mark the The Windrush 70th anniversary, celebrating and honouring the pioneering, Windrush generation that came to Britain who have helped to shape British social, cultural and political life. On 31 October, a day of events will be held at the University starting with the launch of the Race Equality Charter. The launch event will give staff an opportunity to learn more about the charter and will be opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith. Dr Deborah Gabriel, Founder and Director of Black British Academics and Co-Chair of Bournemouth University’s Race Equality Charter Steering ...

As we walked around Southsea this afternoon we were basking in bright sunshine, but the air was crisp and cold. The evenings are darker and longer now. This Sunday, the clock will move back an hour.  It's time to wear a thicker coat and turn on the heating. I was quite attracted to the thicker jumpers and coats on display in the shops on Palmerston Road. My cooking has also moved into the thicker and warmer stews. Last night we had the rather moreish Lamb with Apricot Sauce.  The change of season is a reminder to take the slow road after the activities of the summer months. Especially this year with the good weather over the summer when we were able to take full advantage of the great outdoors and picnicking in the sunshine without fear of the English rain. It's time to grab yourself a good book and snuggle up in a comfortable blanket. Take time to slow down and savour the joys autumn has to offer. 

The University of Portsmouth presents another season of films to mark Black History Month in partnership with the Portsmouth Film Society. Starting with the screening Winnie (2017) on Wednesday 3 October, the programme looks back into history from different perspectives. The Black Panthers (2015) is a documentary of the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, 20th century’s most alluring and controversial societies. In Jemima and Johnny (1966) we encounter a white boy and a black Jamaican girl forging a friendship in a racially hostile community. A beautiful introduction to young people about race and friendship, this 30-minute screening is free and open to the public, especially families. The series closes with the screening of Themba (2010) with themes of dream, football and migration, this film is also part of the Journeys International Festival in Portsmouth, highlighting the plight of refugees. Founder and coordinator of the Portsmouth Film Society Aysegul Epengin said “We’...

The 2018-19 Portsmouth Chamber Music series gets underway on Monday 8 October with the Goldmund String Quartet from Germany performing. The programme is an exciting one, with one of Haydn's greatest quartets, the second of Beethoven's Rasumovsky quartets, and the extraordinary 3rd quartet by Shostakovich. "I heard the Goldmund Quartet at the Wigmore Hall in April and they are incredible - I've rarely heard such powerful yet musical playing," said Colin Jagger, the Director of Music at the University of Portsmouth , who sponsors the series. Now in its fifteenth season, the Portsmouth Chamber Music Series brings world-class musicians to the city. Presented in partnership with Music in the Round and the Portsmouth Cultural Trust , it showcases the finest music in informal surroundings where the audience is never more than a few metres from the performers. Tickets are £18 with £16 concessions, available in person from the Guildhall , by calling 023 9387 0200, ...