Local Issues

05 Jul

The historic chapel of the famous Royal Victoria Hospital, at Hampshire County Council’s Royal Victoria Country Park, can now be experienced by a worldwide audience thanks to the launch of a new virtual tour.

I was delighted as the County Council’s Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage to launch the virtual tour. Our conservation and renovation of the Royal Victoria Chapel, with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has enabled thousands of visitors to access this unique, historic site on the Solent.

The new virtual tour – the first of its kind at our country parks – means that even those who cannot climb the steps of the tower can still enjoy the view through a Virtual Reality headset and soak up the stories the chapel holds as the last remaining part of what was once the world’s largest military hospital.

The introduction of the tour to an online audience also means that people from anywhere in the world can look around the building in 360 degrees, feeling as if they are actually there.

The amazing tour is here https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=EaCX9jS32p7 produced for us by https://360ify.com/

21 Jun

ABP Port of Southampton

A fascinating visit to ABP Port of Southampton as guest of Port Director Alastair Welch. Southampton is the UK’s number one vehicle handling port, Europe’s leading turnaround cruise port and the UK’s most productive container port. Operated by DP World Southampton, the terminal is home to the new 500m deepwater quay SCT5, which was purpose built to handle the biggest ships in the world.

ABP Southampton handles around 14 million tonnes of cargo each year

The port supports 15,000 jobs and contributes around £1 billion to the UK economy.

12 Jun

Opening Summer Page’s Fairy Garden at Coldeast

I was honoured to be able to be involved in opening Summer Page’s Fairy Garden at Coldeast today. Sculptor Chris Bain really did Summer and her family and friends proud by creating a wonderful unicorn and fairy castle to Summer’s designs plus an amazing owl carved onsite yesterday.

Samantha and Phil Page, Summer’s mum and dad and brother, were present at the opening along with all of the year group leaving Sarisbury CofE Juniors this year and headmaster Andy Stockton.