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Townhill Park Community Association, which runs the community centre in Meggeson Avenue, holds its annual general meeting on Tuesday, May 22 at 7pm in the main hall. More details here. |
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 Karen Yates writes to tell us about the Ashtree Road street party she's involved with organising, to be held on Saturday, June 2 between 2 and 7pm.
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NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people to donate blood at a session on Wednesday, June 6 in Bitterne.
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 Advertising feature: The shop known as Portswood Cycles has reopened as Porstwood Cycles/2 Wheel Electric. The new owners are 2 wheel Electric, formerly of Haskins Garden centre in West End, and the shop offers a full range of Freego Electric Bikes, famous names in non-electric bikes such as Raleigh and Falcon, children’s bikes, plus a full range of accessories.
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 The sun shone, Southampton Ukulele Jam played (as did many others), there was a chance to chat with environmental groups and businesses, and there was a real family feel at Environmental Rock 2012 on Saturday afternoon at The Hobbit pub in Bevois Valley. We hope to bring you interviews from the day soon, so stay tuned...
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Pilates, and children’s ballet classes are starting at Townhill Park Community Centre, Meggeson Avenue.
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 Labour took control of Southampton City Council in the local elections, with the Tories losing 10 seats, but Bitterne Park remained blue and voted in two Conservative councillors.
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 It is a shame that the potentially divisive issue of installing traffic lights at Woodmill is being resurrected in an attempt to garner votes at the forthcoming election. Installing lights will, in fact, make things worse for locals and commuters – argues local resident Dr Ian Thomas.
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 A new folk orchestra for both beginners and experienced musicians is starting at Bitterne Manor Community Centre with a series of six workshops, culminating with a live performance in Romsey – writes Cath Watkins
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At the pumps, the cheapest petrol stations for unleaded petrol nearby area are as follows, as at the end of April.
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 Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at a Co-op store in Witts Hill, during which thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes were stolen.
Pic: Witts Hill parade
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 A shop is now selling fruit and veg at the Triangle again – in what was the fruit and veg shop (Kenmans, then Fruitopia etc), and not in other Manor Farm Road premises, as had previously been expected.
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 We’re raising funds to pay for – among other things – some essential technical help to keep the sites up and running. So if you like what we do, could you help with a voluntary ‘subscription’ or one-off donation?
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 It’s easy – and legal – to gather huge amounts of free fruit from public places around the city, according to Bitterne Park’s ‘urbane forager’. We caught up with Alan Gibson (pictured) on a sunny day at Riverside Park to learn about the art of foraging – and about a new community orchard in Mansbridge. Click ‘read more’ and use the audio player to hear our interview.
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 Sign-up for the Friends of Cobbett Road Library Newsletter, using this link, and you will always informed of events and talks and other activities taking place in the library!
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Nik Lawrence writes to say he's set up a Facebook page to encourage local players to organise games with others locally - and wants to organise a knock-out tournament.
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 If you’re on Facebook, then why not ‘like’ our Facebook page? You’ll then get updates straight to your ‘wall’, as well as background stories. You can also share your fave Bitterne Park pics, too. See you there!
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 It's quick and easy to spread the word about your community events using our calendar: just log into the site and click here to add events, classes, gigs and more. Hot tip 1: if you haven't created an account with the site you'll need to register first - and that should only take a moment. Hot tip 2: please keep listings brief and factual - sales puff may well be cut!
Please note that we now request you consider making a very small donation towards site running costs for certain commercial events. More info, and donate, here.
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 March 30, 2012: We sadly record the death of John Edgar Mann, local historian and author.
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 Local band The Spiraltones presented our first live podcast from Castle Spiraltone, Bitterne Park on February 21, along with poet Angela Chicken. Thanks to everyone who tuned in, who performed, and who worked hard behind the scenes to make it such a success. The 'listen again' is now available via the 'read more' link, along with some pics.
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 Mary Long, who was eighty years old when we talked to her, has lived in Bitterne Park for most of her life — and loves it. In these audio clips you can hear how her father bought their house for £500 cash, about shopping at the Triangle, where she used to play, and why she wasn’t allowed to go to what is now Sandringham Road (but did anyway!).
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 Fancy a visit to Bitterne Park - or thinking about moving to the area? Perhaps you already live here and are interested to find out more. We hope this work in progress offers a few pointers!
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 Friends of Townhill Park House Gardens are holding various open days - click the 'read more' for details.
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‘Sporting Life’ is the theme of an Age Concern photographic competition – the aim is to photograph older people enjoying life while participating in sport. Winning entries will be displayed at a Marlands exhibition.
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Can you help your neighbours catch the gardening bug? If so, Transition Southampton would like to hear from you. You don't need to be an expert, just friendly and enthusiastic, and keen on the idea of 'growing your community'. Learn more here. |
 Bus company Xelabus says it’s “teamed up with Sainsbury’s supermarkets to provide a new hoppa bus service to the new Portswood store”. Its new X13 and X14 services also bring new bus routes to some areas.
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 A sign in the long-empty Triangle tattoo parlour reveals that it is about to become, er, a tattoo parlour! But could this mean that all the Triangle shops will be in use at the same time? And is another 'beauty'-related business good for Bitterne Park? |
Susan Trigger, head of Bitterne Park Secondary School, talks on BBC Radio 5 about clinics at the school which can offer confidential contraceptive implants to teenagers. The BBC reports "some parents are angy they are not being informed". Ms Trigger also spoke on Radio 4's PM programme on February 8 (feature starts 52:15), where she stressed that sexual health was just one area covered by the popular clinics.
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 Pictured is Saints’ tour of the town arriving at Bitterne Park with the FA Cup in 1976, when the second division team beat first division Manchester United 1-0. “Everyone was there and all in good spirits and no troubles throughout,” says Bill Pidgeon, who kindly let us reproduce his photos, shot with 35mm slide film.
© Images copyright Bill Pidgeon.
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Free two-day courses for those thinking of starting their own business take place in February and March.
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 Ann MacGillivray has sent us this photo of teaching staff at the old combined schools in Manor Farm Road. But can you guess the year? Read on to find out and see the full sized version, and see if you can help identify some of the faces. Reproduced with kind permission of Cardwell’s Photography, who operated from 59 Foundry Lane, Shirley.
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Find out more about volunteering at sessions held weekly at the Voluntary Action Centre. They provide information on volunteering, what to expect, practical points to think about and a list of local opportunities available. More info here. |
 In this extended audio, we find out about the Woodcraft Folk, “a movement for children and young people, open to everyone from birth to adult”. ‘Woodies’ meet locally in Bitterne Park and in central Southampton, and, contrary to popular belief, not that much craft with wood is actually involved! We talk to parents and children to find out what really goes on, and learn a little about the organisation’s history, too.
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 Our busy directory section. The 'Noticeboard' is now open again for new entries, following our recent site upgrade. It's free to add basic listings. Click here or contact us to find out more about Standard and Featured listings - both very modestly priced, and offering you more publicity while at the same time supporting the website. Fantastic! |
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 From a book on Southampton Murder Victims to I Love Southampton T-Shirts, we've added loads of local products to our Amazon store. So if you're looking for something unquely local out of interest or as a gift, take a look and see what's new. You can search for all other Amazon products via the store too, and all sales help fund the website, at no extra cost to you.
So if you like the website, why not support us next time you go Amazon shopping...
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 Here are some pics and memories of the recently demolished Old Boat House at the approach to Bitterne Park Triangle.
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Here’s an interesting Ordnance Survey map showing Blitz bomb locations around Southampton. |
Amateur songwriter Ed Hooke, who hails from Bitterne Park, writes to ask for background information about the brick fields, which he says were between Copsewood Road & Dimond Road (now the school’s sportsfield).
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 Sue Thomas describes how easy it is to relive those Wind in the Willows fantasies, courtesy of one of the area’s best kept secrets: St Denys Sailing and Rowing Club.
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From driving schools to music tutors, Yoga, Pilates and children's drama, check out the busy Classes and Tutors section on our noticeboard. It's just one of many sections listing businesses and community organisations - and the great news is, basic listings are still free. Lovely!
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