Passing hovercraft made Portsmouth pub regulars look twice - Nostalgia
Graham Stevens, who sent me the photograph, tells me this small-scale hovercraft was used as a test bed for the much larger VT1 hovercraft built at the Portchester shipyard.
It is seen in hover mode passing the Bridge Tavern with the old dredger Lypta which can just about be made out in the background through the spray.
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Hide AdThe hovercraft was powered by two Porsche 130 horsepower petrol engines for propulsion,and two VW (70hp) for lift. The superstructure was made of plywood.
The coal hopper on the right, which once helped feed the city’s giant power station in nearby Gunwharf Road has long since gone.
• My recent photographs of residents and children in Boulton Road, Southsea, was seen by Patricia Phillips, of Waterlooville.
She supplied the photograph on the right of residents outside the Duke of Devonshire pub at its junction with Albert Road.
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Hide AdMrs Phillips does not know why everyone was in fancy dress but she does know one of the faces.
Circled is Lilian Smith, her grandmother. And the person on the extreme right who is dressed as a clown is also one of her relations.
In recent decades the pub was always known as the Duke of Dev. But a more popular nickname was ‘Mollies’, after Mollie Powell.
Until last year, when she retired at the age of 88, she had spent 35 years running the pub and 52 as a landlady.
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Hide AdWhen she called time on her illustrious career, she told The News: ‘You can get a taxi to Mollie’s and they will know exactly where to take you.’
• On Wednesday I asked if anyone knew where Branksome House was. Deborah Croker, who runs the picture desk here at The News, got straight on the case and found it.
It turns out the house is opposite the pitch and putt golf course on the seafront.
It is 3, Eastern Parade, before Brading Avenue and opposite the 10th Hole cafe.
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Hide Ad• Our final picture today goes back more than a century to Southsea.
Seen at the Palmerston Road end of the Ladies Mile, with Western Parade in the background, are an Edwardian family out for a stroll.
Of course, there was not a car in sight. Bliss.
The air must have been so fresh in those far off days before petrol pollution.
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