Ian Crump

Kwik Save’s former Portswood store in Southampton is recalled as a staple for budget‑conscious locals and students during the 1980s and 1990s, remembered for its stark “No Frills” packaging, utilitarian layout and fast‑paced checkouts. The piece reflects on its role as a cultural landmark before competition from larger supermarket chains led to the brand’s disappearance in the late 2000s, leaving behind strong memories of its distinctive bargain‑driven shopping experience.

Millbrook School’s evolution from a 19th‑century rural institution to a modern Southampton secondary school is traced through periods of hardship, wartime tragedy, post‑war expansion, financial strain and eventual closure. The school hosted evacuees during World War II, later expanded into separate boys’ and girls’ schools, and developed a celebrated farm that earned national recognition. After failing an Ofsted inspection in 1996, a rapid turnaround restored academic success, leading to new facilities and ministerial recognition before the school ultimately merged into Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill in 2008. The original school farm continues today as Southampton City Farm.

The Mullard factory in Southampton grew into a major British semiconductor production center after the Second World War, employing thousands and collaborating with local institutions while shaping the region’s industrial culture. Its expansion in the 1950s and 1960s made it a key national supplier, supported by a large skilled workforce and strong community ties. The plant later faced industrial disputes, safety incidents, and significant job losses as competition and globalisation pressures grew under Philips ownership. Despite decline, the factory remains an important chapter in Southampton’s industrial heritage, reflecting both technological innovation and deep social impact.

Recalls the Olympic torch relay passing through Hampshire and Southampton in July 2012, highlighting the large crowds, festive atmosphere and resilience amid heavy rain. Describes key moments including local torchbearers carrying the flame through historic areas, a circuit at St Mary’s Stadium and the evening cauldron lighting in Mayflower Park, followed by an early‑morning restart before the torch moved on for further stops.

The New Forest cicada, once a familiar sound in Hampshire, disappeared by the early 1990s due to habitat changes and is considered extinct in Britain. A conservation partnership has begun an effort to reintroduce the species using female cicadas brought from northern France and housed in controlled enclosures at Paultons Park. If the insects successfully lay eggs and develop underground, their distinctive song could return to the region by the end of the decade.