Category: News

Herbert Lom Takes His Final Curtain


At the ripe old age of 95 actor Herbert Lom has died, peacefully in his sleep.

Renowned for his role as Inspector Clouseau’s long-suffering boss, Charles Dreyfus, in the Pink Panther films, Lom had a career spanning more than sixty years. Aside from the Pink Panther movies Lom also appeared opposite Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers in “The Ladykillers”, with Robert Mitchum, Jack Lemmon and Rita Hayworth in “Fire Down Below” ultimately appearing in over ninety films.

He was also no stranger to the stage where he appeared as the King of Siam in the original London production of “The King and I”. In the sixties Lom starred in British TV series, “The Human Jungle” which ran for two seasons.

Herbert Lom has left the world a wonderful legacy. My thoughts are with his family.

RIP Andy


Singer Andy Williams has died, at the age of 84, following a long battle with bladder cancer.

Best known for the song “Moon River” but he also had hits with “Can’t Get Used to Losing You” and “The Hawaiian Wedding Song”.

Back in the sixties “The Andy Williams Show” was popular viewing in our household, noted for the variety and big name guest star appearances and of course the catchphrase

Not Now… Not Ever… NEVER!!

followed by “The Cookie Bear” falling on his face.

Andy, you had a fabulous voice and have left us with many pleasant memories.

Dark Days – Dark Deeds


Two female officers from the Greater Manchester Police have, today, given their lives as they went about their normal public service.

29-year-old Dale Cregan was arrested after he walked into a police station in Tameside. Cregan has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder in relation to the investigations into the murders of David Short and Mark Short. He has also been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a police officer.

It is actions such as this that reinforce my belief that the death penalty should be brought back.

My thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of these two officers

South Parade Pier At Risk


South Parade Pier’s owners face liquidation over unpaid energy bills. The danger is if the owners of the pier have to close it down due to lack of income then the real rot will set in. All the while the pier is in active use there is a chance for it to be maintained and refurbished. As soon as the usage declines then so does the state of repair.

Everyone knows that these structures are expensive to maintain due to the harsh, salty and damp environment that they are in. There must be an argument for Portsmouth City Council or even Hampshire County Council stepping in and providing some degree of subsidy to ensure that South Parade Pier doesn’t go the way of Hastings and Brighton piers.

Seaside piers are part of our heritage. Many have succumbed to extreme weather, arsonists and old age. We almost lost South Parade Pier a few years ago, no thanks to Ken Russel and his crew who were filming Tommy at the time. We don’t want that to happen again.

Its time for local government or even national government to step in.

South Parade Pier’s owners face liquidation over unpaid energy bills – Local Business – Portsmouth News.

Curzon Rooms Fire – It Was Only A Matter Of Time


Once again, and the second time in less than a month, The Curzon Rooms in Waterlooville have been the target of arsonists.

The Curzon Rooms building has been an eyesore for many years, slowly decomposing, while the owners and Havant Borough Council have played pat-a-cake around the planning regs. The generally poor condition of the building has not been a welcoming site for potential businesses who may have been tempted to come to Waterlooville.

Havant Borough Council have not made life easy for the owners of the Curzon Rooms otherwise the site would have been redeveloped many years ago. In the meantime Waterlooville Town Centre has slowly gone down hill while the council focus on creating a “retail park” style shopping centre on the west side of the town.

So what was already an eyesore has now become even more of one. It is time for HBC to get the building forcibly demolished.

Curzon Rooms fire, Waterlooville. Picture Malcolm Wells
Curzon Rooms fire, Waterlooville. Picture Malcolm Wells

Police probing ‘suspicious’ derelict Waterlooville building blaze hunt youths – Local – Portsmouth News.

Rough seas and tide put an end to plucky lady’s dream


Chris Pitman is one plucky lady. She attempted one of the most arduous challenges for anyone let alone a 61 year old.

But it wasn’t to be. Weather and tides conspired against her and she had to give up just 5 miles from the French coast.

Chris should be really proud of her acheivement and the money that she has raised for charity.

Rough seas and tide put an end to dream of Channel record – News – Portsmouth News.

Good Luck Chris


Yes, good luck to 61 year old Chris Pitman who is attempting to become the oldest British woman to swim across the English Channel.

Chris, from Bedhampton, started her attempt earlier this morning at around 03:15. Leaving from Dover she expects the crossing to take between 15 and 18 hours.

I wish her the best of luck.

Chris starts her swim across the Channel – News – Portsmouth News.

What A Plonker


Judge Peter Bowers has given the victims of burglars across the country a huge slap in the face with his comments, made during the trial of Richard Rochford.

Judge Bowers told him

It takes a huge amount of courage as far as I can see for someone to burgle somebody’s house. I wouldn’t have the nerve.

How out of touch is this idiot.

Just ask anyone who has returned home or awoken to find their home has been the target of a burglar. Ask them about their feelings. I am sure they will tell you about violation and desecration of their homes. I am pretty sure you will not find anyone to praise the courage of the burglar.

The judge’s job is to oversee and administer the law, to ensure that justice is done. What the victims of crime want is to see that justice is done.

Praising the criminals for their courage does not show justice at work.

Here is what the victims and their families think of Rochford and Judge Bowers

Rochford stole a wallet containing £500 of life savings when he raided the home of retired shipyard worker John Hopper, 73, and wife Vera, 71.

Daughter Sharon Hopper, 40, said: ‘I can’t believe what the judge said. What really took courage was my parents having to continue living in their house after he had invaded their privacy.

Rochford ransacked the home of Mark Clayton, 47, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Bosnia. Mr Clayton said the judge made a ‘grave misjudgment’. He added: ‘Picking dead bodies up after they’ve been blown up, to go into that takes courage. Walking into someone’s house on an opportunistic whim and basically devastating someone’s life by taking things that man has worked so hard for all his life, and taking it away without a thought, isn’t courage.’

Judge Bowers has made contradictory statements when passing down sentence on other burglars.
In May, he criticised sentencing guidelines that let first-time burglars escape with a ‘slap across the wrist’.

But weeks later, he allowed a man with almost 80 crimes on his record to walk free for a burglary committed four days after his release from prison, telling the court: ‘I must be getting soft in my old age.’

I think he, Judge Bowers, is getting soft in his old age. He has been a judge for over twenty years and I think it is time for him, at the age of 67, to stand down.
He has lost his sense of perspective and he is not serving the British public as they should be served.

RIP Big Mike


The world lost yet another talent following the death of Michael Clarke Duncan yesterday morning.

Probably known best for his role as John Coffey in The Green Mile Duncan was never far from our screens, having appeared in many films and TV series. Duncan was nominated for both Academy and Golden Globe awards.

For my part I am currently enjoying his performances on the “Bones” spin-off “The Finder”, starring alongside Geoff Stults, Mercedes Masohn and Maddie Hasson.

He will be missed.

Hal David Walks On By


Prolific song writer Hal David has died, aged 91.

Oscar and Grammy winner David,along with Burt Bacharach wrote such hits as “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and “Walk on By” along with many other songs that have become standards such as “What’s It All About?”, “What’s New, Pussycat?”, “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and “What Do You Get When You Fall in Love?”. In all Hal David was credited with writing the lyrics of some 700 songs.

The world has lost a great talent.