Nick Courtney has shared memories of Portsmouth after going through pictures from Courtney Photographics in Palmerston Road that his parents Roger Courtney and Tricia Courtney owned in the 60s.
Nick has been digitising footage and pictures of Portsmouth and surrounding areas.
This selection includes trips down memory lane to Palmerston Road, Old Portsmouth and reliving the visit of Princess Alexandra when she opened the new Queen Alexandra Hospital facilities in 1980.
The gallery also includes an iconic photo of HMS Victory taken by Roger in the late 60s which was used in tourist brochures and magazines for many years.
Nick, a music producer, said: “It was an amazing time to be living in Southsea in the 60s, it was a lot of fun. My mum was actually the photographer before my dad. She went to Canada when she was 19 and documented Canada and the USA for a couple of years. When my dad was between jobs she taught him photography before he opened his own shop.
“My mum died last year and I’m in the process of clearing her house and I discovered a box of 8mm silent movie film dating back to the 60s which is incredible footage of Portsmouth and family life back then.
“There’s days out to the Isle of Wight, the coming home of (renowned sailor) Alec Rose, the dairy fare which later became the Southsea Show. Just general things that people did back then like going to Hayling Island for the day. Stunning things that people haven’t seen for a very long time.
“Essentially what my mum and dad have done is document our lives without us knowing. My daughter asked whether I remembered my mum always being behind a camera and I said ‘no’ as it was normal for her to be behind a camera and my dad always had a camera around his neck.
“In the films at eight years old I’ve got a camera around my neck which I find quite amazing, though I suppose it’s no different to carrying a phone around today - but people just didn’t do it then. It wasn’t normal.”
Nick is happy to have discovered the pictures and footage but wants others to enjoy the memories too. “It feels great to have but better to share, which is why I created a Facebook page. It’s great to share it with anyone who is interested. Some of it is quite historic and some of it is just family fun. Hopefully people will like it,” he said.
“Seeing the Queens Hotel and the Hovercraft in its early days was great and the paddle steamers and Southsea Common. And just life in general with so much less traffic on the road - life wasn’t so busy and there was a lot more room around. People were enjoying themselves in far different ways to what they do today.
“Someone said if they wanted to go to Hayling today they would get an Uber but in those days you would go on push bikes. It’s amazing, we should do more of that. We should be making more memories. We shouldn’t get so excited when we see old memories that are so much better today. Maybe we should all be making memories.”
See footage from the 60s in the video attached.
You can find more pictures at www.facebook.com/courtneyphotographic
5. Portsmouth 1960s
Images from 1960s Portsmouth by Courtney Photographics Pictured: This photograph was taken by Roger Courtney, who worked as a medical photographer at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. The image captures the official visit of Princess Alexandra when she opened the new Queen Alexandra Hospital facilities in 1980. Crowds of nurses, staff and local officials gathered to welcome her as she arrived for the ceremony on Portsdown Hill. Queen Alexandra Hospital has served Portsmouth and the surrounding area for generations, but the modern hospital complex was formally opened in 1980 during this royal visit. Roger spent many years documenting life at the hospital through his work, recording important moments like this that became part of Portsmouth’s history. Picture: Courtney Photographics Photo: Courtney Photographics
6. Portsmouth 1960s
Images from 1960s Portsmouth by Courtney Photographics Pictured: 1960s Old Portsmouth and such a mixture of architectural, taken by Roger Courtney, from the Isle of Wight Ferry. Picture: Courtney Photographics Photo: Courtney Photographics
7. Portsmouth 1960s
Images from 1960s Portsmouth by Courtney Photographics Pictured: 1968 - Palmerston Road, Southsea. Check out the Blue Star garage on the left and Handleys Superstore in at the end of the road. Picture: Courtney Photographics Photo: Courtney Photographics
8. Nick Courtney shares memories of Portsmouth
Nick Courtney shares memories of Portsmouth of parents Roger Courtney and Tricia Courtney who owned Courtney Photographics in Southsea in the 60s Pictured: Nick Courtney at his late mother's home in Copnor, Portsmouth, on Tuesday 25th February 2026 Picture: Habibur Rahman Photo: Habibur Rahman