Portsmouth shines ‘with energy and hope’ as Cathedral celebration marks city's 100th birthday
Portsmouth shone ‘with energy and hope’ as the city came together to officially celebrate its 100th birthday.
The Portsmouth100 Centenary Civic Service was held at Portsmouth Cathedral and not many corners of the city’s rich heritage and vibrant communities were left untouched as the past 10 decades were remembered with pride.
The service had something for everyone, encapsulated by poems representing two constants of the city’s history - football and the sea. Pompey Forever was written and read by Portsmouth FC’s Poet in Residence Bash Amuneni while The Theatre of the Sea - by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and adorning the sea defences near Southsea Castle - was read by community leader Marie Costa.
The poem Portsmouth Shines was also included in the service, containing the line: ‘Portsmouth shines with energy and hope, reflected in pride and purpose, art and aspiration’.
The city’s spirit of inclusion and togetherness was demonstrated through scripture readings by Michael Zeffertt, representing the Portsmouth and Southsea Synagogue, and Mohamedabbas Jaffer, representing the Muslim community.
Elsewhere, the official announcement in the London Gazette of April 23, 1936, conferring city status on Portsmouth was read by Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson and our brave servicemen and women were honoured with readings commemorating D-Day and The Falklands and a rousing singing of the Naval Hymn.
The service had started with ‘Portsmouth past and present’ as representatives of city institutions and organisations came forward with objects marking their significance for the city’s history - including a replica of the FA Cup, a framed patch from the national UK Pride Quilt and mementoes from The D-Day Story, The Queens Hotel, The Mary Rose and QA Hospital.
From The News came a plaque which had been displayed at The News Centre in Hilsea to mark the occasion in 1969 when the printing of the paper moved there from Stanhope Road.
Reading the sermon in front of the display of artefacts the Venerable Bob White, Archdeacon of Portsdown, said the items should not be taken just for what they were but for the stories and the memories they helped us recall. The collection was more a symbol of ‘the collective spirit and relationships’.
He added: ‘We are not here to talk about the great and the good, we are also not here to talk about these objects. We are here to talk about each and every person who through those hundred years has helped make this city what it is. What they all have in common is that community spirit, that nature of our city that runs so deep.
‘The fans at Fratton Park help us recognise what that community spirit might be as does the way we work together and we respond through situations like Covid and the way we as a community broke down barriers and worked as one with a loyalty to one and other and that desire to care for and support one another, particularly in times of need.’
The Venerable Bob also impressed that the celebration should not just be about looking back with a longing to the ‘golden days of yore, to the past as it was’.
‘That is not the purpose of this celebration,’ he said. ‘When we talk about remembering the past we are not merely looking back, we are bringing the past into the present and seeing how it has shaped and made us and to help us look to the future to see how that shape may be carried forward. The past is an inspiration and an encouragement to us as we continue to journey forward together.’
He added: ‘The challenge of us celebrating is to look beyond our current struggles, to look beyond the divisions, the arguments and the darkness of the world around us and to look to the future with hope… with a commitment to each other and to our community spirit.’
And with the city’s motto Heaven’s Light our Guide a recurrent theme of the special service, the Venerable Bob concluded: ‘May we continue on our journey to build communities filled with light, communities where all are cared for and respected and which enables us to be filled and flooded with heaven's light which we pray will always continue to be our guide.’