A Journey Through 1976

A Celebration at the Lord Mayor's Parlour

So 1976 was the start of Southampton Tourist Guides Association, and fifty years on it’s still going strong sharing the city’s history. I was a student at the University of Southampton back then. I’d had two years staying in the palatial Chilworth Manor. Now it’s a hotel but then it was a Hall of Residence for 69 male students. I’d been a founder member of a church group initially called Southampton Christian Fellowship, now New Community Church, which met at firstin the premises of Southampton Society for the Blind on Bassett Avenue but during the year moved to Winn Road, then home of the Gregg School. Truth to tell though I wasn’t in Southampton for the first half of the year as I had, as part of my course, a year in Paris. I worked as a teaching assistant at a Lycée near Gare Saint Lazare just by Boulevard Haussmann, the Oxford Street of Paris. I rented two rooms on the sixth floor of a typical apartment block near the Eiffel Tower. It sounds idyllic till I tell you there was no lift and I had to climb 138 steps to get to my flat. So the day Southampton won the FA Cup, the first of May I was in the Bois de Vincennes with a transistor radio trying to listen to a far off BBC commentary. That evening with some friends we ate in the Latin Quarter. They were carefree days, but all good things…..During that scorching Summer after a holiday in the Dordogne, I came back to Southampton. I had a summer job at IBM in Havant, and shared a flat in Furzedown Road by the Common as I resumed my studies. Fifty years on I’ve come to love the city and appreciate its history. I trained as a tour guide when I’d started working with East European migrants in 2005. I wanted to communicate Southampton’s heritage to them so they would love and respect their new home.As guides we have an amazing story to tell about Southampton. If you’ve not done one of our walks, put it right this year, STGA’s fiftieth anniversary. In December 1976 I started going out with a young lady who’s now my long suffering wife, but that’s another story!

In 1976, Southampton was a city in the middle of change. Old ways of life were starting to fade, while new ideas and developments were taking their place. Industry was still strong, transport was being modernised, and the docks were adapting to a changing world. It was also the year the Southampton Tourist Guides Association was set up, showing that even as the city moved forward, people were beginning to see the importance of holding on to its past and explaining it to others. It was a year that gave the city plenty to be proud of. Against all the odds, Southampton Football Club won the FA Cup, beating Manchester United at Wembley. It was a huge moment, and the celebrations spread right across the city, bringing people together in a way few events ever do. Everyday life had its own soundtrack in 1976. Songs like Save Your Kisses for Me by Brotherhood of Man were everywhere after their Eurovision win, and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee seemed to be playing nonstop. You’d hear them in workplaces, cafés, pubs, and on the radio in cars stuck in traffic. The most popular film was Jaws, and one episode of The Sweeney attracted 20 million viewers. There were only three TV channels BBC1, BBC2, and ITV, with 50% of sets black and white. Southampton was still very much a working city. Big employers such as Vosper Thornycroft, Ford, BAT, Mullards, Dimplex, Solent Carpets, AC Delco, Standard Telephone & Cables, and Pirelli provided jobs for thousands of local people. The old power station on the western side of the city was undergoing demolition. It was symbolic as heavy industry across the country was beginning to decline. Most manual workers clocked-in and clocked-out of work, earned around £65 per week for 42 hours, and were paid in cash at the end of the week in a pay packet. In 1976 official inflation was running at 16%. A three-bed semi cost around £11,000, and around 30% of homes in Southampton were council houses. Getting around the city was changing too. Major road works were under way, including the early stages of the Mountbatten Way western approach road. At the same time, the Itchen Bridge was taking shape above the river. Watching it rise was impressive, and it felt like a sign that Southampton was stepping into a more modern future. Life around the docks was also changing. Southampton was still known for ocean liners, but it was clear that the old days were coming to an end. Ships like the Pendennis Castle and Edinburgh Castle made their final journeys, watched by dock workers and onlookers who knew they were seeing the end of an era. Even so, ships like the QE2 and the Canberra kept some of that sense of grandeur alive. The opening of the container docks showed where the future really lay, with global trade becoming more important than passenger travel. Cross-Channel ferries were still busy in 1976, running from Princess Alexandra Dock, later known as Ocean Village. Services to France were a normal part of daily port life, even though some longer routes to Lisbon and Tangiers had ended the year before. There was also more competition, especially after Portsmouth opened its new ferry port. When work was done, people knew how to enjoy themselves. Nightlife in Southampton was thriving, with places like the Top Rank Suite standing out. Its revolving stage, and balcony overlooking the packed dance floor made it a favourite spot for nights out, and it attracted big-name acts as well as local crowds. Dancing at the Royal Pier was also popular, offering entertainment right by the water and continuing a long tradition of seaside leisure. Southampton was the regional shopping centre with major department stores, Tyrell and Green, Plummers, Debenhams, Owen Owen, Bourne & Hollingsworth and Marks & Spencer. Other stores included the British Home Stores, the Co-op, Woolworths, and Chelsea Girl. The summer of 1976 is still remembered for the heat. The long heatwave and drought brought weeks of sunshine, dry parks, and water restrictions. Southampton Lido was busier than ever as people tried to cool off, and it became a real meeting place that summer, even though it would close not long after. Looking back, Southampton in 1976 was a city full of contrasts. There was still plenty of industry, but closures were on the horizon. Old liners were disappearing as container ships took over. It was a year of great weather, memorable music, and big changes. Now, fifty years on, the founding of the Southampton Tourist Guides Association that year feels especially important. It began at a time when the city was changing fast, and for half a century it has helped people understand Southampton’s past and keep its stories alive for future generations.

On a certain New Year’s Eve—not just any, but the one in a millennium when the cosmos decides to do something dramatic—a comet skimmed low over Southampton, paused politely above Marlands Park, and promptly froze time. Literally. Every clock hand in the city halted one tick before midnight. Even the Civic Centre Clock Tower seemed to hold its breath. And that, naturally, is when the statues woke up. Isaac Watts, small, scholarly, and looking permanently like he’d misplaced a quill, blinked his stone eyelids open. His statue, which had been staring dutifully at the Civic Centre Clock Tower, creaked as it stretched. “Well bless my soul,” he said in a lilting limerick, for Isaac could not speak otherwise: “There once was a clock in my view, That suddenly froze—what to do? If time’s gone astray, Then this New Years Day Is surely a curious brew!” From another plinth not far away came a great rumbling harrumph. Richard Andrews—the burly carriage builder, ex-farmhand, self-made mayor, and Southampton’s own Dick Whittington—shook himself awake like a granite bear. “Cor,” he muttered in a deep Hampshire burr, “who turned off the town, then? Can’t even hear the stage coaches.” The two statues clambered down, Isaac landing with the delicacy of a falling leaf, Richard with the impact of a dropped anvil. Isaac looked up—way up—at Andrews. Good evening, Mr Andrews Dear I beg your pardon Mr Mayor I hope my freedom you’ll excuse And one request you’ll not refuse That is to shake of your right hand My name is Watts at your command Andrews scratched his stone head. “You always talk like that?” “Rhyming,” Isaac sniffed, “is the lubrication of intellectual gears.” Then, softer, “Also I can’t stop.” They took in the eerie stillness. Even the pigeons were frozen mid-flap. Isaac clasped his tiny hands behind his back. “Southampton, between two rivers, now trapped between two ticks of time. Very poetic.” “Very inconvenient,” Andrews countered. “If time don’t start, who’s going to sweep the streets before the visitors arrive? I made sure this town looked proper smart—no good letting it go shabby, even for a cosmic kerfuffle.” Isaac nodded approvingly. “Your civic pride does you credit, good sir. How doth the little busy bee—” “Oh, not that one!” Andrews laughed. “Every schoolkid knows you for that. And Dogs delight to bark and bite . You wrote hymns too, didn’t you?” Isaac puffed up proudly. “Over six hundred. And listen—” As if on cue, the frozen Civic Centre Clock Tower let out a single, suspended chime, a note stretched thin through the unmoving air: Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past . Andrews whistled. “That’s you?” “It is,” Isaac said, preening. “Wrote it in 1719. I could have done it in Latin when I was ten years old, you know.” Andrews shrugged. “I only had four years o’ schoolin’. Then farm work. Ten miles a day on foot. Blacksmithing. Carriage factories. Mayor. You know. Normal stuff.” Isaac eyed the big man thoughtfully. “A labourer walking so far, Then forging his fate like a star! Though humble your start, You’ve a kingmaker’s heart— Your life is a splendid memoir.” Andrews chuckled. “You’re all brains and rhymes, ain’t you? And me, all muscle and muck. Funny pair we make.” The comet above shimmered, shedding a faint glow over the park. “Perhaps,” Isaac mused, “this cosmic pause is a reminder. That history is more than books and plaques. It’s people. And the odd statue.” “Too right,” Andrews said. “But I reckon it’s time we let the town unfreeze. Visitors’ll be comin’ for New Year’s Day.” As though obeying him, the comet winked—and time lurched forward. The chime finished, a pigeon completed its flap, traffic resumed grumbling. The two statues scrambled back to their plinths. Just before they froze again, Isaac whispered one last limerick: “On New Year’s when comets draw near, Two statues made history appear. Though made out of stone, We’re never alone— Southampton remembers us here.” Andrews grinned. “Happy New Year, mate.” And Southampton ticked on. END

Southampton is set to shine this September as it takes part in Heritage Open Days with a series of special guided tours celebrating the city’s rich history, green spaces, and architectural legacy. The tours, to compliment the national Heritage Weeks programme, will offer locals and visitors rare insights into some of the city’s most iconic and overlooked sites. Five of our guides have prepared tours based on the specialist areas of knowledge. They explore the Common, the Parklands, Churches and Religious Houses of the Old Town, the architecture and characters of historic Bugle Street and the Regency splendour of the Carlton Crescent conservation area. Walks cost £10pp , accompanied children free. View our schedule and Book here

We are excited to offer a new tour to explore the hidden history of Southampton Old Town. Step through centuries in this quiet yet evocative journey through Southampton’s Old Town. Beginning at God’s House Tower the walk threads past cobbled alleys and forgotten chapels, skirting the ruins of the friary and into hidden vaults. Discover the stories of the friars, pioneers and the merchants who left their mark on Southampton, still visible today, if you know where to look. Our collaboration with God’s House Tower offers a new opportunity to discover the history of the South and East of the Old Town. 10% discount on entrance to God’s House Tower Exhibition. Discover the history of God’s House and Tower a beautifully restored medieval gateway into the city’s Old Town. Climb to the roof, it’s only 67 steps, and offers stunning views of the Old Town and Harbour. 10% discount at God’s House Tower Cafe Relax and enjoy a reviving drink where historic charm meets modern comfort. Tours are Mondays at 1pm. Meet a God’s House Tower. Starting Monday 18 August. Check out our schedule to find a tour that suits you and book online using the book now button or pay on the day. Tours cost £10, accompanied under 16s go free.

This August, swap your sandals for walking shoes and unlock the history hidden in Southampton’s streets. Whether it’s medieval vaults, literary legends, or maritime memories, our guided walks are bursting with tales waiting to be told. Overground and Underground Walk the city’s medieval walls and descend into centuries-old vaults once echoing with the footsteps of history. Expect atmospheric storytelling and a touch of mystery beneath the cobblestones. 📍 Starts at Bargate North Side Dates & Times: • Sat 2 Aug – 10:30 • Sun 3 Aug – 10:30 • Mon 4 Aug – 18:30 • Fri 8 Aug – 14:30 • Sat 9 Aug – 10:30 • Sun 10 Aug – 10:30 • Mon 11 Aug – 11:00 • Sat 16 Aug – 10:30 • Sun 17 Aug – 10:30 • Sat 23 Aug – 10:30 • Sun 24 Aug – 10:30 • Fri 29 Aug – 14:00 • Sat 30 Aug – 10:30 • Sun 31 Aug – 10:30 In the Footsteps of Jane Austen Discover where Jane Austen lived, laughed, and likely pondered the stories we still adore. This walk is a gentle dive into Regency Southampton and Austen’s place within it. 📍 Starts at Bargate North Side Dates & Times: • Sat 2 Aug – 11:00 • Fri 15 Aug – 14:00 • Fri 22 Aug – 14:00 • Sat 30 Aug – 11:00 Titanic Trail Uncover the poignant connections between Southampton and the RMS Titanic. Through real stories and historic landmarks, this tour honours the city's maritime legacy. 📍 Starts at Holy Rood Memorial Garden Date & Time: • Sat 2 Aug – 11:00 Coming Soon: Stories of the Old Town Launching this August — a brand-new walk peeking behind Southampton’s shutters into daily life of times gone by. Expect vivid narratives and charming surprises. Whether you’re chasing romance, drama, or mystery — these walks deliver it all. Come curious, leave captivated.

July Walks 2025 Our New YouTube video by Jake Simpkin Take a look at our latest video and subscribe to our free YouTube channel. We look forward to seeing you on one of our tours. You can use the 'Book Now' button to see our schedule and to reserve your place.