aka Mickey Morgan

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A brief, as brief as possible, personal music history.

I was told my Grandmother played the piano. My aunt had a piano in the front room, and I would try to play it every time we visited. Aged about 8, my parents got a piano from Bennetts in New Road, and I had lessons, but it didn't last and the piano went back to Bennetts. At Portsdown Secondary School I played the recorded and got into the school orchestra.
When I started work I bought a Grafton saxophone and had lessons at Courtney and Walkers in Arundle Street, and slowly progressed. I became friends with a local 'beat group' and eventually bought a cheap keyboard, called a Solente! It must have been made locally?I played some gigs with it, and eventually decided to upgrade with a Vox Continental Organ bought from Stan Bennett in their Fratton Road shop. After a few years, about 1966, I upgrade this to a Hammond L Organ and Leslie Cabinet brought from Billy Bennett in the New Road Shop. I then had a brief spell in 'Jamie's Kin' and then onto the Soul Society. About 18 months later I join the Universal Trash Band as they changed their name to Heaven. We played one special gig at the Carre Theatre in Amsterdam, and also on the 1969 IOW Festiva working for the MMF Agency.
Early in 1970 the Heaven days ended and I went into a different musical direction with a drummer I played and sang around local clubs and pubs. In 1972 I met with Geoff Davis and Jim Armstrong.
In 1973 whilst playing a summer season in Clacton on Sea with Geoff and co, I up graded to a split Hammond T Organ from a shop in Chelmsford.
In 1974 Geoff, Jim and I started at the Honky Tonk Bar, previously called the Festival Bar, below Joannas on Southsea seafrontI later bought a Yamaha B55 from Brain Lake at Highfield Road, Waterlooville. The Honky days ended early in 1980, so with Mike King on drums, again played around local clubs and pubs and did three summer seasons on the South Parade Pier 1981/82/83. At this time I started do solo gigsThen around 1983 I bought a Yamaha C605P and two cabinets also from Brain Lake Music at Highfield Road Waterlooville.
I bought two Yamaha HS6 organs, one for home and one for on the road. Towards the end of the 1984, I went fully solo.
Next a bought a Yamaha keyboard PSR 6700, heavy but more portable which was stolen from the back of my van. Then came a Gem WX2 and then a WK8 which I used until I retired with a last gig at the Red Lion Hotel Fareham on Christmas day 2008.
1958 First ever on stage performance playing the recorder in the Portsdown School Orchestra at Copnor Methodist Church.
1964 First paid gig at Andover TA Hall with the Portsmouth group, the Original For-tunes. They later changed their name to The Rampant. Group included Ron Hughes, Ken Hughes, Dave Cawte, Paul Spooner, Pete Richardson, Jo Lake Don Golding
1967 Joined Jamies Kin for just a handful of gigs, with Nigel baker, Jim Hanley, and others .
1967 Joined Soul Society, with Phil Freeman (V), Stuart Ward (G), Doug Chalmers (BG) replaced by Mark Hunter (BG), John Davis (G/S), Mick Cooper (K) replaced by Rod Watts (K), Graham Parker/John Pratt/DuPret/Alan Dodds/Kenny Hill drummers
Late 1968 Joined The Universal Trash Band, who instantly changed the name to Heaven.
Played on the 1969 IOW Festival. Brian kemp, Andy Scarisbrick, Ray Holloway, Ray King and Dave Gautrey.
Left Heaven early 1970 and worked with drummers as a duo. Mike Spring, and Alan Fraser.
1972 Joined up with Geoff Davis and Jim Armstong, semi resident at the Spring Inn Sholing, Southampton.
1973 Summer season at Highfield Holiday Centre, Clacton on See with Geoff, Jim and Shelly Marden.
1974 Started at the Honky Tonk on South Parade, Southsea, with Geoff Dave and Jim Armstrong. Later joined by Dave Knight and Chriss Lowe. Geoff left for a time and returned with a new line up of Nobby Glover and Fred Illingworth and myself. Nobby left and was replaced by Mike 'Clump' King.
1980 Left the Honky Tonk and continued as a duo with Mike 'Clump' KJing. One nighters, and three summer seasons on South Parade Pier 1981/82/83. The final booking was at Hove Town Hall on new yerars eve 1985.
1986 Continued as a duo with different depping drummers, who included John Hammond, Roy Huggett, Ron Lang, Harry Gray and others.
1992 Decided to go solo as the keyboard I played had bass and drum sounds.
2008 New years eve at the Red Lion Hotel fareham, my last ever 'on stage' performance.
aka Mick Cooper

First live gig Andover TA Hall 1964 with Portsmouth group/band The For-Tune$, who later changed the name to The Original Fot-Tune$ when the Decca recording group of that name became popular, and then another name change to The Rampant.Left to join The Soul Society, for about 18 mkonths, then around six months with Jamies Kin.Joined Heaven late 1968 and left early 1970.Worked with several drummers including Mike Spring for a few years and then joined up with Geoff Davis guitar/vocals and Jim Armstrong drums/vocals for local gigs, and then a summer season at Highfields Holiday Park Clacton on sea in 1973. From 1974 to around 1980 a residency at the Honky Tonk Bar on South Parade Southsea. Continued with a duo Mike King drums and did three summer seasons on South Parade Pier, 1981.1982.1983. After this more duo work with vaious drummes including Hary Smith, Dave Petley, John Hammond, Roy Huggett, eventually playing solo gigs from around 1986.
Organs/keyboards used over the years, Solente , Vox Continental, Hammond L,
Hammond T split, Yamaha B55 Yamaha C605, General music WK8.

1986 July 13th Labour Club Portsmouth
1986 August 15th Gosport Trades Club
1986 October 23rd St James Hospital Social Club Portsmouth
1986 October 26th Admiral Cunningham
1986 November 14th Gosport Trades Club

1987 February 15th Robin Hood Gosport
1987 February 19th Bridgemary Manor Hotel Gosport
1987 February 22nd Admiral Cunningham
1987 May 3rd Labour Club Portsmouth
1987 May 10th HMS Dolphin
1987 June 5th Gosport Trades Club
1987 July 17th Stamshaw/Tipner Leisure Centre
1987 July 26th Admiral Cunningham
1987 July 28th Hill Park WMC
1987 August 2nd Fareham WMC
1987 August 6th Labour Club Portsmouth
1987 August 7th Gosport Trades Club
1987 August 16th Cosham Conservative Club
1987 August 30th Admiral Cunningham
1987 September 11th Hill Park WMC
1987 September 18th Fratton Legion
1987 September 20th Cowplain Social Club
1987 September 29th Cowplain Social Club
1987 October 16th Fareham WMC
1987 October 23rd White Horse Gosport
1987 December 4th Fratton Legion
1987 December 8th Colts Social Club Havant
1987 December 12th White Horse Gosport
1987 December 13h Cowplain Social Club

1988 January 7th Marconi Social Club Waterlooville
1988 January 31st Admiral Cunningham
1988 February 7th Cowplain Social Club
1988 February 19th Fratton Legion
1988 March 11th Hill Park WMC
1988 March 17th Sandringham Hotel Southsea
1988 April 22nd Fratton Legion
1988 June 3rd Hill Park WMC Fareham
1988 July 15th SPP Southsea
1988 July 24th Cosham Conservative Club
1988 July 29th Fratton Legion
1988 August 15th HMS Daedelus Gosport
1988 October 13th Kenwoods Social Club Havant
1988 December 15th Kenwoods Social Club Havant

1989 January 8th Kenwoods Social Club Havant
1989 March 17th Fratton Legion
1989 May 1st Hospitality Inn Southsea
1989 September 8th Fratton Legion
1989 December 19th Shaftesbury Bingo Hall Portsmouth
1989 December 20th Clarence Club Gosport
1989 December 27th YMCA Penny Street Portsmouth

1990 January 13th Marconi Social Club Waterlooville
1990 January 27th Melvilles Bar Southsea
1990 February 10th Curlew Havant
1990 February 16th Fratton Legion
1990 March 3rd Langstone Conservative Club
1990 April 28th Langstone Conservative Club
1990 June 15th Fratton Legion
1990 June 30th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1990 July 7th Langstone Conservative Club
1990 July 22nd Southsea Liberal Club
1990 August 31st Fareham WMC Mill rd
1990 September 8th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1990 September 29th Langstone Conservative Club
1990 November 2nd Fratton Legion
1990 November 3rd Langstone Conservative Club
1990 November 17th Lake Road Masonic Portsmouth
1990 December 6th Co-op Club Portsmouth
1990 December 8th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1990 December 12th Longdean Lodge Paulsgrove
1990 December 13th Arcade Hotel (Ibis) Portsmouth
1990 December 24th Langstone Conservative Club
1990 December 28th Fratton Legion
1990 December 29th Leigh Park Community Centre

1991 January 20th Cosham Conservative Club
1991 January 26th Melvilles Bar Southsea
1991 March 8th Fratton B Legion
1991 March 9th Langstone Conservative Club
1991 March 27th Longdean Lodge Paulsgrove
1991 April; 28th Langstone Conservative Club
1991April 20th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1991 May 24th Fratton B Legion
1991 June 9th Southsea Lioberal Club
1991June 15th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1991 June 16th Admiral Cunningham
1991 July 13th Mangeham Rythe Sailing Club Hayling
1991 July 28th Southsea Liberal Club
1991 August 17th Fratton B Legion
1991 September 6th RNEBS Club Southsea
1991 September 7th Langstone Conservative Club
1991 September 21st St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1991 October 11th Fratton B Legion
1991 October 19th Hayling Legion
1991 November 2nd Langstone Conservative Club
1991 November 24th Admiral Cunningham
1991 December 6th Fratton B Legion
1991 December 14th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1991 December 19th Longdean Lodge Paulsgrove

1992 January 3rd Fratton B Legion
1992 January 25th Melvilles Bar Southsea
1992 February 15th Fareham Conservative Club
1992 March 23rd St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1992 April 9th Longdean Lodge Paulsgrove
1992 May 9th Lobster Pot Waterlooville
1992 May 12th Leigh Park Community Centre
1992 May 30th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1992 June 27th Derby Tavern Portsmouth
1992 July 4th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1992 August 5th British Telecom Club Cosham
1992 August 7th Hants Ex Servicemens Portsmouth
1992 August 30th Admiral Cunningham
1992 September 25th Leigh P WMC
1992 October 3rd Hants Ex Servicemens Portsmouth
1992 December 5th St Josephs Church Hall Copnor
1992 December 19th HEDCA Gosport
1992 December 20th Admiral Cunningham
1992 December 24th Kepple’s Head Portsea
1992 December 27th Hants Ex

1993 January 29th Leigh Park WMC
1993 February 13th St Josephs Church Hall Coopnor
1993 March 26th Dockyard Club
1993 May 8th The Lobster Pot Waterlooville
1993 June 6th Alexandra Bowling Club
1993 June 8th Gosport Civil Service Club
1993 July 2nd Fareham WMC
1993 July 3rd Portchester Social Club
1993 August 29th Admiral Cunningham
1993 September 5th Alexandra Bowling Club Portsmouth
1993 September 11th QA Social Club
1993 November 6th St Josephs Church Hall Coopnor
1993 November 20th Gosport Conservative club
1993 November 21 Admiral Cunningham Fareham
1993 November 26thy Leigh Par WMC
1993 December 11th Connaught Hall Portsmouth
1993 December 13th Longdean Lodge Paulsgrove
1993 December 17th HEDCA Gosport
1993 December 24th Marriott Hotel North Harbour

1994 January 7th Leigh Park WMC
1994 February 4th Fratton Legion
1994 February 26th The Old Canal Portsmouth
1994 March 5th Radical Club Portsmouth
1994 April 16th Red Lion Fareham
1994 May 10th Leigh Park WMC
1994 May 14th Victory Club HMS Nelson Portsmouth
1994 May 27th Civil Service Club Copnor
1994 June 3rd Froddington Arms Portsmouth
1994 June 4th Co-op Club Portsmouth
1994 June 5th HMS Nelson Portsmouth (midday)
1994 June 5th Melvilles Southsea (evening)
1994 June 8th Crown Bingo Fareham
1994 June 9th Crown Bingo Portsmouth (Shaftesbury)
1994 June 10th Railway Staff Club Fratton
1994 June 17th Thatched House Milton
1994 July 10th Sportsmans Rest Copnor
1994 July 15th Seacrest Hotel Southsea
1994 August 7th Alexandra Bowling Club Portsmouth
1994 August 28th Southsea Conservative Club
1994 September 30th Leigh Park WMC
1994 October 1st HMS Dolphin Gosport
1994 October 7th Watersedge Community Centre Paulsgrove
1994 November 6th Hayling Community Centre
1994 December 20th Longdean Lodge Paulsgrove

1995 January 6th Leigh Park WMC
1995 January 14th Solent Hotel Southsea
1995 January 28th Highbury Community Centre
1995 February 24th Leigh Park WMC
1995 May 8th White Swan Gosport
1995 May 13th Victory Club
1995 June 3rd Fareham WMC
1995 August 25th Leigh Park WMC
1995 August 27th Hayling Legion
1995 September 23rd Beaumont Court Cosham
1995 November 3rd Hayling Golf Club
1995 November 4th Leigh Park Community Centre
1995 December 6th Blue Lagoon Hilsea
1995 December 9th Masonic Hall Horndean
1995 December 11th Masonic Hall Guildhall Walk Portsmouth
1995 December 15th Havant Legion
1995 December 17th Fieldgate Nursing Home Horndean
1995 December 19th Moneyfields Portsmouth
1995 December 24th Leigh Park WMC
1995 December 26th Lee OTS Legion

1996 January 9th Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1996 January 12th Moneyfields Social Club Portsmouth
1996 January 17th Lee OTS Legion
1996 January 27th St Albans Church Hall Havant
1996 February 17th Lee OTS Conservative Club
1996 March 9th Lovedean Village Hall
1996 March 23rd Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1996 April 13th Kellys Hotel Gosport
1996 May 6th Watersedge Community Centre Paulsgrove
1996 May 11th The Old Canal Portsmouth
1996 June 9th Cosham Conservative Club
1996 June 29th Clanfield Memorial Hall
1996 July 6th RNOCC Club Portsmouth
1996 July 7th Solent Hotel Southsea
1996 July 20th The Old Canal Portsmouth
1996 July 25th Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1996 July 27th The Sportsman’s Rest Copnor
1996 August 4th Cosham Conservative Club
1996 August 24th Southsea Conservative Club
1996 August 31st Victory Club HMS Nelon Portsmouth
1996 October 20th Cosham Conservative Club
1996 October 23rd Hayling Legion
1996 November 23rd The Cabmans Rest Portsmouth
1996 December 2nd Asda Waterlooville
1996 December 3rd Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1996 December 6th Connaught Drill Hall Portsmouth
1996 December 13th Masonic Hall Guildhall Walk Portsmouth
1996 December 14th Rock Gardens Hotel Southsea
1996 December 18th Moneyfield Social Club Copnor
1996 December 19th St Mary’s Hospital Portsmouth
1996 December 26th Lee OTS Legion (midday)
1996 December 26th Hilton Hotel Portsmouth (evening)

1997 March 1st Victory Club Portsmouth
1997 April 1st Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1997 August 9th Nuffield Centre Portsmouth
1997 December 18th Regency Nursing Home Southsea
1997 December 24th Solent Hotel Southsea

1998 January 10th The Borrow Centre Cowplain
1998 April 15th Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1998 May 2nd Fratton Legion
1998 May 9th Maylings Manor Hotel Fareham
1998 May 23rd Labour Club Portsmouth
1998 June 6th Nuffield Center Portsmouth
1998 July 10th Bransbury Park Community Centre
1998 August 22nd Victory Club HMS Nelson Portsmouth
1998 September 11th The Home Club Portsea
1998 September 12th Swordfish Bar Lee OTS
1998 December 9th Jolly Sailor Southsea
1998 December 11th Co-op Club Portsmouth
1998 December 14th White lodge Gardens Fareham
1998 December 15th Town Court Portsmouth
1998 December 18th Bransbury Park Community Centre Portsmouth
1998 December 24th Solent Hotel Southsea
1998 December 31st Marriott Hotel North Harbour

1999 January 23rd Lee on the Solent Golf Club
1999 February 10th Co-op Club Portsmouth
1999 April 3rd Southsea Conservative Club
1999 May 22nd Solent Hotel Southsea
1999 June 17th Greenwich Court Portsmouth
1999 June 26th Solent Hotel Southsea
1999 August 15th George & Dragon Portsmouth
1999 September 18th Haslar Detention Centre Gosport
1999 September 25th/26th Fratton Trades Club
1999 November 27th Oliver Twist Portsmouth
1999 December 14th Moneyfields Social Club Portsmouth
1999 December 15th Town Court Portsmouth
1999 December 16th Agnew House Gosport
1999 December 24th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea

2000 January 20th All Seasons Nursing Home Southsea
2000 July 30th Cosham Conservative Club
2000 August 4th Southsea Conservative Club

2001 April 21st Langstone Conservative Club
2001 June 1st Royal Beach Hotel Southsea
2001 June 23rd HMS Collingwood Fareham
2001 June 30th Southsea Conservative Club
2001 July 4th The Braemar Southsea
2001 July 21st Alexandra Bowling Club Portsmouth
2001 September 3rd Fratton British Legion
2001 September 22nd Fratton British Legion
2001 October 26th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea
2001 October 27th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea
2001 October 30th Fleetlands Social Club Gosport
2001 November 28th Hillside Centre Paulsgrove
2001 December 5th Hill Park WMC Fareham
2001 December 12th St Lukes Chuch Hall Portsmouth
2001 December 13th Hill Park WMC Fareham
2001 December 14th Havant Legion
2001 December 15th Ladywood House Portsmouth
2001 December 30th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea

2002 January 12th Langstone Conservative Club
2002 March 9th Hill Park WMC Fareham
2002 April 3rd Hill Park WMC Fareham
2002 April 19th Palmerstone Bowling Club Fareham
2002 May 8th Home Club Portsmouth
2002 May 14th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea
2002 May 31st Sandringham Hotel Southsea
2002 June 3rd Mount William Club Purbrook (midday)
2002 June 3rd Ladywood House Portsmouth
2002 June 5th St Lukes Church Hall Portsmouth
2002 June 7th Havant Legion
2002 June 8th Ford Lodge Portsmouth
2002 June 13th Home Club Portsmouth
2002 June 26th Home Club Portsmouth
2002 July 5th Havant Legion
2002 August 13th Leigh Park WMC
2002 August 17th Hants EX Serv Fratton Road Portsmouth
2002 September 13th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea
2002 November 30 Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2002 December 1st Southern Electric Sports Club Drayton
2002 December 4th Hill Park WMC Fareham
2002 December 17th Moneyfields Social Club Portsmouth (midday)
2002 December 17th Havant Legion (evening)
2002 December 18th St Lukes Church Hall Portsmouth

2003 February 14th Venetian Garden House Southsea
2003 February 23rd Hayling Legion
2003 April 14th Royal Beach Hotel Southsea
2003 April 25th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2003 May 3rd Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2003 May 13th Home Club Portsmouth
2003 May 17th LOTS Golf Club
2003 May 20th Home Club Portsmouth
2003 May 24th Gosport Conservative Club
2003 June 3rd Home Club Portsmouth
2003 June 28th Langstone Conservative Club
2003 July 26th Havant Legion
2003 August 23rd Carlton Club Drayton
2003 August 28th Home Club Portsmouth
2003 August 30th Ladywood House Portsmouth
2003 September 24th Home Club Portsmouth
2003 October 4th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2003 October 11th Home Club Portsmouth
2003 October 18th Dockyard Club Portsmouth
2003 October 31st Ladywood House Portsmouth
2003 December 3rd Milton Village Hall Portsmouth
2003 December 7th HEDCA Gosport
2003 December 9th Havant Legion
2003 December 17th St Lukes Church Hall Portsmouth
2003 December 21st Home Club Portsmouth
2003 December 24th Fawnhope Rest Home Havant
2003 December 29th Langstone Conservative Club

2004 January 30th Masonic hall Gosport
2004 March 26th Havant Legion
2004 April 13th Co-op Club Portsmouth
2004 April 23rd Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2004 April 24th Home Club Portsmouth
2004 May 11th Home Club Portsmouth
2004 June 1st Home Club Portsmouth
2004 June 8th Home Club Portsmouth
2004 June 26th Highbury Community Centre Portsmouth
2004 August 21st Naval School of Medicine Gosport
2004 September 11th Langstone Conservative Club
2004 September 21st Home Club Portsmouth
2004 December 11th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2004 December 16th RMA Club Portsmouth

2005 January 25th Woodpath House Portsmouth
2005 February 5th RMA Club Portsmouth
2005 February 26th Home Club Portsmouth
2005 March 26th Home Club Portsmouth
2005 April 22nd Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2005 May 14th HMS Sultan Gosport
2005 June 6th Home Club Portsmouth
2005 June 18th RMA Club Portsmouth
2005 June 25th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2005 July 6th Hayling Legion
2005 August 11th Home Club Portsmouth
2005 August 20th Victory Bowling Club Portsmouth
2005 August 27th Thorngate Hall Gosport
2005 December 3rd R A O B Club Gosport
2005 December 19th Langstone Conservative Club

2006 April 26th Hayling Legion
2006 April 28th Fratton Legion
2006 April 29th Home Club Portsmouth
2006 May 16th Home Club Portsmouth
2006 May 26th Masonic Hall Fareham
2006 June 3rd Langstone Conservative Club
2006 July 26th St Lukes Church Hall Portsmouth
2006 September 5th Home Club Portsmouth
2006 November 10th Masonic Hall Gosport
2006 December 5th Guildhall Portsmouth
2006 December 6th Eastney Methodist Hall (midday)
2006 December 6th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham (evening)
2006 December 6th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2006 December 10th Bayith Rest Home Lovedean
2006 December 15th Swan Court Gosport
2006 December 17th Bayith Rest Home Lovedean
2006 December 20th St Lukes Church Hall Portsmouth
2006 December 25th Red Lion Fareham

2007 May 5th Langstone Conservative Club
2007 May 15th Home Club Portsmouth
2007 May 26th Masonic Hall Fareham
2007 June 23rd Whate Hart Portchester
2007 July 2nd Langstone Conservative Club
2007 August 11th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2007 August 22nd Home Club Portsmouth
2007 September 9th Royal Maritime Club Portsmouth
2007 September 12th Royal Maritime Club Portsmouth
2007 September 30th White House Milton
2007 October 26th Fareham Legion
2007 November 7th RMA Club Portsmouth
2007 November 30th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2007 December 8th Swan Court Gosport
2007 December 14th Fareham Legion
2007 December 15th Swan Court Gosport

2008 February 9th Masonic Hall Gosport
2008 May 24th Masonic Hall Fareham
2008 July 13th Royal Maritime Club Portsmouth
2008 August 22nd All Saints Church Hall Portsmouth
2008 September 6th White Hart Portchester
2008 November 28th Palmerston Bowling Club Fareham
2008 December 9th Co-op Club Portsmouth
2008 December 20th Swan Court Gosport
2008 December 25th Red Lion Fareham (The Final Gig!)


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Leigh Park

Staunton Country Park
PopulationApprox 27,500
OS grid referenceSU712082
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHavant
Postcode districtPO9
Dialling code(023)
PoliceHampshire
FireHampshire
AmbulanceSouth Central
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Hampshire
50°52′08″N0°59′13″W / 50.869°N 0.987°WCoordinates: 50°52′08″N0°59′13″W / 50.869°N 0.987°W

Leigh Park is a large suburb (population 27,500) of Havant, in Hampshire, England. It currently forms the bulk or whole of four electoral wards: Battins, Bondfields, Barncroft and Warren Park (generally referred to as 'The Warren').

Crown Bingo Leigh Park – Crown Bingo, Sombourne Dr, PO9 5AN Havant – rated 4.6 based on 54 reviews 'Great night out great staff very friendly and helpful. Jump to Sections of this page. Check Crown Bingo in Havant, Somborne Drive, Leigh Park on Cylex and find ☎ 023 9247 6321, contact info, reviews.

Staunton Country Park lies on the northern edge of Leigh Park, also within the Havant boundary.

History[edit]

Leigh Park existed before becoming a post Second world war housing estate,

Early history[edit]

As early as 1750 mention was made of a farm on the site in a will of that year and local historians consider it likely that a farm existed there around 100 years earlier.[1]

Leigh park estate[edit]

Leigh Park Estate may have been formed with the building of Leigh House by the then owner Samuel Harrison some time before 1791.[citation needed] The stables, walled garden and coach house of the house survived as part of Staunton Country Park. The estate encompassed decorative planting, lakes and follies[2] and was described as 'one of the most beautiful spots in the county' in 1826.[3]

In 'The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales' Leigh is described as a tything of Havant parish two miles to the north west of Havant with a population of 547.[4]

Second world war[edit]

Leigh Park was re-developed as a new suburb for those made homeless in Portsmouth by bomb damage which occurred during World War II and to enable the new roads and parks of Portsmouth to be built.

Post war[edit]

The land for the estate was purchased by Portsmouth City council from the Fitzwygram family in 1944; work started on building in 1947 and the first residents moved in during 1949. The first shops opened in 1952 (in Stone Square) and the main shopping centre of Park Parade / Greywell Shopping opened in 1955.[a]

Leigh Park Crown Bingo Tournament

The majority of homes in Leigh Park were built by Portsmouth City Council, not Havant Borough Council through a financially underwritten cooperation with the former Havant and Waterloo Urban District Council. Most Leigh Park tenants of social housing pay rent to the properties' owners Guinness Partnership (formerly Hermitage Housing) or Portsmouth City Council with has an office near Park Parade. Residents are liable in council tax to Havant Borough Council who provide local services and collect the Hampshire County Council proportion.

Construction of the estate was not fully completed until the early 1970s, although most of the houses in the area were built by 1960.

Hermitage Housing commissions most new housing in Leigh Park.[citation needed]Barratt Homes is currently building on the former Procter & Gamble site in the centre of Leigh Park. Leigh Park was one of the largest wholly council estates in Europe however following the ongoing right to buy many of the properties are privately owned.

In 2004, Leigh Park made the news when a gang stole more than £100,000 from the Nationwide Building Society[5] and a man sleeping on a bench was set on fire, in a separate incident.[6]

Governance[edit]

Portsmouth City Council Leigh Park Office November 2019. - Although under the remit of Havant Brough Council, Council properties are owned and managed by Portsmouth City Council

The suburb of Leigh Park comes under the remit of the local government district and borough of Havant and within the boundary of Hampshire County Council. As of November 2019 the area is broadly covered by the electoral wards of Barncroft, Battins and Warren Park while some northern section of Bedhampton ward might be considered within what might be commonly thought of Leigh Park.[7]

Leigh Park is part of the parliamentary constituency of Havant. As of November 2019 it is served by MP Alan Mak, a Conservative.

Geography[edit]

The modern estate is bordered to the east by the Havant to Petersfield railway line excluding perhaps some industrial units by the railway which would not be considered part of the estate. The Northern extent is approximately defined in line with the A3M and B2150 junction. Staunton Country Park and Leigh Park Gardens may or may not be considered part of the estate, as might the Southleigh House area which lies to the east of the Railway. The western edge is bounded but excluding houses around B2150 road from Old Bedhampton to Waterlooville. To the south, the boundary lies broadly just to the north of the B2149 road.

Leigh Park is broadly flat gradually rising to the North with some sharper rises at fringes around the northern parts.

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The Hermitage Stream and tributaries run through parts of Leigh Park while the Lavant stream runs down the left side of the settlement.[8][9] Both run into Langstone Harbour which is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south at the nearest point.

Culture and community[edit]

There was a Bowling alley beside park parade that was converted to a bingo hall and opened by Diana Dors in 1984.[10]:4

Transport[edit]

The main shopping precinct is served by StagecoachBus Routes 20, 21, 23, 37 and 39, which provide links with central Havant (with some services continuing to Portsmouth and the main area hospital). FirstGroup Runs the 27 service through the estate between Rowlands Castle, Havant and Emsworth.

Havant railway station is the nearest major train station, smaller stations Bedhampton and Rowlands Castle are near parts of Leigh Park. The A3(M) motorway and A27 Havant bypass are the areas' major links to the rest of the country,

Education[edit]

Leigh Park contains several primary schools: Front Lawn, Trosnant, Riders, Sharps Copse, Park House, Warren Park, Barncroft School and St Albans C of E.

Leigh Park is currently served by three secondary schools: Havant Academy (known as Wakefords Secondary School when it opened in 1970[11] and latterly Staunton Community Sports College until 2009), Park Community School (known previously as Broomfield Secondary School, when it opened in 1958,[12] and Broomfield Comprehensive School until 1988) and Prospect School, built in 2008, an education centre for children with learning and social disabilities.

The West Leigh area was also served by Oak Park Secondary School on Leigh Road (close to the junction with Crosland Drive - now demolished), from its opening in 1957 to its closure in the late 1980s.[11] Pupils from that area then attended Warblington Comprehensive School situated some distance from the area on Southleigh Road, Denvilles.

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Between 1958 and 1960 Havant Grammar School had shared the Broomfield Secondary School site on Middle Park Way until it moved to its own, new buildings on the corner of Barncroft Way and New Road.[12] The title Havant Grammar School disappeared with the arrival of the comprehensive school system and it became Havant College a sixth-form college in 1974.

Sport[edit]

The suburb's main non-league football side is Havant & Waterlooville who currently play in the Conference South, two divisions below the Football League. The team's main claim to fame is reaching the FA Cup fourth round in the 2007-08 season when they twice took the lead against Liverpool at Anfield before finally losing 5-2.

Crown Bingo Leigh Park

Havant Hockey Club play at Havant College on Barncroft Way (just on the outskirts of Leigh Park). The team were National and European Champions in the 1990s. The street High Lawn Way just beyond the Crown Bingo Hall also offshoots onto a bowls club, two tennis courts and a common playing fields and children's play area.

Leigh Park boxing club is based at the community centre.[13]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^The centre consists of two main east-west shopping thoroughfares, with Greywell Road to the north and Park Parade to the south and west, and can be called either name

References[edit]

  1. ^'Birth of the estate'. Staunton Records. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  2. ^'Parks & Gardens UK'. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  3. ^Scott, Richard (1826) A Topographical and Historical Account of Hayling Island, Hants. Havant: I. Skelton (anonymous) (Reissued by Frank Westwood, Petersfield, Hants, 1974 ISBN0-904172-01-5
  4. ^Wilson (1870), p. 8.
  5. ^'Masked robber trio steal £100,000'. 27 November 2004. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2019 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ^'Boy, 17, charged over burning man'. BBC News Online. 14 June 2004. Archived from the original on 17 November 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  7. ^'HavantWard Boundaries'(PDF). Havant Borough Council. Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  8. ^http://thespring.co.uk/media/2986/a-no-70-the-lavant-stream-at-havant-and-rowlands-castle.pdf
  9. ^http://thespring.co.uk/media/4403/601-a-history-of-the-hermitage-stream-2.pdf
  10. ^http://thespring.co.uk/media/3040/b-no-69-the-early-years-of-the-leigh-park-housing-estate.pdf
  11. ^ ab'Havant Borough Council Timeline 2012'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 12 May 2014.
  12. ^ ab'A History of Havant'. www.localhistories.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  13. ^'Leigh Park community Centre is saved by charity'. The News (Portsmouth). 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.

Sources[edit]

  • Cousins, Ralph; et al. (2017). A History of Leigh Park and the Hamlet of Leigh. Havant Borough.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Hammond, Phil (September 1997). Leigh Park — the first fifty years. The Staunton Park Genealogy Centre.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Community Centre, Leigh Park (1997). Leigh Park — Garden City of the South. ISBN0953142205.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wilson, John Marius (1870). The imperial gazetteer of England and Wales. 4, L–M. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton. p. 8. OCLC1046644770.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leigh Park.
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Crown

Wendy Wild, also known as Wendy Rosher, has waived her right to anonymity). She alleged that Mr Harris assaulted her at the Leigh Park Community Centre in Havant when she was seven or eight years old.

There is no evidence that Mr Harris was ever at the Leigh Park Community Centre. The evidence is that he has never been there.

The Questions

Mr Harris was at the peak of his career in the late 1960s and was playing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall. Why would he perform in a small community centre on a council estate?

No evidence has emerged this concert ever happened. Seven years of local newspapers were examined and there is no mention in the local press of this concert. The council have no records of hall being used for a performance by Rolf Harris. There are no photographs of this concert. The police checked old people’s homes, local historians and did letter drops in the area. No witness has ever come forward to say they were at this concert.

How could a small community hall afford the fees of a major star and to whom was the fee paid to if there is no record of the community centre hiring out the hall to Rolf Harris?

Wendy Wild described Harris as having hairy hands which he does not have.

Leigh Park Crown Bingo Club

Number

Wendy Wild made no mention of Harris having a backing band.

Wendy Wild had difficulty deciding when the incident took place. In one version she said it happend around the time of the moon landings and another it happened in October around the time of her eighth birthday. Rolf said he saw the moon landing in the shop of a TV window in Australia. He said this in his 2001 autobiography long before the allegation was made against him.

Bingo

Wendy Wild has never identified anyone she knew at the concert.

Three years have passed since Harris was arrested for this incident. How is that in all this time no evidence has emerged this concert took place?

How could Harris molest someone in a packed hall without anyone noticing?

Wendy Wild accused Harris of molesting her at an event which did not take place but it was Harris who was branded a liar.

The hall held only 150 people and was too small to host a visit from a world-famous star;

His agent would not have booked him to perform in a small hall at a council estate community hall (he was a world-famous star at that time);

Crown Bingo Leigh Park Phone Number

His fee for appearing would have been too high for such a venue, and even if they did book him the tickets would have had to be priced at a level that would have been unrealistic for members of the local community (this was a children’s event, remember);

No one from the Centre can remember it – there would have been people there to welcome him, to help him set up etc;

There are no advertisements or flyers; no tickets or souvenir programmes; no photographs – some of which by now would surely have been sold to the press – or autographs;

Rolf Harris does not have hairy hands nor did he back in 1969;

Leigh Park Crown Bingo Center

Park

Leigh Park Crown Bingo Game

Two witnesses said that Mr Harris visited Leigh Park at around the time Diana Dors and Sid James visited. They were never able to say when or produce any evidence. Sid James opened a new parade of shops 1966. Diana Dors opened the Crown Bingo in Leigh Park in 1973. Neither appearance was in 1969. Both appearances are remembered and in the newspapers. The witnesses say that the visit was in the papers and the council records: it isn’t. Locals say that Mr Harris has never visited Leigh Park.

Crown Bingo Leigh Park Facebook

If Wendy Wild only wanted closure, why have she and her brother given more post-conviction interviews that any other witness? Why did she make such a song and dance about the level of compensation she received (other that to cash in on yet another paid newspaper story)?

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