Hamble Priory Church – 900 Year Celebration

Just down the river, the village of Hamble-le-Rice is celebrating 900 years of the Priory Church of St Andrews this year.


Led by St Bernard of Thiron, monks came from France in 1109 and settled on the shores, by the mouth of the river, founding the abbey and priory church, which still today contains some fine examples of Norman building.


More recent, but none the less interesting is the church’s 19th century stained glass.


Over the bank holiday weekend - August 28th to 31st there will be a flower festival at the church, reflecting the rich history from medieval time to present day.


The idea of the festival is that floral displays will be mounted in the church and the adjacent Priory Centre. Farming and domestic life of the original monks will feature, as will other aspects of the Church’s history such as the sacking and burning of the church by French raiders in the 1300’s (bound to be popular with the kids!!).

Christine Wright shown here, has been responsible for the design of many of the displays. A carpet of flowers is planned, dedicated to St Andrew the patron saint.

In addition scenes of the life of the village will play a central role in the festival, originally a fishing port, Hamble is now a popular yachting venue, which also has strong association with aviation.

With the regatta at Bursledon being held over the same weekend, it looks like we will be having a busy time and even more reason for people to visit to the area.

D-Day 6th June

Sixty-five years ago the allied forces embarked on one of the most remarkable military operations, the landing on the beaches of occupied France which led to the liberation of occupied western Europe.

Walking along the river on the eve of the anniversary, it's hard to imagine the scene on that momentous day, not so long ago.

This memorial on the quay at Warsash, celebrates the British and Allied Naval and Commando units who left the river on 5th June 1944. Around 3000 commandos embarked from Warsash pier, in landing craft which had been lying in the river. Some 80 landing craft set off across the channel as part of the 1st LC Squadron HMS Tormentor.


Comprising the 200th, 201st and 202nd Landing Craft Flotillas, were men of the No 3 and 6 Army Commandos, No 45 Royal Marine Commando, French Commando, 1st Battalion Fusilier Marines, destined for Gold Beach Normandy. Also No 41 and 48 Royal Marine Commandos embarked from Warsash Pier.


The memorial is made in the shape of a landing craft bow.

Military operations were run from the Rising Sun pub adjacent to the pier.


The scene this morning was very different, with slightly somber low cloud.

Locally the events of 65 years ago are well remembered, later today in Portsmouth an RAF Hercules will drop a million red poppies over the city.

Our local green grocer has also joined in the celebrations with this window display .

This post, in it's small way, is to honour all the men and women involved in that epic day.

Hamble Weekend Scramble

The holiday weekend plus the nice weather meant that the Hamble was especially busy. Having breakfast at the town quay made for a great opportunity to just watch the comings and goings on the river.

The Pink Ferry went backwards and forwards across the river between Hamble and Warsash with people out stroling, serious walkers and cyclists, all out for the day.

A steady and seemingly endless stream of boats went down river heading out into the Solent in the near perfect sailing conditions. Few were as striking as this classic racing sloop, which was enjoying the north easterly winds to sail out of the river.

One of my favourite boats, a Memory gaff-rigged sloop, inspired by the small fishing smacks of Brighlingsea on the east coast, they are built locally on the river.

Several dinghy fleets were racing over the weekend, here a Wayfarer slips along at low water close by the Warsash shore.

Down at the river entrance the full scale of the holiday exodus heading out into the Solent, just a little too much like rush hour.

Inevitably there were one or two problems over the weekend, this large motor cruiser went the wrong side of the red marker and ran aground in the shallows - the clues were all there in the foreground.

Start 'em young

I had so many nice comments and emails over my post about baby Joseph, that I thought indulgent or not, you might like to know about his first trip afloat.

Here he is at 16 days old, kitted out in his new life jacket aboard the yacht club launch on his way up the Hamble River to our yacht Greta.




Completely unfazed by the motion or the new surroundings, he settled into a peaceful sleep until it was time for a feed.

Similarly undisturbed by the trip back to the club, he was the star attraction in the bar.

Latest Rowing Technology

Some high tech rowing took place off Swanwick Hard at the weekend. Paul Zink has been working on the design of a coastal rowing boat the Clovelly Scull for about four years. He kindly brought his latest prototype down to the Hamble. 

Exhibited at the 2008 Earl's Court - Sail, Power and Watersports Show, the design features a carbon fibre sliding rigg, where the oars slide back and forth rather than the more conventional sliding seat design.

I normally row a fixed seat skiff, but I found Paul's design very easy to row, and both fast and stable. For coastal rowing I believe the open cockpit and low stern are very important features, providing self draining capability and give good access from the water in the event of falling overboard.

I was joined by Chris Partridge of Rowing for Pleasure and Ruth Wake of Langstone Cutters both experienced sliding seat rowers, who were enthusiastic about Paul's design - for more photos and details please see Chris's Blog.

Misty Morning

Running along the river first thing this morning was fantastic, it was misty and still, but very noisy as if the local bird population were using the mist as cover.

Further down river where the outgoing tide revealed the mud flats, the wading birds were having a great time at the water's edge. There were Curlews, Oyster Catchers and several other varieties. I'm not especially good at identification so there might have been Sanderlings, Redshanks, definitely a duck or three, including a Shellduck and some Brent Geese who are regular winter visitors.

These two Oyster Catchers were making quite a racket, despite being safely perched on top of the old wrecked MFV (Motor Fishing Boat) out in the river.