Portsmouth Historic Dockyard tour

[@JimNicholls]

Lovely, Ron, and brought back a lot of memories. My first visit to the dockyard was many decades ago, but not much was accessible then. My last visit was in about 2010, but there have been a few changes since that time. That time we also took a ferry across to Gosport and visited the submarine that is on display there. Portsmouth was also the jumping off point over 70 years ago for a Sunday School annual outing (for which we'd saved threepence per week!), when we caught the steam-powered paddle steamer to the Isle of Wight - what a thrill that was.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Jim, that paddle steamer ride must have left a mark on impressionable young minds. Happy days. Ron

[@petersmith5574]

Ron you picked a nice day for it. I realise what I missed by not taking the tour when I was last there so thanks very much.. I can remember when Gloucester Docks, albeit on a much smaller scale was like that, full of ships and marine based crafts. Alas, as ever, trade/commerce/Mammon won the day and what we have now is virtually just another housing estate. . Be careful and safe

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Peter, what we have now I think they call it progress! Keep smiling. Ron

[@Railwayexplorers]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron thank you for watching my videos

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@Railwayexplorers The pleasure is all mine. Ron

[@Railwayexplorers]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Thank you I like your videos 📹 ♥

[@westcountrywanderings]

Good morning Ron. Lovely tour of the dockyard. I have never been to Portsmouth, apart from catching the hovercraft to Ryde, IoW many moons ago. Looks like it has been set up well, with good interpretative boards. An important part of our naval history. Thank you 👍Take care, Paul

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Paul, I've been out of circulation for a while so I haven't watched many videos, hope to catch up soon. Hope you are staying well. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@ParkinsonsWalks That's OK, Ron. Take care of yourself. Good to hear from you. All the best, Paul.

[@notyhbynorthwest]

Hello Ron, this was beautifully filmed and I really enjoyed your commentaries and one liners. My sister is an Operations Manager at the Cruise and Cross Channel Ferry terminus to the north of the Dockyards. So I have been into Portsmouth numerous times, but only ever went into the Royal Dockyards twice, on fairly time constrained visits. Having seen this, I have realized I need to get back there and devote a full day to the Dockyards alone. I just can't resist trying to get the perfect pictures of the rigging. It is simply irresistible. Oh, and I am slowly working my way through all your videos. Getting closer. Cheers, Ian

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

It is well worth a visit Ian, make sure you have plenty of space on the memory card and a spare battery. Ron

[@martinhall60]

Hello Ron, just watched your video about Portsmouth Dockyard and it was amazing. I've never been there but i will be going now. The figure dressed as a salty Sea dog took me by surprise, I thought it was you Ron for a moment, very realistic. Lol . but on a serious note I truly believe that our navel history should be represented and is being represented in a positive way at Portsmouth Dockyard.Truly an amazing place to visit. A great video Ron, thank you. Keep safe . 🙂👍

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Martin, I can certainly recommend a visit, it is very well thought out with plenty of opportunities for refreshment. I always love to be by the sea and ships. Have fun. Ron

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Ron, You really had great weather for that visit. One of those toolboxes at the start might have been mine but fate had it that the year I had an interview for an apprenticeship there, the defence cuts were announced by John Nott and all recruitment was cancelled (he nearly got lynched there on a visit, perhaps all politicans should have to feel the wrath of the people affected by their decisions?). The Royal Dockyard was downgraded to a Naval Base after over 500 years of service. In a matter of months though the Dockyard worked round the clock to prepare the fleet for the Falklands Conflict and over time shipbuilding has returned as part of the Dockyard was taken over by BaE and sections of the new carriers were built there. I ended up making Torpedos in the end!! Just before I came to Spain In 1999 they had a Festival of Sea at the Dockyard, all kinds of sail vessels and naval ships moored up on the quays and basins from all over the world, they even unearthed the main sail of HMS Victory from the battle of Trafalgar (apparently it was stored and almost became lost) and had it hung up in the first building you enterred. The Navy and dockyards almost have their own language, much of this I have had to learn in Spain because as chance would have it I ended up working in this sector in Spain. Bit off the tourist route but its worthwhile taking a trip to Cartagena if anyones in that area on holiday, similar in many ways to Portsmouth but they havnt developed the Naval history quite as much, plenty to see though, including the original Isaac Peral, one of the first submarines ever built. As I write this the new Isaac Peral is taking her first voyage out into sea on trials. Its taken almost 20 years to get there, but they are complicated beasts!! As you looked out over the harbour at the mouth is Old Portsmouth, well worth a visit and walk along the old sea walls and around the original natural harbour, the camber its called. Southsea is further down the sea front a great walk as well. The little green ferry that had to take avoiding action was the Gosport Ferry which docks at the end of the harbour station from where you can also get a ferry to the Isle of Wight, there is even a hovercraft plying this route just as you get to Southsea Common. I'm writing too much, but so many happy memories of my life in Portsmouth, only seems like yesterday but its well over 20 years ago now. Family still there so go back frequently. A lovely video and very well narrated Good luck from Spain!! PS: We used to put up the divers who came to survey the Mary Rose, I think they came from Sweden, they raised a similar ship which can also be seen in Stockholm.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi David, I really like when one of my films provokes good memories, and I love to hear about them. They need airing once in a while. Ron

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Well you stirred my memory cells with this one! I remember the Mary Rose being raised, I was on my sickbed with a bout of flu. One of the strops gave way and our hearts were in our mouths, but it all turned out ok. Heat has dropped off since last weekend were down to a more normal 32°

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@ParkinsonsWalks This video shows the submarine weve been working on and some of the Port and docks at Cartagena kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKfNoYBnj8udnsk The first sailing under her own power has yet to reach KZbin!!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@davidberlanny3308 Keep those memories alive David. I did return to Portsmouth to visit the submarine there, and of course the torpedo display. Watch this space. Ron

[@thehairygolfer]

Good Morning Ron. I took a similar tour of Boston Harbour and old 'ironsides'. I thought about opening the seacocks in revenge! Just one point about the video today. That stealth destoyer......was it turned off? Because I could see it! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks for starting my Friday with a smile Simon, I think the ship is like the Kings new clothes, you are not supposed to say you can see it. Ron

[@michaelmiller641]

Thanks Ron, I visited the dockyard some years ago with my dad when he lived at Gosport, thanks for that reminder of Portsmouth and Southsea!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it Michael. Ron

[@michaelpilling9659]

Good Morning Ron - absolutley fabulous. You made an old seadog very very happy. Completely different from when I was there. My base was across the other side of the harbour entrance at HMS Dolphin. Gunwharf Quays was HMS Vernon and all those old buildings in the dockyard were in use. Many of the wooden buildings you showed at the beginning of the video were used as sail lofts and rope stores. Different now though. Superb memories of the "cold war" Royal Navy I knew - we had a navy then! Brilliant day out. Thanks so much. You made my day.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Michael rekindling old memories makes my day, if we don't visit them now and again they just fade away. Hope you are staying well and cheerful. Ron & Pauline

[@andrewmerriman7133]

Hi Captain, Sorry I am late to comment, been having a few issues with my computer but sorted now. What a fascinating tour, I was very impressed by your detailed knowledge of all things nautical, I am afraid I know very little about boats, ships and all that goes with them. Excellent backing music your really good at finding the best pieces for your videos to add enjoyment to them. I was struck by the fact that there was beauty in the old ships, the not so old ones and the new, all with a story to tell. Hope your feeling well, I will try not to be late next week. Best Wishes, Andrew.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

As long as you get here sometime Andrew, that's fine, I always look out for your comments. I was scuba diving for 12 years so I guess I have salt water in my blood somewhere, I love but respect the sea. Hope you have a happy week. Ron

[@andrewmerriman7133]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Morning Ron, Your very kind but there's much more interesting comments from others on here today than mine. I think you must have salt water in your blood from scuba diving for all that time. I nearly drowned as a youngster so I am not keen on the sea. One thing you may be interested in, my late father had a relative who was in charge of the Mumbles lifeboat that was wrecked at Sker Point on the 23rd April 1947 when all lives were lost and the wooden boat was destroyed. Every lifeboats man next of kin was given an ashtray from the remains of the lifeboat which is engraved with the details, this was a tradition when lifeboats were wooden. I have the ashtray that came to our family, when my days end it is in my will that it will go to the museum at the lifeboat station in Mumbles, Swansea. You make an excellent point when you say enjoy, but respect the sea. I will see you on Friday and promise not to be late. Take care, I hope you and your good lady wife enjoy the Bank Holiday. Best Wishes, Andrew.

[@jamesweekes6726]

Hi Ron, thanks for a good long video...still leaves us wanting more, but long enough to enjoy a refill on the coffee. I've always wanted to see "Victory", now I have. I particularly like the cannon in the sick bay.."'ELLO!!! You there! You don't look that sick to me! Get out of that hammock and man a cannon!!" Now for someone who loves all things English, I admit that I had to look up The Mary Rose. Thanks to you (and a few well-chosen websites) I'm pretty well versed now on the topic (feel free to quiz me, I promise I won't fall back on Google). Another great outing Ron, OVM loves the water so all good there too. Have a good week. Stifling hot here now...sigh...

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi James, good to hear from you, sounds as if you are becoming a salty sea dog in your old age. It's no good me quizzing you on the ships I only filmed the blessed things, besides Sumac says you would cheat anyway, and she would know! Get the aircon working. Have fun. Ron

[@paulboyle6857]

Hullo again Ron,this looks fantastic & I,ve never been round although I once went right down the harbour & out into the Solent many years ago in a friends motor launch then up the Hamble to the pub where parts of "Howards Way" were filmed,quite an experience. I did,however, visit the Chatham Dockyards several years ago which are also well worth the trip though you would really need an "overnight",& the best part of a day to take it all in.Hope the mind blowing cost of fuel now won,t limit your future adventures! All best PB.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Worth a visit if you are ever down that way Paul, and you are right about the price of fuel - where will it end? Take care. Ron

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Hello Ron. I can see that was filmed a while ago and I think the Mary Rose display has changed slightly in recent times. When we’ve gone there in the past, Henry VIII is usually in attendance. We went on HMS Victory and as you found out, 5 feet tall would be ideal for getting around. One can only imagine what it must have been like to be working deep down in the bowels of the vessel. Only candles for lighting and very claustrophobic. Also the size of the ropes and chains. I would imagine many sailors got their limbs mangled in them . Thanks for a well put together video.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

I think you are right Lionel, it was such a hard life beyond our understanding. Hope you and Mary are well, I haven't had much time to watch videos lately but I'm hoping to catch up soon. Take care Ron

[@johnkeepin7527]

Looks like it was a good Summer day out! The last time I was there was on one of the “cruise ships” - otherwise known as ferries, on the way back from St. Malo on one of the Brittany Ferry ones with one of my cars. The exit onto the M279 was quite convenient, ISTR.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi John, yes it was a beautiful day, makes all the difference. Keep smiling. Ron

[@matthewboyce4400]

Nice comment about the children onboard, maybe they had an interest in learning.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

I hope so! Ron

[@ohmyitztoni1301]

I visited in 2016/17 with a military college and we went on HMS victory and she was just gorgeous we were aloud to go down to the very bottom deck and im 5'1 and had to bend down and caused me backache i canr even begin to imagine what the sailors felt being 6ft +

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi, nice to hear from you. It must have been awful with a lack of space and a rolling sea. Not for me. Ron

[@vst9266]

Hey 13:22 i didnt saw this ship. Isnt in the brosure. 🙄

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

It was there somewhere. P.W.