Star & Crescent – News for and by the people of Portsmouth

Pens of the Earth: Portsmouth 2030, A City Transformed

18th November 2019

At the Pens of the Earth launch night, Nicholas Sebley from Extinction Rebellion talked about the possibilities and challenges of transforming Portsmouth into a new city by 2030. The way I see it, there are [… read more ]

Pompey Politics Podcast: Election Fever – Can You Feel It?

13th November 2019

Pompey’s favourite party political podcast returns with hosts Ian ‘Tiny’ Morris and Simon Sansbury discussing the start of the general election campaigns. Also under review are the two constituencies in Portsmouth, with one needing a close eye as a [… read more ]

Streets for People: How We Can Solve the Climate Crisis

12th November 2019

Our society faces some profound challenges, argues Megan Howson of Portsmouth Friends of the Earth. Climate breakdown is the major issue now but there are also other pressing issues such as poor air quality, obesity, [… read more ]

Small Steps and Big Problems: Why Southampton Airport Should Not Expand

21st November 2019

Southampton Airport recently submitted to Eastleigh Council plans to expand the airport to accommodate double the amount of passenger numbers over the next 5 – 10 years. Local writer and activist Joseph Aylmer explains why [... read more ]
Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zone: The Bare Minimum or Simply Inadequate?

18th November 2019

Portsmouth City Council recently proposed a reduced Clean Air Zone to improve air quality in the city. Local air quality campaigner for Let Pompey Breathe, Tim Sheerman-Chase, explores the proposal and questions whether the plan [... read more ]

An American in Pompey: Embracing Britain’s Cuddliest Expression

22nd November 2019

Writer and music blogger Doug Hamilton was born and raised in America, moved to Canada in the early 2000s, and recently relocated again with his British-born spouse to Portsmouth. In part twelve of his ongoing series, [… read more ]

Pens of the Earth: Portsmouth 2030

22nd November 2019

By Chris Walsh ‘It would have to happen to me, wouldn’t it?’ she sighed, plonking her smartphone on the table, its display cracked completely. ‘Vicki, careful!’ replied her mother. ‘You’ll scratch the varnish!’ ‘It’s Victoria, [… read more ]

Pens of the Earth: The Future of Fashion

21st November 2019

By Linda L. Hillborne Jacinta flicked through the clothes rail in the unconventional little boutique, which stood on the corner of Osborne Road in Southsea. A memory blinked across her mind. ‘Make do and mend,’ [… read more ]

Book review: A Chip Shop In Poznan: My Unlikely Year In Poland by Ben Aitken

8th November 2019

S&C Community Reporter Rosy Bremer reviews Ben Aitken’s book A Chip Shop In Poznan: My Unlikely Year In Poland, which explores Ben’s experiences in Poland, from working in a chip shop to trying to keep order [… read more ]

Review: ‘Fabulous stuff’, A Latin Fiesta with the BSO

31st October 2019

Paul Valentine reviews the recent opening night performance of Latin Fiesta, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto, with piano by Gabriela Montero and Mezzo-Soprano by Rihab Chaieb. From the outset, Prieto’s mastery and management of the orchestra was perfect. The [… read more ]