Author: Bob Comlay

Solent Freeport – What’s in it for Havant?

~ Bob Comlay

A few weeks ago, the Leader of the Council addressed a Havant Borough Council Cabinet meeting and expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities that the Solent Freeport would bring to Havant. In the absence of anything published since, I thought I'd take a closer look at what this might mean. (Warning, this is a longish read, … Continue reading Solent Freeport – What’s in it for Havant?

Food Waste recycling

~ Bob Comlay

Since the start of the year, I've been taking part in the City of Portsmouth's Food Waste recycling trial. Perhaps not officially, you understand, but through the good offices of a close friend who lives in Portsmouth and has spare space in her own caddy. I was initially sceptical about the claim made by PCC … Continue reading Food Waste recycling

Ray Cobbett

~ Bob Comlay

It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Ray Cobbett after a short illness. We shared the same employer and both moved to Havant at the same time, being near neighbours for many of the last forty years. Ray was a tireless supporter of the community in and around Havant, an … Continue reading Ray Cobbett

Is there a future for the original IBM Havant site buildings?

~ Bob Comlay

Back in January, we reported on a move to list the former IBM Havant Plant buildings at what is now the Langstone Technology Park. If such a move is to bear fruit, it can't come soon enough. Havant Borough Council's Development Consultation Forum #48 will consider the future of this site on Tuesday 21st May … Continue reading Is there a future for the original IBM Havant site buildings?

We’re backing Britain – again!

~ Bob Comlay

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece about the sad loss of the 1960s Colt office building at the north end of New Lane.  The 'We're Backing Britain' campaign from 1968 which spread rapidly down the lane to Kenwood, has been immortalised in a BBC Radio 4 play, first broadcast on Sunday 23rd September.  … Continue reading We’re backing Britain – again!

Colt – ‘We’re backing Britain’, fifty years on

~ Bob Comlay

It's a sad day for those of us who remember New Lane in the heady days of the late sixties. In 1968, my first real 'summer holiday' employer, Kenwood Manufacturing, was supporting Colt in their famous staff initiative.  Boxes of Kenwood Chefs, Kenwood Mini foodmixers and the first ill-fated Kenwood Dishwashers left the plant with … Continue reading Colt – ‘We’re backing Britain’, fifty years on