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Not many people know how many famous people were born or lived in Portsmouth. Here are a few people you may have heard of:
A very funny character actor who appeared in multiple films including Stanley Kubrick’s Doctor Strangelove, as James Bond in the 1960’s version of Casino Royale and who can forget the accident-prone French detective, Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies? He was a complicated man who was married many times, but most famously, to the Swedish actress Britt Ekland. He has an English heritage blue plaque above the Chinese restaurant at the bottom of Castle Street in Southsea, Portsmouth stating that he was born there.
No, he wasn’t born in Portsmouth, but in Austria. However, when he was a youngman, he lived for a short time in Portsmouth. He regularly visited a well-known gym in Clarendon Road, Southsea (FirstFitness). It’s hard to believe this Hollywood legend was walking the streets near where I live, but probably before even I was born! Arnold has not just been a 6 times Mr Universe body building champion, but he has also been the Governor of California. I wonder if, when he left Portsmouth, he said ‘I’ll be back!’ Let’s hope so.
The world-famous writer of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Sir Arthur wasn’t born in Portsmouth, but he lived here for some time when he established a medical practice in Portsmouth. Apparently, it wasn’t a great success, so he wrote Sherlock Holmes in his spare time. I walk past his English heritage plaque in Elm Grove on my way home from ILC Portsmouth. His Sherlock Holmes stories featuring his associate Doctor Watson and the evil Professor Moriartyare still popular today and have had many film versions. I’m pretty sure that if he had studied English with ILC, he wouldn’t announce his level as ‘Elementary, Dear Watson’!
Most people have heard of this world-renowned writer of books like Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, OliverTwist and David Copperfield. Not so many know that he was born in Portsmouth in a house only a few minutes’ walk from ILC Portsmouth close to the shops in Commercial Road. We occasionally take students to visit his birthplace. Although it is small, it is not a particularly Bleak House! There is also a statue of him in Guildhall Square.
One of the greatest engineers who ever lived,he is responsible for many wonderful buildings, bridges, railways and tunnels that still exist today. He built the Clifton Suspension Bridge which is not too far away from ILC Bristol and they occasionally take students to visit this very scenic bridge over the River Avon. In 2002, Brunel was placed second in a public poll to determine the 100 Greatest Britons.
Ever heard of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds or The Invisible Man? These books of science-fiction and imagination were all written by H.G. Wells. He worked as a Draper’s apprentice in Southsea, Portsmouth from 1880-1883.
And finally…
You may not have heard of her outside the UK, but she is very famous here as she is one ofthe judges on Britain’s Got Talent, as well as a DJ. She used to do more acting and theatre, but focuses on presenting more now. She certainly was born in Portsmouth, so can be considered a ‘Pompey girl’!
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