Southsea based film and media company Compulsive Productions are working with St. Johns Catholic School on a photography project as part of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Gunwharf Quays that explores HMS Vernon’s history during the Second World War. Before Gunwharf Quays was built the area was HMS Vernon, which operated as a base for work on torpedoes and mines and during WWII was heavily bombed yet also visited by Winston Churchill on two occasions.

As part of the project the Year 6 pupils would like to interview ex-service personnel who served at HMS Vernon during the war years and discover and document real people’s stories and social history be that during the important event’s in the base’s history or just the day to day activities. These stories will then be used for inspiration in creative writing and also in the searching through of the city’s photographic archive identifying views of the base. The pupils will then be taught the principles of photography and the use of b&w 35mm film so they can then go to Gunwharf and recreate the photos with the remaining buildings, this time with shoppers instead of naval staff. All work then then go in to an exhibition located at Gunwharf on the 4th December.

If you know of anyone who served at HMS Vernon who might like to be interviewed by the pupils please get in contact! Please call 07752 007101 or email paul@compulsiveproductions.com.