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LGBTQ+ History Month: Winchester’s Strong Historical Ties

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February marks LGBTQ+ History Month, a time to reflect on the past, celebrate progress, and acknowledge the ongoing fight for equality. 

Winchester has played a significant role in LGBTQ+ history, with its connections to famous figures, legal battles, and community activism.

Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas 

In the 1890s, Winchester became entwined in one of history’s most famous LGBTQ+ love stories. Lord Alfred Douglas, a student at Winchester College, had a romantic relationship with Oscar Wilde. 

His poem Two Loves (1892) introduced the phrase “the love that dare not speak its name,” a reference to same-sex love. 

Their relationship played a crucial role in Wilde’s downfall and imprisonment.

The Montagu Trial – A Landmark Case 

In 1954, The Great Hall in Winchester was the site of the Montagu Trial, where Edward Lord Montagu, Peter Wildeblood, and Michael Pitt-Rivers were convicted of homosexual activity. 

The trial sparked public debate and played a pivotal role in the movement towards decriminalization in the UK.

Dr Michael Dillon – A Trailblazing Trans Pioneer 

Winchester’s history is also linked to Dr Michael Dillon, the world’s first person to medically transition from female to male. 

Beginning hormone therapy in 1940, Dillon later underwent pioneering gender-affirming surgeries in Basingstoke, performed by Sir Harold Gillies. 

His story remains a crucial part of trans history.

LGBTQ+ Activism and Pride in Winchester 

The 1970s saw the formation of support groups like the Winchester Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), which provided a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. 

In 2015, Winchester hosted Hampshire’s first LGBTQ+ Pride march, marking a major step forward in visibility and inclusion.

Preserving History and Looking Ahead 

From 2017 to 2019, the Voices for Heritage Project documented Hampshire’s LGBTQ+ history, preserving personal stories and historical records.

Looking to the future, efforts are underway to revive Winchester Pride in 2025, ensuring continued visibility and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Winchester’s LGBTQ+ history is rich and deeply significant. 

As we celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, it serves as a reminder that history is not just about remembering the past, but about shaping the future.

Football

Ivan Juric leaves Southampton after earliest ever relegation

Lennie Teague

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Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.

The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.

Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.

The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”

First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.

Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.

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New foodhall to open on site of former Winchester nightclub

Lennie Teague

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A new foodhall is set to open later this year in place of Vodka, Winchester’s former nightclub.

The venue, which shut down in May 2023, is set to be converted to foodhall called Helch Market.

The market is planned to open until 3am and will have a number of food vendors which will rotate over time as well as events space in the basement.

Helch Market Winchester will be the second of its kind after David Jamal Benamor, of Benamor LTD, opened a similar business in Bournemouth in 2022.

Mr Benamor aims to open the new venue in the autumn.

Mr Benamor said: “There’s quite a low diversity in independent businesses, so there’s a lot of chains and very few independent, especially with new concepts, which are a lot harder.

“It’s quite stale, the diversity on the high street, like everywhere in the UK.

“This offers smaller businesses a chance to try a concept or to start their own chain of stores, whatever they’d like to do, so I’d say just a diversity within small businesses.”

Image courtesy of Benamor LTD

Mr Benamor’s application for a licence which allows the sale of alcohol, the serving of hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am and live and recorded music and entertainment was approved on 25 March.

The plans to take over the Vodka site have been controversial and the initial licence application was met with criticism, with a number of written objections being made to Winchester City Council.

Residents have also been concerned with the potential rise in crime levels after there were 18 crimes reported on or near the Vodka property in the first half of 2022, a year before its closure.

‘As long as there’s a facility for the youngsters, which is much needed.’

One man said: “In principle, I am happy with the idea.

Despite the complaints, the members of the Winchester public WINOL spoke to were mostly supportive of the venue.

“I wouldn’t like it if it was open until 3am, but in normal hours it’s fine.

“No problem at all, I think we need to encourage young people here.”

Another resident said: “As long as there’s a facility for the youngsters, which is much needed in town because we haven’t got a lot like clubs as such.

“Not everybody wants them, but I just think the youngsters need something rather than have to go elsewhere. It’s good.”

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Winchester BID Rangers recover £100,000 in stolen goods

Lennie Teague

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Photo courtesy of Winchester BID

A security team in Winchester has hit a major milestone by recovered more than £100,000 worth of stolen goods in the city centre.

The Winchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (WBCRP) and Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) Rangers were formed in 2018 with the aim of reducing business crime, antisocial behaviour and low level crime.

The group has now retrieved over £100,000 worth of goods and returned them to businesses in Winchester.

The Rangers work closely with local businesses, Hampshire Constabulary, Winchester City Council and BID to help their efforts of combatting theft.

They are highly trained security professionals that are accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and certified by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

BID lists the Rangers’ key functions as being crime prevention and recovery, supporting the local Shopwatch and Pubwatch schemes, real-time assistance and customer engagement and public safety.

Hannah Hitchon, Shopwatch chair, said: “It is with the greatest pride that the BID Rangers have surpassed the stolen property recovery figure of £100,000.

“This figure has been recovered over a challenging time, including the pandemic, which naturally impacted the vital role that they played in protecting our local area.

“As such they should be commended for their hard work and resilience over the last six years.

“My heartfelt thanks go out to the Rangers for the continuing hard work and dedication that they offer both the public and local businesses and here’s to many more years of the same!”

The group have been recognised for their efforts by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

BID Ranger Brett Jones received an OPCC award in 2023 for his commitment to public safety.

Winchester BID Business Crime Reduction Manager Jane Bastock has been honoured with a 2025 OPCC award nomination for her leadership in business crime reduction over the past decade.

On the efforts by the Rangers, Ms Bastock said: “I am very proud of this achievement. This demonstrates not only the success of the BID Rangers scheme but that of the Radio Link and Shopwatch schemes, which businesses in Winchester utilise to alert suspicious or offending behaviour in their store or in the city.

“I would also like to thank the local police and Winchester City Council CCTV Control Room for their continued support with these schemes.”

Following the milestone, the WBCRP and Winchester BID remain committed to strengthening security initiatives and supporting businesses in tackling crime.

Cheif Inspector Korine Bishop, Winchester district commander, said: “This milestone demonstrates the importance of the BID Rangers to the partnership effort needed to keep the city centre a safer environment for all.

“Our officers, including those from our dedicated city centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, will continue to work with the BID Rangers and all our partners to reduce and prevent crime.”

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