v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 4TH JUNE v 14th May 2026 • The HERALD • Page 45 OUT & ABOUT Steamship Shieldhall Set To Commence 2026 Sailing Programme Southampton’s heritage steamship, SS Shieldhall, will be in steam for her rst weekend of 2026 sailings on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May. Having completed a successful Dry Dock examination in Falmouth during April, Shieldhall’s rst trip of the season will see her ‘Steam to the Solent’ between 3.30pm and 7pm, in the company of the Romsey Shanty Crew who will be providing on-board entertainment. During the cruise, Shieldhall will pass four cruise ships in berth - Iona, Virtuosa, Sky Princess and Ventura - and on her return see a number depart, always the chance to sound her whistle and play the ‘Shieldhall Organ’! On the Sunday, between 2pm - 6pm, Shieldhall stages an exciting ‘Action Stations!’ exercise in the Solent with Solent Rescue, with guests from the National Coastwatch Institution also joining Shieldhall’s volunteers. On all trips, guests will have access to the Engine Room and Boiler Room under steam, and can meet the Captain on the Bridge. ere is an informed commentary on the sights and sounds of Southampton Water and e Solent; an opportunity to walk the teak decks; relax in the Saloon with a wide range of refreshments including tea / co ee; real ale; a range of bottled beers; wine and hot and cold food, and ice cream, available on all trips. Children will have fun with an interactive Shieldhall Log Book, collecting stickers from various stations on board! Since rst publicising their 2026 programme, Shieldhall has announced details of an additional trip on Saturday 27th June, a ‘Titanic in Miniature’ sailing to the Solent between 3.30pm - 7pm. e RMS Titanic was launched on 31st May 1911, and departed Southampton on her maiden voyage on 10th April, 1912. Guests can join Shieldhall as she steams down Southampton Water and learn about Southampton’s links with the White Star liner. e cruise will pass the Titanic berth, and guests will hear about the ‘New York Incident’ that nearly resulted in a collision between Titanic and SS New York in Southampton Water, just o Dock Head. Learn about the fate of the Southampton crew a er her collision with the iceberg. Use the opportunity on board to ‘feel the burn’ in the Boiler Room, and experience the temperatures that Titanic’s ‘Black Gang’ would have known working in the bowels of the ship. Titanic experts on board will be happy to answer your Titanic questions. On her return to berth, Shieldhall will get close to the departing cruise ships Celebrity Apex; Iona; MSC Virtuosa; Sky Princess and Ventura – the Titanic, the largest ship of her day, weighed 46,000 tonnes – the Iona some 184,000 tonnes – e ectively four times the size! Tickets for Shieldhall’s 2026 sailings are available from: www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk/ bookings or call the Ticket Manager on: 023 8155 0242 or email: tickets@ss-shieldhall.co.uk Shieldhall is located at Berth 110 in the Western Docks, Southampton SO15 0HH. Steamship Shieldhall passing the cruise ships (Credit: Will Faulkner) Family History Group A small group of passionate Family historians, who love helping those who are interested in tracing their family history meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in the back room at Soul Café, North Road, Dibden Purlieu, SO45 4PG. ey are a mixture of those who have been researching for years and those who are new to the fascinating world of family history. ere is so much more information now to be obtained online, not all of it being subscription based. If you are interested, please go along to one of their meetings. You will be made most welcome. If you would like more information email: colinjanhayter@gmail. com e next meeting will be on Tuesday 2nd June. New Forest Militaria Fair e next New Forest Militaria Fair will be on Wednesday 3rd June from 7pm to 9.30pm in the Colbury Church Rooms, Deerleap Lane, Colbury (near Ashurst) SO40 7EH. ere are stalls o ering a variety of militaria items, and these events are an ideal venue for dealers, collectors and enthusiasts to get together to buy, sell, swap, exhibit and talk about all aspects of militaria. All are welcome and admission is £1. e fairs are held on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Anyone who would like to prebook a table at £8, should call Dave Curtis on: 07903 600865 or: 023 8178 1324. Author Talk at Totton Library Sally Page’s debut novel, The Keeper of Stories, became a word-of-mouth sensation and was shortlisted for British Book of the Year. She has since published two further novels with Harper Fiction, and her fourth novel, Six Little Words, was published by HarperCollins this spring. Join her at Totton Library on Thursday 4th June from 7pm to celebrate the launch of her new novel. Tickets are £3; please book at shop.hants. gov.uk BIRTHDAY PARTY Ashurst WI is an active and growing institute, where members can look forward to an interesting programme of talks and events throughout the year. e next meeting takes place on Wednesday 10th June for their Birthday Party with country singer John Randy Yates. Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm at Colbury Church Rooms, Deerleap Lane, Colbury SO40 7EH. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more details email: ashurstsec@ hampshirewi.org.uk
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