New honour for legendary Sir Alec Rose
... and councillor calls for more to be put up celebrating city’s great figures
THE home and business of a Southsea sailing legend have been commemorated with the installation of a blue plaque.
Yesterday a crowd gathered to see the new sign in Osborne Road that shows where iconic round-theworld sailor, Sir Alec Rose, once lived and worked.
Currently the site of a Ken’s Fried Chicken, the premises used to be a grocery store run by Sir Alec and his wife Dorothy during the 1960s and 70s.
Sir Alec was knighted after single-handedly circumnavigating the world between 1967 and 1968 in his yacht the Lively Lady.
For sailor Alan Priddy, who sailed Lively Lady around the world between 2006 and 2008 and spearheaded its recent restoration, the revelation of the plaque was an important moment.
‘Sir Alec was my role model,’ he said.
‘This was an idea that we had probably back in 2008; it has taken a while but I have always fought for him and I will continue to do so.
‘For me Sir Alec represents what Portsmouth is all about, even though he wasn’t from Portsmouth originally. He was an achiever.’
Council leader Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson praised the sign’s installation but felt another plaque was needed closer to the ground.
He said: 'I'm really pleased. But I do hope we can also install one lower down to make it eye-level for people so they can read it.
‘Sir Alec Rose is an important historic figure for Portsmouth. He was an ordinary man who wanted to do something extraordinary. We must celebrate what ordinary people can do.’
David Evans, monuments officer at Portsmouth City Council, added: ‘We have been looking to do this for quite some time.
‘I would like to say thank you to the owner of the kebab shop, Mr Saleem Ahmed, for giving his approval for us to do this.
‘It is great that we are finally able to do this.’
There are seven other blue plaques in the city including one for actor and comedian Peter Sellers in Castle Road and one for author Rudyard Kipling in Campbell Road.
Labour Cllr Judith Smyth who represents St Jude ward, where the new plaque was installed, said: ‘I have lived in this area for well over 40 years and I remember coming to his grocery store before I realised what a great sailor he was.
‘And there are many more people that come from Southsea that are really important, we could do with more blue plaques in the city to commemorate them.’
Lively Lady was restored by the Hayling Yacht Company and sailed back into Port Solent in July last year.
It may be an unassuming fried chicken restaurant now, but 38 Osborne Road was the spot where one of the UK’s greatest sporting achievements was plotted. Back in the 1960s Alec and Dorothy Rose ran a humble greengrocers serving the people of Southsea.
But once the shutters went down, Sir Alec spent every spare minute planning his recordbreaking solo circumnavigation around the world in his yacht Lively Lady.
The feat was completed by cool-headed Sir Alec between 1967 and 1968 and was celebrated across the globe.
Now, 51 years on, Sir Alec’s incredible feat is being recognised in his home city with a blue plaque on the premises he used to own.
Some would argue it is longoverdue, particularly fellow record-breaking sailor Alan Priddy, who says Sir Alec has always been a role model to him.
He actually sailed Lively Lady round the world himself between 2006 and 2008 and spearheaded its restoration and the plans for a blue plaque.
Sir Alec has been an inspiration to generations of young sailors and the city is privileged that he is one of our famous sons.
So why hasn’t more been made of this amazing man within the city? Is his story taught in city schools? If not, it should be.
To echo the words of Portsmouth City Council leader, Councillor Gerald VernonJackson, he was just an ordinary man, who set out to, and achieved, something truly extraordinary.
And it took place long before the days of satellite navigation systems and other hi-tech sailing equipment.
He had no idea what he would encounter and the world rejoiced with him when he finally set foot on dry land – with a reception of 250,000 people waiting to greet him. Afterwards he went back to simply being a greengrocer. A true role model and so deserving of his blue plaque.