Bitterne Parker

Bitterne Parker's taking a break, but who knows: maybe we'll feature some new interviews soon, so stay tuned!

Heather Aspinall will be retiring as CEO of the Rose Road Association in 2017 after 22 years, and is looking forward to future adventures. She's lived in Bitterne Park since 2005, and it was her patch when she was a social worker in the 70s and 80s.

Nature loving sometime singer Vikki Gough has fond memories of growing up in the 70s with a houseful of mainly older brothers, loud music, and with an orgone accumulator in the conservatory.

Claire Fritz-Domeney is a surface pattern designer, working freelance for a New York agent, as well as selling her own range of cards and stationery in local shops. She'd like to see more control over what businesses can open in the Triangle, and a dog exercise area in the park.

"Try to do something you like: the money will sort itself out somehow." So says cycling enthusiast and bike repairer Jon Bingham, who lives in Bitterne Park with his partner, her daughter, two dogs and four cats. 

A botanical and textile artist as well as a writer and teacher, Sandrine Maugy is French. She lives in Manor Farm Road with husband Richard, and their pet rabbit Queen Penelope. She claims some people are "planning to turn the airport into a park and rabbit sanctuary"...

Aline Giordano was born in South Korea and was adopted by a French family when she was 11. She's lived in Bitterne Park for 20 years, and has spent much of her life interviewing and photographing bands, and writing about music and photography.

Rónán O'Beirne was born in Dublin. He says he migrated from an economically blighted Ireland to seek his fortune on the gold-paved streets of London, securing a job with Haringey public libraries. He's been in libraries ever since, and moved to Bitterne Park in 2015 when he became Head of Libraries at Southampton Solent University.

Elke Papp lived in Bitterne Park for almost four years before moving back to Vienna. So what's her take on Bitterne Park, Southampton, life, and... everything?

Devoted mum, singer-songwriter, trainee counsellor, deep thinker and very good friend, Elaine McLaughlin has recently launched her Debut EP ‘Six More Days’.

Committee member of both Southampton Allotment and Gardens Association and Bitterne Local History Society, Bitterne Parker Carol Masters is a chartered accountant, teaching at the University of Southampton.

This time Robin Bluemel, the man behind The Veg Shed and Bitterne Box Co, puts the world to rights.
• Summer holiday closures at The Veg Shed 

"Dream big and give it a go: what's the worst that can happen?" So says this week's Bitterne Parker, Priya Tew.

Born in 1932, Doug Perry moved to Bitterne Park when he was three – and he's lived in the same Oaktree Road house ever since. Doug chats about the local schools, the war years, his career, Riverside Park, and his many voluntary roles today. 

Showing four-year-olds how to be silly, and adults how to be like four-year-olds, is one way Rosanna Sloan – who's Artistic Director of Unexpected Places and now based in Bitterne Park at Cobbett Hub & Library – says she puts bread on her table.

Well-known local figure Ann MacGillivray has lived in the area since 1962, and even stood as an independent candidate in the local elections last year. She remembers driving through Townhill Park Farm along what's now known as Forest Hills Drive in her grandmother's Austin 7 car being told the fields were soon to be a housing estate. 

Daniel Hibbs is the manager of the Co-op at Bitterne Park Triangle. He's 28 years old, and has lived in Bitterne Park all his life, attending the infant, junior and senior schools.

Children’s author, Blue Peter Book of the Year Award winner, radio presenter, champion of Cobbett Road Library and Bitterne Parker: this time we talk to Ali Sparkes.

Exploring, celebrating and sharing Southampton’s hidden talents and treasures has become a passion, and Clare Diaper is now an instigator, participant and player in a whole variety of community projects.

This time we talk to Alessandro Filipik – or Sandro as he is known – who has run Il Picchio café at the Triangle since 2006. Born in Buenos Aires he grew up in Italy, living in Venice for a number of years. Read on to hear how he came to live in England, as well his answers to all our usual probing questions...