Cities unite - just this once

Those who know me will be rather shocked to see me utter those words.

It’s not something I’d be likely to say under any other circumstances, but I’m rather taken by this joint City of Culture bid that’s been submitted by the two cities this week.

As a proud Sotonian, I’m pretty much honour bound to support any effort towards improvement or regeneration of my home city and I normally rather enjoy the rivalries with our near neighbours in the blue part of Hampshire.

But, for me, the cities do have a shared maritime and social history and can be better showcased by joining forces this time around.

The bid has its critics of course, but I think we stand a good chance, having visited most of the other areas in contention. Few of them can boast the same standard of theatre, wealth of art, fantastic museums, thriving live music scene or multicultural feel of our two south coast cities.

And the authors of the 35 page bid document have been rather clever with their slogan ‘Beyond the Sea, Beyond the Sky’, conjuring images of seafaring, shipbuilding and aeronautical adventures, but also a quote from Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens, who was born in Portsmouth.

This unusual pairing really could transform both cities and everywhere in between and I give it my full support.

My goodwill won’t be extending to the football terraces, however.

Now that would be a step too far.

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