Outings 1 Photos 2019
Tuesday 23rd July 2019
Solent University's Maritime, Science and Engineering Faculty
We only saw one part of the faculty but it was a truly amazing visit. We were given a great introduction to what the faculty offers, what facilities it has and who it provides services to by the Commercial Manager, Adrian Crawford.
He then showed us the marine simulation facilities which were a new suite opened less than three months ago, representing a £10 million investment. First there was a bridge simulator that was so realistic that when we first stepped onto the bridge of a super tanker in rough seas the training captain had to be asked to smooth the waves, as some people were experiencing motion issues. The bridge simulator is on solid concrete but the laser projections were so realistic that your brain was tricked into thinking that there was motion. There was also a 360 degree simulator on the bridge of a tug. When the entry door to the simulator was closed, that had a projection panel on it. We were on a tug at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour, see the video! There were many classrooms, an engine control room simulator, a crane simulator for containers and a high voltage circuit breaker simulator.
A really fascinating visit to an amazing facility.
Click below to play a short video
10th April 2019
The Diving Museum, Gosport
Outings Group 1 visited on the 10th April for a guided tour of the museum. It is run by volunteers and the ones that we met all had diving experience. They have a wide variety of exhibits which show the history of diving and how it has evolved. Some of the external exhibits were literally rescued from being scrapped. An interesting place to visit.
21st March 2019
Tudor House and Garden, Southampton
We went to the Tudor House and Garden in Southampton on the 21st March 2019 for a guided tour. It is near the city centre and from the garden you can see Southampton Water. The leaflet describes it as “Southampton’s most important historic building, Tudor House reveals over 800 years of history in one fascinating location at the heart of the Old Town. The timber-framed building facing St Michael’s Square was built in the late 15th Century, with King John’s Palace, an adjacent Norman house accessible from Tudor House Garden, dating back a further 300 years. Tudor House gives a unique and atmospheric insight into the lives and times of both its residents through the years, and of Southampton itself.” We had a very good guide who told us both about the house and also how the Tudors lived.
13th Feb 2019
Debenhams, Commercial Road, Portsmouth
Eleven of us visited on Wednesday 13th February 2019 and we started in the Manager’s office for an introduction to the store and how it operates. We were then split into three groups and spent time on each floor with one of the managers and then swapped round until we had all seen all three floors.
I think that all of us were lapsed Debenhams shoppers, but we were all amazed at the transformation that has taken place in the store. It is now bright, cleanly laid out and the enthusiasm of both the manager and the other staff that we met staff was infectious.
We learnt a great deal about how the store operates, the staffing structure, relationships with concessions and so on. The free personal shopper experience was a revelation as few if any of us knew how it works or even that it existed. All in all it was a really fascination and worthwhile visit.
