Tribute in film to Gosport’s Fleet Air Arm base

DAEDALUS REBORN

WORKING with film-maker Rupert Murray, the Daedalus Development Company has created a short documentary on the history and the future of Daedalus.

The producers wanted to capture the historic buildings as they are now and record memories from the people who lived and worked in this once-thriving location on the edge of Lee-on-the-Solent.

Just over seven minutes in length, the video starts with an introduction to the old hovercraft slipway by Gosport Borough Councillor and retired Naval officer John Beavis.

Then viewers get to hear from some of the people who not only lived and worked at HMS Daedalus but also met, married, trained and partied here.

Using a mixture of archive footage and up-to-date interviews, this film conjures up the vibrancy of the base as it was, focusing on the old buildings, bar and restaurant in reflecting on those memories.

And the participants consider a ‘Daedalus Reborn’, with jobs, homes, public spaces and events, a thriving place once more. 

Globe readers can learn more about the future of HMS Daedalus at Daedalus Waterfront’s second public consultation taking place at St Faith’s Church, Lee-on-the-Solent on Friday, November 11, and Saturday, November 12.

More details are available on the website – https://daedaluswaterfront.co.uk/.

PICTURED: A bird’s eye view of the Daedalus site, with the area to be redeveloped in the foreground