Whale Island is a small island in Portsmouth Harbour, close to Portsea Island. It is home to HMS Excellent, the oldest shore training establishment within the Royal Navy, and the location of the Naval Command Headquarters.
Before the Second World War there was a zoo on the island which gave a home to animals presented to British representatives. The island is home to the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage which has conveyed the coffins of Kings and Queens to their final resting place. The island has its own museum and church of St Barbara as well as a Victorian Drill Shed. There is also a Chapel on the island.
Whale Island is not normally open to the public.
Before the Second World War there was a zoo on the island which gave a home to animals presented to British representatives. The island is home to the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage which has conveyed the coffins of Kings and Queens to their final resting place. The island has its own museum and church of St Barbara as well as a Victorian Drill Shed. There is also a Chapel on the island.
Whale Island is not normally open to the public.
Irene, my birth mother, had a vague recollection of having been baptized over 80 years ago on Whale Island. A while ago we made an appointment to visit the Chapel with a view to seeing if this might have been true.
We were met at the security office as we drove onto the island and met by the Chaplain. He took us to the lovely little Chapel and answered all the questions we had. Although he was doubtful he would find the book containing the records of baptisms from 1935, he kindly took us to his office and searched through the Chapels archives.
Irene was thrilled when he found the book and the baptism entry ......
We were met at the security office as we drove onto the island and met by the Chaplain. He took us to the lovely little Chapel and answered all the questions we had. Although he was doubtful he would find the book containing the records of baptisms from 1935, he kindly took us to his office and searched through the Chapels archives.
Irene was thrilled when he found the book and the baptism entry ......
...... this, what might seem to be a small amount of information, meant a lot and effectively proved that what she believed to be true was true.