Radio 4 play references Itchen Bridge and Bitterne Park school disco

Ali Sparkes cropped

A play by a Southampton writer recently broadcast on national radio tells tales of toll booth workers on the Itchen Bridge — and even references Bitterne Park secondary school disco.

 

 

Article continues after this message...

Ali Sparkes’ radio play Tess of the Tollbooth centres around a worker stuck in a box on the bridge as the New Year looms, while everyone else seems to be going somewhere.

The idea was apparently inspired by the brief exchanges Ali would have with tollbooth staff as she drove over the bridge.

She told bitternepark.info: “I wondered whether it would be possible to get to know someone in those few seconds if you went through regularly, at the same time, and caught the same person on each occasion. Then I started to wonder if you could fall in love with someone in 15 second increments...

“The notion took a hold and I visited some of the ladies on their shift and got some amazing stories from them, many of which made it into the play.”

Ali said that while her novels have occasionally mentioned her home city in passing, none have done so as specifically as in Tess of the Tollbooth.

Not only is it set on the Itchen Bridge, but Bitterne Park school disco even gets a brief mention — which Ali recalled from personal experience.

bitterne park secondary school Bitterne Park School taken in 2015 - as it was before the new buildings

“I remember the Bitterne Park Secondary School discos very well. Particularly what I wore. This was in the late 70s when boob tubes were all the rage and I remember I had a black, glittery boob tube and black velvet jeans, a pale cream satin over-shirt with the sleeves rolled up the elbows and a thin red glitter belt around my waist, and strappy black sandals on my feet. I was thrilled with the look. Not that it got any attention at all as far as I ever knew. I was not a cool girl and got no offers to dance. I styled it out, though.”

Ali said she still misses the ladies of the toll booths as she waves her card at the machine.

You can hear Tess of the Tollbooth on BBC Sounds.

Previously
Bitterne Parker: Ali Sparkes

We're reader powered! Please help us keep publishing today...

Our local news is currently free to view, but not to produce. Join people just like you who already chip in to keep our site going by becoming a 'Good Friend' supporter for just £2.99 a month - or more if you can.

Use the subscribe button below using a debit or credit card securely via PayPal. You don't need a PayPal account - just use the "Pay with Debit or Credit Card' option, when you click the 'Subscribe' button below, on the next screen. There's no obligation to open a PayPal account. Or use your existing PayPal account if you prefer. Or even better, contact us to set up a standing order so we get all your sub rather than PayPal taking a percentage.

Click here for other options/to set up a standing order - and help us keep on keeping on.

It's appreciated!

Subcription Options

 

Alternatively make a one-off donation here - you don't need a PayPal account for this option either.