Photo courtesy Retina Photography
Lindsi Bluemel moved to Southampton with her family in 1987, living in Shirley for 15 years and moving to Bitterne Park in 2002. She studied Illustration at Southampton Institute (now Solent Uni), and in 2007 established a business selling cards based on reproductions of her paintings. She’s currently working on a book called ‘Painting the City’, comprising 50 images to commemorate Southampton’s 50 years as a city. Lindsi is also an environmental campaigner and is secretary of Southampton Cycling Campaign.
The Qs & the As
What’s your link with Bitterne Park?
I am a Bitterne Park resident and was a Green candidate for Bitterne Park in the recent local elections. I am also a Friend of Cobbett Road Library and a member of Triangle Readers.
What’s your earliest memory of the area?
27 years ago, bringing our young children to Riverside Park to feed the swans and ride on the train.
How could the area be better?
A post office and greengrocer at the Triangle would be good.
Tell us something we probably didn’t know already about Bitterne Park
The area’s Liberal connections are well known, but did you know that Richard Cobden’s daughter Ellen married the artist Walter Sickert in 1885. Sickert is thought by many to have been Jack the Ripper, including the author Patricia Cornwell who has researched and written about it.
‘Redevelopment should focus more on what would benefit residents rather than yet more shops’
What’s good about the wider city?
Wonderful parks, interesting old town and medieval walls; best art gallery south of London
Southampton: points for improvement?
Redevelopment should focus more on what would benefit residents rather than yet more shops; greater protection for older buildings; support for independent traders; improve facilities for cyclists.
What’s your passion in life?
Art (especially painting); cycling; historic buildings
How do you put bread on your table?
I sell paintings and cards and in the summer I work for British Cycling leading rides and planning routes.
What has your career taught you?
How to survive as a self-employed artist.
What really gets your goat?
Excessive packaging
How do you relax?
Theatre, reading (I belong to three reading groups!) and cycling in the Test Valley and South Downs
What’s your favourite dish?
No specific one, but I am fond of spicy vegetarian dishes
Which is your favourite pub?
Having recently cycled from the Orkneys to Southampton I would have to say the isolated Crask Inn in the north of Scotland; more locally, I am pleased that we have a number of good pubs such as the Junction and South Western in St Denys and the Butcher’s Hook at the Triangle.
What do you listen to?
While working at home, Radio 4. Music – mainly folk, including the band my son plays in (Seize the Day)
Can you recommend a really good read?
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver; Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
What’s a great day out?
Cycling round the Isle of Wight
Tell us a secret
Wouldn’t be a secret if I told you!
Tell us a joke
What do you call a group of professors on the underground?
A Tube of Smarties
Finally, what would be another great question for other Bitterne Parkers?
What do you like best about Bitterne Park?
Thanks so much for taking part!
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Read about other Bitterne Parkers
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