Portsmouth Hall of Fame, Dickens to Hanway.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens, was born in Landport, at 387, now 393 Commercial Road, on 7th February 1812.
John Dickens worked as a clerk at the Navy pay office in Portsmouth.
In 1833 Dickens had his first story published in the Monthly Magazine. Using the pen-name of 'Boz', Dickens also began contributing short stories to the Morning Chronicle and the Evening Chronicle. These stories were so popular that they were collected together and published as a book entitled Sketches by Boz (1836).
The publisher, William Hall, now commissioned Dickens to write The Pickwick Papers in twenty monthly installments. This was followed by Oliver Twist, published in Bentley's Miscellany (1837-38) and Nicholas Nickleby (1838-39), also published monthly.
Read more here about Charles Dickens and the birthplace museum in Portsmouth.
Sarah Doudney
Born 15th January 1841 in Portsea, Sarah was a poet and novelist and is probably best known as a childrens writer.
Her works include, Psalms for Life, 1871, a collection of 60 hymns, Under Grey Walls 1871, 'Where Swallows Build', Girl's Own Paper 1898,
Thy Heart's Desire 1888, Katherine's Keys 1896 and The Vanished Hand 1896.
She died on the 8th December 1926 in Oxford.
Nicola Duffet
Born 22 January 1963, Portsmouth.
She remains best known for two long-running soap opera roles.
After appearing as Debbie Bates in EastEnders from 1993 to 1995 she went into the role of boozy floozie Cat Matthews in Family Affairs. Cat first appeared in Family Affairs in late 1998 and has been a key character in the show's storylines ever since.
Prior to her success in soap opera Duffet played a key role, that of Mrs Bast, in Ismail Merchant and James Ivory's 1992 film adaption of Howards End.
Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes was a prolific writer.
His large body of work includes poetry, plays, historical fiction, commentary on social and legal reform, war and military chronicles, enthusiastic articles on various sport, and finally writings on behalf of Spiritualism.
In 1882 he came to Portsmouth and set up his first practice at 1 Bush Villas, Elm Grove 41, was a member of Portsmouth (North End) Cricket Club and Southsea Bowling Club, in 1884 he was a founder member of Portsmouth Football Club and played for the club as goalkeeper.
Helen Duncan
Scottish spiritualist, Duncan held a seance in Portsmouth, 1941 and predicted the sinking of HMS Barham.
On the 19th Jan 1944 during seance at a Copnor Road, Chemist Shop, she was arrested and charged with Witchcraft, tried at the Old Bailey and was jailed for 9 months.
She was the last person to be tried for Witchcraft as the act was repealed in 1951.
Murray Gold
Born in Portsmouth in 1969, Murray is a composer, working mainly in Film, Television and Theatre.
He has written the music for The Second Coming (starring Christopher Ecclestone), Servants (BBC series), Clocking Off and Channel Four's series Shameless.
Murray is best known as the core composer of the hit BBC TV series Doctor Who and the spin off series Torchwood and has been nominated for a BAFTA four times in the category Best Original Television Music.
Jonas Hanway
Jonas Hanway(1712-1786), traveller, prison reformer and philanthropist.
Born at St Georges Square 12 Aug 1712.
He founded the Marine Society to keep up the supply of British seamen, in 1758 he became a governor of the Foundling Hospital and was instrumental in establishing the Magdalen Hospital.
Famous as the first man to carry an umbrella on the streets of London, to the derision and outrage of hackney carriage coachmen, who feared for their business.
