Events celebrate 100 years of Portsmouth city status

Portsmouth has officially marked 100 years since it first became a city on 21 April 1926.

The south coast city celebrated its century with an event at its Guildhall on Tuesday, which included a reading of the citation from when it was first awarded city status.

It also featured the Royal Marines Band Corps of Drums, greetings from twin and sister cities and readings from notable residents - all of which streamed onto a big screen in the square outside.

But Tuesday's ceremony was just part of a year-long programme of events to celebrate.

Speaking at the event, Portsmouth's Lord Mayor Gerald Vernon-Jackson said: "It's incredible to have our 100th birthday and to celebrate the 100 years of being a city.

"We're the home of the Royal Navy, we have a football club which is staying up, thank heavens, we've got the university, we've got the seafront, we're the country's only island city - so it's a great, great day to celebrate a great city."

Local writer Samantha Cox is Portsmouth Poet Laureate.

She said: "What's really amazing about our city is there's so many opportunities for new artists to become involved in things.

"I think it's got everything to offer - we're a city full of imagination, so there's so many new things that have happened here."

Dozens more events to celebrate the anniversary are coming up over the next few months. Among them are:

Between 5 and 10 May, a large festival tent will be erected in the city's Guildhall Square.

Local tourism body Visit Portsmouth said the festival would feature performances, exhibitions, activities and workshops for all ages.

"An exciting programme of music, comedy and drama, plus a series of fascinating talks and sessions will reflect on the past, present and future of of our city," it said.

BBC Radio 3's iconic Friday Night is Music Night is the world's longest-running live radio orchestral music programme, and has been broadcast since 1953.

For a special edition on 5 June, the show heads to Portsmouth Guildhall, where the BBC Concert Orchestra will celebrate the city's centenary.

The programme for the night features classics from Mozart alongside musical tributes to one of Portsmouth's most famous sons, Charles Dickens.

Tickets for the show, which begins at 19:00 BST, have to be purchased.

Over the summer, an entire pride of lion sculptures will take over the city.

The sculptures have been designed by local artists and are inspired by their home city, and will be placed around Portsmouth between 13 July and 13 September.

The trail, developed in association with public art firm Wild in Art, will include an app to download and "unlock" each lion to find more information and rewards.

A special series on concerts will be held in Guildhall Square between 10 and 18 July.

Performances announced so far is a symphonic tribute to the film music of Hans Zimmer and John Williams, as well as an orchestral celebration of 80s music.

Visit Portsmouth said "more exciting concerts" would be unveiled as part of the series ahead of its launch in July.

To celebrate its centenary, Portsmouth City Council has invited residents who are turning 100 this year to celebrate the milestone at a special tea party in September.

It will bring together residents who were born in 1926 to "recognise their lives, stories, and contribution to the city across a century of change", the authority said.

The event, which is being held on 28 September, will only be open to people born or currently living in the city, and anyone wishing to register interest on behalf of a centenarian should contact the council by the end of June.

On 3 October, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Priddy's Hard in Gosport will celebrate the city's unique naval associations.

The sites will host a "vibrant day of heritage, food, and festivities" involving special talks and performances, Visit Portsmouth said.

Later in the month, Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery will unveil its Your Stories, Your City exhibition.

The display, which runs from 26 October onwards will be co-curated with local communities to reflect Portsmouth's last 100 years.