In 1912 the luxury liner RMS Titanic sailed from Southampton with four out of every five of the 900 crew from the city itself. Exactly 100 years later, Southampton is still an important port, and combined with Portsmouth the area has over a million inhabitants, making it one of the UK’s most populated regions. Just 75 miles south-west of London, the city is also famous for the invention of the Spitfire, the aeroplane ‘that won the Battle of Britain.’

October saw the launching of a new ‘ship’ from the city as Bhaktivedanta Manor’s  Festival of Spirit was premiered at the Old Bowls Club, the oldest club of its kind in the world. Around 80 locals got to experience lively musical kirtan, a play and a delicious feast. Many stopped to chat afterwards, and the local Hare Krishna meeting received a membership boost. The monks from the Manor travel down every week for a few days to meet locals and hold a class at the university.