Kevin Briscoe is 45 and lives in Swanwick, Locks Heath, with his wife Sheena, a teacher at Park Gate Primary School and 6-year old daughter. He was born in Wigan, Lancashire but has lived in this area for the last 15 years. In the 1980s and 90s Kevin worked as a journalist on the Portsmouth News - journalism has always been his first love.

Kevin, tell us some more about the Western Wards Gazette – what inspired you?

Living here over the years I have grown more and more annoyed that so many fantastic things that have been going on were not getting the coverage they deserve, because The News and The Echo have tended to retreat to their city heartlands. Eventually I put my money where my mouth was and launched. I really enjoy taking the fantastic stories that are going on all around us in this area and sharing them with everyone else.

Describe your lowest and highest points of 2009.

Highest was definitely the response we had to each of the issues of The Gazette we have produced. We have been overwhelmed by the unsolicited letters and emails we’ve received and the wave of good feeling that has enveloped us. Clearly, we have been exactly what people have been desperate for in this area.

Lowest was just before producing the first edition and having doubts as to whether this really would work or whether I was completely deluded.

How did your childhood affect the person you are today?

I’m from a working class family where nothing was taken for granted and everything had to be worked very hard for. That’s a philosophy I have taken into my adult working life.

Who has been the greatest influence on your life?

My mother taught me an enormous amount about life and left an enormous hole when she died at the age of just 56. Professionally, my first chief reporter when I was a trainee journalist was incredibly harsh but very fair and she taught me everything I know now about being a local newspaper journalist.

What makes you angry and why?

Prejudice in all its forms, bad manners, and discourtesy. Strangely I get really cross with bad punctuation, spelling and grammar. Some people seem to have no idea of basic spelling and grammar - everyone can forgive the difficult word but basic mistakes just demonstrate ignorance.

What is your biggest indulgence?

My season ticket for high up in the Fratton End, at Fratton Park. After a hard week of long hours and little sleep I let go by shouting myself hoarse in the Pompey crowd. I’ve done it for almost 40 years now and while I come home barely able to speak I do feel like the tension has drained away.

What is your favourite joke?

As this is for a family audience, the one that always makes my daughter embarrassed to know me is: What goes ha ha bump? A man laughing his head off.

What is your favourite restaurant?

At the moment it has to be the Station Tandoori at Swanwick Railway Station. The staff are always so very nice and welcoming, the food is absolutely fantastic and reasonably priced, and the sensation when a train goes charging through the station while you’re sat in the restaurant is very surreal!

What TV programme can’t you miss, when it’s on?

I am totally hooked on the whole CSI franchise – New York, Miami and the original in Las Vegas. I also love University Challenge, although hardly ever get a right answer.

What would you most like to do that you haven’t done already?

Learn to ride a motorbike.

What’s your favourite word?

Splendid

What would you like for Christmas?

Other than lots of new advertisers for The Gazette I am just looking forward to spending time with my family who I don’t see anything like enough of during the rest of the year.

************************************************************************

You can find the latest issue of the Western Wards Gazette online here. You can also follow The Gazette on Twitter and Facebook.

Very many thanks to Kevin Briscoe for his time.

Tina