THE long standing rivalry between Southampton and Portsmouth was at its keenest exactly 70 years ago on October 5, 1940 when fierce competition was taken to new heights.

It was neck and neck in the race to raise the most money to help fund the construction of the Second World War’s most famous fighter, the Spitfire, which was playing such a vital, front-line role in defending the nation against attack by enemy bombers.

There was, and still is, a close connection between Southampton and the Spitfire as it was designed and developed at the Supermarine factory in Woolston by engineering genius, RJ Mitchell, and made its maiden flight in the skies over the city.

According to the Daily Echo of the time, Southampton had a “grand chance of winning the Hampshire Spitfire Stakes’’ against tough competition from Portsmouth and Bournemouth, which was still part of Hampshire in 1940.

“We are fast catching up with our bigger neighbour, Portsmouth, whose total stands at £12,070, against Southampton’s £11,384; we are ahead of our smaller but richer neighbour, Bournemouth, which has collected £8,110 to date,’’ reported the Daily Echo.

“Portsmouth got going several weeks ahead of Southampton; Bournemouth opened a fund at about the same time. If Southampton realises its ambition of raising £15,000 there is little doubt that it will come out top.’’ Money was being raised by all sorts of means, such as a cabaret shows and indoor fete organised by 16-year-old, Eileen C King and Betty Forces, aged 18, at the Temperance Institute, Carlton Place, Southampton. The Daily Echo said: “Eileen, Betty, and company call themselves “The Oddments’’, and are one of the youngest concert parties in the town – their ages range from eight to 18. They have planned a first-class show and deserve the best possible support.’’ A Mrs E Lavers, aged 77, of Sutton Scotney had raised £1 18s 6d (£1.92) by raffling a cushion she had embroidered. “I am only too pleased and proud to give this little help,’’ said the pensioner.

The Daily Echo also reported: “At the other end of the age scale come Arthur and Gerald Kimber of Warren Crescent, Southampton, who have sent eight shillings (40p) to the fund which was raised by selling vegetables they grew themselves and some of their toys.

“There’s still quite a lot of money to be raised if we are to send a flight of Spitfires into the sky by the end of the month.’’