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Janet Williams

WW2 RAF Navigator Frank Damerell Remembers His Beloved Mosquito

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In 2016, I published an article about our 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell from Chandler’s Ford.

Frank Damerell was a Night Fighter Navigator. The aircraft was the well-known Mosquito.

Recently, Frank was interviewed on BBC Radio Solent, talking about his Mosquito missions in World War Two on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show.

Click the image to listen to Frank Damerell – the WW2 RAF Navigator remembering his beloved Mosquito (3 minutes’ long). [Read more…] about WW2 RAF Navigator Frank Damerell Remembers His Beloved Mosquito

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A Great Community Event: Fryern Funtasia 2018

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Today’s Fryern Funtasia in Chandler’s Ford was fun, as usual, and it was very well managed. Congratulations! I heard a few children fainted due to heat, but hope they have had some rest and are now feeling better. The organisers deserve our praise – they have put in so much effort to make sure everything ran so smoothly. [Read more…] about A Great Community Event: Fryern Funtasia 2018

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Ask Chandler’s Ford Today: We’re Relocating to Chandler’s Ford…

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Due to our good reputation over nearly 5 years, Chandler’s Ford Today community website receives a lot of emails from readers each week (such as missing cats and where to find a butcher).

Today we decide to start an Advice Column on Chandler’s Ford Today. There must be some Agony aunts and Agony uncles out there (i.e. YOU). [Read more…] about Ask Chandler’s Ford Today: We’re Relocating to Chandler’s Ford…

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Dovetail Art Project with Revd David Hollingsworth

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A while back, the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church was busy collecting signatures of people in the Church and its community. Visitors to carol services, customers in the Dovetail Café, and all the groups who use the premises were being invited to sign in charcoal or chalk on special paper.

These names have now been turned into a work of art by an artist, Rev David Hollingsworth, who is skilled at community works of art. [Read more…] about Dovetail Art Project with Revd David Hollingsworth

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Congratulations! It’s a BEM for Caroline Husain from Chandler’s Ford

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Congratulations to Caroline Husain from Chandler’s Ford, who has been named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2018.

Caroline has been recognised for decades of ‘services to charity and the community in Chandlers Ford’ with a BEM  (The British Empire Medal).  [Read more…] about Congratulations! It’s a BEM for Caroline Husain from Chandler’s Ford

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Beautiful Christmas Church Services 2017. How’s your Christmas Day?

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Last night I attended the Candlelit Carol Service at Eastleigh Baptist Church. My friends have recently joined the church and sang at the choir, so I went there for support and friendship.

The service was absolutely brilliant, uplifting, and enjoyable. It was beautifully intertwined with poetry, drama, and songs. There was a choir made up of adults and children, a top-class 4-people band, a modern drama (family got stuck on M25; a sulky teenager; train being late), a classical play (with costumes; tea-towel-headed shepherds that sort of thing), and Spoken Word. The Spoken Word was beautifully written: short passages in rhymes, and the narrators were passionate with their narration. To top that, both screens highlighted the keywords being read, so the visual impact was very powerful.  [Read more…] about Beautiful Christmas Church Services 2017. How’s your Christmas Day?

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Christmas in Chandler’s Ford 2017

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This morning I attended the church service at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.

The service was led by Rev Dr Howard Mellor. He is a great speaker and his speech was full of humour. He started off showing a blue and white t-shirt representing Huddersfield Town, as he told us he watched the match yesterday and he showed his support for the blue and white team!

I don’t know anything about football, but his introduction using football seemed very well received. [Read more…] about Christmas in Chandler’s Ford 2017

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Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017

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This morning, veterans and a few hundreds people commemorated those who lost their lives in the two World Wars and later conflicts, at the Chandler’s Ford war memorial.

Remembrance Sunday, which falls on 12 November in 2017, is a day to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

A two-minute silence was held across the country and wreaths were laid at memorials.

In Chandler’s Ford, people old and young were gathering at the war memorial, outside the St. Boniface Church on Hursley Road, including 93-year-old war veteran Frank Damerell, Night Fighter Navigator (the aircraft was “The Mosquito Night Fighter”) during the Second World War. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017

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Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 44th Christmas Market 2017

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Once a year I go to the Joint Charities Annual Christmas Market in Chandler’s Ford to buy a few Christmas cards (I don’t have that many friends to send cards to) and use it as a chance to catch up with friends, and also have my coffee morning with friends at the Dovetail Centre Café. [Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 44th Christmas Market 2017

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New Video: South Millers Dale

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Last month we shared a video Welcome to Hiltingbury, Chandler’s Ford. The video was created by Jack Smark, a 13 year old Year 9 pupil from the Toynbee School.

Today I found Jack’s new video, named South Millers Dale. Jack is the founder and creator of Tondore Productions. He is an aspiring cinematographer and would love to film movies and film documentaries. [Read more…] about New Video: South Millers Dale

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Re-opening of the Dovetail Centre: to Engage and Share, and Fight Loneliness

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Yesterday morning, a few of us from Chandler’s Ford Today attended the unique ribbon-less re-opening ceremony of the Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church. It was a warm and friendly place as usual, buzzing with excitement.

It was certainly a day of celebration, and also a day of reflection on the problem of loneliness in our community, and how we could all reach out to support one another. [Read more…] about Re-opening of the Dovetail Centre: to Engage and Share, and Fight Loneliness

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New Video: Welcome to Hiltingbury, Chandler’s Ford

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I came across a short YouTube video a few days ago about Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury.

“Welcome to Hiltingbury, Chandler’s Ford”

I’ve watched the video a few times, and found it rather pleasing as it captures the key scenes in Chandler’s Ford well: estate agents, outstanding schools, Hiltingbury Lakes (and men fishing), shops in Hiltingbury (Andersons, Marshalls Bakery…), charity shop on Hiltingbury Road, The Picture Framing Shop, the Hiltonbury Farmhouse, wildlife, Tesco, the Hilt, the tennis courts, and dogs playing on Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. [Read more…] about New Video: Welcome to Hiltingbury, Chandler’s Ford

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Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

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Yesterday afternoon I had a rather good time at Hiltingbury Extravaganza. There were quite many people and lovely animals (pigs, horses, dogs, owls…). Musicians, dancers, writers, volunteers, and many businesses all helped to make this special event remarkable.

Credit to The HCA (Hiltingbury Community Association) at The Hilt for its organisation for another fantastic Extravaganza community event on the Hiltingbury Recreation Ground.

The Hiltingbury Extravaganza was officially opened by Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

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Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award

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Recently a tweet by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) caught my eyes:

“Chandler’s Ford Infant School Project – April Rapley. Shortlisted for Student our Excellence in AT Award.”

Congratulations to April Rapley, Architectural Design and Technology graduate from Southampton Solent University! Her re-design of Chandler’s Ford Infant School on Kings Road has been shortlisted for the Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (Project) 2017. [Read more…] about Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award

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Transformation: Dovetail Centre and Dovetail Centre Café

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In the past few weeks I met some friends at the newly refurbished Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church a few times.

The place is bright, spacious, modern, and welcoming. It’s accessible to all, and I particularly like the much improved lighting. (I felt a bit dazzled at the beginning as I was sensitive to light due to short-sightedness, but soon got used to it.)

[Read more…] about Transformation: Dovetail Centre and Dovetail Centre Café

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Rev. Wilbert Awdry Bridge in Chandler’s Ford

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Do you know there is a Rev. Wilbert Awdry Bridge in Chandler’s Ford?

The Rev. Wilbert Awdry (15 June 1911 – 21 March 1997) was an Anglican minister who created Thomas the Tank Engine (and other engines). In interviews he said his son Christopher (aged 3) had measles, so he came up with stories to amuse him. [Read more…] about Rev. Wilbert Awdry Bridge in Chandler’s Ford

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Have your Say by 18th August: Proposal to Refurbish the Pavilion in Hiltingbury Recreation Ground

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There has been a heated debate recently in the Chandler’s Ford community about the proposal to refurbish the Pavilion situated in Hiltingbury Recreation ground.

What’s the proposal about? According to Chandler’s Ford Parish Council, the proposal is about the “Partial demolition, refurbishment and extension to existing sports pavilion, including provision of additional car parking facilities and construction of temporary car park.” [Read more…] about Have your Say by 18th August: Proposal to Refurbish the Pavilion in Hiltingbury Recreation Ground

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Refurbishment for a Modern and Contemporary Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church

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A few weeks ago, I went to the Gift Day at the Dovetail Centre of the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church. The purpose of the day was to raise fund to refurbish Dovetail Centre, one of the most popular community centres in the heart of Chandler’s Ford.

It was a happy morning. We were sitting at the delightful Dovetail Centre, chatting to old and new friends, and were all excited about the new project. [Read more…] about Refurbishment for a Modern and Contemporary Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church

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