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Martin Napier

About Martin Napier

I grew up in Chandler's Ford in the 1950s and 1960s. My lifelong passions are cycling and powerboat. I went to Kings Road school, then North End school. I love finding out local history of Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh.

Another Potters Heron Story Before the 1966 Fire

March 21, 2018 By Martin Napier 2 Comments

I remember the Potters Heron before the 1966 fire, and another event prior to that date, probably in the late 1950s…

The original line of the main road there was much closer to the Potters Heron than now, due to a particularly nasty accident that took place then.

A group of actors or celebrities of the day were travelling on what was then the A31, in a couple of fast (for then) cars. [Read more…] about Another Potters Heron Story Before the 1966 Fire

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Tags: community, Hampshire, memory, news, Potters Heron, Romsey, storytelling

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Rotrax Memories; Joy of Powerboat – Part 14

June 11, 2016 By Martin Napier 1 Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

Another episode from Boats and Bikes…

Cycle Time Trials – the 1970s

I found the competitive side of cycling to be just what I wanted at that time. I needed a new angle on cycling and this was it! I managed to be moderately successful and I improved my “Personal Best” times over the distances I raced – mainly 10, 25 & 50 mile events. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Rotrax Memories; Joy of Powerboat – Part 14

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Passions for Power Boat, Bike, and Lambretta (Part 13)

May 16, 2016 By Martin Napier Leave a Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

More favourite memories including thoughts about my boats and bikes……

1964 – The year that Radio Caroline started broadcasting! [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Passions for Power Boat, Bike, and Lambretta (Part 13)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: the Joy of Powerboat Race and Cycling (Part 12)

May 4, 2016 By Martin Napier Leave a Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

It is worth saying how different commentating on powerboat racing was then to how it is nowadays.

As the boat [competitor] of a personality raced past, the commentator would show a degree of deference. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: the Joy of Powerboat Race and Cycling (Part 12)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Witnessing My First Powerboat Race (Part 11)

February 19, 2016 By Martin Napier 1 Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

As 1963 started, I found myself more embroiled in preparations for the crucial exams in the spring.

My real energies were directed towards bikes and boats though!

I was never a very keen scholar, and spent far more time studying boats in magazines, than I did revising!

I knew I was poor at maths and physics, so effectively gave up on those subjects, and concentrated on English, History and Geography, where I knew I had hopes of positive results. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Witnessing My First Powerboat Race (Part 11)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bikes, Boats, and Adventures (Part 10)

February 11, 2016 By Martin Napier 2 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

I returned to the weekly “Club Room” meets throughout the Autumn & winter of 1961/2, with The Cyclists Touring Club. Their Southampton Section, as it was titled, organised weekly Sunday club-runs (rides), to a variety of destinations, always with afternoon tea booked at a venue.

These venues varied in type, from pubs that provided simple bread, cake and tea, meals, to the few cafes, or even a couple of farmhouses! [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bikes, Boats, and Adventures (Part 10)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: My Passions with Bikes and Boats (Part 9)

February 10, 2016 By Martin Napier 1 Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

I think that my ‘awareness’ of motor boats probably came from the early days of our little family moving from London to Chandler’s Ford.

Dad used to take us to Southampton, on a Saturday afternoon, and would see motor launches on Southampton Water from the Royal Pier, and also from my favoured ‘window seat’ of Mayes’ restaurant, where we often enjoyed afternoon tea, looking out across the Pirelli factory towards the “New Docks”. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: My Passions with Bikes and Boats (Part 9)

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Oh Happy Days! Fond Christmas Memories in Chandler’s Ford 1950s – 1960s

December 20, 2015 By Martin Napier 6 Comments

Reading Andy Vining’s recent article, Farming in the Winter and Christmas at Hiltonbury Farm, sends me back to the 1950s and 60s, when my step-mother, Dad and I lived in the bungalows in the fourth service road (nowadays the third one!), on Hursley Road.

We looked from our back garden across the field to Hiltonbury Farmhouse where, in the 1960s, Andy was milking the cows and delivering milk. [Read more…] about Oh Happy Days! Fond Christmas Memories in Chandler’s Ford 1950s – 1960s

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Breaking Free from North End School (Part 8)

August 3, 2015 By Martin Napier 4 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

The Big Freeze in 1963 was followed by the ‘Chandler’s Ford Floods’!

As the snow melted, the resulting melt water had to go somewhere – and the river systems were unsuited for the rush!

Monks Brook and its tributaries were much narrower then and the bridges formed obstructions to the passing waters which rushed through. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Breaking Free from North End School (Part 8)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Big Freeze in 1963 (Part 7)

July 27, 2015 By Martin Napier 3 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

In the winter of 1963 we suffered the worst winter weather for many years.

Snow started falling on Boxing Day 1962, and snow covered the ground for over two months or more.

I was 15 when the coldest winter occurred.

We still rode to school on our bikes, on icy roads and still carried out duties as paperboys, delivering the newspapers. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Big Freeze in 1963 (Part 7)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: A Summer of Hope and Sorrow (Part 6)

July 20, 2015 By Martin Napier 3 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

I remain a club cyclist to this day, having ventured into competitive cycling in the 1970s. I won a few trophies with the Sotonia Cycling Club of which I am a Vice-President.

I remain involved in riding, timekeeping races, and enjoy the companionship and camaraderie the sport offers those of all ages. Some of my present day clubmates are over 80 years of age, and are still active, so there must be some benefits to cycling! [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: A Summer of Hope and Sorrow (Part 6)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle! (Part 5)

July 13, 2015 By Martin Napier 10 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

Herewith another saga……

While I was attending North End Secondary School, I became interested in cycling, not just as a means of transport, but as a sport and pastime.

I was pretty useless at conventional sports like football and cricket, so a chance discussion with another paper boy, introduced me to the Southampton group of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC). This was and still is, a National & International club, with local “Sections” based around the country. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle! (Part 5)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: North End School (Part 4)

July 6, 2015 By Martin Napier 13 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

Continuation of my memories of North End School in Eastleigh.

I recently met up with one of my boyhood friends whom I have kept in touch with ever since.

We met over a coffee recently, and agreed that we must have caused our teachers a great deal of anguish.

Youngsters quickly detect a weakness in others. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: North End School (Part 4)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)

June 29, 2015 By Martin Napier 6 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

Before I relate more of my life at North End Secondary School, I might regale you with some of the other events and things happening in the area back in the late 1950s and into the 1960s.

The area at the bottom of Hursley Road, where the Central Precinct is now, was somewhat different then.

The precinct was built in the 60s, [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Paper Boy; North End School (Part 2)

June 22, 2015 By Martin Napier 22 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

I grew up in Chandler’s Ford in the 1950s and 1960s.

When I was about 12 years old, I started my first (part-time) job.

This was as a Saturday van-boy for Mr Smith, a greengrocer, who had a shop opposite “The Hut” on Bournemouth Road. (not to be confused with Mr Smith who had a grocers shop in Hursley Road, opposite the Railway Station.) [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Paper Boy; North End School (Part 2)

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s (Part 1)

June 15, 2015 By Martin Napier 31 Comments

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

I was born, not in Chandler’s Ford, but in Tooting, South London, in 1947.

My father came from Lancashire, and my mother from Tooting.

We lived in Streatham, a mile or two from Tooting, but just before my second birthday, my mother died from influenza. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s (Part 1)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

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My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

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Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

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Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

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Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

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