Chandler's Ford Today

Arts

Every photograph we take, every show we present, or every song and hymn that we sing, we bring inspiration, creativity and joy to the community. Our artists have taken risks. They have brought us wonder and beauty of nature.

Review the Watercress Line

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One of my favourite post-Christmas traditions is to ride on the Watercress Line between Alresford and Alton just after the end of the Santa specials and before New Year.

My family used the Santa specials years ago when my son was younger and the present given was always a good one. The downside is these Santa trains are very popular and booking early is a must (not a downside from the Watercress Line’s viewpoint of course) but now my son is older, we can avoid all that! The post-Christmas trains are also busy but not to the same extent and booking is generally not necessary. [Read more…] about Review the Watercress Line

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Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

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“It’s beginning  to feel a lot like Christmas” – well, it certainly is for the 380 people who went to “A Swing-Along Christmas” concert presented by the Thornden Community Wind Band with their special guests The Spitfire Sisters on Friday evening. This was a wonderful concert and a fine introduction to the week before Christmas.
[Read more…] about Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

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Otterbourne Mummers: Traditional Mummers Play in Otterbourne, Christmas 2016

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Yesterday, we went to see the Mummers street play in Otterbourne, Hampshire.

It is a very old and traditional folk play and depicts King George slaying the dragon, Turkish knights and other adversaries. It was good fun to watch and the costumes were very colourful. [Read more…] about Otterbourne Mummers: Traditional Mummers Play in Otterbourne, Christmas 2016

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Review: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Boniface Church 2016

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I attended the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St. Boniface (CofE) Church this evening. The church was packed. Superbly directed by Dr. Hugh Benham, the carol service certainly defines Christmas musically for Chandler’s Ford.

(If you missed the carol service this year, try not to miss it next year. Trust me, you won’t regret it.) [Read more…] about Review: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Boniface Church 2016

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Local Author News: Richard Hardie

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Christmas is, for authors and publishers, the most important time of the year for selling books and is a major lifeline for our bookshops.

With so few independent bookshops around now, it is nice to be able to share news of one that is not only continuing to do well but is also stocking local author Richard Hardie’s Young Adult novels, Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords.
[Read more…] about Local Author News: Richard Hardie

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Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade

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I write mystery novels set in and around Winchester – and sometimes even in Chandler’s Ford!

Chandler’s Ford has been home since 1981 when we moved here from Surrey for my husband’s new job. I come originally from Poole and my husband comes from Oxfordshire. When we moved here our son was twelve and went to Thornden, followed in due course by his sisters: our elder daughter who was ten when we moved here and went into the top year at Hiltingbury Juniors, and the younger one, who was five, who started school at Hiltingbury Infants. [Read more…] about Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade

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What’s Your Favourite Film Theme? My Top Ten

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One of the highlight Chandler’s Ford Today posts for me this year was the Top Ten Classical Music Greats list and many thanks to all who added wonderful contributions to this. I’ve loved listening to them all.

The biggest problem I had was in working out which piece had to go into this list. It left me with a number of pieces I would have loved to have included but very conveniently these are film scores/extracts so a new post on Top Ten Film Themes would seem to be in order! [Read more…] about What’s Your Favourite Film Theme? My Top Ten

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The Writer’s Journey: Allison Symes

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It is typical there is no Local Author News for ages, then there are two at once!

I am delighted to bring you news of my latest publications, including the production of my first book, From Light to Dark and Back Again, which is a flash fiction collection being published by independent press, Chapeltown Books. [Read more…] about The Writer’s Journey: Allison Symes

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Review: Extravaganza of Musical Shows by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

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Last week’s autumn production for the Eastleigh Operatic & Musical Society gave us an Extravaganza of Musical Shows – a selection of both some of the better-known and lesser-known numbers from musical theatre.

There is a huge canon of musical shows to choose from, and the company had selected an eclectic programme to showcase the skills of the performers.  [Read more…] about Review: Extravaganza of Musical Shows by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

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Book Launch News: Martin Kyrle and Michael Roberts

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As you know by now, I love train travel but I’m pleased to say I am easily outdone (in terms of distance and time taken to complete the journey) by two local authors who are bringing out a new book shortly.

The furthest I’ve been in a day from Chandler’s Ford Station is York (to date anyway!) but the new book, written by Martin Kyrle and Michael Roberts, is called Jottings from the Trans-Siberian Railway. Now there is considerable commitment to long distance train travel! [Read more…] about Book Launch News: Martin Kyrle and Michael Roberts

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Michael Ondaatje – Author

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Michael Ondaatje writes a good story and some fine poetry. I have enjoyed his ‘Cat’s Table’ and ‘Running in the Family’.  ‘The English Patient’ is his best known work.

I had been reading ‘Running in the Family’ about Michael’s early life in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. Michael Ondaatje left Sri Lanka at the age of 11 in 1954 and after a few years in England he moved to Canada in 1962 where he is a respected literary figure. The Ondaatje family had a coconut estate in Kegalle called Rock Hill where Michael spent his childhood. [Read more…] about Michael Ondaatje – Author

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Review: All My Sons – Excellent Production by Chameleon Theatre Company

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I went to see All My Sons by Arthur Miller at the Chameleon Theatre Company in Hursley Road recently.

Wonderful performances, a great story and I’m glad to have discovered this play. It is also, I think, apt that this review appears on 11th November given All My Sons is set in 1947. The impact of World War Two is still red raw on grieving families (as the play makes very clear).  [Read more…] about Review: All My Sons – Excellent Production by Chameleon Theatre Company

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Review: The Railway Children

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Sometimes I write reviews of concerts and shows; sometimes I write about places to go for a day out. This post isn’t intended to be either of those, though it may look a bit like both.

Last week I fulfilled an ambition I’ve held for several years by going to see the stage version of The Railway Children. This was one of my most-loved books as a child (and that of my sister too), and the 1970 film is undoubtedly one of my all-time favourites. [Read more…] about Review: The Railway Children

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My Top 10 Classical Music Greats

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One thing I promised myself this year is that, for once, I would listen to all of the BBC Proms and not just the fantastic Last Night. I kept that promise and enjoyed a wonderful series of concerts.

And all credit to Sir Henry Wood for coming up with such a fantastic idea of bringing wonderful music to as wide a range of people as possible. [Read more…] about My Top 10 Classical Music Greats

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Review: All My Sons – Chameleon Theatre Company 2016

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Last weekend we watched All My Sons, Arthur Miller’s modern classic.

It was the autumn 2016 production performed by the brilliant local theatre company of Chandler’s Ford: Chameleon Theatre Company. [Read more…] about Review: All My Sons – Chameleon Theatre Company 2016

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The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 2

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This is Part 2 of my interview with Barbara Large, MBE, founder of the Winchester Writing Conference as it was known.  Now known as the Winchester Writers’ Festival, it is recognised as one of the major writing events of the year.

Despite stepping down from running the conference in 2013, Barbara is as busy as ever running workshops, leading tours around the CPI production plant at Chippenham for those interested in self-publishing and having her own creative writing consultancy – Creative Words Matter. [Read more…] about The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 2

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The Story Shuffle Project Update

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Further to my recent post on the Story Shuffle Project, I’m glad to share some further images of the app.

The Story Shuffle Project encourages children to write and ten local schools are taking part, one of which is Merdon Junior School. The schools partner up with local libraries and naturally Merdon is linked to our library.
[Read more…] about The Story Shuffle Project Update

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The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 1

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I had the great joy of meeting Barbara Large at the Winchester Writing Conference (as it was known) many moons ago. Now known as the Winchester Writers’ Festival, this three day writing event was started by Barbara in 1980. She led the conference until 2013.

Barbara is as busy as ever and runs workshops. [Read more…] about The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 1

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