At 11 in the morning of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 the guns fell silent on the fronts of the world at war. Turn your minds to that event and write a strict 500 words to catch the moment. [Read more…] about Armistice
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Review by Ben Williams: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most iconic stories of all time. Centered on the miserable and rude Ebenezer Scrooge, the book – oh who am I kidding, everyone knows the story. There have been countless adaptations of the story and everything from The Muppets to Blackadder to Doctor Who have tackled it. [Read more…] about Review by Ben Williams: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players
A Christmas Carol – The MDG Players – Review by Allison Symes
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is amongst my favourite stories, as I’m sure it is with many of you. It is ultimately a tale of redemption and also a cracking ghost story.
My favourite versions of it (and there have been many produced over the years) are The Muppet Christmas Carol (Michael Caine playing Scrooge) and the version starring Patrick Stewart. It is a question of getting Scrooge’s hardness of heart right without it spilling over into melodrama, something both knights of the realm did fantastically well. [Read more…] about A Christmas Carol – The MDG Players – Review by Allison Symes
What did Jesus Look Like?
What did Jesus look like? You know, don’t you? He has long, straight hair, a full beard, wears sandals and Arabic robes, he never smiles.
In Europe, he is depicted with fair skin and hair. What did he really look like? There are no clues from the Bible. [Read more…] about What did Jesus Look Like?
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 71)
Studying orchids with The Expert; a dream comes true – in the shape of a budgie; Jane does well; a visit to Mill Hill; Compton Church is 800 years old; television – for the first time; painting flowers at a great rate and a family link with the troopship Dilwara.
Book 51
News from Mr Roseweir on June 4th 1955, is that V.S. Summerhayes, the Orchid specialist from Kew, plans to visit the area the following day. Gran, with Brother and Fin make their way to Steven’s Castle Down, in the east of the County, in order to check on the condition of the orchids he plans to investigate there. Stopping on their way, to check the Farley Mount area also, she notes:
We turned left at the Farley – Sparsholt fork, past what used to be the vast rookery, but today I hardly recognised it, for all the fine old beech trees have been felled and there is now a wide-open space. If it was cleared in the hope of destroying the rookery, the result must be disappointing, for the Rooks are now occupying a line of Pine trees beside the road, only a few yards away!
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 71)
Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (19)
The photos in the past two weeks focused on Hursley Road. Today’s photos are slightly different.
1) Where was this?
Clue: Letters [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (19)
Review by Hazel Bateman: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players
I enjoyed a very entertaining evening yesterday when I went to watch A Christmas Carol by the Chandler’s Ford MDG Players. It was held in the Dovetail Centre of the Methodist Church, and this venue facilitated an intimate theatre experience.
The production followed Charles Dickens’ famous story using acting, narration, carol singing and audience participation for the sound effects, which was great fun! The play was brilliantly adapted by James Reynard. [Read more…] about Review by Hazel Bateman: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 70)
A visit to Salisbury; Jane’s twenty-first; Vaughan Williams’ Bridal Day; preparation for a visit by Mr Summerhayes; “eight hateful shops”; a return to tennis; an invasive plant, and the New Forest – still good for Red-backed Shrikes.
In the second week of May 1955, Gran visits Salisbury with her friend Joan Sheppard, to see an exhibition of floral art at the Guildhall there. She fully describes, in particular, those exhibits that she finds most attractive, noting that there is only one male contributor – Gordon Clarke from Dorchester – and whose work was “truly sensational”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 70)
Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (18)
Today we continue to share a few precious images collected by Andy Vining’s family. Andy’s family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years, living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976.
These images may not be very clear, but we hope you get a sense of what the area was like in those days. We hope these inspire your memories and you can share what you remember with us. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (18)
Time Management and Time Travel
I don’t know about you but time management is one of those things I always seek to get better at, given there is plenty I’d like to do (especially in writing) but there are still only 24 hours in any one day!
I like my lists, my calendar has plenty of notes scribbled all over it, and by the end of the week, I’ve usually achieved a reasonable amount of what I set out to do. I’ve learned to carve up bigger tasks (like editing my novel) into smaller chunks and accept there are simply some tasks that can’t be done all at once, no matter how much I’d like to do so! [Read more…] about Time Management and Time Travel
Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 45th Christmas Market 2018
As the government is in Brexit turmoil (‘near Civil War’, according to the BBC), we’re bringing you some stability here from Chandler’s Ford for a change.
The annual Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Christmas Market brings the sort of stability, unity, and friendship that we all need at times of crisis. Last weekend I went to the market, as I had done so for many years, and felt warmth, joy, and a genuine sense of hope for the future. [Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 45th Christmas Market 2018
Chandler’s Ford War Memorial – In Loving Memory of William Joseph Tosdevine
I walked past Chandler’s Ford war memorial this morning and saw this wreath:
In loving memory of my great great grandfather
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial – In Loving Memory of William Joseph Tosdevine
Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2018
There was a rainbow in the morning and the rain stopped for the Remembrance parade and services.
At the Chandler’s Ford war memorial, a crowd of hundreds – from veterans to youth groups, families, and people of different ethnic groups – all gathered to pay their respects.
Hursley Road looked like this in 1918 (peace day celebration), and 1989. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2018
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 69)
Several field trips; a couple of new birds; “Adventure lit their star”; a Nightingale competes with Southampton’s traffic; with Brother and Fin in The Forest; the Habs at Beaulieu; country buses and painting flowers to capture memories.
On March 30th 1955, Gran, with Adrian on her mind, writes:
During the evening I listened to a beautiful but poignantly sad play, “Autumn Crocus” by Dodie Smith, and have come to bed dear, with my soul wrung by it and living again its own anguish. But, as with Fanny, the beauty remains and nothing can take that from me even though I grow old.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 69)
Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (17)
Andy Vining’s family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years, living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976. Last week Andy dropped off a pile of old photographs of Chandler’s Ford for us to share with readers.
These photos have been organised systematically by Andy’s family – comparing old and new scenes at roughly the same location.
You can click to enlarge the photos to get better views. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (17)
The Importance of Memories
This is an appropriate topic as we approach Remembrance Day and Armistice Day and also after my review last week of The Chameleon Theatre Group’s excellent performance of Blackadder Goes Forth.
Why do we need to remember? To be grateful to those who made so many sacrifices, in too many cases the ultimate one, so we can live as we do now. To be grateful to these unknowns who gave up their fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, wives, sisters, daughters and other family so we do not have to give up ours. [Read more…] about The Importance of Memories
Margatet Doores: Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
In the late spring of 2014 I read with interest of the national plans to commemorate the fallen of WW1. It was accepted that these commemorations would not in any way be an attempt to glorify war but were to be an acknowledgment of the great sacrifice made by so many.
It was also decided that these commemorations would continue until November 2018. It was suggested that researching the names on local war memorials could be an appropriate way of doing this. [Read more…] about Margatet Doores: Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
Review: Fairtrade Evening in Chandler’s Ford 2018
I felt privileged to help with the fantastic Fairtrade evening at St Martin’s on 2 November.
Items for sale included crafts from Leprosy Mission, Eastleigh’s Shop Equality (my husband couldn’t resist buying a baby wooden duck to go with his collection), fairly traded clothing from Nomad, beautiful jewellery made high in the hills in Guatemala and a huge Traidcraft stall. [Read more…] about Review: Fairtrade Evening in Chandler’s Ford 2018
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 68)
A longed for book; a medical worry results in an unquiet week; Gran gets her Smew; a bike is mislaid; flower paintings for friends; Tussock Corner; did Kew get it wrong? Oppressed by the London Underground; Roman Snails and a kind gesture.
On February 10th 1955 Gran is in Southampton. She has an appointment there for a chest X-Ray but does not enlarge upon this, preferring to record that:
I had drawn an unexpected fifteen shillings overtime for Christmas week, and, having also a book token to spend, I went to Smith’s bookshop and gave myself a book for which I had longed for many months. It was “Wild Orchids of Britain”, by Summerhayes, of Kew, and I also bought the latest edition of “Hampshire Review”, in which an article of Barry’s on birds of the coast appears. It is a good article and reveals depths in Barry’s character, which may not be apparent to those who only know him superficially.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 68)
The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams
Since I was very young Blackadder has been my favourite comedy show. The antics of the various members of the Blackadder family throughout history is one of Britain’s best loved comedies and for good reason.
The latest Chameleon Theatre production brought to life the show’s most beloved series – Blackadder Goes Forth, which sees Captain Edmund Blackadder desperate to escape the trenches of World War One. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams