Edited by Allison Symes
Hello again. In my earlier posts, I shared my wartime memories and some names of friends and neighbours from my Chandler’s Ford years. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong – Part 3 – School Years
Community
Christmas wrapping
It’s that time of year again – Christmas present wrapping. Some people are able to easily create perfectly wrapped presents, with paper held tightly against the gift and tied with pretty ribbons and bows. I’m not. I rely on numerous strips of sticky tape to hold the wrapping together and stop loose edges coming away. It has been suggested that I don’t need to bother with a ‘from’ label on the gifts I give – it’s obvious from the way its been wrapped that it’s from me. [Read more…] about Christmas wrapping
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 36)
A bit of New Forest history; Remembrance Day and Christmas shopping; breakfast in bed, ice cream van delayed by snow; the capitalist greed of Piglet; wonderful ballet at The Gaumont, and “thank you for everything” at Compton Church.
Gran clears fallen Winter Pearmain apples in the Pinewood Garden on November 7th 1950, although two hours’ work “made very little impression but gave me an intense backache”, she writes. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 36)
Ghosts, History and What Might Have Been: Introducing Jennifer C Wilson
I first met Jennifer C. Wilson in 2016 at the first Swanwick Writers’ Summer School for us both. We became friends and this year we had the great joy of “racing” each other to Swanwick’s Book Room to put our books out for sale! [Read more…] about Ghosts, History and What Might Have Been: Introducing Jennifer C Wilson
Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong Part 2 – Friends and Neighbours
Edited by Allison Symes
Hello again. I am Graham McLean, aged 78 years and a long retired former Chartered Surveyor who has spent much of his adult life in the Far East and Canada but I lived in Chandler’s Ford.
My posts are my attempt to share some memories, which I hope trigger other memories in some of you. My first post last week shared some of my wartime memories. This week’s post shares some memories of friends and neighbours. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong Part 2 – Friends and Neighbours
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 35)
Too old for tennis; a visit to Cley; the Clifden Nonpareil; a small town-dweller; a grass snake in the garden; the privilege of Cranbury Park access; Forest ponies in the City; the South London Exhibition; the King visits Bushfield Camp; “wireless” or “radio”?
On September 14th 1950 Gran is in Southampton:
I went to help florist friends to pack and deliver flowers to the [RMS] Pretoria Castle, due to sail to South Africa at four o’clock this afternoon. It is an experience I always enjoy, the flowers are beautiful and it is interesting to see the various types of travellers on the ship.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 35)
Christmas – What’s So Special?
By Deacon Paul Owen
I was walking along Park Road in Chandler’s Ford earlier in November and overheard a conversation between a mother and her son she’d just picked up from school. The mother told the son that they would put up their Christmas tree that evening. It was another example for me – along with the constant Christmas TV adverts, the endless playing of Christmas music and the Christmas goods in the shops and the Christmas decorations that are pretty much everywhere – that the Christmas festivities seem to start earlier and earlier each year! [Read more…] about Christmas – What’s So Special?
Winchester Discovery Centre – 10th Anniversary Celebrations
Image Credit: Unless otherwise stated, all images were taken by Allison Symes.
A group of regional writers took part in the Winchester Discovery Centre’s 10th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 25th November. [Read more…] about Winchester Discovery Centre – 10th Anniversary Celebrations
Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong: Part 1
Introduction
Hello, I am Graham MacLean. I am 78 years of age and a long retired former Chartered Surveyor who has spent much of his adult life in the Far East and Canada. I am a Canadian subject and currently living in Hong Kong. I think I have visited Chandler’s Ford two or three times in twenty years but I do have Google Earth! [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong: Part 1
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 34)
Eleven varieties of apple are picked, but many are “fallers”; rare plants at Hatchet Pond; a Stork at the Potter’s Heron; a historic entomological visit to Ireland; “like mother like daughter”; please not another war; Gran enjoys shopping, and will the rain ever end?
There is much work to be done in the Park Road garden as the wet summer of 1950 progresses, and Gran picks Early River plums there on July 21st, the day before what she notes, is “an uneventful day for my forty-sixth birthday”. Nevertheless, she does receive at least one present on the day:
…it is now raining again. But I mean to enjoy a few moments with “Corduroy” by Adrian Bell, and I can look forward to more pleasure when I read his “By-road”, given me today by Jock.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 34)
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 33)
A young Woodpecker dies, and another is stalked; a letter to Adrian; Adder’s-tongue on the chalk; spiritual advice from a friend ; precious caterpillars; the Anderson Shelter; horse manure and some alien plants.
There is more tennis played on June 10th 1950 and Gran’s comments about it give a thought-provoking insight to her current character. She notes with interest some nesting Greenfinches near the courts saying:
…but this was insufficient in itself to penetrate the social whirl in which I found myself, feeling utterly lonely and unhappy…I have been alone too long to settle again in the gay crowds…I felt like a fish out of water in spite of the fact that everyone was kind and pleased to have me in the team again.
She adds though, on a happier note: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 33)
Keeping it Local – Community and Writers
On the face of it, times have not been good recently at Fryern. Grovers the Butchers has closed as has our branch of the Nat West. I’m always sorry to see an independent firm go, some history goes with them I feel, but, to my mind, the bank branch closure is a stupid decision. It’s not as if the bank wasn’t busy! [Read more…] about Keeping it Local – Community and Writers
About the Prestonpans Villa: Story of Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford
This house in Bournemouth Road, situated near the junction with Brickfield Lane in Chandler’s Ford, was called at the turn of the nineteenth century, “Prestonpans Villa”. In 1901 it was occupied by Mr Samuel Batley, Elizabeth, his wife and a domestic servant. [Read more…] about About the Prestonpans Villa: Story of Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford
Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017
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
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 32)
The lovely Bogbean and the blundering Cockchafer; confusing Butterfly-orchids; Woodlark heard from the front door; Wild Gladiolus at last, and a friendly child in the Forest; a Blackbird attacks a Slow-worm and too much tennis for an aging body.
On May 9th 1950 Gran is worried about “her” little colony of Small Wintergreen in the nearby woods. She writes:
I was pleased to find the Pyrola minor (Small Wintergreen) is just about to flower again in the wood bordering Oakwood Road but sorry to see that the woodman is burning the undergrowth on the opposite side of the road…It always seems to be the wrong time of year for burning, for, apart from the budding plants, many of the migrant birds build their nests on the ground or in low-lying bushes.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 32)
Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 44th Christmas Market 2017
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
Murdered To Death – The Chameleon Theatre Company – Review Part 2
I had the great joy of going to see Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon as performed by The Chameleon Theatre Group on Saturday 28th October. What with the Book Fair in the morning, it was a busy day but a hugely enjoyable one and the show rounded things off beautifully.
How can you tell if something is a spoof? I always look for tautology in the title! It is done for exaggeration (a great comic technique). I can’t think of any other genre where the “To Death” bit would be added. It certainly wouldn’t be in crime fiction, where murder generally is taken very seriously! [Read more…] about Murdered To Death – The Chameleon Theatre Company – Review Part 2
Review: Murdered to Death by Chameleon Theatre Company
This play Murdered to Death performed by Chameleon Theatre Company in October was an obvious parody of an Agatha Christie murder mystery, right down to one of the characters being called Miss Maple, after the Miss Marple character. Poirot was also referenced, from Miss Maple knowing a Belgian chap, to Pierre Marceau resembling Poirot physically.
The funniest character was Inspector Pratt, who is the most incompetent detective ever. [Read more…] about Review: Murdered to Death by Chameleon Theatre Company
The Nativity Experience, 18th and 19th November
When did you last experience the Christmas Nativity story? No, not hear the story, experience it.
We’re probably all familiar with the story: Mary and Joseph, Donkeys, Bethlehem, “no room at the inn”, manger, shepherds, angels, and all. But what does it all mean and – more pertinently – why is it still important and relevant 2000 years later?
This year, Eastleigh Baptist Church will be seeking to answer this question with the Nativity Experience on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November – planned to coincide with and complement the Christmas light switch-on in the town centre. [Read more…] about The Nativity Experience, 18th and 19th November
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 31)
Two late snowfalls; Brown-tail caterpillars; Blackbirds – a second clutch but chick-feeding leaves something to be desired; Alan Moody; Hawfinch behaviour; horse behaviour; tired migrants; birding on The Island; elusive Crossbills; good birds at Farley Mount and a mother proud of her offspring.
On April 25th 1950, after returning from Eastleigh, Gran took her “small nephew and godchild, David, up into Cranbury Park to look for tadpoles”, in the big lake there. This was David, the son of Gran’s brother, Uncle Norris, who shared his birthday with Dad and also with his Grandfather:
Here in this lake we found what we were seeking and, to my relief, I was able to bring David home again without his having fallen head-first into the water. He is a real chip off the Adamson family block, and extremely interested and asking sensible questions upon the subject of nature which he already finds absorbing, though he is not yet seven years old.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 31)