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From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson

October 23, 2015 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Chandler’s Ford Today covers a wide spectrum of interests – from football to gliding, from local history to reviews of shows in nearby theatres and Thornden Hall. From memories of the Gang Show to news of the latest fundraising efforts by the Scouts and the Fairtrade events.

Naturally a blog like this will attract writers. People like Richard Hardie, whose young adult Temporal Detective Series (Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords), will be highlighted in Chandler’s Ford library next Thursday 29th October. People like Brenda Sedgwick whose first novel, Marriage, a Journey and a Dog, was out earlier this year. [Read more…] about From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, history, interview, Isle of Wight, literature, reading, review, travel, war memorial, writing

Show You Care – Chandler’s Ford Fairtrade Autumn Market

October 19, 2015 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Councillor Louise Bloom from Hedge End recently visited Chandler’s Ford promoting Fairtrade.

Eastleigh is now officially a Fairtrade Borough, a status achieved on 7th May 2015. Councillor Louise Bloom, a strong Fairtrade promoter, said she hopes more companies would support Fairtrade in the Borough of Eastleigh. [Read more…] about Show You Care – Chandler’s Ford Fairtrade Autumn Market

Tags: campaign, Chandler's Ford, Christianity, community, crafts, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, event, Fairtrade, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, local interest, religion, St. Martin, Traidcraft

Review: The Spitfires in Concert – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band

October 18, 2015 By chippy minton Leave a Comment

The Spitfires – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band performed an all new concert at The Methodist Church in Chandler’s Ford on Saturday evening, 17th October 2015. “All new” in that all the pieces were being performed by the band for the first time.

A church may seem an unlikely venue for a band concert, but the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church proved to be an excellent one. [Read more…] about Review: The Spitfires in Concert – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, concert, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, Methodist Church, music, review, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

A Batch of Cumbers: Review of Hamlet at Thornden Hall

October 18, 2015 By Ben Williams 3 Comments

Lats Thursday I saw Hamlet broadcast by National Theatre Live, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, at the Thornden Hall in Chandler’s Ford. It was the fifth acting role I have seen Cumberbatch in, and apart from writing my review about the play, Hamlet, I would also like to write about how actors are defined by the roles they play. [Read more…] about A Batch of Cumbers: Review of Hamlet at Thornden Hall

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, entertainment, event, local interest, National Theatre Live, review, social, theatre, Thornden Hall, Winchester Road

Review: The Importance of Being Earnest at Thornden Hall

October 15, 2015 By Allison Symes 12 Comments

Despite knowing Thornden well and visiting the Hall for numerous parents’ evenings, this was the first time I’d visited the Hall for a show.

The Importance of Being Earnest was being shown as a live broadcast of the performance taking place at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End. There was a short interview with the production’s director, Adrian Noble, and a further short piece with David Suchet, playing the unforgettable Lady Bracknell, before the performance. [Read more…] about Review: The Importance of Being Earnest at Thornden Hall

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, entertainment, event, local interest, National Theatre Live, review, social, theatre, Thornden Hall, Winchester Road

Closure of HSBC Chandler’s Ford Branch. Do Bank Branches Still Matter?

October 13, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 6 Comments

Banks – love ‘em or hate ‘em – we are going to lose HSBC Chandler’s Ford Branch. Closure is scheduled for 13th November 2015.

This is the bank in the Central Precinct, famous for being the site of an armed robbery in September 2007. [Read more…] about Closure of HSBC Chandler’s Ford Branch. Do Bank Branches Still Matter?

Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, local businesses, local interest, news, Winchester Road

High Jinks at the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2015

October 9, 2015 By Allison Symes 9 Comments

Some of the great joys of writing for Chandler’s Ford Today are in meeting new people and going to events that are new to me.

The recent Hiltingbury Extrav was the first I’d visited despite living in Chandler’s Ford for over 25 years. So I thought I would look back at it as we leave the summer season with its shows and fetes behind. (If anyone is in any doubt we are in autumn now, the recent wild weather should dispel that!). [Read more…] about High Jinks at the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2015

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, crafts, dog, entertainment, event, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, hobby, local interest, music, Ramalley Hall, scouting, social, The Hilt, theatre, Thornden Hall

Charlotte Mary Yonge in Eastleigh

September 30, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 12 Comments

Charlotte Mary Yonge? Who is she?

She is the woman represented by the new statue of a seated figure in the approach to Eastleigh Railway Station. Yes, but who is she?

Charlotte Mary Yonge is hardly known these days but she was a notable novelist in her time. [Read more…] about Charlotte Mary Yonge in Eastleigh

Tags: architecture, Charlotte Mary Yonge, culture, development, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley, John Keble, literature, local interest, news, Otterbourne, train station, writing

What Do Architects Do?

September 23, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

L A Hally, a local architect, gave an informative talk about some of her work in Chandler’s Ford Today two weeks ago.

She specialises in designing extensions, rebuilds and redesign of houses in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about What Do Architects Do?

Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, culture, education, event, history, local interest

The Hiltingbury Extrav 2015

September 21, 2015 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

I went to Hiltingbury Recreation Ground at 3pm yesterday with my son, and local writer Allison Symes.

The Hiltingbury Extrav 2015 was in full swing. The event took place from 12.00 noon till 5.00pm.

We were first attracted by some classic cars. We spotted Chandler’s Ford Today writer Mike Sedgwick there admiring the vehicles (and checking the engine stuff). [Read more…] about The Hiltingbury Extrav 2015

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, crafts, dog, entertainment, event, Hiltingbury, hobby, local interest, music, Ramalley Hall, social, The Hilt, theatre

Review: Station Walks Book

September 18, 2015 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

This post reviews Station Walks by Dr. Clare Diaper. I discovered this book thanks to an earlier Chandler’s Ford Today post and am glad to say it is a delight to read and a greater joy to use.

The book is supported by the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership, My Journey and Transition Southampton. Their details are given at the front of the book. [Read more…] about Review: Station Walks Book

Tags: books, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, days out, Eastleigh, local interest, news, reading, recommendations, review, Southampton, Station Lane, Three Rivers, train station, travel, walking, writing

Life in a Wheelchair

September 8, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 5 Comments

We have a friend, let’s call her Betty, who is fit but cannot use her legs so she lives her life in a wheelchair. Many people treat her in a “does she take sugar?” fashion. She can answer for herself, she has a PhD, but she has to put up with being treated as an idiot. [Read more…] about Life in a Wheelchair

Tags: Chandler's Ford, charity, community, Eastleigh, education, Hiltingbury, hobby, local interest, review, road safety, travel

Always Annoyed in August (Are Exams Easier?)

September 4, 2015 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Parenthood changes your outlook in many ways. One way is when it comes to secondary school education and beyond, with exams in the offing, you can be guaranteed every August without fail your blood will boil. You will be annoyed. Why?

Because, without fail, somebody will claim, as the national exam results are much improved, the exams must be getting easier. That same old tired mantra comes out every August. Your blood boils every August. QED. [Read more…] about Always Annoyed in August (Are Exams Easier?)

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, education, recommendations, school, Thornden School, Toynbee School, viewpoint

Gill James: Top Tips to Writers’ Networking

August 29, 2015 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

This post continues from yesterday’s article where Gill James shared some of her thoughts on life as a creative writing lecturer and author.

Gill gave me my first publishing credit via Alternative Renditions, a Bridge House anthology, and I have since had other work published online and in Limerick Nation and The Shamblelurklers Return. I’m currently working on a short story collection. [Read more…] about Gill James: Top Tips to Writers’ Networking

Tags: blogging, books, education, interview, publishing, reading, writing

Déjà vu

August 25, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick

On one of those lovely summer days when the sky was clear blue and the air gentle and warm my wife took me to Highcliffe Castle. She showed me where she used to swim as a girl and walked me along the cliff top path through the trees with glimpses of the sparkling azure Solent lying between us and the Needles. [Read more…] about Déjà vu

Tags: community, days out, family, memory, travel

VJ Day

August 19, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 3 Comments

We have had many reminiscences about WWII. Here is one about the end of it all. The newspaper is dated 1945. At the time I was with my family, on holiday in Filey, Yorks. Picnics and games were organised for us children on some waste ground at the rear of our lodgings. [Read more…] about VJ Day

Tags: community, culture, days out, education, history, local interest, memory, recommendations, storytelling, travel, World War Two

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 (Part 6)

August 18, 2015 By Doug Clews 2 Comments

Doug Clews lived in Chandler’s Ford between 1938 and 1966. Now living in Perth, Western Australia, Doug shares his fascinating childhood memories of Chandler’s Ford with us.

Part 6 (Final)

I remember that, due to the shortage of diesel (distillate) and petrol, the buses were powered by gas, generated by a converter of some description, which was located on a little trailer towed behind the bus (very dirty and smelly).
[Read more…] about My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 (Part 6)

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, education, history, local interest, memory, Peter Symonds, storytelling, World War Two

Genius, Madness and Serendipity

August 17, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick Leave a Comment

Some of you may recall an Antiques Roadshow of 1987. An elderly couple brought in a picture of a night scene in the desert with horses, palm trees and a group of travellers around a camp fire. [Read more…] about Genius, Madness and Serendipity

Tags: arts, history, museum, storytelling

My Top 10 Terry Pratchett Characters

August 14, 2015 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

What is the best thing about fiction for you? The plot? The characters?

For me, the characters are everything. The best plot in the world will fail unless it has the characters to “run” with it.

Do you prefer stand alone novels or a series? [Read more…] about My Top 10 Terry Pratchett Characters

Tags: arts and crafts, books, leisure, literature, reading, review, Terry Pratchett, writing

A Bridge in the Garden

August 10, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

For three seasons of the year we have a stream running through the garden. It is dry in summer so it is really a bourne. The water authority have upgraded it to the status of ‘river’. This gives them control over what we do with it in case we want to dam it, change its course or make a culvert. [Read more…] about A Bridge in the Garden

Tags: architecture, family, gardening, Hiltingbury, hobby, local interest

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