I have loved books, especially fiction, since I was very young.
My mother taught me how to read but was told off for it by teachers when I started school because she hadn’t done it in the correct way. I think these days she’d probably be given a medal. Mind, with all the issues in the news recently, I sometimes wonder how any of us of a certain age ever made it through the 1970s! [Read more…] about Top 10 Reasons to Love Books
That most certainly was entertainment. A gala of dance at Thornden Hall on Sunday evening 26th July. [Read more…] about That’s Entertainment – Parkewood School of Dance
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.
Today I’m going to share an eye-witness’ account of what happened in WWII in Winchester, recalled and written by David J. Ward, at that time a student at Peter Symonds’ School, Winchester. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 5)
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)
When I was very young, my father gave me The Reader’s Digest of Fairy Tales. These were in two hardback volumes and contained the original versions of the classic stories.
I still have these books, which are bound up with tape to stop them falling apart, as I couldn’t tell you how often I read them. There are also wonderful illustrations of the characters. [Read more…] about My Favourite Fairytales
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.
Extracts from The Doug Clews Story, or As I remember it, 81 years on.
[Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 4)
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)
After two days driving through France we arrived at our gîte in Provence for a holiday.
It is a delightful place in a 40 acre estate of olive trees and a lavender field. There were no guests in the other gîtes so we had the whole place, including 3 swimming pools to ourselves. One border of the estate was a river and half a mile upriver was a waterfall or cascade as the French call them. [Read more…] about The Waterfall
This week my wife and I attended the latest offering by our local Chameleon Theatre Company. We also took along someone new to this form of entertainment as we were sure that she would be hooked as we are to this talented group.
We were not disappointed. [Read more…] about Another Triumph for Chameleon Theatre Company
Over the past month or so I have been helping out with the Chameleon Theatre Company, after seeing several of their shows.
I learnt how to work with the lights and sound effects for the show from Lionel Elliott and Rebecca Nye. Last Sunday I saw the full dress rehearsal as I will be unable to help during the actual show due to holiday-itis. So treat this review like a film review when the film critics go to see the show early. [Read more…] about Review: Relatively Speaking – Chandler’s Ford Chameleon Theatre Company
It must be slightly daunting when planning to perform a well-known and loved musical. Everyone knows the story. Everyone knows what the songs are supposed to sound like. Can we do it justice? No such qualms need to have worried the cast and crew of who treated audiences to a feast of entertainment with Thornden School’s summer production of The Sound of Music last week.
The production required a large cast of over 100 performers – [Read more…] about Thornden Hall: Alive with the Sound of Music
About the writer: 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.
Extracts from The Doug Clews Story, or As I remember it, 81 years on. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 3)
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)
About the writer: 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.
Extracts from The Doug Clews Story, or As I remember it, 81 years on.
At the start of the war, there were no such things as shelters, but when the bombing started, community surface shelters began to appear. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 2)
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)
Earlier this year, I was pleased to meet Lyn Darbyshire MBE, former Scouting District Commissioner. Her insights into her involvement with The Gang Show led to my researching further into the show’s general history and Ralph Reader, the man behind the Gang Show.
Lyn also kindly shared her thoughts with me about the St. George’s Day Parade in Chandler’s Ford, which she was directly involved with for many years. [Read more…] about Memories of Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade: Lyn Darbyshire
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)
Last week (Thursday to Saturday) Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh performed Les Misérables School EditionTM at the Theatre Royal Winchester.
If you are a fan of Les Misérables and concerned that the “schools edition” might be a dumbed-down version, let me reassure you – it isn’t. The adaptation contains all the passion and power of the original. [Read more…] about Review: Les Misérables by Barton Peveril College
About the writer: 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.
At age 5 at the outbreak of WW2, I did not have anything to compare life and standards of living with, so the War, as I remember it, did not seem to be such a hardship for us, as it was for many, many, thousands of other people in England.
So many of them lost loved ones, their homes, their possessions, and in many cases, their dignity. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 1)
Judging by recent comments on Streetlife about hedges overhanging pavements, I believe many will support my request to have our footpaths returned to us.
If you go for a walk in the evening with a friend, dog or children, you will come across obstacles. Plants escaping from peoples’ front gardens will make your trip hazardous. [Read more…] about Please May We Have Our Footpath Back?
