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Why I Love History

November 22, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Why I Love History

I set a word count for my CFT posts. For this one it was vital. Why? Because I can go on at length about this topic!

Many an author loves history because history IS a story (of a nation, of individuals who changed a nation’s fate etc) and it can come into their stories too.

I also believe there is truth in the phrase if a nation forgets its history, it is destined to re-live it. I can think of several episodes in British history which are best kept to the pages of a history book!

And, of course, it is why we have Remembrance/Armistice Day. It is important to remember. We should learn the lessons of history. Sadly we so often don’t. But that’s not history’s fault. It is ours.

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[Read more…] about Why I Love History

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Tags: character histories, creative writing, history, local history, remembrance, stories

Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 46th Christmas Market 2019

November 16, 2019 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

The joint charities Christmas Market in Chandler’s Ford last weekend didn’t disappoint. The market is now in its 46th year, but the passion never seems to fade over time. You see the same people running the market, and you see familiar faces supporting their chosen charities and informing people about the work that they do, and why they need your donation and support. More and more visitors come to the market each year as the market is such a beautiful Chandler’s Ford Christmas tradition.

I like the warmth and friendliness of the market so much that I go there each year to see old friends, and meet friends for coffee at Dovetail Café afterwards. It’s the sort of market where you have no chance of breaking the bank, and you can buy affordable thoughtful little gifts, stocking fillers, some nice pens and notebooks, little torches, storybooks, toys, and some really good quality Christmas cards.

Former Eastleigh Mayor Cllr Jane Welsh opened the 46th Christmas Market run by Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Committee. (Left to right): Caroline Husain, Cllr Jane Welsh, and Val Milner, chairman of the Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Committee.
Former Eastleigh Mayor Cllr Jane Welsh (centre) opened the 46th Christmas Market run by Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Committee. (Left): Caroline Husain, and on the right, Val Milner, chairman of the Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Committee.

The market this year was opened by former Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Jane Welsh. The Joint Charities Annual Christmas Market was held at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church Hall. These were the charities that took part.

46th Chandler's Ford Joint Charities Christmas Market
46th Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Christmas Market

[Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 46th Christmas Market 2019

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, charity, Christmas, church, community, Dovetail Centre, event, fundraising, good neighbours, inspiration, Joint Charities Annual Christmas Market, local interest, Methodist Church, Winchester Road

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 2

November 16, 2019 By Peter Russell 4 Comments

Feature Image - Hook Road Hutments and My Family

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Introduction

I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road Hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 2 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my family background and how we came to be at there at all.

It would be lovely if memories could be shared and if there is further information that people have, please do send in your comments. It would be nice to fill in the “gaps” especially on hutment numbers and family surnames.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

[Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 2

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Tags: Information, local history, memories, storytelling, The Hutments

Fryern Hill Post Office Re-opens (temporarily) Monday Afternoon (18th November 2019)

November 15, 2019 By SO53 News 3 Comments

This morning, Aaron Joseph, the Fryern Hill gift and stationery shop manager, told Chandler’s Ford Today that the post office will re-open on Monday the 18th of November 2019, from around 2pm.

He said The Post Office team would re-start the system from before noon, and it might take around 2 hours to set everything up. So it’s likely that the post office would re-open from around 2pm.

It’s great news for the local people – though it’s unsure how long the post office will continue to run. It’s a relief for local residents and businesses during this busy Christmas time.

The Chandler's Ford Fryern Hill post office will re-open from around 2pm on Monday 18th November 2019.
The Chandler’s Ford Fryern Hill post office will re-open from around 2pm on Monday 18th November 2019.
Post office re-opening
Post office re-opening

[Read more…] about Fryern Hill Post Office Re-opens (temporarily) Monday Afternoon (18th November 2019)

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Fryern Arcade, local businesses, local interest, memory, news, post office, Winchester Road

When Authors Talk… by Allison Symes

November 15, 2019 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Richard Hardie_Antony M Brown author event

Author events are fun but they all have one thing in common – the writer always wonders if anyone will show up! The relief when people do is enormous.

So if you know writers and they are putting on events, do go along. Never underestimate the value of much appreciated morale boosting support here. (The other simple way of supporting writers is to review their books on the usual sites. The nice thing with this is the review doesn’t have to be a long one).

Warning - poems, blogs, stories, novels, all writing alike benefits from good editing - image via Pixabay
Writers at work! Pixabay

[Read more…] about When Authors Talk… by Allison Symes

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Tags: Antony M Brown, author event, books, Cold Case Jury series, creative writing, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, local writers, Richard Hardie, Temporal Detective Agency, writing

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2019

November 10, 2019 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Many people in Chandler’s Ford marked Remembrance Sunday today by observing a two-minute silence at 11am.

Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography captured some photographs of the parade on Hursley Road, and the service this morning at the Chandler’s Ford war memorial, at St. Boniface Church, and has kindly shared these with the Chandler’s Ford community.

Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Traditional parade on Hursley Road. Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography
Traditional parade on Hursley Road. Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography

[Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2019

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

Fairtrade Shopping Evening 2019 – Buy Fairtrade and Make a Difference

November 10, 2019 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

The Fairtrade shopping evening at St Martin in the Wood Church in Hiltingbury last Friday was successful and enjoyable. Many people attended and had an opportunity to buy a variety of high quality fairtrade products to support disadvantaged producers and workers in the developing world. 

Fairtrade events encourage us to be ethical consumers and raise awareness of trade justice.

A lovely fairtrade shopping experience in Hiltingbury. Image by Debbie Pearce Photography
A lovely fairtrade shopping experience in Hiltingbury. Image by Debbie Pearce Photography

[Read more…] about Fairtrade Shopping Evening 2019 – Buy Fairtrade and Make a Difference

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

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

November 9, 2019 By Peter Russell 4 Comments

Feature Image - Hook Road Hutments and My Family

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit:   All images were supplied by Peter Russell

INTRODUCTION

My name is Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. I’ve been following and contributing to the main discussion thread on this website since Spring 2016 and noticed the ‘related posts’ by John Rolfe and Liz Stothard/Dee, where photos have been uploaded.

(Editor’s Note: The links to all of the previous posts on The Hutments will follow at the end of this post and throughout the series).

I’ve arranged with Janet Williams to share my posts on The Hutments here, where I can present the results of my research from 2016 onwards and, more personally, upload my family’s recollections and photos for others to share.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

Many of my findings are based directly on the clear recollections of my mother, Claudia Ruth Russell. I can no longer ask her any questions, as she sadly passed away, aged 97, in October 2018.

Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952-1
Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952

This web page is a tribute to her and my father. [Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

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Tags: Information, local history, storytelling, The Hutments

Favourite Adverts

November 8, 2019 By Allison Symes 15 Comments

Feature Image - Favourite Adverts

Do you like advertising? I don’t mind adverts that entertain me. I accept their purpose is to try to make me part with my money but unless it really is for a product I’m interested in, there’s nothing doing!

Always glad to advertise these people
Always glad to advertise these people – and yes the image is from Pixabay, who else?!

[Read more…] about Favourite Adverts

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Tags: adverts, entertainment, favourite adverts, marketing, quiz, writers and advertising

Richard Hardie/Antony M Brown – Hiltonbury Farmhouse – Author Event

November 7, 2019 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Author signing and talk at Hiltonbury Farmhouse

Richard Hardie and Antony M Brown – Author Event

Richard Hardie has shared the following details for a local author event at The Hiltonbury Farmhouse on Tuesday, 12th November. All are welcome!

Author signing and talk at Hiltonbury Farmhouse
Author signing and talk at Hiltonbury Farmhouse. Image kindly supplied by Richard Hardie

[Read more…] about Richard Hardie/Antony M Brown – Hiltonbury Farmhouse – Author Event

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Tags: Anthony M Brown, author talks, local author news, Richard Hardie, The Hiltonbury Farmhouse

MDG Players’ Production: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’ – Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th November

November 2, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Chandler's Ford Today upcoming events in Chandler's Ford and around Eastleigh

MDG Players’ next production is ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’ by Eddie Robson on Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th November, in the Dovetail Centre Café, of Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, at 7.30pm.

Tickets £8 can be purchased from The Dovetail Café or Brenda Discombe on 023 8025 3922 or email: johndiscombe1962@talktalk.net

MDG Players next production is *‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’* by Eddie Robson on Thursday 28^th – Saturday 30^th November in the Dovetail Centre Café at 7.30pm.
MDG Players’ November production is ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’ by Eddie Robson – Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th November in the Dovetail Centre Café at 7.30pm.

[Read more…] about MDG Players’ Production: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’ – Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th November

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Tags: acting, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, social, theatre, Winchester Road

The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

November 1, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review

Image Credit: A big thank you as ever to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for the images.

The play’s title indicated there would be play on words (in every sense) running through the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group. With a title like this, it can hardly be avoided! Still it does tie in with my post last week on Meanings!

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review
Feature Image – Chameleons – My Husband’s Nuts – Review. Image taken by Allison Symes

[Read more…] about The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

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Tags: drama, farce, humour, My Husband's Nuts, plays, review, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Group

Steve Brine MP on the Fryern Hill Post Office: “unlikely to be resolved this side of Christmas”

October 26, 2019 By SO53 News 7 Comments

Following the sudden closure of the Fryern Hill Post Office, Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine has given an update via his Facebook post.

“Thank you to constituents who have contacted me this week after the sudden closure of the PO at Fryern Hill in Chandler’s Ford. Had a confidential briefing from the Post Office this morning to understand what’s gone on here. Suffice to say, while I understand the temptation to grandstand and stir this up, it’s very complex and is extremely unlikely to be resolved this side of Christmas. [Read more…] about Steve Brine MP on the Fryern Hill Post Office: “unlikely to be resolved this side of Christmas”

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Fryern Arcade, local businesses, local interest, memory, news, post office, Winchester Road

Upcoming Events in Chandler’s Ford: October to December 2019

October 25, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Chandler's Ford Today upcoming events in Chandler's Ford and around Eastleigh

Here we have a list of Chandler’s Ford events for you to enjoy and support. We’ll update events on the Upcoming Events page regularly. Send us your community events to help us keep everyone informed with local news and events.

Chandler’s Ford Produce & Craft Market – Saturday – Autumn Market – at the Age Concern Hall, Brownhill Road, from 10am – 1pm (Behind Co-op, Fryern Arcade).

[Read more…] about Upcoming Events in Chandler’s Ford: October to December 2019

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Tags: Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, Dovetail Centre, entertainment, event, Fairtrade, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, local interest, Methodist Church

Meanings

October 25, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - Meanings

By the time this post goes live, Janet and I will have seen The Chameleon Theatre Group’s latest production, My Husband’s Nuts. Review to follow next week.

The use and meaning of language adapts and evolves all the time of course. I can think of a few different meanings for the word nuts, as I’m sure you can… The word husband cames from the old Norse phrase house and owner (and it is thought such men were more attractive partners and over time the word husband came to mean married man, but it is not how it begun). [Read more…] about Meanings

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Tags: comedy writing, creative writing, meanings, use of language, word play

Urgent: Chandler’s Ford Residents: Will You Help Save the Fryern Hill Post Office?

October 19, 2019 By SO53 News 9 Comments

Aaron Joseph, the Fryern Hill Post Office manager, told Chandler’s Ford Today that Post Office Ltd has decided to close the post office down.

It’s happening on the 23rd of October. They are also taking away the computers, which will make it impossible to re-open any time soon. [Read more…] about Urgent: Chandler’s Ford Residents: Will You Help Save the Fryern Hill Post Office?

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Fryern Arcade, local businesses, local interest, memory, news, post office, Winchester Road

What Books Mean To Me – Part 3

October 18, 2019 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean to Me - Part 3

Thank you to my guests in this series, especially for answering my first question. I can’t think of any writer who would willingly just save one book!

I conclude with contributions from Bridge House Publishing/Cafelit colleagues, discover what two fine Scottish crime writers would save if push came to shove (that’s an apt expression given what they write!), and will finally answer the questions myself. [Read more…] about What Books Mean To Me – Part 3

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, libraries, reading

What Books Mean to Me – Part 2

October 11, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean To Me - Part 2

It was a great pleasure last week to start this series on What Books Mean to Me.   Now I write, I have realised  how important reading well is for developing my imagination. [Read more…] about What Books Mean to Me – Part 2

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, non-fiction, reading

What Books Mean To Me – Part 1

October 4, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean To Me - Part 1

Any writer will say to write well, you must read well (and widely). Every writer I know is as happy to talk about the latest great book they’ve read as well as what they’re working on. Why would you write if you didn’t love books and stories in the first place? There are two sides to this coin.

Image Credit:  A big thanks to my guests for supplying photos. Unless otherwise stated, the book and library pictures come, as always, from those magnificent people at Pixabay.

[Read more…] about What Books Mean To Me – Part 1

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, reading, writers

Another Weekend Teaser: Chandler’s Ford

September 28, 2019 By SO53 News 4 Comments

What’s the most common type of business in Chandler’s Ford? Estate agents? Funeral directors? Supermarkets?

How many hairdressers and barbers are in Chandler’s Ford? Another barber shop is opening up. Do you know where it is?
[Read more…] about Another Weekend Teaser: Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, teaser
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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

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Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

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History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

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My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

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Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

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History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

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