Every infantry man in a combat zone loves to hear a Chinook. Wop, wop, wop, you can hear the characteristic sound, you know what it is but you can’t see it. The twin rotor helicopter is coming in at 160 mph with 10 tons of stores and ammunition or re-enforcements. Once it lands, it will be there for 60 seconds, there will be no departure delays, no last calls for passengers, no check in queues. What isn’t taken off or loaded within the time is left where it is. [Read more…] about Chinook
Information
Jane Archer – A Simple Vision, and 37 Years Leading The Coffee Room at Dovetail Centre
In the 1980s there were no fancy coffee shops in Chandler’s Ford. It wasn’t common for supermarkets to offer you ‘free’ coffee either. Many young mothers found themselves isolated at home with young children, and elderly people were struggling to meet someone for a friendly chat.
One person saw that acute problem in Chandler’s Ford and decided to do something about it, to change for the better.
Her name is Jane Archer. She has run the Coffee Room based at the Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church on Winchester Road for 37 years. Many babies who had played at the Coffee Room have grown up to become parents themselves. [Read more…] about Jane Archer – A Simple Vision, and 37 Years Leading The Coffee Room at Dovetail Centre
Signing at the Station by Allison Symes
By the time you read this, I will be coming to the end of a much needed break in stunning Scotland. (Sadly it’s not one I can write about for CFT as there’s no question of using our lovely railway station as a starting point!). [Read more…] about Signing at the Station by Allison Symes
Peter Green: Mid-Summer Entertainment on Saturday 1st July
We have some great news for fans of The Chameleon Theatre company and lovers of a Midsummer Night’s Dream might.
The Chameleons will be performing a couple of funny 10 minute sketches at Peter Green on School Lane, on Saturday afternoon 1st of July from 2pm to 3pm.
Peter Green will be hosting a fun afternoon to celebrate its 61st Annual Summer Sale, and the Chameleons have been invited to perform one of its popular plays, The Pocket Dream. [Read more…] about Peter Green: Mid-Summer Entertainment on Saturday 1st July
People First? Some Thoughts on Grenfell Towers
Her Majesty the Queen was subdued on her birthday. So are we all after the film The Towering Inferno became reality at Grenfell Towers. Reality without the hero, without the Hollywood sanitisation protecting us from thinking about slow deaths due to smoke inhalation. The film was clean, vision only. There was no smell of fear, no burning of heat, no difficulty breathing, no choking or coughing. There was no edge of panic in voices and actions. [Read more…] about People First? Some Thoughts on Grenfell Towers
Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes
Last week Anne Wan, local children’s author, talked about why writing for children is fun and what she learned from writing her debut novel, Secrets of the Snow Globe: Vanishing Voices. In Part 2 she shares her three top tips for writers and what she loves and loathes about editing. There will be a lot of common ground here for writers in all genres! [Read more…] about Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes
Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes
I enjoy interviewing authors for Chandler’s Ford Today. I love finding out their top tips, how they work and what inspires them.
It was a joy then to meet local children’s author, Anne Wan, for tea, coffee and a chat at Bay Leaves Larder recently. Anne has a background in primary school teaching and her book Secrets of the Snow Globe: Vanishing Voices is now out (North Oak Press). [Read more…] about Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes
Great Resources and Information for Seniors
Last Thursday (the election day), I attended a rather special event in Chandler’s Ford called “Seniors’ Information and Wellbeing Day”, organised by Home Instead Central Hampshire, a private care service company.
There were 14 exhibitors and a variety of talks during the event, which took place at the Dovetail Centre in Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church. [Read more…] about Great Resources and Information for Seniors
Hampshire Constabulary: Witness Appeal: Burglary on Hursley Road
(Editor’s note: The Witness Appeal is issued by Hampshire Constabulary. However Chandler’s Ford Today believes the Hampshire Constabulary possibly meant ‘Hursley Road in Chandler’s Ford’, not ‘Hursley Road in Hursley’. Please read on despite this confusion.)
Officers are appealing for information following a burglary on Hursley Road.
The incident happened at around 5.35pm on Saturday, 10 June when the elderly residents were upstairs watching TV at their home on Hurlsey Road. [Read more…] about Hampshire Constabulary: Witness Appeal: Burglary on Hursley Road
World Blood Donor Day
I often drive along Hursley Road on a Friday evening and it seems that almost every week the Give Blood vehicles are parked outside St Boniface church – a blood donor session is underway.
Today (14 June) is World Blood Donor Day, so I thought I would write a little a bit what happens when you give blood – and highlight some of the improvements that have been made over the thirty-plus years that I’ve been a blood donor. [Read more…] about World Blood Donor Day
Sshhh – Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford?
By Karen Stephen
Sshh – do you want to know a secret about Chandlers Ford? You may not be aware that last year, we were thrilled and proud to publish a collection of short stories called “Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford” . Together with my writing chums, Maggie, Catherine and Sally, we spent a year researching, writing and publishing our first anthology of short stories: “Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford”. We wanted to write stories that were locally set and derived from the happenings and history of this lovely area. We also wanted to reflect Chandlers Ford modern and diverse characteristics. [Read more…] about Sshhh – Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford?
Life-saving Defibrillator Fundraising For Chandler’s Ford
GoPhysio in Chandler’s Ford has begun fundraising to buy a defibrillator to give the local community life-saving equipment. With currently over 30,000 people suffering an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every year, 90-95% of these people will die if immediate treatment is not given.
With very few in Chandler’s Ford which are available 24 hours a day, goPhysio felt it was critical for the community to have access day and night. It will be stored on the outside of the clinic meaning anyone can use it in an emergency (address: 11 Bournemouth Road, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 3DA). [Read more…] about Life-saving Defibrillator Fundraising For Chandler’s Ford
One Liners by Allison Symes
I like one-liners. Comedians use them of course but one-liners are invaluable to fiction writers too. One-liners can end a story or film with a gasp or a giggle. They can turn a story on its head at the very last moment.
Equally, use one-liners at the start of a tale and they can draw a reader into the story with powerful imagery. They can convey information in a few, well chosen words and because the good one-liner has to have impact, there’s no room for waffling and so can make a great writing exercise for learning how to “write tight”. [Read more…] about One Liners by Allison Symes
Who Should I Vote for?
Who should I vote for in the forthcoming election? A person or party with political gravitas, one that shows qualities of statesmanship. Or should it be statespersonship? Where are such people? I only see squabbling fourth-formers exchanging slogans as if they embody the solution to the world’s problems.
Our politicians try to do their best but they are products of the system which seems to me to be flawed. But that is a story for another day.
[Read more…] about Who Should I Vote for?
The Flying Scotsman in Scotland
Following Janet’s post with Carl Maskelyne’s pictures of the “Flying Scotsman” locomotive, I thought I’d post this short video of it pulling a train out of Stirling the other day.
It’s a fine beast and my video clip, though a bit amateurish, builds the expectation nicely, giving brief glimpses of smoke in the trees, before it bursts into view in all its splendour. [Read more…] about The Flying Scotsman in Scotland
Twyford Waterworks Open Day: Sunday, 4th June 2017
Just to let people know that the Twyford Waterworks Trust is having one of their interesting Open Days on Sunday, 4th June.
Information taken from their website:
Sunday 4th June 2017
Today we will be focusing on our industrial railway. [Read more…] about Twyford Waterworks Open Day: Sunday, 4th June 2017
The Flying Scotsman in Chandler’s Ford
Carl Maskelyne from Chandler’s Ford took these wonderful pictures of the Flying Scotsman when it came through Chandler’s Ford yesterday morning (Wednesday 31st May 2017).
These photos were taken at the new footbridge in Sutherland Way just down from Chandler’s Ford station (heading towards Flexford Road). There was around 50 people there and the Flying Scotsman came through at around 10:25am. [Read more…] about The Flying Scotsman in Chandler’s Ford
Fundraising: Andy is Running from Chandler’s Ford to Naomi House and Jacksplace
Andy Wells will be running from Chandler’s Ford to Naomi House and Jacksplace on Saturday, the 3rd of June, 2017.
Andy is raising money for the charity in his son Ethan’s name. [Read more…] about Fundraising: Andy is Running from Chandler’s Ford to Naomi House and Jacksplace
A Special Visit to “Hiltonbury Farmhouse”
On 22nd May I went to my old home Hiltonbury Farmhouse to meet Rob Preston the new tenant who is planning to open this wonderful old Farmhouse as a restaurant in early July this year.
Rob is a great entrepreneur who has been in and around the wine and drinks industry all his working life but always wanted to work on “The other side of the bar” as he put it and open a family restaurant setting a high standard for good food and excellent service. [Read more…] about A Special Visit to “Hiltonbury Farmhouse”
General Election 2017
So, in two weeks time – and three years earlier than we expected – we have a general election to look forward to. Some people may have reacted to this news with “a chance to get rid of the current government”; others with “a chance to give the government a greater mandate”. But for many it is possibly “here we go again”. [Read more…] about General Election 2017