On the 18th and 19th of November 2016 The Race Centre, in the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford, ran a 24 hour endurance race to raise money for Children in Need.
Ten teams of drivers competed for the trophies driving LMP2 Porsche Spyders at the classic endurance circuit of Sebring in America. [Read more…] about The Race Centre Supports Children in Need
As you know by now, I love train travel but I’m pleased to say I am easily outdone (in terms of distance and time taken to complete the journey) by two local authors who are bringing out a new book shortly.
The furthest I’ve been in a day from Chandler’s Ford Station is York (to date anyway!) but the new book, written by Martin Kyrle and Michael Roberts, is called Jottings from the Trans-Siberian Railway. Now there is considerable commitment to long distance train travel! [Read more…] about Book Launch News: Martin Kyrle and Michael Roberts
Michael Ondaatje writes a good story and some fine poetry. I have enjoyed his ‘Cat’s Table’ and ‘Running in the Family’. ‘The English Patient’ is his best known work.
I had been reading ‘Running in the Family’ about Michael’s early life in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. Michael Ondaatje left Sri Lanka at the age of 11 in 1954 and after a few years in England he moved to Canada in 1962 where he is a respected literary figure. The Ondaatje family had a coconut estate in Kegalle called Rock Hill where Michael spent his childhood. [Read more…] about Michael Ondaatje – Author
In the run-up to Christmas, Eastleigh town centre is alive with the sound of carol singing today.
I was lucky enough to be in town while the talented singers from Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society (EOMS) were singing Christmas carols. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society: Extravaganza of Musical Shows
Tomorrow morning I’ll be heading for Eastleigh for the Eastleigh Christmas lights switch on and fun day.
Sound exciting, doesn’t it?
(So many coffee shops to choose from in Eastleigh. Tell me: which coffee shop should I visit tomorrow?) [Read more…] about Eastleigh Christmas Lights Switch On and Fun Day; Winter Open Studios 2016
I am really pleased to bring news of two events happening at Chandler’s Ford Library this month. I’m pleased because the events themselves sound fun. I loved the recent link up between Chandler’s Ford Library and Merdon School for the Story Shuffle Project and the following two events are also excellent ideas.
I hope all who can go to these events have a wonderful time at them. [Read more…] about Books of 2016; Ebook Surgeries at Chandler’s Ford Library
Staff at Open Sight couldn’t believe their eyes when a lion visited their offices in Bishopstoke on Wednesday, to present them with a cheque.
On 13th October 2016 Lions Club of Eastleigh spent World Sight Day at their local Asda, raising funds for a cause close to their hearts. [Read more…] about World Sight Day: Lions Club of Eastleigh Supports Open Sight
One hundred years ago a group of Japanese Red Cross nurses travelled from their Far Eastern homeland to offer their services at Royal Victoria Military Hospital in Netley in Eastleigh, at the height of World War 1.
The 20-strong team, many of whom had never travelled outside of Japan, spent a year at the Netley hospital, supporting their British counterparts, to attend to the thousands of soldiers wounded in the bloody battles of the war.
[Read more…] about The Japanese Red Cross at Netley, 1915-16
You may have noticed in the news media that there was a Presidential election in the USA last week. You may also be vaguely aware that not everyone was happy with the result. Well, here we see an important and valuable lesson about the democratic process:
You don’t always get the result that you want.
About two hundred people gathered at Chandler’s Ford war memorial for Remembrance Sunday service and laying of wreaths this morning.
From 10am this morning, many people started walking towards the war memorial on Hursley Road at St. Boniface church. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016
This morning I went to the Joint Charities 43rd Annual Christmas Market at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.
I love this annual tradition – as it kicks off my internal clock for Christmas. It reminds me that I need to start pick up a pen, write a few Christmas cards (while adding names or crossing names off my Christmas card list as well).
This morning, former Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Jane Welsh opened the 43rd Christmas Market. [Read more…] about Review: Joint Charities 43rd Annual Christmas Market Chandler’s Ford 2016
Eastleigh observed a two-minute silence at this morning’s Armistice Day service at the town’s war memorial.
On Sunday 13th November 2016, there will be a service taking place in Chandler’s Ford at St. Boniface Church, Hursley Road.
The Remembrance Sunday service in both St. Boniface Church and St. Martin in the Wood Church will start at 10.45am. [Read more…] about Sunday 13th November 2016 – Remembrance Sunday Service in Eastleigh Borough
I went to see All My Sons by Arthur Miller at the Chameleon Theatre Company in Hursley Road recently.
Wonderful performances, a great story and I’m glad to have discovered this play. It is also, I think, apt that this review appears on 11th November given All My Sons is set in 1947. The impact of World War Two is still red raw on grieving families (as the play makes very clear). [Read more…] about Review: All My Sons – Excellent Production by Chameleon Theatre Company
The Joint Charities 43rd Annual Christmas Market will be on Saturday 12th November 2016, from 9.30 am – 12 noon at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church Hall (Winchester Road SO53 2GJ).
The Joint Charities Christmas Market is an annual tradition in Chandler’s Ford.
The past Eastleigh Mayor will open it officially at 9.45 am. There will be 12 charity stalls, each selling their own Christmas cards and other goods. There’ll also be a cake stall and raffle. [Read more…] about Joint Charities 43rd Christmas Market: Saturday 12th November 2016 at Methodist Church Hall
Sri Lanka reveals itself more interesting the longer one stays here. We are back here in Kandy to study snake bites and Brenda is teaching and working to improve the library at a poor school.
I decided to research some of the improvements in the country since Independence in 1948 and got involved with some historians. The idea is to link events around the first road ever built in Sri Lanka, their A1 from Colombo to Kandy. Near the start of the road is the temple of Kelaniya. [Read more…] about Buddhist Rituals
One thing I promised myself this year is that, for once, I would listen to all of the BBC Proms and not just the fantastic Last Night. I kept that promise and enjoyed a wonderful series of concerts.
And all credit to Sir Henry Wood for coming up with such a fantastic idea of bringing wonderful music to as wide a range of people as possible. [Read more…] about My Top 10 Classical Music Greats
November is a month of remembrance.
Remembrance services will be taking place throughout the Borough of Eastleigh on Sunday 13 November 2016.
The Royal British Legion calls on the nation to unite in commemorating Remembrance Sunday at the 2016 Cenotaph Service and Parade in Whitehall on 13 November.
[Read more…] about Remembrance and Thanksgiving
On Saturday, 5th November 2016, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” will be in concert at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.
The concert promises a wide range of music from the Village People to Puccini, and will end with the band’s rousing “Last Night of the Proms” finale including Pomp and Circumstance (aka Land of Hope and Glory), Auld Lang Syne, Rule Britannia and Sunset. [Read more…] about Spitfires in Concert – Last Night of the Proms – 5th November 2016
Eastleigh Borough Council says you could download and display a ‘No Trick Or Treat’ poster (pdf) if you want to avoid trick or treaters this year.
If you do not want to be disturbed by trick or treaters this Halloween, download and print out a copy of the ‘No Trick Or Treat’ poster to display by your front door.
[Read more…] about Halloween – Want to Avoid Trick or Treat?
This is Part 2 of my interview with Barbara Large, MBE, founder of the Winchester Writing Conference as it was known. Now known as the Winchester Writers’ Festival, it is recognised as one of the major writing events of the year.
Despite stepping down from running the conference in 2013, Barbara is as busy as ever running workshops, leading tours around the CPI production plant at Chippenham for those interested in self-publishing and having her own creative writing consultancy – Creative Words Matter. [Read more…] about The Writing Life – Barbara Large, Part 2
