Nature

Burgeoning Spring; a film star’s wedding; can Jane land a job?; Bill Goater; a life’s ambition fulfilled; more despoilation of the countryside, but Nightingales still hang on – for now.

It’s Spring 1956, and Gran is enjoying the first Cuckoos, nesting Blackbirds, and news of a Willow Warbler singing at Baddesley.  Daffodils, Violets and Primroses are up, and Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies are on the wing.  Indeed, on April 9th:

Jane counted thirty-three Brimstones between Otterbourne and Winchester when she went to Winchester shopping.  Both she and I have lost our hibernating Tortoiseshells today and our bedrooms seem quite empty without them!  There was a Slow-worm in the garden, enjoying the warm sunshine in the shelter of the Heather.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 78)

Poles Lane is straightened; snowdrops from Ladwell House; flower arranging with sinister orchids; The Lake is frozen; a loved tree is felled; articles by Barry; five new birds and a Starling visits 99 Kingsway.

Book 56

February 6th 1956 is a Spring-like day, Gran taking much pleasure in the newly shooting Dog’s-tooth Violets and great numbers of Narcissus cyclamineus showing buds in the garden of The Ridge.  She:

…heard a very enjoyable concert on the radio this evening, in which Denis Matthews was the very able soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto in B. minor.  I had previously listened to an excerpt from Winnie-the-Pooh, that classic by A.A. Milne, in Children’s Hour, with equal enjoyment, so no-one can accuse me of being conservative in my taste, even though there are programmes to which I have not the least desire to listen.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 77)

The Master Builder’s House at Bucklers Hard; the “Any Questions?” botanical expert; a lone rabbit at Farley Mount; an aunt dies; a pipe bursts; thirty-eight pounds of marmalade and two days at The Severn Wildfowl Trust.

1956

The new year begins, and that morning Gran is uplifted, writing:

I was delighted… when my kitchen spider, who has lain inanimate for weeks without food on her great batch of eggs, suddenly descended on a silken thread to the window-sill and then ascended again with tremendous agility to her eggs.  I thought she had been dead a long time and was overjoyed to find her well and active.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 76)

The woods “pitiably thinned”; nine years of this “labour of love”; Gran disappears into a trench; Hugh Boyd – goose guru; “pink makes the boys wink”; a proud moment; a traditional Christmas and Julian smokes during the National Anthem!

On November 21st 1955, Gran is surprisingly sanguine about the unwelcome developments on her doorstep:

This afternoon I finished the Poppy calendar and decided this is the one for Mary. Somehow it looks like hers.  The sun was still shining, burnishing the tips of the trees opposite here, whereon a few last golden leaves are clinging, and giving a beautiful sheen to the velvet-dark Yew trees, which, thank God, are still standing.  But the opposite wood is pitiably thinned and a little township is springing up where once I gathered blackberries and vetch, and listened to the warblers, watched the Siskins and saw the first Brimstones in Spring.  Soon I shall have to roam far afield for the glories that have been on my doorstep for over twenty-seven years.   But I am very grateful for the years in which I have known them.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 75)

Forty-eight paintings on show; Brother is a “good scout”; a pet spider; Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend; another spider –  with bananas; Nuthatch behaviour; Dr Barnardo’s Homes; the reason for the velvet gown, and Gran dances the last waltz.

On October 21st 1955, Gran tells us that tomorrow will be a full day:

…for I leave home …for London where later I visit the British Empire Naturalists’ Association Jubilee Exhibition at Kensington Museum, in which my flower paintings and Jane’s collection of birds’ feathers will be on view.  I shall stay at Kingston for the night and go on to the London B.E.N.A. field outing on Sunday…

The journey by train early the following morning frustrates her; to start with, the train is six minutes late, and, she adds:

…throughout the journey, steamy windows within the carriage, smoke from the train without on one side, and the fact that I could not get a corner seat, all contrived to restrict my observations to the very minimum.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 74)

We meet some of Bill Goater’s family; gracious passengers on board ship; Gran receives a florin; painting autumn berries; soloist Cyril Smith leaves her breathless; spiders in London; Dartford Warbler at last; a gown cunningly cut, and the Queen’s “wonderful composure”.

On August 20th 1955, Gran plays tennis in the heat in Eastleigh and enjoys an evening at home listening to a Promenade Concert with much music by Gilbert and Sullivan, which she loves.  She records that:

At the end of the concert, after Suppé’s “Poet and Peasant Overture”, which was encored, Sir Malcolm was presented with a Peter Scott bird picture in recognition of his sixtieth birthday in April and his work for the Promenade Concerts, by a representative of all Promenaders, both at the concert in person, and listening in at home.  Unfortunately we did not hear Sir Malcolm’s response.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 73)

Tennis on the telly; a visit to Selborne; a mouse in the bed; an act of kindness; historic activity with “our pale lady”; birthday gifts; Ricky is christened; like old times in the New Forest; The Ridge – fully furnished at last, and a diversion – an important mentor and the Beaulieu Tomes.

Gran’s dislike of television seems to have been overcome, and the watching of it more or less normal by July 1st 1955, the word itself no longer qualifying for a capital “T”:

I spent this afternoon glued to the next-door television and saw Tony Trabert of America, win the Men’s singles at Wimbledon from Kurt Nielsen of Denmark…  I saw the gold cup presented to the winner by the Duchess of Kent and there was much fun and laughter between the victor and the vanquished which was good to see.

An encouraging and pleasing result of play in the semi-finals of the Women’s doubles is the fact that there will be an All-British final tomorrow – the first since 1936!

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 72)

Studying orchids with The Expert; a dream comes true – in the shape of a budgie; Jane does well; a visit to Mill Hill; Compton Church is 800 years old; television –  for the first time; painting flowers at a great rate and a family link with the troopship Dilwara.

Book 51

News from Mr Roseweir on June 4th 1955, is that V.S. Summerhayes, the Orchid specialist from Kew, plans to visit the area the following day.  Gran, with Brother and Fin make their way to Steven’s Castle Down, in the east of the County, in order to check on the condition of the orchids he plans to investigate there.  Stopping on their way, to check the Farley Mount area also, she notes:

We turned left at the Farley – Sparsholt fork, past what used to be the vast rookery, but today I hardly recognised it, for all the fine old beech trees have been felled and there is now a wide-open space.  If it was cleared in the hope of destroying the rookery, the result must be disappointing, for the Rooks are now occupying a line of Pine trees beside the road, only a few yards away!

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 71)

A visit to Salisbury; Jane’s twenty-first; Vaughan Williams’ Bridal Day; preparation for a visit by Mr Summerhayes; “eight hateful shops”; a return to tennis; an invasive plant, and the New Forest – still good for Red-backed Shrikes.

In the second week of May 1955, Gran visits Salisbury with her friend Joan Sheppard, to see an exhibition of floral art at the Guildhall there.  She fully describes, in particular, those exhibits that she finds most attractive, noting that there is only one male contributor – Gordon Clarke from Dorchester – and whose work was “truly sensational”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 70)

Several field trips; a couple of new birds; “Adventure lit their star”; a Nightingale competes with Southampton’s traffic; with Brother and Fin in The Forest; the Habs at Beaulieu; country buses and painting flowers to capture memories.

On March 30th 1955, Gran, with Adrian on her mind, writes:

During the evening I listened to a beautiful but poignantly sad play, “Autumn Crocus” by Dodie Smith, and have come to bed dear, with my soul wrung by it and living again its own anguish.  But, as with Fanny, the beauty remains and nothing can take that from me even though I grow old.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 69)

A longed for book; a medical worry results in an unquiet week; Gran gets her Smew; a bike is mislaid; flower paintings for friends; Tussock Corner; did Kew get it wrong? Oppressed by the London Underground; Roman Snails and a kind gesture.

On February 10th 1955 Gran is in Southampton.  She has an appointment there for a chest X-Ray but does not enlarge upon this, preferring to record that:

I had drawn an unexpected fifteen shillings overtime for Christmas week, and, having also a book token to spend, I went to Smith’s bookshop and gave myself a book for which I had longed for many months.  It was “Wild Orchids of Britain”, by Summerhayes, of Kew, and I also bought the latest edition of “Hampshire Review”, in which an article of Barry’s on birds of the coast appears.  It is a good article and reveals depths in Barry’s character, which may not be apparent to those who only know him superficially.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 68)

A letter from Mill Hill; a hectic train journey; those migraines will not cease; Mr Tod seeks food in the town – but when he is hunted, Gran will always side with the fox. Spring is coming – the garden tells her so.

Gran is still looking after the two-year-old Julian while Jock recovers from my birth, and she finds it a tiring business, “…in spite of Jane’s help”, she writes, on January 9th 1955.  She continues:

Jane took Julian for a long walk this afternoon whilst I did some cake-making.  They saw several Grey Squirrels, which ran up the trees and Julian gave me a graphic description on his return. He also stroked the nose of a horse but withdrew in alarm when it snuffled at him, and this, too, was described to me with much drama.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 67)

A bit of London bird news; another friend emigrates; beloved trees continue to be felled; a prolonged period of child-care; Honey-buzzard in the New Forest, a child is born and the young family moves to North London.

November 29th 1954:

Gran completes her last painting of the year with Butcher’s Broom – she has been doing one each month – and her skill appears to be improving. She writes:

I was quite pleased with the result and intend to paint wild flowers seriously next year when I should have more free time.  I feel that I could do better with more practice, for these last are a great improvement on my earlier efforts.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 66)

Empty nest syndrome; fun collecting crab apples; flowers for a Queen; a dockers’ strike; a farm wedding; “Goodbye Mary”; and another wedding.

September 21^st 1954:

Jane left early this morning to return to college at Eastbourne and Jill Fowler, who joins her there tomorrow, arrived just before she left, with some things which Jane had promised to take for her.  Our farewells were brief, for even when we feel our best, we dislike these partings but today with the shadow of Robin’s tragic accident hanging over us, neither of us was fit for prolonged speech.

“Poor little Jane”, Gran continues, “it is the first time tragedy has so nearly reached her and she is being very brave”.  Later that day, she cycles to the top of Otterbourne Hill “to get some blackthorn upon which to feed a Fox moth caterpillar which I am looking after for a youngster while he is on holiday”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 65)

One that got away; enjoying Barry’s and Julian’s company before they leave the district; quiet reflections in Compton Church; goodbye Mary Robinson; news of a tragedy; another wedding, and a hedgehog knocks over a milk bottle.

Jane encourages Gran, dogged this day and regularly at fortnightly intervals, by her debilitating headaches, to accompany her on a walk along the Itchen, downstream from Brambridge, on the evening of August 16^th 1954.  Few people are about, apart from a lone fisherman and a single dog-walker. A Kingfisher flashes past, and a family of Mute Swans is on the water.  Gran and Jane observe the fisherman, whom they saw: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 64)

A visit to the Cotswolds; a manipulation; Gran is 50; a tryst on Compton Downs; a Drinker is saved; two years of National Service – done; a couple of enthusiastic Irishmen; and four get a soaking on Farley Mount.

Gran, we learn on July 18^th 1954, is Godmother to John, one of Tommy and Bob Fowler’s children.  On that day, she, with Jill and Diana (the other two Fowler offspring), and Tommy, drive to Cheltenham, where John is at what Gran describes as “the famous school”. The journey is, typically, described in some detail, Gran enjoying the Cotswold villages with, to her, unusual names: Warborough, Stratton St Margaret, Blunsdon and Cricklade.  She is impressed by the verges near the last named, “massed with Meadow Cranesbill”, some of which she collects for planting in her garden at The Ridge. And she recounts an amusing incident:

… a boy emerging from a side road was so startled by the sight of an approaching car that he promptly fell off his bicycle and disappeared into a ditch, though we were nowhere near him!

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 63)

A memory of Italy; delight in caring for a baby again; the Queen comes home; some serious athletics; a lot of orchids; more trees felled in Chandler’s Ford; Chelsea Flower Show again and a mouse causes some amusement.

Book 44

Gran records with pleasure an experience enjoyed by Jane, with Robin Eastwood, early in May 1954 when on a wet and windy day, which made travel in the open-topped Talbot uncomfortable, the couple end the day with dinner at the Grand Hotel. A good orchestra was playing, she tells us, and after Robin had asked the name of a piece just played, the leader asked if there was anything Jane would like to hear.  She chose a selection from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and this scenario reminded Gran of her very similar and wonderful experience as a seventeen-year old, when, she writes, “the leader of the Orchestra in the Carlo Felici Restoranti in Genoa used to ask me, with a low bow, “and what would the signorina like us to play now?”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 61)

Good views of Siskins; 1950’s baby transport; Fallow Deer in the Forest; Robin Eastwood – a “kindred spirit” and “an exceedingly nice young man”; a bird-call mystery solved; Tom Jenkins in the flesh, and Barry’s career is secured.

On March 10th 1954, Gran records her first good views of Siskins, the little finch that in later years became a familiar visitor to garden bird feeders:

This afternoon I took Julian for a walk, going first into Cranbury to get some moss for a bowl which I wanted to arrange for Mary’s birthday today.  I was sorry to see that much clearing was taking place in Cranbury Park and many birch trees have been felled.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 60)