In today’s guessing game, we are asking you to identify
1 – a bus and its surrounding area
2 – an upcoming event in Chandler’s Ford
3 – a local business in Chandler’s Ford
1) Recognise this bus? Where was it, and what was it like during those days?
2) People are getting ready for Christmas. What is this group about? When can you meet them in Chandler’s Ford?
3) From these lovely photos, could you identify this unique and popular shop in Chandler’s Ford?
p.s. Shall we have a Chandler’s Ford Today get together at this place one day soon? Who’s interested? Leave a note in the comment and we’ll be in touch.
Share your stories prompted by these photos with us.
Put your answers and thoughts in the comment below. Thank you.
A coffee in “I know where” sounds fun!
Brilliant! Mary, I’m happy to have coffee in “I know where” on Saturday next week (11am, 8th Nov), or the 22nd at the same time.
Let me know. Hope a few more people could join us.
Thanks.
I think you mean 8th December Janet! Yes, that sounds good. Any other of you puzzlers going to join us?
Thanks Mary. Yes I mean next Saturday (8th Dec).
Let’s meet at Bay Leaves Larder at 11am.
Who else wants to join us?
Sounds like a good idea no longer resident but “localish” {Hedge End ] would need directions !!
Hi Roger,
Bay Leaves Larder’s address: 87-91 Hiltingbury Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 5NQ.
Their website is Bay Leaves Larder.
Hope to see you there on Saturday!
Janet
We had coffee ( with refil available!) and toasted teacakes and it was nice to meet in a friendly place on a cold winter morning. Good to hear about how the website came about, Janet, and to hear of Roger’s naval adventures. Cheers Mary
Photo 1 is outside the Central Precinct, C/Ford, looking north.
The ‘bus must date from, by its registration, the 1980’s when the first privatisation of ‘buses took place.
Its a Fiat ‘bus, its destination is obvious; other than these facts, I can add nothing else.
Pics 2 & 3 are a mystery to me.
Martin,
According to Eastleigh History, it’s “A Blue Line minibus outside Chandler’s Ford precinct on service 42 to Boyatt Wood, September 1990”.
I’m surprised the road markings were so clear in those days!!
It’s a Solent Blue Line bus, but I don’t know where it had come from. I imagine, from its size, it was a local service from Easteigh town centre.
“Solent Blue Line” was a trading name. The actual name of the company was “Musterphantom” – it was written on the side of the buses, and I often wondered where the name came from.
Blue Star is the current incarnation of the Solent Blue Line brand.
I like Bluster buses and find Blustar 1 fairly reliable. When the trains do not run due to strike, which is quite frequent these days, you can also get to town with £2 – when you have the valid but useless train ticket!
One thing to note: if you are travelling to Southampton, you can get cheaper tickets – ask the bus drivers nicely and they may explain and sell you cheaper tickets. If you buy return tickets between Southampton and Chandler’s Ford, the fare is higher. It’s a strange world.
The “ready to make” cake boxes suggest Bay Leaves Larder to me.
Brilliant!! Fancy a drink there some time?
Iveco is the commercial wing of FIAT, now partnered with Ford in commercial vehicle trading and manufacture.
The bus shown is one of the early models, from the 1980’s.
I sense that this thread is getting technical … 🙂