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Moments That Matter
celebrations
Audrey Steele Received Recognition from Clementine Churchill in 1942
This is a community website about Chandler’s Ford, but today we’re going to touch upon the war, knitted scarves, Clementine Churchill, and the Russians – all in this short article. So please read on.
Last week we published an article about Audrey Steele, who at the age of 90 has recently been awarded the Citizen of Honour for the Borough of Eastleigh.
Eastleigh Borough Council recognised Audrey’s excellent community work, and her contribution for the people in Eastleigh Borough and Brazil.
Today I met Audrey again, and she showed me a handwritten letter sent to her in June 1942 by Clementine Churchill, the wife of Winston Churchill, a cross-bench life peeress in her own right. Clementine Churchill was described as “a keen promoter of social and humanitarian causes” in this National Trust article by Eamonn Gearon.
Why did Clementine Churchill send Audrey Steele this ‘thank you’ letter? The letter was dated June 1942, sent from 10 Downing Street, Whitehall.
Audrey told me during the war she knitted scarves and mittens for the North Sea convoy.
Here is the 2-page A5 sized letter from Clementine Churchill:
[Read more…] about Audrey Steele Received Recognition from Clementine Churchill in 1942
Meet 90-year-old Audrey Steele – Eastleigh Citizen of Honour
I’m delighted to have met 90-year-old Audrey Steele recently. Audrey Steele was awarded the Citizen of Honour for the Borough of Eastleigh early this month.
Audrey has recently celebrated her 90th birthday. This award recognises the voluntary work she has done for the people in Eastleigh Borough and Brazil.
Eastleigh Borough Council recognised the excellent community work of two local residents, Sri Kandiah and Audrey Steele. The Council conferred them with a Citizen of Honour award at the annual Mayor making meeting on the 9th of May this year. [Read more…] about Meet 90-year-old Audrey Steele – Eastleigh Citizen of Honour
Congratulations! It’s a BEM for Caroline Husain from Chandler’s Ford
Congratulations to Caroline Husain from Chandler’s Ford, who has been named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2018.
Caroline has been recognised for decades of ‘services to charity and the community in Chandlers Ford’ with a BEM (The British Empire Medal). [Read more…] about Congratulations! It’s a BEM for Caroline Husain from Chandler’s Ford
Winchester Discovery Centre – 10th Anniversary Celebrations
Image Credit: Unless otherwise stated, all images were taken by Allison Symes.
A group of regional writers took part in the Winchester Discovery Centre’s 10th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 25th November. [Read more…] about Winchester Discovery Centre – 10th Anniversary Celebrations
Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award
Recently a tweet by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) caught my eyes:
“Chandler’s Ford Infant School Project – April Rapley. Shortlisted for Student our Excellence in AT Award.”
Congratulations to April Rapley, Architectural Design and Technology graduate from Southampton Solent University! Her re-design of Chandler’s Ford Infant School on Kings Road has been shortlisted for the Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (Project) 2017. [Read more…] about Re-designing Chandler’s Ford Infant School: April Rapley Shortlisted for Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Award
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
Published – My Debut Flash Fiction Collection
I am thrilled to announce my debut flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, has now been published by Chapeltown Books. It is available in paperback and in Kindle format via Amazon and, of course, directly from me but more on that later.
The stories range from 100 words tales to 500 words to 750 and there are one or two which just creep in as flash fiction, being just under the 1000 words limit. This is generally recognized as the cutting off point between flash and standard short story lengths. [Read more…] about Published – My Debut Flash Fiction Collection
Eastleigh Christmas Lights Switch On and Fun Day; Winter Open Studios 2016
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
Remembrance and Thanksgiving
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
Chandler’s Ford Library: Margaret Tee’s Royal Memorabilia
I receive lovely emails from readers from time to time with their stories.
This afternoon Karen Moth sent me this email telling me something very special about her mother.
“My mum Margaret Tee (75 years old) has lived in Chandler’s Ford all her life and [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Library: Margaret Tee’s Royal Memorabilia
Journey to Sri Lanka: Creating a Local Library for 1,000 Girls
On the main road into Kandy there is a narrow doorway leading to Dharmawickrama, a school for 1,000 girls.
My wife Brenda arranged to visit to see what a state school is like. The contrasts within were striking. The building was poorly maintained and conditions were crowded and there were few facilities, no play area, squatter toilets, builder’s rubble in some corridors. [Read more…] about Journey to Sri Lanka: Creating a Local Library for 1,000 Girls
Join The Point and Share Your Stories for its 20th Birthday Celebrations
The Point theatre will be celebrating its milestone 20th anniversary in 2016 and is looking for stories and memories from the public to help with its year-long birthday celebrations.
Having already kick-started the celebrations with a radical redesign of its foyer and bar area, [Read more…] about Join The Point and Share Your Stories for its 20th Birthday Celebrations
Eastleigh’s Christmas Lights Switch on – 21st November 2015
I was in Eastleigh for a couple of hours today, and guess who I met?
First I was greeted by an emu, then I bumped into Mayor of Eastleigh Councillor Jane Welsh. Christmas must be around the corner as I think I also met one of the Wise Kings (in November)! [Read more…] about Eastleigh’s Christmas Lights Switch on – 21st November 2015
Don’t Forget: Winter Open Studios This Weekend at the Sorting Office Eastleigh
The Sorting Office in Eastleigh will open for its annual Winter Open Studios this weekend (21st and 22nd November 2015).
Now in its third year, the Winter Open Studios will run over two days, opening on Saturday November 21 from 11am to 5pm, and on Sunday November 22 from 11am to 4pm. [Read more…] about Don’t Forget: Winter Open Studios This Weekend at the Sorting Office Eastleigh
Eastleigh Artist’s Designs Picked up for New ASDA Greetings Card Range
Two designs created by Eastleigh-based artist Lisa Jean Gardner, who works under the name Iris Hill, have been chosen by supermarket giant Asda to feature on a range of greetings cards.
Lisa’s designs, easily recognisable by her use of inks and watercolour to create bright, whimsical patterns and scenes, [Read more…] about Eastleigh Artist’s Designs Picked up for New ASDA Greetings Card Range
A New Piano Sonata by Hugh Benham
A new Piano Sonata by Hugh Benham, Director of Music at St. Boniface Church of England Church, Chandler’s Ford, was recently performed in a concert at St John the Baptist’s Church, Wimbledon by the pianist Michael Higgins. [Read more…] about A New Piano Sonata by Hugh Benham
Winchester Cathedral Hampshire Harvest Weekend 2015
This weekend Winchester Cathedral celebrates Hampshire Harvest with the County’s food and farming. The first day was full of gorgeous local produce, live entertainment, and a lot of inspiration.
Don’t miss it – there’s still one more day tomorrow. [Read more…] about Winchester Cathedral Hampshire Harvest Weekend 2015
A Very Eastleigh Festival: Mardi Gras and Vintage Market 2015
This morning we went to Eastleigh and spent two hours there.
An event called Eastleigh Mardi Gras took place in the town centre – a day of live music and entertainment with a post-war theme: “The war is over! It’s time to party!”
I discovered the event by chance last year, and wrote Eastleigh Mardi Gras 2014: Fun, Joy, Charities for Community.
There seemed to be 3 things happening in Eastleigh town today: [Read more…] about A Very Eastleigh Festival: Mardi Gras and Vintage Market 2015
Event at the Hilt – Meet the Real Heroes: Doctor Prakash Amte and Doctor Manda Amte
The Hiltingbury Community Centre (The Hilt) will be hosting a unique event on Sunday September 13th 2015 at 2:00pm. Two distinguished guests from India will be sharing how their passionate, selfless medical work in a rural area has transformed thousands of lives.
The dedication of Dr. Prakash Amte and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte, and their story has been made into a moving film, The Real Hero. [Read more…] about Event at the Hilt – Meet the Real Heroes: Doctor Prakash Amte and Doctor Manda Amte