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Chandler's Ford Library

The Long and The Short of It – Reading

February 21, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - The Long and The Short Of It - Reading

The major joys of reading are:-

1. There is at least one form to suit everyone – short fiction, long, or anything in between, and non-fiction with its infinite variety of forms from the essay to the book.

2. There is at least one genre to suit everyone – fantasy, non-fiction (think of the wealth of topics in this alone!), historical, crime etc.

3. Reading is one of the forms of escapism I love most; the other is music. Even when reading non-fiction, you are escaping the cares of the world temporarily to find out what you need to know or to improve your knowledge of the topic you’re reading.

The worlds conjured up by short stories or the longer forms of fiction can be incredibly well depicted
The worlds conjured up by short stories or the longer forms of fiction can be incredibly well depicted. Pixabay

[Read more…] about The Long and The Short of It – Reading

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, comic books, creative writing, graphic novels, libraries, long fiction, novellas, novels, reading, short fiction, stories

Picture Books and Other Hooks: Interview with Sally Goodden and Anne Wan

February 8, 2019 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Picture Books and Other Hooks

It is a pleasure to welcome back Anne Wan to Chandler’s Ford Today and also to welcome her illustrator for her latest book, Manners Fit for the Queen, Sally Goodden. [Read more…] about Picture Books and Other Hooks: Interview with Sally Goodden and Anne Wan

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Tags: Anne Wan, Chandler's Ford Library, picture books, reading, Sally Goodden. Manners Fit For the Queen. children's fiction, story and craft

BOOK EVENT NEWS: Anne Wan / Sally Goodden – Chandler’s Ford Library

January 31, 2019 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

BOOK EVENT - Anne Wan and Sally Goodden - image supplied by Anne Wan

THE QUEEN, CHANDLER’S FORD LIBRARY, ANNE WAN, AND SALLY GOODDEN

What do the above have in common?

They will be appearing in Chandler’s Ford Library on Saturday, 2nd February 2019 between 10.30 am and 12 noon.

Hang on… let’s revise that a moment. [Read more…] about BOOK EVENT NEWS: Anne Wan / Sally Goodden – Chandler’s Ford Library

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Tags: Anne Wan, book event, books, Chandler's Ford Library, children's fiction, Manners Fit For the Queen, picture books, reading, Sally Goodden

Cards for Good Causes at Chandler’s Ford Library

October 3, 2018 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Written by: Carol McKay, local organiser for Cards for Good Causes.

Chandler’s Ford Library has hosted a pop-up Christmas Card shop for Cards for Good Causes since 2005. [Read more…] about Cards for Good Causes at Chandler’s Ford Library

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, charity, Christmas, community, event, good neighbours

Keeping it Local – Community and Writers

November 17, 2017 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Local Communities and Writers

On the face of it, times have not been good recently at Fryern. Grovers the Butchers has closed as has our branch of the Nat West. I’m always sorry to see an independent firm go, some history goes with them I feel, but, to my mind, the bank branch closure is a stupid decision. It’s not as if the bank wasn’t busy! [Read more…] about Keeping it Local – Community and Writers

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Tags: Age Concern Centre, Book Fair, books, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler's Ford Railway Station, children's poetry competition, community, Fryern Arcade, writers

How was the Book Fair for You?

November 3, 2017 By Allison Symes 11 Comments

Feature Image - How Was the Book Fair For You

The first Chandler’s Ford Book Fair was on Saturday, 28th October 2017 between 10 am and 12 noon at the Age Concern Centre in Brownhill Road. I hope it will be the beginning of many Book Fairs here.

Many of us miss The Arcade Bookshop which had been our lovely independent book store for decades.  Those behind the Fair hoped it would provide a place for local people to browse and buy books with the bonus they were written by regional writers (and many of them local to Chandler’s Ford specifically). [Read more…] about How was the Book Fair for You?

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Tags: Book Fair, book promoting, book signing, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction, writers, writers' co-operatives

Children’s Poetry Competition in Chandler’s Ford

September 24, 2017 By Mike Sedgwick 3 Comments

In association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017, the Chandler’s Ford Authors organised a children’s poetry competition. We had support from Chandler’s Ford Library, the Extravaganza Committee and Goadsby’s Estate Agents.

Participants had to write a poem on ‘Where I Live’. It did not have to rhyme, it did not have to be about your house. We looked forward to seeing how children would interpret the title and we were not disappointed.  [Read more…] about Children’s Poetry Competition in Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, children's poetry competition, creative writing, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, writing

Reminder: Children’s Poetry Competition

September 1, 2017 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Children's Poetry Competition News REMINDER

Reminder

This is just a quick reminder post about the Children’s Poetry Competition being organised by Chandler’s Ford Authors with Hampshire Libraries in association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017. [Read more…] about Reminder: Children’s Poetry Competition

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, children's poetry competition, creative writing, Hiltingbury Extravaganza

Children’s Poetry Competition News

August 11, 2017 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Feature Image - Children's Poetry Competition News

I mentioned in my recent post about Writers’ Co-operatives that the new local writing group I am now part of would be organising a children’s poetry competition.

I’m glad to now share details of this competition, which is being organised by Chandler’s Ford Authors and Hampshire Libraries in association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza with prizes sponsored by Goadsby Estate Agents. [Read more…] about Children’s Poetry Competition News

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Tags: advice, Chandler's Ford Library, children's poetry competition, creative writing, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, poetry, The Hilt, writing

Sshhh – Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford?

June 13, 2017 By Karen Stephen 4 Comments

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?

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Tags: books, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler’s Ford community, community, event, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, local interest, publishing, reading, writing

Stroke Association and Rotary International Help Conquer Stroke in Chandler’s Ford

May 2, 2017 By SO53 News 1 Comment

The Stroke Association and Rotary International are joining forces to help raise awareness of one of the biggest risk factors for stroke: high blood pressure.

They are inviting residents in Chandler’s Ford to take a moment to have a free blood pressure test on Wednesday 10th May between 10am and 5pm at Chandler’s Ford Library. [Read more…] about Stroke Association and Rotary International Help Conquer Stroke in Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, education, event, good neighbours, health, Rotary Club

What Makes a Classic Book

January 20, 2017 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Feature Image - Classic Books

Name a classic book from any genre, any period, any author. I’m willing to bet certain names and stories cropped up in your thoughts immediately. If there was an all-time list, entries would include Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Bronte, and Hardy. I’d be surprised if many, if not all of these authors, were not on your bookshelves somewhere. [Read more…] about What Makes a Classic Book

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, fiction, reading

Hampshire Home Library Service

January 18, 2017 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

This is a free service to residents of Chandler’s Ford and the surrounding areas.

Do you know anyone who needs help getting their library books/audio books?

The Home Library Service is for people who find it difficult to get to their nearest library due to ill health, disability or caring responsibilities. [Read more…] about Hampshire Home Library Service

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, Hampshire County Council, Information, library, local interest, reading

Books of 2016; Ebook Surgeries at Chandler’s Ford Library

November 18, 2016 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - Chandler's Ford Library Events - November 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

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Tags: advice, Chandler's Ford Library, discussion, event, Hampshire County Council, Information, library, local interest, reading

The Story Shuffle Project

October 14, 2016 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

One of the joys of writing for Chandler’s Ford Today is discovering projects I would not have otherwise come across. One of these was the Road to Agincourt Project which appealed to my love of all things historical.

Another was when I interviewed Kate Day of Chocolate Muffin Publishing and looked at their work with children and dementia patients (amongst others) to encourage creative writing.
[Read more…] about The Story Shuffle Project

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Library, Eastleigh Borough Council, education

The Art of Crime at Chandler’s Ford Library: 14th Sep 2016 7pm

September 3, 2016 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Chandler s Ford Library is hosting an event to look at the dark art of crime writing, on Wednesday 14th September 2016 at 7pm.

The special guests are Portsmouth’s partners in crime, novelists Diana Bretherick and William Sutton. [Read more…] about The Art of Crime at Chandler’s Ford Library: 14th Sep 2016 7pm

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Tags: books, Chandler's Ford Library, education, event, library, local interest, publishing, reading, storytelling, writing

Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

June 12, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick 4 Comments

It is not solitude, loneliness and seclusion that makes a writer. It is a great social life. They often start their careers in a Creative Writing Class. So it happened that four writers met in Chandler’s Ford writing group a few years ago. [Read more…] about Secret Lives of Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: book signing, books, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler’s Ford community, event, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, local interest, publishing, reading, writing

Chandler’s Ford Library: Margaret Tee’s Royal Memorabilia

May 1, 2016 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

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

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Tags: arts and crafts, celebrations, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler’s Ford community, community, event, history, hobby, library, local interest, storytelling

World Book Night 2016 and the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare

April 29, 2016 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

World Book Night is on 23rd April each year, this being the date of William Shakespeare’s birth and his death.

World Book Night also links to the day of the death of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), Spain’s literary hero, St. George’s Day and UNESCO’s Day of the Book (which I think is a fantastic title). [Read more…] about World Book Night 2016 and the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare

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Tags: arts and crafts, books, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler’s Ford community, event, leisure, library, literature, publishing, reading, writing

50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 1)

March 25, 2016 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

I celebrated my 50th birthday this week so thought I would see if I could find 50 things to like about the Chandler’s Ford area.

Here goes… [Read more…] about 50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 1)

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Tags: Centrestage Theatre, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler's Ford Library, Chandler’s Ford community, Fryern Arcade, Hocombe Mead, MDG Players, nature, theatre, Thornden Hall, walking
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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

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Reviews of local performances and places

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