Chandler's Ford Community

Here we hope you get to discover Chandler's Ford, through local stories, Chandler's Ford history, events, and reflections and debates of topical issues. How has Chandler's Ford shown community spirit? How are we connected? This tag invites you to explore and develop our community together.

An Interview with Author Richard Hardie by Allison Symes

March 20, 2015 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

I met Richard Hardie, walking Benji, whilst walking my first dog, Gracie, in the Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. Not only did we have dog walking in common, we soon discovered we shared a love of books, especially Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, and creative writing.

Richard and I have work in The Shambelurklers Return, which is raising money for the National Autistic Society and is available in W.H. Smith in the Fryern Arcade of Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about An Interview with Author Richard Hardie by Allison Symes

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, charity, Gang Show, interview, literature, reading, review, scouting, Terry Pratchett, writing

Sir Terry Pratchett 1948-2015: An Appreciation from Chandler’s Ford

March 17, 2015 By Allison Symes 13 Comments

While I was interviewing local author, Richard Hardie (author of Leap of Faith and Trouble with Swords), we discussed favourite books and writers. Then came the sad announcement of Sir Terry Pratchett’s death after a long battle with a rare form of Alzheimer’s.

Richard and I share a huge admiration for the Discworld novels. [Read more…] about Sir Terry Pratchett 1948-2015: An Appreciation from Chandler’s Ford

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, Gang Show, interview, literature, reading, review, scouting, Terry Pratchett, writing

What Has Happened to CFH News?

March 13, 2015 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Eastleigh Borough Council has stopped publishing the very popular CFH News.

CFH News (Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury News) were monthly newsletters, which were sent to subscribers by email by Eastleigh Borough Council.

They were delivered to you through letterbox too.

On Chandler’s Ford Today, last year I created links to a list of CFH News on EBC’s Newsletters page. [Read more…] about What Has Happened to CFH News?

Tags: Chandler's Ford, communication, community, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, Hiltingbury, writing

The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade

March 12, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 12 Comments

People blog about, talk about, write about and visit Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford so there must be something good about it.

Shortly after Fryern was opened in 1967, Ian Nairn, an architectural journalist wrote in the Observer (October 8th 1967) about Fryern and compared it with a similar development, the Fairwater Centre, in Cwmbran, South Wales. [Read more…] about The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade

Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, discussion, Fryern Arcade, history, local businesses, local interest, memory, post office, review, Winchester Road

Have Your Say: Your View about Chandler’s Ford Fryern Arcade

March 7, 2015 By Janet Williams 12 Comments

The joy of running Chandler’s Ford Today is that I get to know more people in the community.

We all want to find out about our community. We contribute to the discussions, and help each other research local history.

Chandler’s Ford resident Teresa Buckley recently contacted me as she needs to find out your views on the Fryern Arcade. [Read more…] about Have Your Say: Your View about Chandler’s Ford Fryern Arcade

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, discussion, Fryern Arcade, history, local businesses, local interest, memory, post office, Winchester Road

Jane Austen: An Appreciation by Allison Symes

March 6, 2015 By Allison Symes 17 Comments

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Pride and Prejudice is the greatest of all Jane Austen’s works.

It is a blueprint for romantic comedy and Elizabeth Bennet remains one of my favourite literary heroines, being quick witted and intelligent at a time when that was not particularly welcomed. (It isn’t always welcomed now in some places, unfortunately). [Read more…] about Jane Austen: An Appreciation by Allison Symes

Tags: books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, days out, education, history, Jane Austen, library, literature, local interest, reading, review, storytelling, travel, Winchester, Winchester Cathedral, writing

What Has Happened to Oakmount Road?

March 3, 2015 By chippy minton 11 Comments

What has happened to Oakmount Road in Chandler’s Ford? It was closed for a week recently while a number of random strips of tarmac have been pasted in the roadway.

In some places they look quite reasonable – uniform straight lines, joined at right-angles: [Read more…] about What Has Happened to Oakmount Road?

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, discussion, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, Leigh Road, local interest, Oakmount Road, travel

Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

March 3, 2015 By Janet Williams 15 Comments

Last Saturday (28th February 2015), Chandler’s Ford historian Barbara Hillier shared a poignant story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier, who died on the 7th of October 1916 in action in France, aged only 30.

Barbara’s storytelling was linked with a unique memorial plaque, which was once lost, but was never forgotten.

It was a story about a conscientious objector who later changed his mind, his love for his family, [Read more…] about Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

Tags: Barbara Hillier, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Dovetail Centre, education, event, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Methodist Church, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War One

March 2015 Highlight: Comedy Worth a Fortune by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

February 27, 2015 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

You may not believe this but March is approaching.

In Chandler’s Ford, the highlight for March will be Worth a Fortune, a farcical comedy by Frances A Lewis, performed by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players.

Chandler’s Ford MDG Players will perform Worth a Fortune from Thursday to Saturday, 26th – 28th March 2015 at 7.30pm, [Read more…] about March 2015 Highlight: Comedy Worth a Fortune by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, entertainment, event, local interest, MDG Players, memory, Methodist Church, social, theatre, Winchester Road

In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier

February 25, 2015 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

On the 7th of October 1916, 30-year-old Wilfred Herbert Hillier from Chandler’s Ford was killed in action in France. There was no known grave.

You’ll find Wilfred Herbert Hillier’s name on Chandler’s Ford War Memorial.

This post tells you the story of a lost and found plaque for Wilfred Herbert Hillier, [Read more…] about In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier

What Has Chandler’s Ford Done for Me?

February 20, 2015 By Allison Symes 13 Comments

How many lives do you have? One? Two (the one at work, the one at home for example)? Three (work, home, involvement in amateur dramatics or the church, say)?

I have had multiple lives in Chandler’s Ford but will focus on two: before becoming a dog owner and since then and before becoming a writer and since. Chandler’s Ford has influenced both. [Read more…] about What Has Chandler’s Ford Done for Me?

Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, dog, Hiltingbury, Hocombe Mead, leisure, nature, pets, storytelling, train station, travel, viewpoint, walking, writing

Inspiring Artists from the Sorting Office Studios Eastleigh

February 15, 2015 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

Chandler’s Ford Library provides us with books, music, and films, and yesterday, the library also brought us the most talented artists from The Sorting Office Studios in Eastleigh.

I’ve been following the artists around Eastleigh since last year and it was very lovely to see some of them again in Chandler’s Ford Library.

Residents of the Sorting Office Studios met the public [Read more…] about Inspiring Artists from the Sorting Office Studios Eastleigh

Tags: arts and crafts, celebrations, Chandler's Ford, community, crafts, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, event, hobby, how-to, library, local interest, Sorting Office

Lent – Give up and Take up

February 13, 2015 By chippy minton 7 Comments

Lent is coming up – it’s the six (or so) weeks from Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, 18th February in 2015) to Easter Day (or, possibly Palm Sunday).

Traditionally, at least in the Catholic and Anglican churches, it’s a time when we “give things up”. But it is not about giving things up for the sake of it. It’s more about making us better people – and doing something useful with the time or money we save. [Read more…] about Lent – Give up and Take up

Tags: Chandler's Ford, Christianity, church, culture, Easter, education, history, religion

Book Review: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

February 6, 2015 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

Books can be dangerous because they deal in ideas so I reckon the two most dangerous places in Chandler’s Ford are our wonderful library and W.H.Smith at Fryern since one lends out books and the other sells them!

It is also fantastic that, especially after the loss of The Arcade Bookshop, we have another bookseller and our library is a real asset. May both keep going from strength to strength.
[Read more…] about Book Review: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Tags: books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, education, entertainment, Fryern Arcade, history, library, London, reading, review, storytelling, travel, Winchester, writing

Acts of Kindness in Community

February 4, 2015 By Janet Williams 6 Comments

Just before Christmas, Yoga teacher Philip Hilton found a wallet and he handed it to the Eastleigh Police Station on Leigh Road.

Recently he received a letter of thanks with a cheque of £20.

The letter reads: [Read more…] about Acts of Kindness in Community

Tags: blogging, Chandler's Ford, charity, community, Eastleigh, police, storytelling

How to Publish Your Book

January 30, 2015 By SO53 News 2 Comments

By Brenda Sedgwick

Will Self said, “Writing the book is the easy bit. When your writing is finished the real work starts.”

If you are publishing and marketing your book, would you like to meet with other writers in the area who are doing the same thing?

I am about to publish my book and think [Read more…] about How to Publish Your Book

Tags: blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, community, hobby, how-to, local interest, publishing, reading, writing

From Chandler’s Ford I Get around

January 23, 2015 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

I love travelling. I love seeing what’s going on around me and comparing different places with home.

But despite living near an airport, flying is the one major form of transportation I’ve never used.

I’ve travelled in many different forms, including having a donkey ride on a beach and a pony trek (when I was a child), but have yet to be above terra firma. [Read more…] about From Chandler’s Ford I Get around