Did you remember or celebrate St. George’s Day on the 23rd of April?
This is a video with some footage in 2017 showing the St. George’s Day parade, by the magnificent 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” Band.
This video features the band’s second and third parades of the day in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford.
[Read more…] about Previous St. George’s Day Parades in Chandler’s Ford – Video and Photos
From Churches Together In Chandler’s Ford
For Christians, Easter is a time to celebrate New Life and God’s love and hope for the world. This feels especially timely this year. As churches around Chandler’s Ford are cautiously returning to worshiping in their buildings, Churches Together locally have also combined to create an opportunity for the community to celebrate these with us in the open air by taking part in our Easter Trail. You will be guided around 10 locations in Chandler’s Ford, finding clues and discovering the unfolding Easter Story.
All are welcome to join in any time from the 31 March 2021. There will be simple activities to take part in and small gifts to pick up along the way. Simply join the start of the trail at St Martin in the Wood, Randal Roadd, or look out for the egg signs. The route is about 3 miles so families with younger children may want to spread it out over more than one walk. We hope people of all ages can enjoy this and celebrate with us.
Happy Easter!
2nd Chandler’s Ford Scout Group needs your help.
The Scouts are raising £8,000 to help complete their new building on Ramalley Lane, to make it an amazing new venue for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and the resident pre-school.
The 2nd Chandlers Ford (Ramalley) Scout headquarters celebrated its 80th birthday in 2018. Over 83 years, it has enabled local children and young people to have fantastic opportunities, have fun, and develop new skills. They have learnt team work, problem-solving, resilience, independence, to name but a few. [Read more…] about Fundraising for the 2nd Chandler’s Ford (Ramalley) Scout Headquarters
The pandemic has made us so much more neighbourly …
… or has it? Perhaps it depends who we think of as neighbours! A famous question rings down the ages – ‘Who is my neighbour?’
We live on a pretty small planet. Far-off countries come nightly into our living rooms – no longer do we know nothing about them. We know that in Yemen, a civil war has decimated health systems, provoked widespread hunger, and killed almost 250,000 people. It’s a conflict that requires immediate aid. In Syria over 11 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Both war-torn countries are on the brink of severe famine. So is the Sahel region of Africa, and Southern Sudan. Two of the world’s most fragile regions. No wonder the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is appealing urgently. [Read more…] about The Pandemic Has Made Us So Much More Neighbourly …
The u3a nationally has been going through a re-branding of late and the new Chandlers Ford u3a website launched only last week.
The Chandlers Ford u3a group was formed in March 1998 and now has more than 400 members. The Chandlers Ford u3a would normally meet on the 3rd Monday at 2pm of each month at the Dovetail Centre of the Methodist Church in Winchester Road, but they have had to resort to Zoom of late.
Members of the u3a have a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience which as a self-help group can be shared with others. We have around 50 special interest groups which meet in members homes covering topics such as languages at varying levels, the arts, literature, history and science. We also have outings to theatres and gardens, local places of interest, and countryside walks.
A u3a is a learning co-operative of older people, which enables members to share many educational, creative and leisure activities. Activities are organised mainly in small groups that meet regularly, often in each other’s homes. Members, through sharing their knowledge, skills and experience, learn from each other.
Although all local u3as remain operationally independent, they are members of The Third Age Trust. As such they must abide by both the original Objects and Principles written by Peter Laslett in 1981 and the Principles of the u3a Movement (2014).
The Trust is a national, umbrella body (a registered charity and limited company) which represents all u3as in the UK at national and international level. It is run by a National Executive Committee democratically elected from the membership and offers a range of services, to support and advise local u3as.
The image of Compton Lock was taken on a walk from Shawford, Compton and St. Cross.
The aircraft image is from a visit the u3a members paid to the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum, just outside Salisbury.
You can contact Chandlers Ford u3a with email: admin@cfordu3a.org.uk.
This year’s Great Daffodil Appeal will be one like no other. Thousands of Marie Curie volunteers will not be able to collect donations in exchange for a daffodil at local supermarkets, trains stations or town centres like they usually do each spring. However, you can still be a part of this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal by donating online
You couldn’t pick a better year to support Marie Curie Nurses. Like everyone, Marie Curie has been hit hard by coronavirus. Their Nurses and hospices have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic, caring for dying people and their families.
Marie Curie have also seen more people than ever calling their Support Line, looking for help because they are feeling isolated or have had to grieve for a loved one alone during lockdown. [Read more…] about Great Daffodil Appeal – Supporting Marie Curie
You are invited to join the first online Chinese New Year event on Sunday 14/2/2021 at 5pm, organised by Southampton Chinese Association.
If you are unable to join Zoom, you can join using the YouTube Live link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_OkT9EdD6k
Programmes include: Lion dance, Martial Art display, Chinese dance and music, Chinese opera, and Dragon dance.
It is the Year of the Ox.
[Read more…] about Online Chinese New Year Celebration from Southampton: Sunday 14.02.2021 at 5pm
Jill Mayes has taken these lovely photos from her walk today in Chandler’s Ford.
Do you remember Fordy? It’s lovely to see some spring colours there. We wrote about Fordy before in 2016. You can read about Fordy here: Wooden Train Built by Eastleigh Men’s Shed Arrived at Chandler’s Ford Station.
Usually at this time of year musicians and singers from the Churches of Chandler’s Ford join forces to serenade Christmas shoppers in our local ASDA with a selection of carols. This year COVID restrictions and regulations have meant it is not possible but instead we were invited to provide a carol for the store radio in December.
This very familiar carol , with a modern twist is an invitation to gather joyfully to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Gathering and Joy may feel in short supply this year but Christians everywhere believe that when God came in Jesus to share the sufferings of humanity he showed his love for us and that is a cause for celebration.
Whoever you are with this Christmas, God is with us. We invite you to share in the comfort of this. We wish you a joyful Christmas.
[Read more…] about ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ – Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford
Chalvington Road in Chandler’s Ford has some fantastic Christmas lights and decorations. The neighbourhood has come together and illuminated the road.
Our friend Jill Mayes has shared these photos with us that she has taken on her walks. She particularly loves the lit up village which had falling snow in the window.
Take a walk along Chalvington Road and see if you can spot the 12 Days of Christmas.
The 12 Days of Christmas are all different – it could be a picture in a window, or something in a front garden. It could be big or small. The trail went live at 6pm on Saturday December 5th, and will run until Christmas Day.
Take your time and enjoy the lights on Chalvington Road.
[Read more…] about Chalvington Road, Chandler’s Ford – 12 Days of Christmas Trail
Have you got a real Christmas tree yet? Jimmy is back at the Fryern Arcade selling his Chistmas trees in Chandler’s Ford.
Jimmy Peters is a familiar face in Chandler’s Ford each year selling his popular trees. Jimmy has a farm called the Little Ranch Farm in Marwell.
Here are some photos.
Don’t forget – the parking space at the top is now only for ONE Hour maximum stay only. (Behind the shops you can park for 2 hours; Co-op parking is still one hour only.) [Read more…] about Little Ranch Christmas Trees by Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford
Chandler’s Ford resident Jill Mayes is sharing some lovely Christmas decorations that she has spotted during her walks.
Jill said on the 24th of November: “December has arrived early in Chandlers Ford, brightening up my evening walk🎄.”
Jill’s family is getting ready for Christmas with enthusiasm. [Read more…] about Christmas Lights in Chandler’s Ford
The Selwood Christmas tree has been lighting up Chandler’s Ford since 1953. Look at this stunning tree!
Richard Bright, 1st Chairman at Workdry International Limited (Selwood & Siltbuster) said, it’s always a pleasure to bring this tradition to the local community.
To friends of Chandler’s Ford, what does this Christmas mean to you? Please leave a comment below. We wish you all safe and well.
Richard has also given us more details about the tree this year.
Richard said, “The tree is meant to be 35ft but I think it’s slightly taller this year… I usually tell by comparing it with the flag poles 😊. we used to get it from Longleat as part of a forest management scheme but that has since come to an end so we have sourced it from a plantation off the A303 the last few years. We try to get it as local as possible to keep it “green” as I know a lot of large trees are imported from Norway, which I can’t bring myself to do due to the huge environmental impact.”
There is a story of a pompous man pushing into the front of and airport check-in queue. The check-in girl tells him to go to the back of the queue. ‘Do you know who I am?’ asks the man. The check-in girl asks the queue, ’can anyone help? This man does not know who he is.’
I sympathise with this man, not because of pushing into a queue, but because I am not known by my name any longer. The days when I heard people say, ‘Hello, Mike, nice to see you,’ have gone because, in COVID protection mode, no one sees me.
I am known to my computer but only as a string of digits. The screen wants to know my ID number, password, authentication code, admin password, username, wireless key, PIN, account number or registration key. Then there are numbers and codes sent to my phone which last only an hour or so. If I go to a bar or restaurant, my phone communicates with a QR code. I can text my order and someone brings drinks. [Read more…] about Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?
In 1963 I met Mandy Fry, a girl who lived with her parents and sisters in their family farm in Bramdean. Mandy was lodging during the week with my Aunt while she was attending Eastleigh College and that’s how we met when visiting one day.
In October 1966 Mandy and I bought a plot of land in Malcolm Road. We had plans for a house drawn up. Although passed by the local authority, we still had to take the drawings to Scammel & Smith, the local estate agents, to have the drawings approved by them for the Hiltingbury Estates before we could start building. [Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 3
In October 1960 in Chandler’s Ford, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks and many of the houses in Mead Road were flooded, some up to 18” of water inside, but I remember our house staying dry inside because the ground floor was built higher than those around it and stayed just below the floorboards.
In the 1950’s during my teens I had a paper round working for the newsagents on the corner of Mead Road and Park Road. On Saturdays I used to take a tea chest full of old newspapers to the waste land opposite the newsagents and burn them on a bonfire. [Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 2
My family came to live in Chandler’s Ford in the 1880’s when my great grandfather Levi Hammerton and his family moved here from the Bournemouth area. Levi worked as a builder building houses in and around Chandler’s Ford.
In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair with a plaque that reads: Presented to Mr Levi Hammerton by the Inhabitants of Chandler’s Ford as a mark of their appreciation of the many services rendered to the Parish 1902.
[Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 1
I’ve written before about how one of my favourite local walks is the stretch of river from Bishopstoke to Highbridge. As part of our “keeping it local” lockdown exercise, over the last couple of months Mrs Chippy and I have been exploring the rest of the river.
We started by running the stretch from Woodmill to Winchester and back. No, not all in one go; that would be silly. We took it in four stages – each stage a round trip of around 8 to 10 km (sorry to die-hard imperial measurers, but I measure exercise in kilometres – probably because the numbers build up more quickly).
The longest stretch was from Bishopstoke to Woodmill. It takes a lot of perseverance as, once you leave Bishopstoke, there is no crossing point until Mansbridge, 6 km away (the M27 doesn’t count). It’s also (possibly for the same reason) the least busy part of the path; we passed very few people. It was quite a surprise to see lots of people once we reached Mansbridge and completed the short section through Riverside park to Woodmill. [Read more…] about Exploring the Itchen Way
By the time you read this, I will have been locked-down for 100 days, from March 9th in fact.
This is not the first epidemic or pandemic I have experienced. The first, in 1961, amounted to nothing very much but, without prompt action, it could have been even more serious than the present one.
I returned home to my student flat late one night to find the door locked and bolted. I rang and banged and shouted and eventually my flat-mate, Taffy, appeared on the balcony.
‘You can’t come in, mate.’
‘Stop messing around, Taffy and let me in.’
‘Can’t, it’s smallpox.’
‘There’s no smallpox here. Let me in.’
‘But there is in South Wales and in Bradford. We are possible contacts because we spent the weekend in South Wales. We are in quarantine for 10 days and must have no contact with anyone. Public Health sends someone around with food which they leave at the door.’ [Read more…] about Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days
As you may already be aware, I support Marie Curie and chair the local Eastleigh and Chandler’s Ford Fundraising Group. Thank you to everyone who has generously supported our activities in the past.
Marie Curie are experiencing very challenging times both in delivering services for people with terminal illnesses and with ongoing fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic.
Every March the Charity raises millions of pounds with the Great Daffodil Appeal. Most of this was lost because of the current situation. Also the Marie Curie shops have had to close.
I realise that many Charities are asking for help at this time and you may be supporting one or more of those. However in light of this critical situation, I am reaching out to you on behalf of Marie Curie to ask for your help.
Every day and night, Marie Curie Nurses and frontline staff give vital support to dying people and their families, in their homes and in hospices across the UK. At this time of national emergency, when the NHS is being put under extreme strain, these crucial services are needed more than ever.
[Read more…] about Coronavirus Emergency Appeal for Marie Curie
