culture

The Treasure of Easter! By Canon Paul Hardingham

March 28, 2024 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Author: Canon Paul Hardingham

It’s amazing what treasure can be unearthed with metal detectors! In this season of Easter, let’s rediscover the greatest unburied treasure of the Resurrection.

The Apostle Peter reminds us that God ‘has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.’ (1 Peter 1: 3,4). What does he say about this treasure?

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christianity, churches together, community, culture, Easter

The Mosque

November 28, 2023 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

A group of us from U3A visited the Masjid Abu Bakr (Masjid means Mosque) in St Marys, Southampton. St Marys boasts three mosques within 150 yards of each other. This one caters for 1000 of the 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide.

Why would a group of elderly Christians visit a mosque, particularly in times like these? All of us were brought up in the Christian tradition, some practising, some C of E by default, some, like the author, with no religious belief and others hovering between – the agnostics. Curiosity united us. We were invited to remove our shoes and the ladies covered their hair.

We were met by the ‘verger’ who explained the five pillars of Islam; the obligatory rituals and practices of all Muslims. The Shahada – the creed “I bear witness that there is no deity but God…” equivalent to the Apostles’ Creed. Salah – the practice of prayer, five times a day while facing Mecca. Zakat – almsgiving, set at 2.5% of what you have remaining after meeting your household expenses. Sawm – fasting during the month of Ramadan and, finally, the Hajj – a pilgrimage to Mecca to be made once in a lifetime by all who can afford it. [Read more…] about The Mosque

Tags: culture, faith, Islam, religion, Southampton, storytelling, tradition, u3a

Apostrophe Catastrophe

November 19, 2023 By Mike Sedgwick 8 Comments

How come the little apostrophe should become a headline in the National Press? Because Councillor Bronk asked the assembled Winchester Council about a road sign in Twyford:

St Marys Terrace

St Mary’s Terrace?

The assembled council, bless’em, got the answer wrong. Is it a terrace belonging to St Mary or a terrace named after St Mary? That gives you the answer.

It’s the same with Chandlers Ford, the name of a suburb of Eastleigh, not a ford belonging to Mr Chandler. [Read more…] about Apostrophe Catastrophe

Tags: culture, language, news, writing

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 12th November 2023

November 12, 2023 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The service for Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford was lead by Rev Penny Thatcher. The Mayor’s representative was Counceller Bruce Tennent.

Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography has kindly shared some photographs of the Remembrance Service at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial with the community. She has captured pictures of the parade on Hursley Road and the service at St. Boniface Church. Thank you Debbie.

Remembrance Sunday - at St Boniface Church — Remembrance Sunday – at St Boniface Church

Chandler's Ford War Memorial — Chandler’s Ford War Memorial

Credit: All photos Debbie Pearce Photography.

Tags: community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, Information Chandler’s Ford community, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial

Pure Nostalgia

October 4, 2023 By Mike Sedgwick 4 Comments

Last Century

Long ago, my little sister and I had a holiday with our parents and grandparents in Dunoon, Scotland. Grandfather loved things mechanical, steam-driven and related to the sea, so the opportunity to sail aboard the Waverley, a paddle-driven steamship, was as close to heaven as he could get on this earth. He bought tickets lasting a week and we sailed the Clyde with him every day.

From Dunoon, the Waverley set across to Wemyss Bay for more passengers, and the adventure began. We approached the Isle of Arran, a misty blue hillock on the horizon. Gradually, it resolved into a mountain of colour, green bracken on the lower slopes, replaced by yellow gorse and then purple heather over the top backed by the blue sky. At Lochranza, groups of young people disembarked to visit the Youth Hostel. Would I ever be old enough to be considered a youth and leave for an adventure on an island? I hovered between childhood and being a youth, wanting to be considered grown-up.

We sailed on to Campbelltown and then by bus to Machrihanish, where North Atlantic rollers dashed against the rocky shore. Against the wind, the roar of the waves and sea spray like a fog on the land, we held bags of chips in our hands and felt good to be alive.

In the gloaming, we sailed the smooth obsidian-black waters of Loch Fyne with mountains on either side. We had a feeling of space and stillness on the quiet waters. Sheep grazed the hillsides, and white-washed cottages dotted the shore.

Later that year, the Scottish Nationalists removed the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey and took it back to Scotland.

SS Waverley off Swanage image by Robert Mason CCO — SS Waverley off Swanage image by Robert Mason. CCO

Last Month

Seventy or more years passed, and my sister and I embarked, once more, on the Waverley but in Southampton. On a beautiful sunny day, our cruise took us to Portsmouth, Yarmouth, around the Needles to Freshwater Bay and back. [Read more…] about Pure Nostalgia

Tags: adventure, culture, family, history, memory, nostalgia, storytelling, travel

Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford

November 23, 2022 By Pawel Basisty 8 Comments

My name is Pawel Basisty and I’m member of Friends of Polish Veterans Association in Southampton. Our organisation is trying to make sure that our army veterans and important history dates are not forgotten but celebrated. Often we take part in the same events as British Legion.

This time we will celebrate the unveiling of the commemorative plaque for 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford.

The story of the Polish Dependants' Hostel, Hiltingbury by Marian Sobieraj — The story of the Polish Dependants’ Hostel, Hiltingbury by Marian Sobieraj

Unveiling of the commemorative plaque will take place at 4.30 pm 27 of November 2022 in Polish Club Southampton 507 Portswood Road SO17 2TH.

PHOTOS: Remembrance Sunday Tribute in Chandler’s Ford 2022

November 14, 2022 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Local people in Chandler’s Ford have come together to honour those who served and to remember their sacrifice. Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography has kindly shared some photographs of the Remembrance Service at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial with the community. She has captured pictures of the parade on Hursley Road and the service at St. Boniface Church. Thank you Debbie.

Remembrance Sunday 2022, Chandler’s Ford. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial

Remembrance Day Service at the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford 2022

November 13, 2022 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

On Remembrance Sunday, many people gathered to remember those who have given their lives to protect our freedom.

Representatives from Scout groups across Chandler’s Ford, together with other local community groups, laid wreaths and attended a service of remembrance today at the parish church of Chandler’s Ford.

Image credit: Remembrance Sunday image 2022 4th Chandler's Ford Hiltingbury Scout Group — Image credit: Remembrance Sunday image 2022 4th Chandler’s Ford Hiltingbury Scout Group

The service was held in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and the Borough of Eastleigh. It was led by the Rev Hayley Richens and the Rev Penny Thatcher.

Remembrance Sunday - screenshot from the live stream. — Remembrance Sunday – screenshot from the live stream from the parish church.

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial

Year of the Tiger – Celebrating Friendship

January 31, 2022 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

For those of you who celebrate Chinese New Year, I wish you good luck, happiness and health in the New Year.

In the past two weeks I had afternoon tea with Allison Symes, had coffee with Mike Sedgwick at Dovetail Cafe, and on Saturday, I had a Chinese New Year meal with chippy minton and his wife Annie in Eastleigh. Of course I also saw chippy’s unique gnome in his front garden.

gnome restoration 11 — Chippy’s treasured gnome

Tags: Chinese, Chinese New Year, community, culture, entertainment, music, tradition

Should Real Tigers be Used as Props?

January 24, 2022 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Gucci has used real tigers in their recent adverts celebrating the Year of the Tiger. It seems the tigers have been trained or tamed to be used as props, accessories, and friendly pets. These adverts really have reminded me of the adorable tiger and his friendship with the little girl Sophie, in The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr.

Should real tigers be used in commercial adverts?

In the commercial adverts, actual tigers roamed the scenes, and joined a group of friends for high tea, in various spaces of a luxurious, retro-style hotel. See this report. [Read more…] about Should Real Tigers be Used as Props?

Tags: Chinese, Chinese New Year, community, culture, entertainment, event, history, tradition

A Story about Tiger

January 23, 2022 By Janet Williams 7 Comments

As the Lunar New Year (Tuesday, 1 February 2022) is just around the corner, I thought I would share little stories about tiger as it’s going to the the Year of the Tiger.

In the west, the tigers I’m most familiar with are Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, and Hobbes, Calvin’s stuffed tiger and best friend. These are friendly tigers.

The tigers in the Chinese context seem to be mighty and ferocious. They are not there to ‘be kind’ or friendly.

Image credit: Image of a tiger by JL G from Pixabay.

Here is a widely known story between a fox and a tiger in the idiom 狐假虎威（hú jiǎ hǔ wēi): [Read more…] about A Story about Tiger

Tags: Chinese, Chinese New Year, community, culture, entertainment, event, history, tradition

2022 Chinese New Year Celebration in Southampton – Sunday 30/1/2022 at Westquay Shopping Centre

January 22, 2022 By SO53 News 5 Comments

The 2022 Chinese New Year Celebration in Southampton will be on Sunday 30/1/2022 at Westquay Shopping Centre, from 11am to 3pm.

The Chinese Association of Southampton and the University of Southampton Confucius Institute once again bring the traditional Chinese New Year celebration to Southampton to welcome the Year of the Tiger 2022.

Chinese New Year 2022 falls on Tuesday, the 1st of February 2022. The celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on the 15th of February.

Southampton Celebrating Chinese New Year 2022

Year of the Tiger – from 01.02.2022 – 21.01.2023

Tags: Chinese, Chinese New Year, community, culture, entertainment, event, history, music, Southampton, tradition

Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

January 9, 2022 By Christine Clark 3 Comments

It won’t come as a surprise to any local gardener that brickmaking was a big industry round here 100-150 years ago. Our heavy clay soil, as well as the local chalk downland, made this area an obvious site for several brickfields over the centuries. In fact, in the late nineteenth century in Hampshire there were 100-150 works producing clay products such as bricks, tiles and pipes.

Chandler's Ford Community Halls, Hursley Road. — Chandler’s Ford Community Halls, Hursley Road.

It was in around 1870 that it was discovered that our clay soil was particularly suitable for brickmaking. There were three brickfields in Chandler’s Ford. The biggest, which was also one of the largest in the country, was Bell’s, which occupied the land now taken by Chandler’s Ford industrial estate. The position of the railway no doubt helped its success as this was the main means of transporting the finished bricks. A short single-track branch line ran through the brickfield, joining the Eastleigh-Romsey line at the station near the signal box. The whole process of clay extraction, moulding to shape and firing was done on site. This last was not always popular with local residents due to the fumes emanating from the kilns. This brickfield had the honour of providing 35,000 bricks for the construction of the Royal Courts of Justice in the 1870s.

Brickmaking in Chandler's Ford — Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, war memorial, writing

Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford

December 2, 2021 By Christine Clark 1 Comment

I wonder how much you know about hospitals in Chandler’s Ford past? We know of the private Nuffield Hospital in Winchester Road. Many will remember Leigh House Hospital that is gone now, to make way for housing. But there was another, long gone …

Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

Chandler's Ford Leigh House Hospital — Chandler’s Ford Leigh House Hospital

In 1835 the Hursley Poor Law Union was officially formed to cover the parishes of Hursley, Compton, Farley Chamberlayne, North Baddesley and Otterbourne. Ampfield and Chandler’s Ford were added to the list in 1894. By 1867 the Hursley parish workhouse, built in 1828, was criticised for its inadequate building (disgusting water closets and a cesspool under the windows of the lying-in and infectious wards, which had been unemptied for twelve years!). [Read more…] about Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: community, culture, Eastleigh, education, handler’s Ford, history, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

World War II and afterwards in Chandler’s Ford

November 17, 2021 By Christine Clark 9 Comments

Chandler’s Ford had a population of just over 3,000 people in 1939 and, although only five miles north of Southampton which was badly bombed during the Blitz (57 nights in 1940-41), we escaped lightly. Here’s how …

BOMBS

Two ‘Doodle-bug’ V1 flying bombs fell on Hiltingbury: one landing harmlessly in a field, the other killing the residents of a bungalow in Pine Road (these bombs were presumably aimed at London but, as was the case with so many, they didn’t make it all the way). A couple of ‘breadbaskets’ fell (a Molotov breadbasket was attached to a parachute and so called because it contained both high explosive and incendiary bombs) and a stick of bombs fell in Hursley Road. One German aircraft came over from the north, machine-gunning as it went before flying off towards Eastleigh. As well as the few deaths, structural damage was caused to about half a dozen homes from the bombs. Much more structural damage was caused by the anti-aircraft guns around the area and large cracks in walls and ceilings from ack-ack guns were common.

V1Musee - ByBen_pcc - Self-photographed, Public Domain, Wikimedia — V1Musee – ByBen_pcc – Self-photographed, Public Domain, Wikimedia

During the Blitz on Southampton in 1940, the reflection of the fires could be seen in the night sky here in Chandler’s Ford. Searchlights, air raid sirens and anti-aircraft guns made the village very aware of what was happening locally. During the worst of the Blitz, many Southampton families would come to Chandler’s Ford to sleep the night, or for longer if they were bombed out. Several churches and halls were used as reception centres, providing food and blankets. Local residents often offered accommodation and some people made Chandler’s Ford their permanent home.
[Read more…] about World War II and afterwards in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, local history, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, storytelling, war memorial, writing

PHOTOS: Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2021

November 14, 2021 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Remembrance Sunday falls on 14 November in 2021. The Chandler’s Ford community came together this morning to remember the service and sacrifice of those who have protected us and defended our freedoms.

Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography kindly shares the photographs of the Remembrance Service at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial with the Chandler’s Ford community. She captured the parade on Hursley Road and the service this morning at St. Boniface Church, Parish of Chandler’s Ford. Thank you Debbie.

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. Remembrance Sunday 2021, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography.

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2021

November 14, 2021 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Today we remember and honour those who sacrificed for our freedom in Chandler’s Ford. Locally many people, young and old, observed a national two-minute silence at 11am. By 10.45am there was a large crowd at the Chandler’s Ford war memorial, at St. Boniface Church.

Representatives from local groups laid wreaths of poppies at the war memorial.

The Eastleigh Borough Council wreath was laid by John Caldwell, a previous mayor and an alderman.

You can see more photos from today’s service: PHOTOS: Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2021

Remembrance Sunday 14.11.2021 Chandler's Ford War Memorial — Remembrance Sunday 14.11.2021 Chandler’s Ford War Memorial

The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 2)

October 19, 2021 By Christine Clark 4 Comments

Part Two: 1913

Chandler's Ford War Memorial. At that time it stood at the end of Hursley Road on railway company land, only moving to its present site (outside St Boniface Church )in 1973 being re-dedicated on 4th August 1974. Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society. — Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. At that time it stood at the end of Hursley Road on railway company land, only moving to its present site (outside St Boniface Church ) in 1973 being re-dedicated on 4th August 1974. Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society.

If we now time-travel twenty years or so to the eve of the First World War, let’s see what has changed on our route. Once again, we come up from Southampton to the Asda roundabout and up Bournemouth Road. Chandler’s Ford now has a police constable who lives at the police house at 5 York Villas, Bournemouth Road. We pass the home of one R. E. Burke, a lounge steward on HMS Titanic who sadly perished when the ship foundered last year. As we pass the Hut Hotel (see image below, forgiving the cars!), we may see Chandler’s Ford United FC training in a field behind, using the hotel as their changing room. The big brickfield on our left is still busy.

Hut Hotel, image by Christine Clark — Hut Hotel

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, Hursley Road, local history, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War One, writing

The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 1)

October 12, 2021 By Christine Clark 8 Comments

Part One: 1895

You probably know that most of Chandler’s Ford has developed in the last hundred years or so and that prior to the twentieth century, there wasn’t a lot here, apart from a few cottages, the brickfields, farm land and woods. I’ve been looking at the history of one important feature of our town: the main road – Bournemouth Road and Winchester Road – stretching from Asda to the Nuffield Hospital. I wonder what you know of its history?

Stone train, Chandler's Ford, pre-Millers Dale, April 1976 (for rail enthusiasts, the loco is D1058 Western Nobleman). Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society. — Stone train, Chandler’s Ford, pre-Millers Dale, April 1976 (for rail enthusiasts, the loco is D1058 Western Nobleman). Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society.

Let me take you back to 1895. Let’s say you want to travel from Southampton to Winchester and for some reason you don’t take the train, preferring to ride your horse / travel in your carriage or cart by road. The road that goes through our town was the most direct route, a turnpike with an improved surface since the early nineteenth century, unlike other local roads.

Before the railway came in 1847, this road would have been heavily used by the stage coaches that plied between Southampton and London. The horses were changed every six miles and being this distance from both Southampton and Winchester, Chandler’s Ford was the obvious place for the changeover. The coaching stage in our town was where the Fryern Arcade is now, but by 1895 the stables had been redeveloped as a house. [Read more…] about The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 1)

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, Hursley Road, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

Andy’s Story – Part 2 – Stories from Beechcroft

August 23, 2021 By Andy Vining 5 Comments

Hello again, thank you for all the lovely compliments I received for my first Chapter.

This is not Chapter 2 as promised but more Part 1: Andy’s Story – Part 1: Early Years, Hiltonbury Farm, and… My Old Morris as I have just returned from a visit to Devon where my older sisters Jennifer and Janet live and in conversations with them I have more to add to part 1.

My sisters’ memories about our Grandparents

My Father’s Mother died quite young. Jennifer thinks she died in the Sanatorium, a TB hospital in Chandler’s Ford just off Cuckoo Bushes Lane. It has been knocked down and the area is all houses now.

My Father’s Father was the gardener at Hiltonbury and my Father’s mother married him and it was terrible to marry beneath her. It seems that all the family except her Brother George Beattie disowned her but Uncle George was very kind to her.

Uncle George was the Farmer at Hiltonbury, who took my Father in after both my Father’s parents died and brought him up as his own son, sending him to Peter Symonds School in Winchester.

What an achievement! Cycling 15 miles a day for school.

Father used to ride there every day on his bike all the way from Chandler’s Ford to school, and that’s about seven and a half miles. I agreed there was no traffic in those days but all the same fifteen miles a day and the roads were not up to much either.

I presume he would cycle up Hursley Road to The Pound, go right through Hursley, past his Cousin’s Norman Coopers place – North End Farm, and along through Standon to Winchester, then Chilbolton Avenue to Bereweeke Road and so to College.

What an achievement, rain and shine, hot and cold, along, not roads as we know them today but probably tracks some of the way. Amazing. You would not get the youth of today doing that. It’s even a long way to go in a car, probably take as long today with all the traffic as well!

Now back to Cantley in Wokingham where I was born, there are a couple of fuzzy photographs of me in a pram and sitting on the lawn having something to eat, also a photograph of Mr Watson who was the owner of the farm where my Father was the bailiff / manager.

Me aged 2 - Andy Vining — Me aged 2 – Andy Vining

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, family, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, history, local businesses, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

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Last Century

Last Month

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Year of the Tiger – from 01.02.2022 – 21.01.2023

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Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

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BOMBS

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My sisters’ memories about our Grandparents

What an achievement! Cycling 15 miles a day for school.

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