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Minister’s Letter – Easter 2015

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By Reverend Tim Searle

There’s no doubt about it: the death of Jesus was unexpected, and although he gave quite a few hints that it would happen, the disciples either didn’t believe him, or just didn’t want to.

And when it did finally happen, it left the disciples in a state of shock and dismay that they wouldn’t have recovered from had it not been for what happened next. For if Jesus’ death was unexpected, his resurrection was doubly so … or was it? [Read more…] about Minister’s Letter – Easter 2015

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History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park: Can You Help?

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About the author: Dave Key is the voluntary archivist and historian at Hursley Park. He is trying to locate as many ex-Supermariners, or their relatives, as possible in order to record their stories. Could you help?

In September 1940 the Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Woolston & Itchen workshops were bombed, forcing the complete dispersal of Spitfire production around the south of England (principally Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire). [Read more…] about History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park: Can You Help?

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How Many of the Ten Commandments Do You Know?

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Let’s have a look at the Bible during Lent.

How many of the Ten Commandments do you know?

Most people can probably remember that there’s one about graven images, one about killing (actually it’s murder, but that’s a whole different argument) and coveting (because the first time they heard it they had to rush for a dictionary to find out what “covet” meant”).

Here they are: [Read more…] about How Many of the Ten Commandments Do You Know?

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

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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

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In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier

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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

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Hampshire Libraries and My Love for Graphic Novels

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I’ve stated before that I like Chandler’s Ford library and Eastleigh library.

One of the reasons is that both libraries have a small but pretty good selection of comics and graphic novels, where I get some of mine from. [Read more…] about Hampshire Libraries and My Love for Graphic Novels

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Lent – Give up and Take up

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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

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How Much Do You Know About Eastleigh’s Twin Towns?

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Eastleigh Borough Twinning Association maintains and promotes links with Eastleigh’s twin towns – Villeneuve-Saint-Georges in France, and Kornwestheim in Germany.

If you are interested in learning more about the twin towns, you are welcome to celebrate Fasching / Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday on Monday 16 February 2015 at 7pm, at the Age UK Headquarters: 20 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL. [Read more…] about How Much Do You Know About Eastleigh’s Twin Towns?

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Rev. Peter Cornick: On Muslim Conference at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church

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Last Saturday (24th January 2015), Chandler’s Ford became the centre of media attention as a protest took place outside Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.

A Muslim Conference was being held inside the Methodist Church on Winchester Road that evening.

If you have missed the news and important notices from Eastleigh Police, please read this post published on 24th January 2015: Muslim Conference at Methodist Church Chandler’s Ford.

Today, Reverend Peter Cornick, the minister of Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, wrote to inform us of the chain of events last Saturday. [Read more…] about Rev. Peter Cornick: On Muslim Conference at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church

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Eastleigh Police: Muslim Conference at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church Tonight

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This evening Eastleigh Police issued important information about their strong presence at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, on Winchester Road.

Read on:

[Read more…] about Eastleigh Police: Muslim Conference at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church Tonight

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From Chandler’s Ford I Get around

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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

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History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

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A few days ago my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting up with Janet Williams and her husband at the Hiltonbury Pub, my old home, and we discussed the way Chandler’s Ford had grown over the years.

In the entrance hall of the pub there is a photograph of Hiltonbury taken from the air in about 1974 and Janet suggested that I took a photograph of it and put it on the blog with some descriptions of some of the buildings in the photographs so here goes. [Read more…] about History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

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Southampton Chinese New Year Celebration: Sunday 22nd February 2015 West Quay

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Update: Chinese New Year 2016 Celebration in Southampton: Sunday 14th February 2016 at Regents Park Community College SO16 4GW.

Original post for Chinese New Year 2015 (Below):

Southampton Chinese New Year Celebration will take place on Sunday 22nd February 2015 inside West Quay shopping centre, from 11am to 1pm.

The Year of the Sheep (or Goat) runs from 19th February 2015 to 7th February 2016.

The Chinese New Year celebration is organised by Chinese Association of Southampton. [Read more…] about Southampton Chinese New Year Celebration: Sunday 22nd February 2015 West Quay

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Cup of Chinese Tea, Anyone?

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My youngest son has just visited from China where he works as a teacher of kindergarten children.

Chinese parents are keen for their children to be taught English so he has been in southwest China for just over three years.

It was lovely to have him and his Chinese girlfriend visit [Read more…] about Cup of Chinese Tea, Anyone?

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The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

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My family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976.

On the 6th of May in 2012, my family gave a picnic table and benches at the corner of North Millers Dale (off Hursley Road) to the NMDCA (North Millers Dale Community Association), unfortunately the little plaque attached to the table was removed some time ago.

Vining’s Copse is named after my family. [Read more…] about The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

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Chandler’s Ford Guide Book Entry

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Chandler’s Ford is like a well-engineered machine. It works smoothly, runs well and does not break down.

It is serviced thoroughly by Eastleigh Borough Council; traffic flows are fluid and it has good bus services and a railway station.

The shops here are more than adequate with three supermarkets (Co-operative Food, Asda, and Waitrose), [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Guide Book Entry

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The Voice And A Raven

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The most difficult job in television must be producing an advert that people will watch.

When the adverts come on, most people get up to make a cup of tea or visit the loo or maybe start to argue about what to watch next.

There have been some notable adverts worth watching. The first UK commercial TV advert was for SR toothpaste [Read more…] about The Voice And A Raven

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Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 4 of 4)

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This will be the last of my ramblings about what I felt on and after my various visits to Israel.

Firstly, I would like to consider my sole visit to the Upper Room, scene of the Last Supper.

This was something which I had approached with considerable anticipation. Unfortunately, I was not appreciative of what seemed more like a nondescript block of flats, with the upstairs room entered via a suspended walkway more suited to downtown New York. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 4 of 4)

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Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 3 of 4)

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The Sea of Galilee – let this be the starting point for our wanderings around the land that was home to Jesus and his disciples.

Tiberias is the town from which most of today’s visitors make the start to their appreciation of the area. A short boat trip across the water to Capernaum is a high spot: half way over the skipper orders, “Stop engines.” You just drift in the intoxicating silence. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 3 of 4)

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Why Do People Love Christmas?

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So, it’s one week till Christmas. Christmas songs are playing, lights are shining and children are anticipating a big fat man dressed in red turning up to give them presents.

I am looking forward to, in no particular order: Doctor Who, meeting the family and a long break from school. [Read more…] about Why Do People Love Christmas?

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