After two days driving through France we arrived at our gîte in Provence for a holiday.
It is a delightful place in a 40 acre estate of olive trees and a lavender field. There were no guests in the other gîtes so we had the whole place, including 3 swimming pools to ourselves. One border of the estate was a river and half a mile upriver was a waterfall or cascade as the French call them. [Read more…] about The Waterfall
Felicity Fair Thompson has sent me details of a writer’s talk this coming Saturday, 25th July 2015.
The details are below. I’m not able to go myself but thought I would post this in case other writers can do so. [Read more…] about The Writer’s Process – 25th July 2015
About the writer: Doug Clews lived in Chandler’s Ford between 1938 and 1966. Now living in Perth, Western Australia, Doug shares his fascinating childhood memories of Chandler’s Ford with us.
Extracts from The Doug Clews Story, or As I remember it, 81 years on. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 3)
I remain a club cyclist to this day, having ventured into competitive cycling in the 1970s. I won a few trophies with the Sotonia Cycling Club of which I am a Vice-President.
I remain involved in riding, timekeeping races, and enjoy the companionship and camaraderie the sport offers those of all ages. Some of my present day clubmates are over 80 years of age, and are still active, so there must be some benefits to cycling! [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: A Summer of Hope and Sorrow (Part 6)
About the writer: Doug Clews lived in Chandler’s Ford between 1938 and 1966. Now living in Perth, Western Australia, Doug shares his fascinating childhood memories of Chandler’s Ford with us.
Extracts from The Doug Clews Story, or As I remember it, 81 years on.
At the start of the war, there were no such things as shelters, but when the bombing started, community surface shelters began to appear. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 2)
Are you a tourist or a traveller?
With the holiday season upon us, you have probably already decided. Travelling can be nerve-wracking. What’s the difference?
Shall we say that a traveller decides where to go and arranges it, but a tourist buys a dream sold by a travel company. [Read more…] about Travellers Need Brains
Herewith another saga……
While I was attending North End Secondary School, I became interested in cycling, not just as a means of transport, but as a sport and pastime.
I was pretty useless at conventional sports like football and cricket, so a chance discussion with another paper boy, introduced me to the Southampton group of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC). This was and still is, a National & International club, with local “Sections” based around the country. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle! (Part 5)
Earlier this year, I was pleased to meet Lyn Darbyshire MBE, former Scouting District Commissioner. Her insights into her involvement with The Gang Show led to my researching further into the show’s general history and Ralph Reader, the man behind the Gang Show.
Lyn also kindly shared her thoughts with me about the St. George’s Day Parade in Chandler’s Ford, which she was directly involved with for many years. [Read more…] about Memories of Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade: Lyn Darbyshire
Continuation of my memories of North End School in Eastleigh.
I recently met up with one of my boyhood friends whom I have kept in touch with ever since.
We met over a coffee recently, and agreed that we must have caused our teachers a great deal of anguish.
Youngsters quickly detect a weakness in others. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: North End School (Part 4)
Hampshire Scout Shows unite!
For the first time in the history of Scouting in Hampshire, the creative talents of multiple districts will be brought together in collaboration for a one night only performance as Hampshire Scouts present ‘Stepping Out’.
Scouts from across the county will unite for this one night variety extravaganza, to be performed in the heart of our County at the Winchester Guildhall. [Read more…] about Hampshire Scouts Present Stepping Out
About the writer: Doug Clews lived in Chandler’s Ford between 1938 and 1966. Now living in Perth, Western Australia, Doug shares his fascinating childhood memories of Chandler’s Ford with us.
At age 5 at the outbreak of WW2, I did not have anything to compare life and standards of living with, so the War, as I remember it, did not seem to be such a hardship for us, as it was for many, many, thousands of other people in England.
So many of them lost loved ones, their homes, their possessions, and in many cases, their dignity. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 1)
Before I relate more of my life at North End Secondary School, I might regale you with some of the other events and things happening in the area back in the late 1950s and into the 1960s.
The area at the bottom of Hursley Road, where the Central Precinct is now, was somewhat different then.
The precinct was built in the 60s, [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)
Players from the Chameleon Theatre Company entertained an audience at Eastleigh Museum with poems, monologues and a recitation of summer songs at a Summer Soirée on 25 June 2015.
The event was organised by the Eastleigh Museum Supporters Club, and the varied programme ranged from Dorothy Parker to William Wordsworth. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Museum Summer Soirée with the Chameleons
Driving along a country lane in Surrey, I came up behind a tractor with a tipping transport box attached on the back. Therein were some youngsters dressed in their best.
In front of that tractor was another, and another all with people dressed in their best togs. Further ahead we came to the village church, St Michael and All Angels in Thursley. [Read more…] about Get Me to the Church on Time
I grew up in Chandler’s Ford in the 1950s and 1960s.
When I was about 12 years old, I started my first (part-time) job.
This was as a Saturday van-boy for Mr Smith, a greengrocer, who had a shop opposite “The Hut” on Bournemouth Road. (not to be confused with Mr Smith who had a grocers shop in Hursley Road, opposite the Railway Station.) [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Paper Boy; North End School (Part 2)
I was born, not in Chandler’s Ford, but in Tooting, South London, in 1947.
My father came from Lancashire, and my mother from Tooting.
We lived in Streatham, a mile or two from Tooting, but just before my second birthday, my mother died from influenza. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s (Part 1)
One thing I love about writing for Chandler’s Ford Today is how one subject leads to another.
For instance, my interview with local author, Richard Hardie, led to my wanting to discover more about The Gang Shows.
Richard wrote one of these with the great Sir Terry Pratchett. [Read more…] about In the Gang Show: Lyn Darbyshire
Yesterday I taught Chinese in the morning (Open University L197 – Beginners’ Chinese module), and came home to watch Eurovision in the evening.
I must admit it was a wonderful day to indulge myself in languages and multi-cultures for a whole day.
My colleague Fernando Rosell-Aguilar at the Open University wrote this wonderful piece: Parlez-vous Eurovision?. [Read more…] about Did Eurovision 2015 Inspire You to Learn Languages?
I visited the National Gallery again. I always feel uneasy about the place and have never worked out why. Do you have a sense of unease?
It is a national treasure and we are proud of it but it is not like Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square. [Read more…] about National Gallery and the Prince
Today Eastleigh Gurkha Nepalese Association was collecting donation in Eastleigh town centre for the Nepal Earthquake appeal fund.
I met some members of the group at Swan Centre Shopping Centre this afternoon. They told me they will take the donation to Nepal directly to help the most desperate people.
Here are some words in their leaflet:
“Nepalese, Gurkhas of the British Army now resident here are breaking their hearts trying to send help back to their stricken country. We ask you to open your hearts. To give what you can.” [Read more…] about “We Ask You to Open Your Hearts” – Eastleigh Gurkha Nepalese Association
