Chandler's Ford Today

education

A Special Visit to “Hiltonbury Farmhouse”

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On 22nd May I went to my old home Hiltonbury Farmhouse to meet Rob Preston the new tenant who is planning to open this wonderful old Farmhouse as a restaurant in early July this year.

Rob is a great entrepreneur who has been in and around the wine and drinks industry all his working life but always wanted to work on “The other side of the bar” as he put it and open a family restaurant setting a high standard for good food and excellent service. [Read more…] about A Special Visit to “Hiltonbury Farmhouse”

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Highlights of Fairtrade Fashion Show at St. Martin in the Wood Church: May 2017

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I attended the Fairtrade Fashion Show last Friday at St. Martin in the Wood Church in Hiltingbury. It was a fun and relaxed fashion show, with lots of Fairtrade items for sale.

Fairtrade Fashion Show was organised by local fairtraders, Tricia Urquhart, and Heather Dibb (minus one arm). [Read more…] about Highlights of Fairtrade Fashion Show at St. Martin in the Wood Church: May 2017

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Stroke Association and Rotary International Help Conquer Stroke in Chandler’s Ford

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The Stroke Association and Rotary International are joining forces to help raise awareness of one of the biggest risk factors for stroke: high blood pressure.

They are inviting residents in Chandler’s Ford to take a moment to have a free blood pressure test on Wednesday 10th May between 10am and 5pm at Chandler’s Ford Library. [Read more…] about Stroke Association and Rotary International Help Conquer Stroke in Chandler’s Ford

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Easter Message 2017 by Reverend Christine Whitehead

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By Reverend Christine Whitehead

In a few days Christians all over the world will celebrate Easter. Already the shops are full of a variety of Easter cards, many of which are decorated with beautiful pictures of eggs, bunnies, churches and spring flowers. I offer you instead this lovely photograph of St Martin in the Woods with its lovely Daffodils in the church garden. [Read more…] about Easter Message 2017 by Reverend Christine Whitehead

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The House at Ladywell

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Would you fall in love at first sight – with a house?

When my second Harriet Quigley mystery was published, blogger Geranium Cat said, in what is still my favourite review:

Not listed in the Dramatis Personae at the start of A Crowded Coffin is the Attlin family’s farmhouse, although you feel it should be there; once known as the Angel House, Locksley Farm Place dates back centuries, perhaps to a Roman villa on the same site. The author conveys the sense of the house’s age and antiquity seamlessly… and the reader is left with an impression of great solidity and warmth which permeates the whole book…’

[Read more…] about The House at Ladywell

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Vital History by Allison Symes

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Henry Ford came up with what, for me, is one of the most annoying and untrue statements of all time when he claimed that “history is bunk”. Err… definitely not.

(And while I know he was focusing on what mattered to him, the there and then as he had obvious reasons for wanting to focus on the progress his cars were making, I still think this statement is rubbish, as recalling history should never mean not making progress. I really can’t fathom his reasoning here.). History is far too important to just be dismissed. [Read more…] about Vital History by Allison Symes

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Review: Treasure Island by Thornden School

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I’m not  total philistine; I have read some of the classic novels.  However, Treasure Island is on the list of the many that I haven’t.  So I was doubly excited to go to see Thornden’s Schools’ production of Treasure Island on Friday (10 February).  Partly to top up my “blagger’s guide to the classics”, but mainly for the chance to see another of the school’s productions. [Read more…] about Review: Treasure Island by Thornden School

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Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade

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I write mystery novels set in and around Winchester – and sometimes even in Chandler’s Ford!

Chandler’s Ford has been home since 1981 when we moved here from Surrey for my husband’s new job. I come originally from Poole and my husband comes from Oxfordshire. When we moved here our son was twelve and went to Thornden, followed in due course by his sisters: our elder daughter who was ten when we moved here and went into the top year at Hiltingbury Juniors, and the younger one, who was five, who started school at Hiltingbury Infants. [Read more…] about Introducing Myself – Nicola Slade

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Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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I have just returned from a trip of a lifetime – a visit to an Emperor Penguin colony on the frozen Weddell Sea within the Antarctica Continent.

Yes it was a bit of a hike to get there. It took me a couple of days to travel to the gathering point in Punta Arenas, Chile. [Read more…] about Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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We don’t normally see the name ‘Chandler’s Ford’ being mentioned in the national news (ok, the HSBC armed robbery on Bournemouth Road in September 2007 was an exception: “Two armed robbers were shot dead by police”).

However today, ‘Chandler’s Ford’ is mentioned all over the media, from The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Mirror…, and on the BBC radio programme. [Read more…] about Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell

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Last Sunday I had a brief interview with Frank Damerell, the 92-year-old war veteran from Chandler’s Ford.

Frank arrived at the War Memorial on Hursley Road just after 10.30am, accompanied by his son Phil. Frank later laid a RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association) wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the war memorial at St. Boniface Church in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell

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World Sight Day: Lions Club of Eastleigh Supports Open Sight

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Staff at Open Sight couldn’t believe their eyes when a lion visited their offices in Bishopstoke on Wednesday, to present them with a cheque.

On 13th October 2016 Lions Club of Eastleigh spent World Sight Day at their local Asda, raising funds for a cause close to their hearts. [Read more…] about World Sight Day: Lions Club of Eastleigh Supports Open Sight

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Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016

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About two hundred people gathered at Chandler’s Ford war memorial for Remembrance Sunday service and laying of wreaths this morning.

From 10am this morning, many people started walking towards the war memorial on Hursley Road at St. Boniface church. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016

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Sunday 13th November 2016 – Remembrance Sunday Service in Eastleigh Borough

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Eastleigh observed a two-minute silence at this morning’s Armistice Day service at the town’s war memorial.

On Sunday 13th November 2016, there will be a service taking place in Chandler’s Ford at St. Boniface Church, Hursley Road.

The Remembrance Sunday service in both St. Boniface Church and St. Martin in the Wood Church will start at 10.45am. [Read more…] about Sunday 13th November 2016 – Remembrance Sunday Service in Eastleigh Borough

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Review: The Railway Children

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Sometimes I write reviews of concerts and shows; sometimes I write about places to go for a day out. This post isn’t intended to be either of those, though it may look a bit like both.

Last week I fulfilled an ambition I’ve held for several years by going to see the stage version of The Railway Children. This was one of my most-loved books as a child (and that of my sister too), and the 1970 film is undoubtedly one of my all-time favourites. [Read more…] about Review: The Railway Children

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Teachers Who Inspire

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It is exactly 65 years since I arrived at my boarding school in Cheltenham as a new boy. A harrowing time for me for I did not know where to go and what to do. A bell rang and everyone disappeared.

I was left alone in the vast main corridor with 20 or so closed class-room doors to choose from. The head boy saw me and asked me which form I was in. I hadn’t a clue. I eventually arrived late in the English class. [Read more…] about Teachers Who Inspire

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The Story Shuffle Project

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One of the joys of writing for Chandler’s Ford Today is discovering projects I would not have otherwise come across. One of these was the Road to Agincourt Project which appealed to my love of all things historical.

Another was when I interviewed Kate Day of Chocolate Muffin Publishing and looked at their work with children and dementia patients (amongst others) to encourage creative writing.
[Read more…] about The Story Shuffle Project

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Animal, Vegetable, or Neither?

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Now the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us, we can expect to see mushrooms, moulds, fungi and toadstools.

There must have been some along the walks through the water meadows between Winchester and St Cross taken by Keats during his stay in Winchester in 1819. All manner of autumnal things are mentioned in his Ode to Autumn but fungi are not included. Read it for yourself here. [Read more…] about Animal, Vegetable, or Neither?

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