On October 7th 1947 Gran copies four pages of Ruskin’s positive views on the human character of the love of nature. She follows this with: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 9)
On the 21st, there is a description of the autumnal bird movements and also of the colourful shrubs around Hursley at that time of year. Spindle is Gran’s favourite shrub, the fruits “just becoming that lovely shade of rose”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 8)
Gran spends August 4th 1947, at Romsey Horse Show. There is no mention of how she got there nor of her company, but they found Broadlands, where the show was held, delightful when they walked around it during the interval. And they made a visit to Pepperbox Hill that day too, returning “towards dusk as the sparrows were chattering in the hedges and the crickets chirping”.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 7)
Gran has made a few visits to the Punchbowl area on the Petersfield Road lately, looking for orchids and other wild flowers. When describing her finds, she always uses the plants’ scientific names – but many of them are well out of date today. For instance, she finds Habenaria conopsea, which must be Fragrant orchid – a plant now recognised as three separate species, and with a different Generic name. When at the Punchbowl, she:
…resented the arrival of noisy, chattering people on motorbikes who were apparently quite unaware of the beauty of sight and sound all round them, which they had so rudely disturbed.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 6)
On May 22 1947, Gran notes Lithospermum purpureo-caeruleum (creeping gromwell) in the garden but, she says, “as this is a rarity I am waiting to verify my identification”.
Presently, the front garden of The Ridge has a large patch of this lovely blue-flowered plant, which was introduced from a small piece collected at Cheddar in 1967, so Gran’s earlier record of it is something of a mystery – though it was surely a garden escape from somewhere nearby. Dad tells me, “It is now a confounded nuisance, its long tough, slender rhizomes getting under paving slabs and amongst other plants, and producing flowering shoots in unwelcome places”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 5)
The last day of April and the first of May 1947 give the first hint that I have found of Gran’s constant bitter sadness, which apparently underlies all her writing: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 4)
Gran notes Salix caprea (goat willow) catkins open on March 15th, and a male Early Moth coming to light at a bedroom window the day before this. On the 16th:
The speckled Wood butterfly which I brought home from the greenhouse on March 5th was today spreading its wings to the sun in the dining room.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 3)
It’s dated January 1st 1947 and is headed “A Country Diary”. The inside of the front cover has five or six paragraphs, the first of which goes:
Flowers bring a spirit of comfort and happiness which money cannot buy, and being a spirit, is neither measured nor defined, but only perceived.
This is followed by:
“The tragic beauty of life is revealed nowhere so movingly and so clearly to the spirit as in a wild flower, which blossoms into life and fades into death.”
June 17th 1945 – January 12th 1947
In memory of my friend, “Adrian”, (Kenneth R. A. C. Turvey) who gave me an even deeper appreciation of the beauty and wonder of nature. He died January 12th 1947 aged 34. His brave, wholesome spirit was an inspiration and an example. Semper Fidelis.
I suspect that the words in quotation marks were from Adrian himself, though the journal is peppered with similar rather trite and flowery quotes from all sorts of sources that are not Adrian. And the dates are the period of Gran’s brief friendship with him. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 2)
Introduction
Her name was Joan Adelaide Goater, her maiden name Adamson. She was my grandmother and she kept a journal. Some Three-hundred and fifty hard-backed exercise books covered by a cheap blue paper that fades within half an hour of being exposed to the light. I’ve read small parts of some volumes, which date from January 1st 1947 to the early-1990s. They are written at “The Ridge” – that is number 27 Hiltingbury Road, Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. It is the home where Gran and her husband Bill (William Cecil), whom I knew as “Grampa” or “Gramps”, lived and where their children Barry (my father) and Jane were brought up. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 1)
It’s rather unusual that you walk into a post office to buy curry ingredients.
But in Chandler’s Ford you can just do that.
The post office on Ashdown Road in Hiltingbury sells stamps, envelops, cards, soaps and scarves.
It also sells GoldDust Masala Blend. [Read more…] about Hiltingbury Post Office (and GoldDust)
I must admit winter is not my favourite season, much as I enjoy Christmas. Aside from the cold and the storms, the nights draw in that much earlier which limits the evening walks my better half and I can enjoy with the dog.
We love walking Mabel along The Monarch’s Way and the bridleways around that area (though right now it would be more accurately called The Muddy Way). [Read more…] about Winter – Ugliness and Beauty in Chandler’s Ford
I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. They usually mean giving up alcohol, which is not a huge problem for me as I don’t drink much, or chocolate and that is where I do run into difficulties!
However, I thought I would list some things I would love to see in 2016, all of which would benefit Chandler’s Ford and its residents.
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)
After Nick John’s post about the Hutments I made enquiries from a friend, Robbie Sprague, who was born and bred in Chandler’s Ford. He wrote to me as follows:
I wonder if I could throw this topic out there in the hope that those people who have lived (or whose families have lived) in the Chandler’s Ford area for more than half a century may be able to contribute.
I was born in the 1950’s and my parents were at the time living in a development called The Hutments. [Read more…] about Do You Remember The Hutments?
Chandler’s Ford is changing. Recent changes are in its centre, wherever that is, its public buildings, new community halls, library, parks, shops and recreational facilities. Even Eastleigh Borough Council has recently moved into new premises.
Less obvious but marching slowly on are changes in its older residential areas. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Changes. What’s Your View?
Yesterday Niki Jenkins from The Picture Framing Shop in Chandler’s Ford left a beautiful comment on a post I wrote five months ago.
She also sent me pictures of Teddy, their lovely shop dog, who is renowned and well-cuddled in Hiltingbury.
[Read more…] about The Picture Framing Shop: Meet Teddy The Shop Dog
In my last post, I highlighted the magical Picture Framing Shop in Chandler’s Ford. My reader Ruby echoed my view and she described the shop as a real Aladdin’s cave.
This is a fitting description in praise of The Picture Framing Shop in Chandler’s Ford.
[Read more…] about The Picture Framing Shop: A Real Aladdin’s Cave
My son and I walked for 35 minutes to get to The Picture Framing Shop in Chandler’s Ford last week.
The walk in the cold weather was worth it as we bought everything we needed for my son’s major art project for a mask.
The young and energetic owner [Read more…] about The Magical Picture Framing Shop in Chandler’s Ford
