Hiltingbury Road

Empty nest syndrome; fun collecting crab apples; flowers for a Queen; a dockers’ strike; a farm wedding; “Goodbye Mary”; and another wedding.

September 21^st 1954:

Jane left early this morning to return to college at Eastbourne and Jill Fowler, who joins her there tomorrow, arrived just before she left, with some things which Jane had promised to take for her.  Our farewells were brief, for even when we feel our best, we dislike these partings but today with the shadow of Robin’s tragic accident hanging over us, neither of us was fit for prolonged speech.

“Poor little Jane”, Gran continues, “it is the first time tragedy has so nearly reached her and she is being very brave”.  Later that day, she cycles to the top of Otterbourne Hill “to get some blackthorn upon which to feed a Fox moth caterpillar which I am looking after for a youngster while he is on holiday”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 65)

One that got away; enjoying Barry’s and Julian’s company before they leave the district; quiet reflections in Compton Church; goodbye Mary Robinson; news of a tragedy; another wedding, and a hedgehog knocks over a milk bottle.

Jane encourages Gran, dogged this day and regularly at fortnightly intervals, by her debilitating headaches, to accompany her on a walk along the Itchen, downstream from Brambridge, on the evening of August 16^th 1954.  Few people are about, apart from a lone fisherman and a single dog-walker. A Kingfisher flashes past, and a family of Mute Swans is on the water.  Gran and Jane observe the fisherman, whom they saw: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 64)

A visit to the Cotswolds; a manipulation; Gran is 50; a tryst on Compton Downs; a Drinker is saved; two years of National Service – done; a couple of enthusiastic Irishmen; and four get a soaking on Farley Mount.

Gran, we learn on July 18^th 1954, is Godmother to John, one of Tommy and Bob Fowler’s children.  On that day, she, with Jill and Diana (the other two Fowler offspring), and Tommy, drive to Cheltenham, where John is at what Gran describes as “the famous school”. The journey is, typically, described in some detail, Gran enjoying the Cotswold villages with, to her, unusual names: Warborough, Stratton St Margaret, Blunsdon and Cricklade.  She is impressed by the verges near the last named, “massed with Meadow Cranesbill”, some of which she collects for planting in her garden at The Ridge. And she recounts an amusing incident:

… a boy emerging from a side road was so startled by the sight of an approaching car that he promptly fell off his bicycle and disappeared into a ditch, though we were nowhere near him!

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 63)

A memory of Italy; delight in caring for a baby again; the Queen comes home; some serious athletics; a lot of orchids; more trees felled in Chandler’s Ford; Chelsea Flower Show again and a mouse causes some amusement.

Book 44

Gran records with pleasure an experience enjoyed by Jane, with Robin Eastwood, early in May 1954 when on a wet and windy day, which made travel in the open-topped Talbot uncomfortable, the couple end the day with dinner at the Grand Hotel. A good orchestra was playing, she tells us, and after Robin had asked the name of a piece just played, the leader asked if there was anything Jane would like to hear.  She chose a selection from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and this scenario reminded Gran of her very similar and wonderful experience as a seventeen-year old, when, she writes, “the leader of the Orchestra in the Carlo Felici Restoranti in Genoa used to ask me, with a low bow, “and what would the signorina like us to play now?”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 61)

Good views of Siskins; 1950’s baby transport; Fallow Deer in the Forest; Robin Eastwood – a “kindred spirit” and “an exceedingly nice young man”; a bird-call mystery solved; Tom Jenkins in the flesh, and Barry’s career is secured.

On March 10th 1954, Gran records her first good views of Siskins, the little finch that in later years became a familiar visitor to garden bird feeders:

This afternoon I took Julian for a walk, going first into Cranbury to get some moss for a bowl which I wanted to arrange for Mary’s birthday today.  I was sorry to see that much clearing was taking place in Cranbury Park and many birch trees have been felled.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 60)

Isobel Baillie; a red cord out of place; an amusing wedding; a new duck and Jane is “stepping out”.

On February 17th 1954 Gran is suffering from a bad cold but manages to attend a concert in Eastleigh with her friend Mary Harding: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 59)

Simple Christmas gifts; valuing our treasures; extinct species; a kindly flower-seller; prayers for the Queen on tour; it snows – and Julian falls in it; communication in the 1950s and a couple of nice books.

Book 40

Late October 1953 and Gran’s thoughts are turning to Christmas.  On the 23rd she gathers material for making presents:

I collected some twigs, acorns, seeds, bark, lichen and such, with which to make Christmas novelties and my invalid [probably her disabled friend in Southampton] assiduously stuck the acorns back into their cups for me… a little Seccotine ensuring that they would not fall out again.  The next step will be to paint them.

And two days later, feeling ill, and the weather stormy, she writes: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 58)

A poor fruit crop this year;  12 years’ work at Pinewood Gardens comes to an end; some new Hampshire plants; a muddy situation along Southampton Water and the Dominion Monarch’s  special place in Gran’s heart.

Gran has already mentioned that the blackberry crop is particularly poor this year, 1953, and the same appears to be true of the apple crop.  She writes on September 16th, that she spends time in the Pinewood Gardens apple shed:

…clearing up and laying out the Green Blenheims, a poor crop, covering only half of one shelf with one layer, instead of being heaped right up.  It is a bad apple year here, for there are no Bramley Seedlings or American Mothers, and only a few Russets and Newton Wonders.  One tree of Lemon Pippins is fairly well covered but I have not seen the Christmas Pearmains or the Worcester Pearmains.  There were no Beauty of Bath and no Gladstones.  Three baskets comprised the bulk of the Grenadiers and there are only a few of the Early Victorias at the top of one tree.  I have not searched but I can see no Lanes from the end of the greenhouse, and there is only one Maltster.  I have never known a worse year since I have been working at Pinewood Gardens.  There simply was not the blossom in spring – the frost in May had nothing to do with it. Plums were the same.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 57)

The lovely site of a baby’s awakening; tastes in flower arranging; one more year of National Service; a trip to Jefferies Country; new flowers for Gran’s list; a historic Test Match; arthritis in the hips, “but I can still play a decent game” and finding friends of Gilbert Whitley.

It’s the last day of July 1953 – a wet one – and Gran is clearing peas in the Pinewood Gardens, and picking a few loganberries.  She hears:

…familiar footsteps running up the road and knew that Barry was arriving.  He is on leave for the Bank Holiday and was pleased to have done well in the R.A.F. Sports, winning the 440 and 880 yards and the third prize in the sack race! He ran the three-legged with the Squadron Leader but they were unplaced.  His prizes consisted of three useful additions to the home – water jug and glasses, teaspoons and a leather wallet.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 56)

Mouse, Man and other traps; “getting your eye in”; John Keble and the Oxford Movement; Crossbills in Merdon Avenue; times have changed with regard to children’s entertainment; accents; two tennis stars on the Mauritania; Bog Orchid at last!; and Jane’s school days are over.

On July 7th 1953, Gran travels to Earley, near Reading where Adrian’s mother is staying with her sister at the house called “Anathoth”. On the 8th, they visit the neighbouring towns of Goring and Streatley, separated by the River Thames, travelling by bus, via Pangbourne, and Gran is amused, “at a small village whose name I could not see”, where:

…the driver of the ‘bus leant out in passing and accurately threw a parcel of newspapers right into the doorway of a shop.  Obviously it was not the first time he had done this!

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 55)

Coronation Day; up and down for the National Anthem; a civic reception; Swifts at Staines; a night visit to London; orchids and seabirds; Dad gets under two minutes – just; Wimbledon again – and the Americans should enjoy it more.

On May 28th 1953, Jane and Gran go to the Winchester County High School Open Day, and after the school has been inspected, the visitors are treated to a “delightful concert by members of the school”.    This includes ballet by Kay Lardy, “who has recently won a scholarship to Sadlers Wells”; a pianoforte solo, “admirably executed by Mary Sales”, and a violin solo, “played with great sensitivity and from memory, by Janet Ashford. A trio of very talented children”, Gran writes.  They are driven home by the Ashfords as the sun is setting.

There is another minor hint at provisions for a family dinner on May 31st, presumably a Sunday, when Gran is in a tizzy because:

Having lost a day somewhere this week I imagined today was Saturday and had quite forgotten to get any vegetables for dinner, so I had to dash round to Mr Woods in Park Road and see if he had anything.  He had – cauliflowers, which were some of the nicest I have ever had.  On the way to his nursery I heard a Whitethroat singing…

And she is unkind again to Eastleigh, where, that afternoon, she “unfortunately” had to play in a tennis match:

What a deadly, dismal, dirty place is Eastleigh – even the gay flags and bunting for Coronation Week could not disguise its squalor and ugliness.  It never seems to be clean and impressions on emerging from the railway station – itself one of the dirtiest I know – are depressing in the extreme.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 54)

Jackdaws in church; trees are felled but some are saved; Jane is 19; “Wahini Pah”; Mr Southwell has a memorable excursion to Farley Mount; Chelsea Flower show again – and a little girl with painted finger-nails; Greaty has an accident,  and Gran receives a little act of kindness.

There is much activity at the Fowlers’ shop in Southampton, packing flowers for departing ships, at this time, and a strike by French seamen causes a degree of chaos because passengers for whom flowers had been ordered are transferred from the Ile de France, whose departure is delayed, to other ships the following day, and correctly uniting flowers with their recipients is difficult.  Gran delivers some of the arrangements to the United States, sailing on April 30^th, 1953, and writes: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 53)

Mr Sanderson speaks boldly; Hiltingbury is urbanising but the trees are safe; Cranbury Park – little changed in 50 years; a visit to Kew, but some are disappointed; gifts from Switzerland; the Richmond Park Woodchat Shrike; dropping the word “empire”, and Gran finds her first Herb Paris.

Gran writes, as usual during Eastertime, of the deep emotions engendered in her at this period in the Christian calendar, and on Good Friday, April 3^rd 1953, she attends a service at Compton that is very much of its time:

I met Mrs Durst as I reached the Church gate and we went in together.  As soon as I saw the visiting clergyman’s face I knew that the service would be a good one, for his faith shone on his countenance as a lamp in a dark world. He was the Reverend George Sanderson, from All Saints, Alton and the Service proved to be the most moving and beautiful I have ever attended.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 52)

Enjoying the grandson; £40 raised for flood victims; a chimney fire; planting up Hursley Forest; Gran catches flu and is rude to the Doctor; There is a Green Hill Far Away; the Oakwood is being felled; a garralous Scotsman and Julian is Christened.

The presence of her new grandson, Julian, gives Gran considerable and frequent pleasure during February 1953. He and his parents are regular visitors for meals, when Barry is home on leave from his RAF station at Rudloe Manor at Chippenham, and often Gran pushes Julian in his pram around the local roads and woodlands while Barry and Jock have a bit of time to themselves at Cranbury, along the Itchen or up at Farley Mount. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 51)

A guided walk; the Church of St Matthew, Otterbourne; the baby comes home, and he has a new bath; Snowdrops gathered for the 15th year; a talk on trees and shrubs; an uncomfortable dinner-dance; Italian nostalgia and sympathy for the flood victims.

On January 17th 1953 Gran leads a group of British Empire Naturalists’ Association members on a walk between Compton and Winchester along the Itchen Valley.  They see a range of common wildlife but the most important thing, from Gran’s point of view, is that it boosts her confidence, and she writes:

It had been an enjoyable afternoon and the members thanked me for conducting them, as they said, so ably along a very beautiful and interesting stretch of English countryside.  I need not have felt so nervous about undertaking the venture and I now contemplate the trip to Avington Park next month with less trepidation. I am too used to being a lone wolf to relish taking a party on my excursions but today’s number was not overwhelming and they were all very nice and friendly people.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 50)

Brandy for a Bullfinch; much to be thankful for; looking forward to 1953; Sandy Cunningham; “shortenin’ bread”; mis-identification of a woodecker; a boy is born, and tears and joy fight for supremacy.

On December 10th 1952, Gran is brought a male Bullfinch that has been “knocked down”, she thinks, on the road. She has little hope of its recovery as it seems to be in a bad way but she gives it a drop of brandy, holds it in her warm hand, and then places it in a basket by the kitchen window, and it begins to recover. After more than an hour it flies off, and Gran says, “He was a beautiful bird and I was so pleased that he recovered”.

The use of brandy in such a situation is new to me, and I expect is not to be recommended!  I remember another member of the family many years later giving apple pieces soaked in brandy to a budgerigar, and it became so relaxed that it fell off its perch!

December 13th:

I had little time for outside observations today since Barry was coming on leave early this evening and bringing with him his new friend, John Sandy Cunningham, known to all as Sandy, and his fiancée Jill, whose second name I never discovered and which Sandy told me was relatively unimportant as she would be changing it on January 7th, when they are getting married.

Sandy and Jill spend the night at The Ridge, Gran noting that they were:

…already quite at home and the easiest young people with whom to get on that I have ever known, in spite of the fact that Sandy is extremely clever and an Oxford B.A. Also, he is one of the handsomest young men I know and his manners are punctilious.   His voice is well modulated and he is most gentle and courteous towards Jill.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 49)

A mis-use of Farley Mount; Tom Jenkins retires and a Robin dies; the kindness of friends; the glory of Joan Hammond and Geoffrey Parsons; speech day and chrysanthemums for a new home.

Book 32

On October 12th 1952, Gran is pleased to see her old friend and confidant, Mr Utterton, briefly returned to Compton Church:

I was delighted to reach the Church gate at the same time as Mr Utterton, who was taking today’s services, and I was able to speak to him for a few moments. Except that he appeared a little older, he was his own kind self and it was good to see him again.

Later, she writes, “This afternoon Jane and I went up to Farley Mount. I wanted her to see it before all its Autumn beauty had faded”, but she is disturbed by what they encounter there:

We returned to Hursley past the Mount itself but all pleasure was spoilt by a motor-cycle rally which was in progress opposite the Monument. I grieve for Farley Mount these days, for the peace and serenity which I used to find there, and, if such as motor rallies are to become frequent, I am afraid much of its wild life will be lost as well. A Lark was singing but much of its melody was lost in the constant roar of passing motor-cycles.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 48)

A little bit of nostalgia; early signs of the future schoolmaster; a fast car to Eastbourne; tennis with pigs; the Otterbourne Monkey Puzzle; a new bird for Britain; Last night of the Proms and 200 Swallows in a bedroom.

Gran is in pensive mood. She writes:

I heard religion described today by a clergyman as “what we do with our loneliness”, and I thought back over the last five years and wondered if he would think I had used mine to advantage. Quite apart from my writing, which may or may not benefit somebody someday, I think it has deepened my capacity for compassion and sympathetic understanding and I have tried to give myself wholeheartedly to those who need me, and I know that my friendship has helped several people at least. But it has also humbled me, for I have felt so desperately bewildered and ignorant of so much that I want to understand and believe implicitly…

[Read more…] about Fort Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 47)

More flowers for the great ocean liners; a couple of celebrities; National Service; a cycle-ride to Avington Park; a visit to Stratford upon Avon; an uncomfortable situation, and a baby is on its way.

Gran is again boxing-up flowers at the Fowler’s shop in Southampton on July 30th 1952, for delivery to ocean liners shortly to leave port – this time, the SS United States again and also the RMS Queen Elizabeth. She ends a detailed description of the contents of one box thus:

…Asparagus fern completed the gift box which I think should have delighted the heart of any woman lucky enough to receive it. I did not visit either of the ships today as I had to leave by mid-day in order to cycle back here in time for lunch and to Pinewood Gardens by two o’clock.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 46)