Something that visitors to Britain find confusing (apparently) is our system of house numbering. You hear anecdotes such as “I was looking for number 127, so walked down the even side of the street to 126 and crossed over. But the house opposite 126 wasn’t 127 at all. It was 233 – I’d missed 127 half a mile back”.
It’s quite simple really. Buildings are numbered in sequential order, odds on one side and evens on the other. [Read more…] about Peculiar British House Numbering System
I met John Lankester a few weeks ago at Hocombe Mead. He told me some exciting projects at the newly revived Eastleigh & District Local History Society.
Many of you know that John and his wife Hazel both are active members of Friends of Hocombe Mead in Chandler’s Ford, where Hazel is the Chairman. Now they are also promoting Eastleigh & District Local History Society, where Hazel is Secretary and John Treasurer. [Read more…] about Eastleigh and District Local History Society
Mr Peter Green would have turned 99 on the 8th of May 2014.
I’m sure you know about Peter Green, our local high quality furniture store in Chandler’s Ford with a 58-year history.
Well, last night I watched Eurovision with my son. Do you know the first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956? Peter Green was established in Eastleigh [Read more…] about Peter Green
I met the Fat Controller Russell again in Chandler’s Ford.
Russell and his father Chris charmed the people who rode their steam train at the Fryern Funtasia last Monday.
I spent most of my afternoon at the steam train, observing people and watching the steam train puff out its smoke and steam as it chugged along its 100-foot-long track. [Read more…] about The Myth of Thomas The Tank Engine
Last weekend it was my privilege and pleasure to visit Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk for the annual conference and AGM of the Guild of Church Musicians, and particularly so as the Guild was making me one of several new honorary fellows (Hon. FGCM for short).
About 150 honorary fellowships have been awarded in the past 25 years or so, some to clergy (including Archbishop Desmond Tutu) [Read more…] about The Guild of Church Musicians
Centenary of World War One 1914 -1918
Commemorations of the Fallen of World War One will start this year and continue through the next four years until the end of 2018. It is not intended that these commemorations are in any way an attempt to glorify war but rather a way of an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by millions of people, both military and civilian. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. Can You Help?
About half way along the road from Southampton to Winchester were three fords, nearby lived a family named Chaundler. This was the case in the 16th century. Earlier, there is no mention of Chandler’s Ford in the Doomsday Book though Eastleigh, Otterborne, Chilworth and Twyford are there.
Nothing changed in this wooded land until the 19th century when a large brickyard developed [Read more…] about About Chandler’s Ford
Janet’s post Easter Day – From Tragedy To Triumph is a fine account of a very memorable Easter celebration.
In most years the daffodils have been yellow – this year’s late Easter probably helps to explain the change of colour.
White is, however, a traditional colour for Easter.
In his poem ‘Loveliest of trees’ [Read more…] about White for Easter
Happy Birthday, Bill.
I was never as enthusiastic about Shakespeare as one is supposed to be. I was made to study him at school like most people. We did Merchant of Venice and I thought it a poor show how Shylock was treated. [Read more…] about Happy Birthday Shakespeare!
At St. Boniface Church this morning, a large wooden cross decked out with daffodils was brought in to the church. It was a beautiful scene.
As the music director Hugh Benham explained in this post, during Lent at the parish church, a large wooden cross is on display, and on Good Friday the altar is bare. Symbols of the Passion are laid at the foot of this cross [Read more…] about Easter Day – from Tragedy to Triumph
Fifty years ago on 28 March 1964, Radio Caroline stated broadcasting. It’s quite difficult with our plethora of pop music radio stations (most of them playing the same old crap) to realise just what a revolution In British broadcasting history Radio Caroline was.
Let me set the context.
In the 1960s British broadcasting was [Read more…] about Radio Caroline: Golden Anniversary
On Saturday 12th April 2014 Chandler’s Ford born and bred Rowan Esther Catherine Cameron wed Robbie Stewart Weir at Weetwood Hall in Leeds. With names Cameron and Weir it was no surprise to see guests turning up in highland dress with kilts, black barathea jackets with silver buttons, sporrans and ghillies on the feet.
Modern political correctness meant that the sgian-dubh was not worn but [Read more…] about Wedding of Chandler’s Ford Girl
English spelling at times seems completely random, but it is sometimes systematic, even if there seems no good reason for the system, and if exceptions can still be found!
Take the use of single L and double L at the end of a word for example. [Read more…] about English Spelling
I’ve given up sweets, cakes and biscuits for Lent. Possibly a bad choice, and each year I get to about the halfway point and think that maybe next year I’ll give up something I don’t like as much.
But that’s not really the point. In fact, giving up things per se isn’t really the point. It’s more to do with doing some self-reflection and assessing your spiritual life, [Read more…] about What Is Lent All About?
Just a few yards off The Circus in Bath is the Museum of East Asian Art in a beautiful Georgian house on Bennett Street.
The contents were collected by Brian McElney OBE, a British scholar of sinology who worked as a lawyer in Hong Kong. After retirement he tried to present his collection to other museums of Chinese art but eventually set this one up himself. [Read more…] about China In Bath
On Monday, I went to Southampton on a visit to Southampton Old Cemetery with some of my classmates from Toynbee School in Chandler’s Ford as we were on a history trip. I found out several interesting facts about the cemetery and the area.
The cemetery was built in the 1840s and over the years, it slowly became an area of over 27 acres. [Read more…] about Visit To Southampton Old Cemetery
This morning, I did my shopping in a farmshop – in a white van.
I discovered the clean white van on top of Brownhill Road.
It is an amazing mobile farmshop. It stops on Brownhill Road every Wednesday from 10am to 10.30am. [Read more…] about Magical Farmshop In A Van On Brownhill Road
Yesterday I read about the fun-loving, passionate Linda Read from Chandler’s Ford through Janet’s post.
Linda teachers First Aid for the Red Cross. Actually, I know Linda from my Eastleigh St John Ambulance days – Linda has been a group leader for British Red Cross in Eastleigh for over 20 years. [Read more…] about Red Cross, St John Ambulance And Red Cross Parcel
This Chandler’s Ford community website has just had a facelift. As the creator, I am thrilled.
A few weeks ago, I received an email from Roger Clark, Trustee of Hiltingbury Community Centre:
“Wonder why though [Read more…] about Is Chandler’s Ford A Jaguar? Meet Roger Clark.
This site has now been renamed: Chandler’s Ford Today. When the site was set up in March 2013, the domain name was Eastleighnet.
Please note that this site will use the spelling Chandler’s Ford consistently. Chandler is a singular noun, so it has to be followed by an apostrophe plus s to show possession. [Read more…] about Welcome To Chandler’s Ford Today
