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
I have almost forgotten today is the Tomb Sweeping Day to the Chinese people.
I was reminded of the festival today when I read that the Chinese families of Chinese passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are still hopeful.
Tomb Sweeping Day is also known as the Qing Ming Festival 清明节, literally Clear Bright Festival [Read more…] about Tomb Sweeping Day
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
As it’s Lent time, I decided to talk about my favourite show combined with one of my favourite times of the year.
It’s obvious that the Doctor has some similarities with Jesus, in particular the resurrection and regeneration of both characters. But there’s a lot more about the Doctor, and the show, which links in with religion.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this [Read more…] about Doctor Who and Religion
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
Isn’t meeting someone you’ve always wanted to meet just so cool? Not just celebrities, but people from the past or fictional characters like Batman? Imagine how cool it would be to meet Batman!
But today, I’m going to be talking about people who I’ve always wanted to meet. And luckily, I’ve met a few! OK, only two. Technically three. [Read more…] about People I Want To Meet
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
We had lunch in Southampton after watching the Lion Dance yesterday. Two lions came to tea.
After the meal, when we were about to leave the restaurant, a Malaysian Chinese waitress stopped me: “Stay here. The Lions are coming in!” “When?” I asked. “Now!”
My instant response was to search for evidence at the ceiling. I saw some lettuce [Read more…] about The Lions Who Came To Tea
The Fall of Singapore happened on the 15th of February, 1942, on the Chinese New Year day. It was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history.
Singapore was supposed to be an impregnable fortress.
Older people in Singapore and Malaysia still remember the hardship [Read more…] about From The Fall Of Singapore To Prosperity
This post John Tavener was written by Dr. Hugh Benham, writer, composer, and choir director of St. Boniface church in Chandler’s Ford.
I interviewed Dr. Hugh Benham last year in this post: Concert, Life And Passion.
Hugh celebrated the life of the brilliant composer Sir John Tavener with us. [Read more…] about John Tavener
As we are still in the Christmas season, I’ve decided to take a look at a character in the Nativity story who I think is quite underrated.
Judging by the title, you should know who I’m talking about. [Read more…] about Why Joseph Is Underrated
Do you know how tall this Christmas tree is?
I often find the gigantic Christmas tree at Selwood Pump Sales & Manufacturing on Bournemouth Road fascinating.
Old residents in Chandler’s Ford told me that Selwood dresses up the most stunning (and possibly the tallest) Christmas tree every year in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about History of Selwood Christmas Tree in Chandler’s Ford
Have you heard of the Princess Mary’s Christmas Gift in 1914?
It was the World War One Princess Mary Brass Gift Tin.
I had a rare opportunity to hold this special brass tin last week.
Thousands of brass tins [Read more…] about Princess Mary’s Christmas Gift 1914
![Sir John Tavener features in Word Made Flesh: By Devlin crow (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://chandlersfordtoday.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sir_John_Tavener_features_in_Word_Made_Flesh-220x220.jpg)
