I was born in Chandler’s Ford in 1942 and lived in Station Lane until about 1972.
I remember many of the old places. We used to play in the old brickfield then go off up to Knightwood where there was a big sand pit created allegedly by a stray bomb during the war. [Read more…] about Roger White: My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley
I went to see The Pocket Dream, written by Elly Brewer and Sandi Toksvig, on 30th April 2016 at The Chameleon Theatre Group based at the Ritchie Memorial Hall in Hursley Road.
Despite living in Chandler’s Ford for over 20 years, this was the first time I had managed to get to one of the Chameleons’ productions. Many thanks to Lionel Elliot for supplying director’s notes, the cast list and some of the images of the show (which were taken by Dave Wilkins). [Read more…] about Review: The Pocket Dream by Chameleon Theatre Company
Update: 12th April 2016: The Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford has now put up a new signboard, after receiving feedback from this post below, which was first published on 26th March 2016. [Read more…] about The Central Precinct – Old and New
Now for Part 2 of my 50 things to like about the Chandler’s Ford area.
It is a family tradition to have a takeaway and watch a movie on a Friday night. We visit David’s Fish Bar (who regularly offer fish and chip suppers as prizes for various charities raising funds. A delicious prize!). [Read more…] about 50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 2)
My husband and I went to see Aladdin, by Nigel Holmes, performed by the Chameleon Theatre Company at Ritchie Memorial Hall last Saturday.
I bumped into my neighbours at the hall. “How many are you here?” I asked.
“15!” [Read more…] about Review of Aladdin by Chameleon Theatre Company
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 popped into Beacon Café on Hursley Road on Tuesday morning and was surprised to see the Christmas Café was in full swing!
Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church (SO53 2FT) runs on the first and the third Tuesday of every month, from 10am to 12pm.
Judith Bird from the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford started Beacon Café in April this year. [Read more…] about Feeling Lonely? Welcome to Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church
St. Boniface Church throws open its doors for a Christmas Tree Festival.
Twenty imaginatively decorated Christmas trees now adorn the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford, on Hursley Road, SO53 2FT. [Read more…] about Christmas Tree Festival at Chandler’s Ford St. Boniface Church
On Remembrance Sunday on the 8th of November in 2015, people from Chandler’s Ford remembered and honoured the fallen.
180 people assembled outside St. Boniface Church at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial as poppies were laid at the foot of the memorial. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford: 8 November 2015
What happens when an amateur theatre company needs props that they don’t have?
They ask a friends, ask a neighbour, or ask local residents.
A while ago Nick Coleman and Liz Strevens from the Chameleons Theatre Company went public to borrow a violin (for their production, The Ladykillers), and a white patio table (for their production, Relatively Speaking). [Read more…] about Review: Dracula by Chameleon Theatre Company
This week my wife and I attended the latest offering by our local Chameleon Theatre Company. We also took along someone new to this form of entertainment as we were sure that she would be hooked as we are to this talented group.
We were not disappointed. [Read more…] about Another Triumph for Chameleon Theatre Company
Over the past month or so I have been helping out with the Chameleon Theatre Company, after seeing several of their shows.
I learnt how to work with the lights and sound effects for the show from Lionel Elliott and Rebecca Nye. Last Sunday I saw the full dress rehearsal as I will be unable to help during the actual show due to holiday-itis. So treat this review like a film review when the film critics go to see the show early. [Read more…] about Review: Relatively Speaking – Chandler’s Ford Chameleon Theatre Company
Before I relate more of my life at North End Secondary School, I might regale you with some of the other events and things happening in the area back in the late 1950s and into the 1960s.
The area at the bottom of Hursley Road, where the Central Precinct is now, was somewhat different then.
The precinct was built in the 60s, [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)
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)
The Chandler’s Ford Community Association agreed at a Management Committee meeting this week to install air conditioning in the Ritchie Memorial Hall.
With several hot summers behind us coupled with full houses as a result of increasing popularity of our productions, the temperature in the Ritchie Hall was often exceeding 30 degrees Centigrade. It was also stuffy making air quality poor. [Read more…] about Air Conditioning in the Ritchie Memorial Hall
A new and welcoming cafe has now opened on Hursley Road – great news for the community.
Beacon Café is a new cafe at St. Boniface Church.
Beacon Café runs on the first and the third Tuesday of every month, from 10am to 12pm. [Read more…] about Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church – You are Invited
Wednesday was the first showing of the Chameleon Theatre Company’s Fawlty Towers.
I got to see it on Tuesday night at a free “press screening” and a special night to entertain the elderly from our local nursing homes in Chandler’s Ford.
Here is my review of the show. [Read more…] about Review: Fawlty Towers by Chameleon Theatre Company
Last Saturday (28th February 2015), Chandler’s Ford historian Barbara Hillier shared a poignant story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier, who died on the 7th of October 1916 in action in France, aged only 30.
Barbara’s storytelling was linked with a unique memorial plaque, which was once lost, but was never forgotten.
It was a story about a conscientious objector who later changed his mind, his love for his family, [Read more…] about Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque
On the 7th of October 1916, 30-year-old Wilfred Herbert Hillier from Chandler’s Ford was killed in action in France. There was no known grave.
You’ll find Wilfred Herbert Hillier’s name on Chandler’s Ford War Memorial.
This post tells you the story of a lost and found plaque for Wilfred Herbert Hillier, [Read more…] about In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier
