interview

Everybody is a storyteller. Through these interviews, we learn about other people's passion, their work, their struggles and hopes, and their inspiring stories. We see how our lives are intertwined in the community.

From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson

October 23, 2015 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Chandler’s Ford Today covers a wide spectrum of interests – from football to gliding, from local history to reviews of shows in nearby theatres and Thornden Hall. From memories of the Gang Show to news of the latest fundraising efforts by the Scouts and the Fairtrade events.

Naturally a blog like this will attract writers. People like Richard Hardie, whose young adult Temporal Detective Series (Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords), will be highlighted in Chandler’s Ford library next Thursday 29th October. People like Brenda Sedgwick whose first novel, Marriage, a Journey and a Dog, was out earlier this year. [Read more…] about From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, history, interview, Isle of Wight, literature, reading, review, travel, war memorial, writing

Hiltingbury Extravaganza – Talking Maths: Andrew Kuttner

September 24, 2015 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

I’ve lived in Chandler’s Ford for over 25 years but it was only last Sunday I went to the Hiltingbury Extravaganza for the first time.

I was fascinated by the combination of pony trekking, the dog show, the hot food stalls, the icecream vans, the giant slides and a mini bus ride, the tea and cake stands and educational stalls.

Hang on… Educational stalls? At a family fair? A fun event?

Yes… and it wasn’t the first time one particular educational stall, manned by a very familar face, had been at the Extravaganza. [Read more…] about Hiltingbury Extravaganza – Talking Maths: Andrew Kuttner

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Eastleigh, education, event, Hiltingbury, interview

Gill James: Top Tips to Writers’ Networking

August 29, 2015 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

This post continues from yesterday’s article where Gill James shared some of her thoughts on life as a creative writing lecturer and author.

Gill gave me my first publishing credit via Alternative Renditions, a Bridge House anthology, and I have since had other work published online and in Limerick Nation and The Shamblelurklers Return. I’m currently working on a short story collection. [Read more…] about Gill James: Top Tips to Writers’ Networking

Tags: blogging, books, education, interview, publishing, reading, writing

Gill James: Teaching Writing

August 28, 2015 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Earlier this year, I posted my interview with Gill James who as author, creative writing lecturer and small publisher gave me my first break into publication with my short story, A Helping Hand, when it appeared in the Bridge House Publishing anthology, Alternative Renditions. [Read more…] about Gill James: Teaching Writing

Tags: blogging, books, education, interview, publishing, reading, writing

Memories of Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade: Lyn Darbyshire

July 10, 2015 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Earlier this year, I was pleased to meet Lyn Darbyshire MBE, former Scouting District Commissioner. Her insights into her involvement with The Gang Show led to my researching further into the show’s general history and Ralph Reader, the man behind the Gang Show.

Lyn also kindly shared her thoughts with me about the St. George’s Day Parade in Chandler’s Ford, which she was directly involved with for many years. [Read more…] about Memories of Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade: Lyn Darbyshire

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, event, interview, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, storytelling, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

Inspired by Slapton Beach: Felicity Fair Thompson

June 26, 2015 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

One of the great joys of fiction writing is you have two basic options which are to either invent it all or base your work on a real event. You can be said to be writing history.

Historical novels obviously fall into the second category (as do some crime books). One of my favourite books, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, is based on The Princes in the Tower mystery. [Read more…] about Inspired by Slapton Beach: Felicity Fair Thompson

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, history, interview, Isle of Wight, literature, reading, review, travel, war memorial, writing

What’s Your Story? Gill James

June 12, 2015 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

What’s your story?

It can be difficult for a fiction writer to answer that. We have lots of stories from our tales of how we develop as authors (with hopefully increasing numbers of publishing credits) to each of the actual works we invent and rigorously edit before they see the light of day. [Read more…] about What’s Your Story? Gill James

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, interview, literature, reading, review, travel, writing

In the Gang Show: Lyn Darbyshire

May 29, 2015 By Allison Symes 11 Comments

One thing I love about writing for Chandler’s Ford Today is how one subject leads to another.

For instance, my interview with local author, Richard Hardie, led to my wanting to discover more about The Gang Shows.

Richard wrote one of these with the great Sir Terry Pratchett. [Read more…] about In the Gang Show: Lyn Darbyshire

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, Gang Show, interview, local interest, scouting, social, storytelling, Winchester, writing

Life as a Small Publisher: Allison Symes Talks to Felicity Fair Thompson

May 15, 2015 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

I met Felicity Fair Thompson of Wight Diamond Press at the Isle of Wight Weekend Writers’ Conference, which she ran from 2000 to 2005. The conferences were held in Sandown.

I also met Gill James, later of Bridge House Publishing, at one of these conferences and she became the publisher for my first accepted short story, A Helping Hand in the anthology, Alternative Renditions. Wheels within wheels so to speak… [Read more…] about Life as a Small Publisher: Allison Symes Talks to Felicity Fair Thompson

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, interview, Isle of Wight, literature, reading, review, travel, Winchester, writing

Do You Remember…The Precinct Gift Centre?

May 4, 2015 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

This is a new Do you Remember series. You’re invited to share your fond memories of Chandler’s Ford.

Is there a particular shop, a person, or a service that you remember and want to share?

Today I start off this series with my favourite gift shop, The Precinct Gift Centre, which closed in February 2006.

The Precinct Gift Centre was a precious gift shop at the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Do You Remember…The Precinct Gift Centre?

Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, community, family, good neighbours, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory

Life as a Small Publisher: Allison Symes Talks to Gill James

May 1, 2015 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Gill James and I met at the Isle of Wight Writers’ Conference, which was run by Felicity Fair Thompson from 2000 to 2005.

This was a weekend conference based in Shanklin or Sandown with guest speakers. There was a special speaker after the main Conference dinner on the Saturday night. David Nobbs (Reggie Perrin) and Raymond Allen (Some Mothers Do Have Them) were just two of the after dinner speakers who entertained us all. [Read more…] about Life as a Small Publisher: Allison Symes Talks to Gill James

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, interview, literature, reading, review, travel, writing

Local Author News – Allison Symes

April 11, 2015 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Have you heard of the Society of Authors?

Congratulations to local writer and regular contributor to Chandler’s Ford Today, Allison Symes, who has been elected to become a Full Member of the Society of Authors.

Tags: blogging, books, celebrations, Chandler's Ford, community, hobby, interview, local interest, reading, writing

An Interview with Author Richard Hardie by Allison Symes

March 20, 2015 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

I met Richard Hardie, walking Benji, whilst walking my first dog, Gracie, in the Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. Not only did we have dog walking in common, we soon discovered we shared a love of books, especially Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, and creative writing.

Richard and I have work in The Shambelurklers Return, which is raising money for the National Autistic Society and is available in W.H. Smith in the Fryern Arcade of Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about An Interview with Author Richard Hardie by Allison Symes

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, charity, Gang Show, interview, literature, reading, review, scouting, Terry Pratchett, writing

Sir Terry Pratchett 1948-2015: An Appreciation from Chandler’s Ford

March 17, 2015 By Allison Symes 13 Comments

While I was interviewing local author, Richard Hardie (author of Leap of Faith and Trouble with Swords), we discussed favourite books and writers. Then came the sad announcement of Sir Terry Pratchett’s death after a long battle with a rare form of Alzheimer’s.

Richard and I share a huge admiration for the Discworld novels. [Read more…] about Sir Terry Pratchett 1948-2015: An Appreciation from Chandler’s Ford

Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, books, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, Gang Show, interview, literature, reading, review, scouting, Terry Pratchett, writing

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

January 21, 2015 By Andy Vining 19 Comments

A few days ago my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting up with Janet Williams and her husband at the Hiltonbury Pub, my old home, and we discussed the way Chandler’s Ford had grown over the years.

In the entrance hall of the pub there is a photograph of Hiltonbury taken from the air in about 1974 and Janet suggested that I took a photograph of it and put it on the blog with some descriptions of some of the buildings in the photographs so here goes. [Read more…] about History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

Tags: architecture, Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, culture, education, family, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, history, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

January 6, 2015 By Andy Vining 16 Comments

My family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976.

On the 6th of May in 2012, my family gave a picnic table and benches at the corner of North Millers Dale (off Hursley Road) to the NMDCA (North Millers Dale Community Association), unfortunately the little plaque attached to the table was removed some time ago.

Vining’s Copse is named after my family. [Read more…] about The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

Tags: architecture, Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, family, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, history, interview, local businesses, local interest, storytelling, writing

John Wilson’s “Dear John” Letter – 20 Years After Thornden School

December 29, 2014 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

20 years ago John Wilson wrote a letter to himself at Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford.

Now, a 33-year-old journalist from the University of Winchester, John opens the letter, which was kindly corrected by his teacher 20 years ago.

You now have the privilege to follow John while he takes a hilarious and poignant trip back to 1994, [Read more…] about John Wilson’s “Dear John” Letter – 20 Years After Thornden School

Tags: blogging, Chandler's Ford, community, education, Hiltingbury, interview, local interest, review, school, Thornden School, writing

Selwood: Spectacular Christmas Tree in Chandler’s Ford 2014

December 10, 2014 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

For me, Christmas only starts when the Christmas tree at Selwood on Bournemouth Road in Chandler’s Ford is erected.

This year, Selwood once again welcomes Christmas with a spectacular Christmas tree.

This handsome Christmas tree with a striking star not only arouses Christmas spirit, but also welcomes travellers. [Read more…] about Selwood: Spectacular Christmas Tree in Chandler’s Ford 2014

Tags: Bournemouth Road, Chandler's Ford, Christmas, community, history, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory

A Playground Of Concrete And Cranes

December 5, 2014 By Emma Golby-Kirk 5 Comments

In these days when the roar of motorway noise disturbs the peace of the otherwise tranquil suburb of Chandler’s Ford, it is hard to imagine the excited anticipation with which residents awaited the building of the Chandler’s Ford by-pass back in the 1960s.

In December 1967 the Otterbourne-Chandler’s Ford by-pass was opened. This six-mile stretch of dual carriageway created a fast link from Compton to Bassett. It cost [Read more…] about A Playground Of Concrete And Cranes

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, development, history, interview, local interest, nature, travel, Velmore

Fryern Arcade: Christmas Trees and Christmas Carols

December 2, 2014 By Janet Williams

Christmas isn’t too far away.

Jimmy Peters, who grows and sells Christmas trees, has once again appeared at the Fryern Arcade of Chandler’s Ford selling Christmas trees.

Jimmy Peters’ Christmas trees come from Marwell.

Last year when Jimmy sold his Christmas trees at the Fryern Arcade, he was next to the conventional D & G Hardware store. [Read more…] about Fryern Arcade: Christmas Trees and Christmas Carols

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, Fryern Arcade, interview, local businesses, local interest, Winchester Road

« Previous Page

interview

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: