Chandler's Ford Today

local history

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 3

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Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Hello again. I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments from June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 3 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my recollections of hutment life. I will also share my recollections of the other families there.

Once again, if there are further memories/information people would like to share, I would love to hear from you via the comments section. It would be nice to fill in the gaps wherever possible.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

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Why I Love History

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I set a word count for my CFT posts. For this one it was vital. Why? Because I can go on at length about this topic!

Many an author loves history because history IS a story (of a nation, of individuals who changed a nation’s fate etc) and it can come into their stories too.

I also believe there is truth in the phrase if a nation forgets its history, it is destined to re-live it. I can think of several episodes in British history which are best kept to the pages of a history book!

And, of course, it is why we have Remembrance/Armistice Day. It is important to remember. We should learn the lessons of history. Sadly we so often don’t. But that’s not history’s fault. It is ours.

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Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 2

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Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Introduction

I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road Hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 2 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my family background and how we came to be at there at all.

It would be lovely if memories could be shared and if there is further information that people have, please do send in your comments. It would be nice to fill in the “gaps” especially on hutment numbers and family surnames.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

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Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

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Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit:   All images were supplied by Peter Russell

INTRODUCTION

My name is Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. I’ve been following and contributing to the main discussion thread on this website since Spring 2016 and noticed the ‘related posts’ by John Rolfe and Liz Stothard/Dee, where photos have been uploaded.

(Editor’s Note: The links to all of the previous posts on The Hutments will follow at the end of this post and throughout the series).

I’ve arranged with Janet Williams to share my posts on The Hutments here, where I can present the results of my research from 2016 onwards and, more personally, upload my family’s recollections and photos for others to share.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

Many of my findings are based directly on the clear recollections of my mother, Claudia Ruth Russell. I can no longer ask her any questions, as she sadly passed away, aged 97, in October 2018.

Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952-1
Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952

This web page is a tribute to her and my father. [Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

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Mr Kipling – Exceedingly Good Memories

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Channel 5 has recently shown the “Secrets of the Mr Kipling Factory” programme. This has triggered many people’s memories, especially those who used to work at Manor Bakeries in Eastleigh.

Our reader Jill Mayes shared her memories of Mr Kipling with us:

Watching Mr Kipling cakes. Both my parents, myself and lots of friends worked for them at Manor Bakeries at some time or other in Eastleigh. I worked off of cupcake alley and they even made my wedding cake. The test bakery cakes were lovely. My mum got a free box of cakes every Christmas until she died. 🧁🍰 exceedingly good memories.

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Pine Road Cemetery (part 1)

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A letter came into the Chandler’s Ford Today office recently asking abut the graveyard in Pine Road, near the junction with Hursley Road.  I’d never noticed this before, and neither had the editor.  “You like local history”, said the editor, “and you’ve got a long weekend coming up.  Go and find out about it”.  OK, that may not actually be how she said it, but it is how I heard it. [Read more…] about Pine Road Cemetery (part 1)

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Charles Baynham in Chandler’s Ford

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Last weekend I bought some minced pork and local eggs from Charles Baynham, our finest butchers in Chandler’s ford.

I used the minced pork to make some Chinese dumplings for the Chinese New Year (yes it’s the Year of the Pig, as I heard you asked!)

Charles Baynham has run this friendly, traditional butcher for 40 years in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Charles Baynham in Chandler’s Ford

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The Importance of Memories

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This is an appropriate topic as we approach Remembrance Day and Armistice Day and also after my review last week of The Chameleon Theatre Group’s excellent performance of Blackadder Goes Forth.

Why do we need to remember? To be grateful to those who made so many sacrifices, in too many cases the ultimate one, so we can live as we do now. To be grateful to these unknowns who gave up their fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, wives, sisters, daughters and other family so we do not have to give up ours. [Read more…] about The Importance of Memories

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As Autumn Approaches

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The acorns have started dropping off the oaks around Chandler’s Ford, almost certainly earlier than normal due to the heatwave, but for me, that is the start of autumn. I don’t mind that. As I’ve mentioned before, I like autumn. (Though I try to avoid being hit on the head by said acorns, they can come down with some force, and a number of times as I hear them hit the car roof, I’m glad the car took the impact rather than me!). [Read more…] about As Autumn Approaches

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Eastleigh Works Reunion: Friday 10th August 2018

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Do you know any former Eastleigh Works workers in the area? There is a reunion for them and they are all welcome to attend.

Here is an article by Steve Allen about the reunion: the reunion will be on Friday 10th August 2018 at the Eastleigh Railway Institute. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Works Reunion: Friday 10th August 2018

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Days Out – Fort Nelson

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Where can you see a dolphin near Portsmouth?

Well, I suppose “looking out to sea” is a possibility, but Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill is more likely.  The handles on a cannon barrel are also called dolphins – because of their resemblance to swimming dolphins arching out of the water.

Cannon Dolphin With Ring [Read more…] about Days Out – Fort Nelson

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Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong Part 2 – Friends and Neighbours

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Edited by Allison Symes

Hello again. I am Graham McLean, aged 78 years and a long retired former Chartered Surveyor who has spent much of his adult life in the Far East and Canada but I lived in Chandler’s Ford.

My posts are my attempt to share some memories, which I hope trigger other memories in some of you.  My first post last week shared some of my wartime memories.  This week’s post shares some memories of friends and neighbours. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong Part 2 – Friends and Neighbours

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Re-opening of the Dovetail Centre: to Engage and Share, and Fight Loneliness

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Yesterday morning, a few of us from Chandler’s Ford Today attended the unique ribbon-less re-opening ceremony of the Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church. It was a warm and friendly place as usual, buzzing with excitement.

It was certainly a day of celebration, and also a day of reflection on the problem of loneliness in our community, and how we could all reach out to support one another. [Read more…] about Re-opening of the Dovetail Centre: to Engage and Share, and Fight Loneliness

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Velmore Centre: The Big Event – 20th August to 3 September 2017

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Velmore Church is launching a fortnight of events from Sunday 20th August to Sunday 3rd September 2017, at Velmore Centre.

The Big Event (actually it’s a series of interesting events) seems comprehensive, covering music, craft, talks, African experience, holiday club, family fun day, magic show and others. The location is: Velmore Centre, Falkland Road SO53 3GY Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Velmore Centre: The Big Event – 20th August to 3 September 2017

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Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017

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AGINCOURT MEDIEVAL WEEKEND: JULY 15TH AND 16TH 2017

Why am I interested in history? I suppose it is because I love stories of all kinds and history in many ways is the ultimate tale.

When all is said and done, history reveals, only too clearly at times, who we are, where we came from, what horrible mistakes we’ve made in the past (and sometimes what things we did right!). [Read more…] about Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017

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Vital History by Allison Symes

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Henry Ford came up with what, for me, is one of the most annoying and untrue statements of all time when he claimed that “history is bunk”. Err… definitely not.

(And while I know he was focusing on what mattered to him, the there and then as he had obvious reasons for wanting to focus on the progress his cars were making, I still think this statement is rubbish, as recalling history should never mean not making progress. I really can’t fathom his reasoning here.). History is far too important to just be dismissed. [Read more…] about Vital History by Allison Symes

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