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local interest

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 175)

September 19, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

A canal trip; the Falklands Fallen – remembered; a visit to Swithun Wells School; Sherborne House – 50 years old; woodworm in the furniture; orchids on Shawford Down; Gran is sent flying; farewell Josie; Gran flies a kite, and Grampa – not well.

Gran has joined several coach tours, mainly to the West Country, in recent months, organised through her Club.  She enjoys noting the passing scenery and wayside flowers but is often frustrated by stops for refreshments and shopping.  She usually wanders off on her own at these times.

On June 12th 1985 there is a half-day outing into Berkshire, which includes a canal trip:

We went over a level crossing towards Hampstead Marshall where the Kennet and Avon Canal was our stopping area… Our barge, the Avon, was awaiting us and after we embarked, I learnt that it was purpose-built for these excursions but on the traditional narrow-boat principle though now is a motor barge and not horse-drawn as originally… The windows were large with seats all round and a little shop and bar at one end.  I bought a little ribbon plate for Ruth, a thimble with our barge on it for Sue, a booklet, “On the Kennet and Avon” and a biro for myself.

Gran bought a postcard depicting the Avon.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 175)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 174)

September 5, 2021 By Rick Goater 3 Comments

Rob wins a chess tournament; “nobody wants to go away with an old woman”; observations on a Rook; a last flower painting?; a lovely day; an outing with Ruth; a talk by Roy Lancaster; a memory of Italy; “life is difficult just now”, and the Mayor tells Gran she’s been busy.

March 2nd 1985 is not a pleasant day for Gran: there is some domestic conflict and she writes:

After an unpleasant morning of continual complaints, I spent the afternoon in my room, wishing to be alone in tranquil and quiet surroundings.  I mostly read Arthur Marshall’s book. “Life’s Rich Pageant” and had a short nap.  This evening more reading and listening to the radio and, later I stuck in today’s cutting about Julian.

The cutting is from The Daily Telegraph concerning Julian’s decision not to run in the National Cross Country Championships, owing to a heavy cold. But the following day, after the race is run, she is pleased to read in The Sunday Telgraph that the first eight home in yesterday’s National Cross Country have been chosen for the England team, “plus Julian Goater who has been so consistent always”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 174)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 173)

August 29, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

A Club Christmas dinner; “disgusting behaviour” by Connors; Christmas with the neighbours; a “superb boy soloist”; Adrian -remembered; bitter weather; radiotherapy for a fortnight; red and black Adders; along the River; a Tristan cardigan, and some antiques.

It is December 14th 1984, “My driver”, Gran writes:

… called for me at 10.15 this morning to take me to hospital again to have part of the spot cut out for analysis… the operation, under local anaesthetic, did not take too long and I was home by 12.20.  I had taken ham rolls in case I was much later, but had one after soup at home.  I am perfectly well and am to see Dr Charlewood on Wednesday or Thursday to have the stitches out.

Gran and some other Club members are picked up by coach in Kingsway for transporting to their Christmas dinner on the 15th, and Gran has clearly managed to produce the required floral table decorations, asked for at short notice.  She writes:

… as I stood with the table decorations, a lady came and asked me if they were for sale, and another, who lives over the wine shop, and knows Ruth, said she had seen a copy of my “Te Deum”, [recently read out at one of her Club meetings] which Mrs Burton has and she wanted to know if she might read it to a prayer meeting to which she goes.  I gave her permission…

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 173)

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How do you Define Chandler’s Ford? What does Chandler’s Ford mean to you?

August 24, 2021 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

If you use Wikipedia today (24.07.3021), you may find the Featured Article today looks rather familiar:

Chandler's Ford featured in Wikipedia 24.08.2021 (screenshot 24.08.2021)
Chandler’s Ford featured in Wikipedia 24.08.2021 (screenshot 24.08.2021)

“The Chandler’s Ford shooting was an attempted robbery on 13 September 2007 in which two men were shot dead by officers of London’s Metropolitan Police while robbing a cash-in-transit van. The Met had been tracking a gang who had stolen an estimated £500,000 from security vans and learned that the gang intended to rob the HSBC bank in Chandler’s Ford.”

Not sure how often Chandler’s Ford gets the global attention like today.

However we don’t think the community is proud to be defined by “The Chandler’s Ford Shooting”. [Read more…] about How do you Define Chandler’s Ford? What does Chandler’s Ford mean to you?

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Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, Chandler’s Ford community, local businesses, local interest, news, Winchester Road

Andy’s Story – Part 2 – Stories from Beechcroft

August 23, 2021 By Andy Vining 5 Comments

Photo by Andy Vining

Hello again, thank you for all the lovely compliments I received for my first Chapter.

This is not Chapter 2 as promised but more Part 1: Andy’s Story – Part 1: Early Years, Hiltonbury Farm, and… My Old Morris as I have just returned from a visit to Devon where my older sisters Jennifer and Janet live and in conversations with them I have more to add to part 1.

My sisters’ memories about our Grandparents

My Father’s Mother died quite young. Jennifer thinks she died in the Sanatorium, a TB hospital in Chandler’s Ford just off Cuckoo Bushes Lane. It has been knocked down and the area is all houses now.

My Father’s Father was the gardener at Hiltonbury and my Father’s mother married him and it was terrible to marry beneath her. It seems that all the family except her Brother George Beattie disowned her but Uncle George was very kind to her.

The Beattie Family outside Hiltonbury
The Beattie Family outside Hiltonbury

Uncle George was the Farmer at Hiltonbury, who took my Father in after both my Father’s parents died and brought him up as his own son, sending him to Peter Symonds School in Winchester.

What an achievement! Cycling 15 miles a day for school.

Father used to ride there every day on his bike all the way from Chandler’s Ford to school, and that’s about seven and a half miles. I agreed there was no traffic in those days but all the same fifteen miles a day and the roads were not up to much either.

I presume he would cycle up Hursley Road to The Pound, go right through Hursley, past his Cousin’s Norman Coopers place – North End Farm,  and along through Standon to Winchester, then Chilbolton Avenue to Bereweeke Road and so to College.

What an achievement, rain and shine, hot and cold, along, not roads as we know them today but probably tracks some of the way. Amazing. You would not get the youth of today doing that. It’s even a long way to go in a car, probably take as long today with all the traffic as well!

Now back to Cantley in Wokingham where I was born, there are a couple of fuzzy photographs of me in a pram and sitting on the lawn having something to eat, also a photograph of Mr Watson who was the owner of the farm where my Father was the bailiff / manager.

Me aged 2 - Andy Vining
Me aged 2 – Andy Vining

[Read more…] about Andy’s Story – Part 2 – Stories from Beechcroft

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Our River, the Monks Brook

August 12, 2021 By Christine Clark 7 Comments

Monks Brook

We have two beautiful rivers in south Hampshire, the Test and the Itchen. Both chalk streams, in their upper reaches these are noted for their water quality. In fact, due to the chalk aquafer on the Itchen, which has excellent storage and filtration, we get our water supply from this river.

But here in Chandler’s Ford we know of another, less well-known river, the Monks Brook. ‘Fordians see it popping up here and there, through Hiltingbury Lakes, at the bottom of people’s gardens, under roads: sometimes pretty as in Flexford Reserve, sometimes business-like as it rushes down a manmade culvert under Hursley Road.

Monks Brook
Monks Brook

[Read more…] about Our River, the Monks Brook

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 172)

August 8, 2021 By Rick Goater 5 Comments

Pacified by stamps; transport to Church – briefly; Lou Meadon is 89; Jane – “back in the bushes” after some successful golf; in demand for flower arranging; Granny Pickford is 98; Barbara Hillier’s book – published; grave news of Tommy; whist drives – surprisingly stressful; an uplifting “God bless you”; the Kingston girls do well, and an appointment at the “South Hants”.

Book 215

At home at The Ridge on September 29th 1984, Gran does not hear the early arrival of the postman and coming downstairs finds:

… there was a Post Office card on the mat, saying that it had not been possible to deliver a registered package and it must be signed for and collected from the Post Office in Eastleigh.  So I had to go there this morning but I was pacified when I found that it was stamps and coloured postcards from Tristan da Cunha.  The stamps were featuring the constellations in “the night sky at Tristan da Cunha” and, as always, are very attractive.  Also mentioned in the bulletin was the cottage craft of knitting garments from native Tristan wool, and those collecting the stamps are offered the chance of purchasing them.  I have ordered a cardigan but it will be months before it comes.  There was a Speckled Wood flying about in the sunshine…

The Tristan stamps, franked and un-franked – “as always, very attractive”.

Gran has not forgotten the presumed theft of her painting of an Early Spider Orchid while it was on show a few years ago, but she still remains pleased to be able to exhibit some of her work in order to raise money.  On October 2nd:

In the Parish Magazine (Compton) today there was an appeal for funds for urgent repairs to the 800 year old Church, so I phoned Mr Ovenden to ask if he thought enough parishioners would be interested in seeing my paintings.  I explained there would be some difficulty as, since one was stolen when I lent them out some time ago, Barry has said they must not go out of the house.   Mr Ovenden thought it a splendid idea and he agreed to give some thought to it.  He is going to pick me up or arrange for someone else to, for the Family Service in Church at 10 a.m. on Sunday and once monthly in future.  I shall feel better if I can go.

And a few days later:

… Mr and Mrs Paris, from Shawford, kindly called and said they would gladly call for me at 10 o’clock on Sunday morning to take me to Church and bring me home again.  Mr Paris has recently retired from the Solicitors Paris, Smith and Randal, who looked after Aunt Em’s affairs.  A very nice couple indeed..

In the “Echo” was a picture of Lou [Meadon], unrecognisable at 89 and dressed in an embroidered blouse and now living at Fleming House Home.  After having known her always in a black costume and hat, summer and winter, she now looked to be another person.  I wrote to Barry and Jane Elizabeth and sent this cutting…

Lou Meadon – seemingly known to everybody and well-remembered in Chandler’s Ford.  Image courtesy of Eastleigh History.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 172)

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Andy’s Story – Part 1: Early Years, Hiltonbury Farm, and… My Old Morris

August 6, 2021 By Andy Vining 7 Comments

A similar car to the old Morris

Having been asked to write some articles for Chandler’s Ford Today I thought for ages where to start and what to tell.

My Mother and Father had got married in around 1938 and my sister Jennifer was born on the 6th of Feb 1939, followed in 1941 by Janet, then the son that they craved (or so I was informed) dutifully arrived on 6th April 1943. I am told there were air raids while in the nursing home and I was shoved under the bed in a basket a number of times it seems.

Mum and Dad's wedding Circa 1938 (Photo by Andy Vining)
Mum and Dad’s wedding Circa 1938 (Photo by Andy Vining)

Not that I am into the stars but it reports that people who are born on the 6th of April in 1943 have an astrological sign of Aries ♈. Aries’ life pursuit is the thrill of the moment and a secret desire to lead the way for others. People of this zodiac sign like taking on leadership roles, physical challenges, individual sports and dislike inactivity, delays, and work that does not use one’s talents. The strengths of this sign are: courageous, determined, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, honest, passionate. OK on most of that but not so sure about the physical challenges bit!! [Read more…] about Andy’s Story – Part 1: Early Years, Hiltonbury Farm, and… My Old Morris

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 171)

August 1, 2021 By Rick Goater 4 Comments

The highs and lows of being a Gran; Lady Wimbledon Champions; a Club holiday in Buxton; Prince Andrew -“a serious young man”; worries about Geoff; 80th birthday celebrations; a rapt silence as Gran reads; recollections passed to the Hilliers; good and bad behaviour at the Olympics; another Royal Prince is born, and a pleasant surprise at the VG.

Book 213

June 23rd 1984 Gran calls “A day of extreme emotions, starting most pleasurably and ending in great disappointment.”

Barry phoned and the Family has been making great efforts for my eightieth birthday celebrations and they can all manage the Monday 23rd July, the day after (except Andrew, who will be in Norway), and Julian and Sue want it at their house, Sue specially wanting to do the catering.  Barry and Jane go to France at 6 o’clock the next morning and will stay at Farnham on the Monday night and no-one will actually be here on my birthday.  That will not matter…

… but it was athletics that caused my heartache and disappointment.  Julian did run, but the 10,000 metres started late and only the early laps were shown and the introducer said the result would be given on the News at 5.55.  I became more and more nervous and was shattered when it was announced that Julian again ran third and did not qualify for the Olympic Games.  This is the second time he has missed out… I watched Val Doonigan’s [sic] show without my usual enthusiasm and enjoyment and have retired sick at heart for Julian.

Gran was an avid watcher of Val Doonican on television, though she never spelled his name correctly.  She preferred him to most of his guests. Image courtesy of Alwyn Ladell via Flickr.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 171)

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Wildflowers

July 30, 2021 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

Image Credit:  Photos of the wildflower meadow at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Am glad to say that, after a late start, the wildflower meadow is back at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. There is a surfeit of yellow this year. One year the dominant colour was white. I prefer white as a backdrop to show more colourful flowers off with but that’s probably just me.

Now I must admit I’m not the world’s best gardener but I do know what I like when I see it when it comes to flowers. The wildflower meadow here has been a delight and all credit to those who have made this happen so thank you all.

[Read more…] about Wildflowers

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 170)

July 11, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

Grateful memories of Adrian; the death of a favourite author; belated advice for Chris Evert; Julian bids again for the Olympics; Rick, with birds, on the telly; Andy – a scholarship to Oslo; a great day in East Anglia; signs of age; enchanted by a little girl at the Lake; a kind response to a donation; the “guttersnipe”, John McEnroe; Gran meets Zola Budd, and has a fall.

Book 210

It is 1984 and on January 12th, that most significant day in Gran’s life, she writes:

Julian is thirty-one today and I wish him very many happy returns of his birthday and a long life of happiness and success.

It is also thirty-seven years today since you, Adrian, my dear, passed out of this life and left me desolate but with grateful and happy memories and you have been in “my” life for ever since. You increased my love of nature and inspired me to paint the wild flowers that brought us together in spirit though we never met in person.  Julian is very special to me, not only because he was my first grandchild but because he came on the sixth anniversary of your passing and eased the pain in my heart…  It has been a lovely sunny day…

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 170)

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Dovetail Café at the Methodist Church: now open 9.30 to 12noon Tuesday to Friday and from 10-12noon on Saturdays

June 28, 2021 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

Dovetail Centre at the Chandler's Ford Methodist Church is an accessible, open community centre.

Updated 11.12.2021

The Dovetail Café at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church is now open 9.30 to 12noon Tuesday to Friday and from 10-12noon on Saturdays.

I was there last Saturday and really felt life has started to feel a bit ‘normal’.

 

 

Dovetail Cafe at the Methodist Church in Chandler's Ford
Dovetail Cafe at the Methodist Church in Chandler’s Ford

What has changed?

[Read more…] about Dovetail Café at the Methodist Church: now open 9.30 to 12noon Tuesday to Friday and from 10-12noon on Saturdays

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Suki Asian Shop Open – Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford

June 26, 2021 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Suki Asian Store in Chandler's Ford has just opened.

Today I visited the newly opened Suki Asian Shop on Winchester Road. I’m quite impressed.

Suki Asian Store in Chandler's Ford has just opened.
Suki Asian Shop in Chandler’s Ford has just opened.
Suki Asian Store, Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford.
Suki Asian Store, Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford.

I asked the young lady Annabelle what ‘Suki’ meant. She told me it meant ‘customers’ in the Philippines. She told me her mum Jemelle ran the shop. [Read more…] about Suki Asian Shop Open – Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 169)

June 13, 2021 By Rick Goater 1 Comment

Still painting flowers; too much Ovett and Coe; both, acceptable and dull entertainments at the Club; disappointment at Symond’s Yat; the Kingston girls do well; Mrs Holley needs a shove; a new great grand-daughter; depressed by local developments, and the sad death of Barbara Smith.

Book 207

Gran is shopping on July 20th 1983:

This afternoon I went to Winchester… and whilst there looked for my art shop, which had disappeared.  On enquiring for materials elsewhere, I was told that there was an art shop in the Romsey Road, and here was able to get a tube of Sap Green paint and two no. 2 sable brushes.  The lady in charge told me that the other shop had gone bankrupt five years ago.

Sap Green paint.  How many tubes did Gran get through during her painting of about 700 flowers?  Image by Ben via Flickr.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 169)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 168)

May 30, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

Age Concern chaos; lucky Geoff; a sporting gesture; a good run in Oslo; trouble with bees; troops return; the Fowlers celebrate; peace and quiet at St Cross; Sherborne House School – 50 years old; orchids at Farley Mount; an inscription from 1890, and Spotted Flycatcher – still using the garden.

On Mid-summer’s Day 1982, Gran joins a coach trip to Mottisfont Abbey.  She is not usually one to complain, but the day leaves a lot to be desired in her view, even though she is delighted to find a Southern Marsh Orchid in flower on a grassy pathside when she manages to escape the crowds.  “The outing had been arranged”, she says:

… by Hampshire Age Concern and it was chaotic from the start, far too many old folk having been encouraged to go.  The coaches were not allowed to go into the Abbey car park, so that the approach road was completely blocked by the coaches, and the leading one had to disembark its passengers before the others in the queue could reach that point…  We were received at the Abbey grounds by the blaring of a ghastly hurdy-gurdy but after viewing the small part of the Abbey open to the public, I made for the river.

Mottisfont Abbey.  Gran preferred the riverside. Image by Neil Howard via Flickr.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 168)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 167)

May 16, 2021 By Rick Goater 1 Comment

Lesser Whitefronts and a visit to The Studio; Cambridge – to be rejected; enjoying Torville and Dean; infuriated by the milkman; Eric Ashby and his “little green van”; a long walk; “Jenny’s beastly little cat”; next door has an intruder; “Mrs Hawkeye”, and the end of the Falkland Islands conflict.

A cloudy and mild day and one of great excitement, dawns for Gran on February 6th 1982, when Barry drives her to the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, arriving at Rick’s home there, Moorend Farm Cottage, in time for breakfast with him, Beverly and young Tom. 

Several pages of the journal are dedicated to this visit, Gran enjoying special treatment, in particular access to bird-watching hides normally unavailable to the general public. 

She records a fine array of wild waterfowl including, within a flock of 4500 White-fronted Geese, the Bean Geese that had not impressed Princess Diana earlier in the winter, and also two rare Lesser White-fronted Geese, new to her, “… from a small hide to which Ricky took us, and, when he went to fetch some other visitors who particularly wanted to see them, I came away to make room for them…”, she writes.

A Lesser White-fronted Goose – an eastern species, very rare in the U.K. and often the main goal for winter bird-watchers at Slimbridge, just about the only place in the UK where there was a chance to find these birds in those days.  Note chubby face, golden eye-ring, dainty pink bill and extensive white on the forehead – all good characteristics.  Image by Stefan Berndtsson via Flickr.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 167)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 166)

May 9, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

Goater and Rono battle it out; a “magnificent doll” – not selected;  a day at Slimbridge; the rarest bird Gran ever saw; a “nice experience for Rick”; Christmas with the neighbours; Gran – path-beater; mittens for the VG manager, and Gran’s “little Wood Duck”.

The two families, Barry’s and Jane’s, depart Chandler’s Ford after the celebrations for Grampa’s 80th and Gran is left feeling lonely.  She says on August 25th 1981, just after the Brenans have left, “I dashed up to my whist drive, missing only the first hand and received a great welcome.  I did not want to be at home with all the family gone”.  However, Barry returns that evening, she says:

… to do some high house painting outside for us tomorrow and lured me down to the New Forest for some moth-hunting.  I was already very tired but I would never refuse such a chance so packed up some supper and left at 7.15.

Mother and son have a fairly unsuccessful time “sugaring” oak trees with treacle at Tantany Wood, attracting few moths and they return home by 10.30.  Gran, as usual, puts out food for the Hedgehog last thing, “after which”, she writes, “I tumbled, exhausted but soul-satisfied, into bed!”

House-painting is delayed until the afternoon of the following day.  Gran admits that, “Though tired, but unwilling to admit it, I accepted Barry’s offer for me to go along the river this morning and it was very beautiful, very warm, and the water clear”.  They also spend a brief time at Shawford Down looking without success for Chalkhill Blues, and Gran notes, “… the area is now so overgrown with coarse grass, the little downland foodplants have no chance”.

Shawford Down – no longer suitable for Chalkhill Blues.  Image by Lucy Haydon via Flickr.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 166)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 165)

May 2, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

“Rude” Tracy and “insufferable” McEnroe; a First Day Cover to treasure; The Black and White Minstrels – too loud; Joan Spurgin’s “boyfriend”; Mother’s dress; gifts on her 77th birthday; a Royal Wedding; questioned by the Police, and  Bill’s 80th.

Gran writes on June 20th 1981:  “I finished knitting the waistcoat, ironed the sixty-year old dress of Mother’s which I washed this morning and hope to wear for the Club’s Prince of Wales Party…”

June 24th:

The tour of Israel for the Lancashire Schools Symphony Orchestra has been cancelled owing to the unsettled situation there but the authorities are trying to fix up one in Switzerland instead.  Naturally Katie and Andy are disappointed but I think it is a wise decision.

The Championships at Wimbledon, as ever, provide Gran with interest in June and July, and, also as usual, she passes comment on the behaviour of some of the players.  So, on June 29th, when the number seven seed, Pam Schriver, defeats the number three seed, Tracy Austin, she says of the latter, “… as expected after her rude outburst to the Umpire in an earlier match, [she] was not a gracious loser, but Pam played bravely and deserved to win”.

July 1st:

Post brought my butterfly First Day Cover signed by Peter Scott, which will be amongst my treasures.  This afternoon I walked quickly up to the Club to join the coach for the drive through the New Forest to Bournemouth to see a performance of the Black and White Minstrels at the Pavilion.

To be found amongst Gran’s treasures.  Image courtesy of Andy Brenan.
Gran had received this one earlier. Image courtesy of Andy Brenan.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 165)

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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 164)

April 25, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

Wild daffodils damaged; “stupid” in her old age; nostalgia for lost friends; family head boys; Sherborne House School; Easter at Compton Church; Early Spiders at Durleston; a fabulous day in the Forest; a Cornish Squacco Heron; Geoff – the king of whist, and thankful memories of Adrian.

March 23rd 1981 begins badly for Gran when some of her treasured flowers are damaged.  She writes:

On going to the Post Office, I was distressed to see that some devil, human or dog, had torn off a lot of the wild Daffodils on our outside bank.  I brought in those with any stem and put them in a bowl but there were many heads on the ground with no stem at all.

Small signs of the effect of Gran’s increasing age are beginning to creep into her writings these days.  Her penmanship is still almost immaculate; just the occasional page with slightly wayward writing, and spaces left unfilled where she has forgotten the scientific name of a plant, or the surname of an acquaintance.  Sometimes she recognises the effect on her of the advancing years.  So, two days later, she says, and not for the first time, “I am getting very stupid in my old age!”  This because, she relates on the 25th:

New stamps for the year of the Disabled were issued today and I bought my usual, sending off one First Day Cover, but when I later went to stick in my mint set I found I had lost or mislaid them.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 164)

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Today, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Joan Adamson, Joan Adelaide Goater, Julian Goater, local interest, memory, nature, writing

Previous St. George’s Day Parades in Chandler’s Ford – Video and Photos

April 24, 2021 By SO53 News 1 Comment

14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band - St George's Day 2017

Did you remember or celebrate St. George’s Day on the 23rd of April?

This is a video with some footage in 2017 showing the St. George’s Day parade, by the magnificent 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” Band.

This video features the band’s second and third parades of the day in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford.

14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band - St George's Day 2017
14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band – St. George’s Day 2017

[Read more…] about Previous St. George’s Day Parades in Chandler’s Ford – Video and Photos

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road
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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

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