We’re at the time of year when the evenings are light enough for a short walk after work or after dinner. But where to go? Somewhere that’s not too far away, doesn’t need a map to navigate around, and is more interesting than wandering round a housing estate.
How about Fleming Park?
Fleming Park? Really?
To many people, Fleming Park is synonymous with the sports centre; it’s where you go to swim, play badminton or squash [Read more…] about A Walk in the Park
Dad appears to be developing a network of entomological friends as Gran sometimes mentions that moths or larvae have been sent to him by post. For instance, on the 22nd March:
An Engrailed moth emerged in one of Barry’s breeding cages early tonight but up to the time of writing the wings had not expanded. The chrysalis was sent, among others, by an entomologist friend in the north.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 14)
There’ll be many great events in and around Chandler’s Ford from April, but some are just slightly more surprising than others:
Has anybody checked if David Dimbleby is actually free on the 8th June? #GeneralElection
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) April 18, 2017
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Events from April to June 2017
Press Release: Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
On Monday 10 April 2017 at 7.30 pm Chandler’s Ford Parish Council held an Extraordinary meeting of Full Council to discuss whether to agree to submitting the proposals for a 4-badminton court sports hall, refurbishment of the existing pavilion and removal and replacement of the first floor with a fitness room, two concessions rooms and a 40-space temporary car park at the Ashdown Road entrance for the construction period, forwards as a Planning Application to Eastleigh Borough Council for determination. [Read more…] about Proposed Hiltingbury Pavilion Sports Hall Extension
More work in the Sparrow’s Hedge garden next day, March 3rd 1948, when Gran is:
…setting out Early Midlothian potatoes for sprouting, sitting alone in the sunshine with only the sound of hens scratching round me…”
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 13)
Would you fall in love at first sight – with a house?
When my second Harriet Quigley mystery was published, blogger Geranium Cat said, in what is still my favourite review:
Not listed in the Dramatis Personae at the start of A Crowded Coffin is the Attlin family’s farmhouse, although you feel it should be there; once known as the Angel House, Locksley Farm Place dates back centuries, perhaps to a Roman villa on the same site. The author conveys the sense of the house’s age and antiquity seamlessly… and the reader is left with an impression of great solidity and warmth which permeates the whole book…’
This afternoon [February 15th 1948] saw me away to the daffodil wood at Chilworth but unfortunately several others had reached the spot also. I really only went to see how they were progressing but the place is getting so well-known that I realised if I wanted any I must pick them today in bud. They open very successfully in water but I wanted to see them open in the woods. By that time I’m afraid there will be none left so I picked a few for myself and some to send to Kingston.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 12)
Editor’s note: This post was sent to Chandler’s Ford Today by Liz Stothard (re: Dee). She grew up at the Hutments.
Could someone help Liz find out some links about her past in Chandler’s Ford please? Below is her article.
By Liz Stothard (re: Dee):
I was born in Winchester 1950 lived at the Hutments. And also I see from looking that my late Father is mentioned…he worked for Vickers and then ATC! [Read more…] about The Hutments: Could You Help Find Old Neighbours in Chandler’s Ford?
Gran writes on January 7th 1948 that a Fox had been busy in the neighbourhood:
…and last night a local smallholder was robbed of nine laying ducks. Proof of the identity of the thief lay in the discovery of three bodies with their heads bitten off.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 11)
Last Friday I watched three short comedy performances at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church performed by the MDG Players and their friends from Romsey. Unlike the previous performances I’ve seen, this was a variety of plays with different characters and plots, with different styles of comedy. [Read more…] about Review: An Evening of Entertainment with Chandler’s Ford MDG Players and Friends from Romsey
Inside the front cover: “Semper Fidelis. Remembering always, Adrian, my friend”. On November 19th Gran writes:
I went to Ampfield just after dusk for a glimpse of Princess Elizabeth as she passed through on her way to Broadlands Park, and was surprised to hear a blackbird in full song.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 10)
On October 7th 1947 Gran copies four pages of Ruskin’s positive views on the human character of the love of nature. She follows this with: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 9)
On the 21st, there is a description of the autumnal bird movements and also of the colourful shrubs around Hursley at that time of year. Spindle is Gran’s favourite shrub, the fruits “just becoming that lovely shade of rose”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 8)
Spring in Chandler’s Ford always reminds me of why we chose to move here – it’s so pretty! Dropping my children off when they were at Thornden always meant a detour along Nichol Road to see the blossom trees. [Read more…] about Spring has Sprung!
Yesterday, following recommendations on Chandler’s Ford Today, my husband and I visited this small but interesting local market held in the Age Concern hall at the top of Brownhill Road.
This market is carefully managed, with the needs of regular local stallholders in mind, and features around 12 stalls selling locally-produced food and crafts (no traders). [Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market
Gran spends August 4th 1947, at Romsey Horse Show. There is no mention of how she got there nor of her company, but they found Broadlands, where the show was held, delightful when they walked around it during the interval. And they made a visit to Pepperbox Hill that day too, returning “towards dusk as the sparrows were chattering in the hedges and the crickets chirping”.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 7)
I went to see a West End theatre production recently. But I didn’t have to travel to London or pay a small fortune for my ticket; it was at Thornden Hall and the ticket was only £15.
This was one of the National Theatre Live productions – live theatre beamed to cinemas around the country. [Read more…] about West End Theatre in our own Backyard
Gran has made a few visits to the Punchbowl area on the Petersfield Road lately, looking for orchids and other wild flowers. When describing her finds, she always uses the plants’ scientific names – but many of them are well out of date today. For instance, she finds Habenaria conopsea, which must be Fragrant orchid – a plant now recognised as three separate species, and with a different Generic name. When at the Punchbowl, she:
…resented the arrival of noisy, chattering people on motorbikes who were apparently quite unaware of the beauty of sight and sound all round them, which they had so rudely disturbed.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 6)
This afternoon I bumped into Dom Hooley, joint manager of Eastleigh Basics Bank, at the Fryern Arcade of Chandler’s Ford.
Dom told me that Waitrose rang him yesterday and said it would be donating their food to Eastleigh Basics Bank tomorrow. [Read more…] about News from the Fryern Arcade: Waitrose; Waffles and Cream
From Hampshire Constabulary – Efit released after indecent exposure in Chandler’s Ford
We have released an efit image of a man we would like to speak to in connection with an indecent exposure in Chandler’s Ford on Thursday, February 23.
[Read more…] about Hampshire Constabulary: Efit Released after Indecent Exposure in Chandler’s Ford
