The “Precinct Pals” welcomed Christmas today with mulled wine and mince pies in Chandler’s Ford.
At the Central Precinct, Christmas celebration was done differently. There was no need for Santa Claus or a horse carriage.
Of course there was no need for road closure either.
Instead, the lights were delicately [Read more…] about Central Precinct: 2014 Christmas Lights Now Switched on
By Emma Golby-Kirk
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
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
There was a time when there were no sweets. Adults used to talk about Mars Bars, Kit Kats, Gobstoppers and Acid Drops. I had no idea what these were but they sounded desirable.
During WWII there were no sweets.
If you were lucky and could put on a cough, there may be a few pence worth of cough sweets. There were like the Fishermen’s Friends you can get today but bigger. You could suck one or maybe two but no more. They were good currency in the playground, you could swap one for a cigarette card. [Read more…] about Sweets Glorious Sweets
By Reverend Tim Searle
Christmas is undoubtedly a special time of year, but it is often quite a frantic time too.
Our ‘To Do’ lists seem endless and the mountain of cards waiting to be signed grows year-on-year. We spend more, eat more, travel more, get stressed more … we even go to church more!
I begin to suffer from Christmas fatigue [Read more…] about Being Human – Christmas Message From Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford
By By Dan Brain
Nobody wants to see cuts to services we value, but I do believe the tough times can actually present us with new opportunities to bring us closer together as a community.
With the backdrop of a slow recovery from the 2008 recession and the promise of more cuts to public spending, it is easy to despair at the proposed loss of local services we have come to value [Read more…] about Our Community: What Are We Passionate About?
The first snow of winter fell in Eastleigh town centre yesterday. What, you missed it? You can’t have been in the right place at the right time.
I have to admit to being a bit of a Grinch when it comes to starting Christmas festivities too early.
If I could get away with it (and I rarely can) decorations wouldn’t go up until Christmas Eve [Read more…] about 2014 Eastleigh Christmas Lights Switch on: Snow Has Fallen
I saw Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense at The Mayflower Theatre on Tuesday 18th November 2014, its opening night.
Sadly the run is only on in Southampton for a few days but I would urge anyone who loves comedy and/or the works of P.G. Wodehouse to try to see this wonderful show. It is currently touring the UK. [Read more…] about Review: Jeeves And Wooster In Perfect Nonsense At The Mayflower Theatre
On the first of July 1968, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery visited Winchester and renamed Winchester County Secondary School for boys to Montgomery of Alamein School.
It was a significant event as it was the only Montgomery of Alamein school in the world.
Brian Green from Chandler’s Ford was a teacher at the school and witnessed the historical event. [Read more…] about Humorous Little Memory: Montgomery Of Alamein School
Yesterday I published an important historical research by Michael Burford, a former pupil of Montgomery Of Alamein School in Winchester.
When Michael Burford contacted me last week about his old school, and later told me that he has a collection of the school’s pictures and history, I knew that I have ‘struck gold’. [Read more…] about Discover Montgomery Of Alamein School In Winchester
By Michael Burford
In 2005 the website Memories of Monty was launched by Howard Blake, a former pupil of Montgomery of Alamein School In Winchester.
He had amassed material from various sources including the Headmaster himself, Dennis Beacham, who died only two years later.
In this post, you’ll see precious historical images [Read more…] about Montgomery Of Alamein School In Winchester: Astonishing Historical Pictures Revealed
In the last post, Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes shared her passion with writing. She has taken us into her Fairy Kingdom.
Allison writes on her websites, Fairytales with Bite and This World and Others.
Today, Allison shares with us her publishing journey, and gives us some publishing tips. [Read more…] about Interview Chandler’s Ford Writer Allison Symes: Part 2
I have had the pleasure of interviewing Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes.
Allison Symes loves reading and writing fairytales.
Novels are her first love, though she also flirts with short stories, occasionally has a fling with poems and now writes radio scripts.
[Read more…] about Interview Chandler’s Ford Writer Allison Symes
After Nick John’s post about the Hutments I made enquiries from a friend, Robbie Sprague, who was born and bred in Chandler’s Ford. He wrote to me as follows:
As Remembrance Sunday services were held around the UK today, this morning, people of Chandler’s Ford gathered to honour the fallen in the two World Wars and other conflicts.
People of Chandler’s Ford gathered at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial outside the parish church – St. Boniface Church, where a poignant service was held. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford: 9 November 2014
(Update: Uplifting: Chandler’s Ford 42nd Joint Charities Christmas Market 2015)
The 41st Christmas Market by Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities today was magnificent.
Many local people visit the annual Christmas Market in Chandler’s Ford every year, as it is considered the best, and the most meaningful Christmas Market. [Read more…] about Heart-warming Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities 41st Christmas Market 2014
I wonder if I could throw this topic out there in the hope that those people who have lived (or whose families have lived) in the Chandler’s Ford area for more than half a century may be able to contribute.
I was born in the 1950’s and my parents were at the time living in a development called The Hutments. [Read more…] about Do You Remember The Hutments?
So happy to report another Sold Out week last week when we staged The Ladykillers.
This classic 1958 Ealing comedy was adapted for the stage by Graham Linehan, who wrote Father Ted. His script was fabulous to deliver to our full houses each night.
It had its dark moments too when [Read more…] about Chameleons: From Ladykillers To Wizard Of Oz
I am no expert on WW1 and am therefore not in a position to provide a detailed account of the Gallipoli Campaign.
As I understand it, the idea had been to create a new front, as the war on the Western Front had become a stalemate, with troops from both sides staring at each other from a line of trenches which stretched from the English Channel to the Swiss border. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 5
On Saturday my parents and I forfeited Doctor Who (BLASPHEMY!!) to watch a local theatre performance by the Chameleon Theatre Company in Chandler’s Ford of Eastleigh.
It was a performance of The Ladykillers and, as a favour for my mum (not that I’d usually do favours for her), I’ll review it.
The story revolves around five bank robbers [Read more…] about Theatre Review: The Ladykillers By Chameleon Theatre Company
