In the Was Camelot Really In Chandler’s Ford? post, Chandler’s Ford published writer Richard Hardie told us about his new book.
Richard Hardie’s book Trouble With Swords, the second in his fantasy adventure series, has just been published. [Read more…] about Published: Trouble with Swords by Richard Hardie
Local people have the chance to share their views and ideas and find out more about the proposals to develop Fleming Park Leisure Centre at a series of exhibitions.
The new centre, that is planned to be complete in 2016, will include state of the art facilities and equipment with new and improved swimming pools, gym and main hall together with a range of other facilities.
[Read more…] about Fleming Park Leisure Centre Development
I sent my son to his grandparents last Thursday. Unfortunately he’ll be returning to us tomorrow. Why do grandparents only keep their ‘charming, polite, delightful’ grandchildren for just a few days?
The summer holiday has just started and we have made 4 trips on the train – to Eastleigh, Winchester, Woking, and London. I thought it’s a good idea to show you what a staycation looks like. [Read more…] about Summer Train Journeys
I moved to Chandler’s Ford 27 years ago, because at that time it was easy and quick to drive up the M3 to where I was working near London than commute down the M1. How that has changed! But then so has my job and I now spend most of my time at home as an author, or touring bookshops signing books.
Soon after moving here I became a Scout Leader [Read more…] about Was Camelot Really in Chandler’s Ford?
I expect many of you will have seen the fantastic work that has been undertaken on our war memorial over the last few weeks?
Stonemason Jon, of Blackmore and Moody has indeed done a good job. It is now possible to easily read the names of those brave men, and of course, that of Margaret Caswell, the only women whose name appears on the memorial. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 3
Have you noticed the refreshing new look of the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial? It is improving each day I see it.
Jon Tann from Blackwell and Moody Ltd in Winchester is renovating the war memorial.
In the past few weeks, you would have seen Jon kneeling, crouching, stooping by the war memorial on Hursley Road, outside St. Boniface Church. [Read more…] about Renovating Chandler’s Ford War Memorial
I was a teacher at the only school in the world called Montgomery of Alamein, in Winchester. Monty himself performed the naming ceremony.
Each year, in the summer term, I would lead a party of 12 year olds over to Normandy so that they might learn at first hand what the invasion involved. [Read more…] about Montgomery of Alamein School in Winchester
My research on the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial is progressing well. I have found out quite a lot and thought I would share some of this with you all.
My starting point has been a list complied by Martin Edwards (2006) as part of National project by the Royal British Legion to make a record of all war memorials. This list gives full christian names, number, rank, regiment and also information regarding when and where they were killed. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 2
Yesterday Niki Jenkins from The Picture Framing Shop in Chandler’s Ford left a beautiful comment on a post I wrote five months ago.
She also sent me pictures of Teddy, their lovely shop dog, who is renowned and well-cuddled in Hiltingbury.
[Read more…] about The Picture Framing Shop: Meet Teddy The Shop Dog
The Church of England church in Hursley Road, St Boniface (SO53 2FT), is one of relatively few parish churches locally that has the service of sung Evensong on most Sundays (at 6.30pm).
The Book of Common Prayer is the basis of the service, although the prayers of intercession are in modern language and concentrate on contemporary events and situations. [Read more…] about St. Boniface Church Evensong
Bishop’s Waltham Butchers will come to the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford soon.
But when? Well, the post office has to move over to the other side first, before the butcher Andrew Grover could occupy the post office’s current space next to D & G Hardware.
The problem is there has been a delay [Read more…] about Fryern Arcade: Butchers And Post Office
D & G stands for Des & Gabby, a couple who ran D & G Hardware in Canberra, capital city of Australia.
D & G later returned to Winchester and ran their independent, much-loved hardware business in St. George’s Street in Winchester for about 30 years.
In June 2006, Toby Roberts took over D & G Hardware in Winchester from 86-year-old Des. [Read more…] about D & G Hardware: from Canberra to Chandler’s Ford
Something that visitors to Britain find confusing (apparently) is our system of house numbering. You hear anecdotes such as “I was looking for number 127, so walked down the even side of the street to 126 and crossed over. But the house opposite 126 wasn’t 127 at all. It was 233 – I’d missed 127 half a mile back”.
It’s quite simple really. Buildings are numbered in sequential order, odds on one side and evens on the other. [Read more…] about Peculiar British House Numbering System
While waiting for a Planetarium show at the Winchester Science Centre with our grand-daughter, we decided to kill some time along the River Itchen.
We parked nearby the river at Itchen Stoke and were hoping to find some ducks for Lucy to feed with the remains of her packed lunch.
As it was, there were no ducks around and so [Read more…] about Swans and Cygnets on the River Itchen
I met John Lankester a few weeks ago at Hocombe Mead. He told me some exciting projects at the newly revived Eastleigh & District Local History Society.
Many of you know that John and his wife Hazel both are active members of Friends of Hocombe Mead in Chandler’s Ford, where Hazel is the Chairman. Now they are also promoting Eastleigh & District Local History Society, where Hazel is Secretary and John Treasurer. [Read more…] about Eastleigh and District Local History Society
Helenor and Rachel have both been working at the D & G Hardware store in Chandler’s Ford since the shop opened nearly 6 years ago.
D & G at the Fryern Arcade now feels much brighter with more space.
The two beautiful assistants are always helpful. For a start, they know where everything is kept. [Read more…] about Fryern Arcade D & G Hardware Store
Mr Peter Green would have turned 99 on the 8th of May 2014.
I’m sure you know about Peter Green, our local high quality furniture store in Chandler’s Ford with a 58-year history.
Well, last night I watched Eurovision with my son. Do you know the first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956? Peter Green was established in Eastleigh [Read more…] about Peter Green
I met the Fat Controller Russell again in Chandler’s Ford.
Russell and his father Chris charmed the people who rode their steam train at the Fryern Funtasia last Monday.
I spent most of my afternoon at the steam train, observing people and watching the steam train puff out its smoke and steam as it chugged along its 100-foot-long track. [Read more…] about The Myth of Thomas The Tank Engine
Update 1st Nov 2016: Closed: Stairway Bakery and Coffee Shop at Fryern Arcade
Original post (below):
Before the opening of Costa Coffee (3rd May 2014) in the Fryern Arcade yesterday, there was a large sign on the outside wall of the building.
The advertisement read: [Read more…] about Fryern Arcade Old and New
Centenary of World War One 1914 -1918
Commemorations of the Fallen of World War One will start this year and continue through the next four years until the end of 2018. It is not intended that these commemorations are in any way an attempt to glorify war but rather a way of an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by millions of people, both military and civilian. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. Can You Help?
