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memory

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 1)

January 31, 2017 By Rick Goater 20 Comments

Introduction

Her name was Joan Adelaide Goater, her maiden name Adamson. She was my grandmother and she kept a journal. Some Three-hundred and fifty hard-backed exercise books covered by a cheap blue paper that fades within half an hour of being exposed to the light. I’ve read small parts of some volumes, which date from January 1st 1947 to the early-1990s. They are written at “The Ridge” – that is number 27 Hiltingbury Road, Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. It is the home where Gran and her husband Bill (William Cecil), whom I knew as “Grampa” or “Gramps”, lived and where their children Barry (my father) and Jane were brought up. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 1)

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

A Staircase for Sale

January 3, 2017 By Gopi Chandroth 13 Comments

The house of my childhood has been demolished. I am told that the staircase, complete, is for sale. It is solid teak, of excellent quality, impervious to termites. Someone said that one of us should buy it.

Buy a staircase? The million times I ran up and down those stairs, chased by my brothers and sisters, running up to complain to father, running down for dinner. If I buy that staircase, with its brass fixtures and its knurled banisters, will I hear father coming down in his wooden clogs? See the emerald green of his eyes? Will my mother give me refuge from the persecuting siblings? Will I hear the gentle shuffle of her feet? [Read more…] about A Staircase for Sale

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Tags: adventure, culture, memory, storytelling, travel, writing

Room 235

December 22, 2016 By Gopi Chandroth 7 Comments

What is special about this card key that occupies a prominent place in my museum of memories? The story may amuse you, but to me it is just one episode from a long list reinforcing my lifelong suspicion that I am the unsuspecting protagonist in a never-ending series of candid camera.

I was in South Tyneside College to attend a course on high voltage electric propulsion, in connection with an investigation. I had rung ahead to a nice hotel located by the sea and asked for a room with a sea view, but when I checked in, was told that all the rooms with sea views were taken. Nothing new there; I rarely got a hotel room with a view. [Read more…] about Room 235

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Tags: adventure, humour, memory, storytelling, travel

As Others See Us – Brexit Britain

December 7, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick 3 Comments

I spoke with a Sri Lankan Professor called Sunil about who are the Sri Lankans. The guide books say there are Sinhala, Tamils, Burghers, Moors and Veddah. How do you tell which are which? I asked.

“Did you expect Britain to vote for Brexit?” He asked. “And did you expect Donald Trump to be elected President of USA?” I told him “No” on both counts. ” [Read more…] about As Others See Us – Brexit Britain

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Tags: current affairs, history, memory, news, politics, storytelling, viewpoint

British Etiquette: a Survivor’s Guide

December 5, 2016 By Gopi Chandroth 2 Comments

Someone intending to visit the UK for the first time asked me for some tips on British etiquette. This is what I came up with.

Dear Raj,

Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet once wrote A Man’s a Man for a’ That. My advice to you therefore is – be yourself and you will be fine. However, since you ask, I will jot down some thoughts accumulated over a quarter of a century on this island. [Read more…] about British Etiquette: a Survivor’s Guide

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, creative writing, culture, humour, memory, storytelling, travel, viewpoint, writing

Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

December 2, 2016 By Roger Clark 2 Comments

I have just returned from a trip of a lifetime – a visit to an Emperor Penguin colony on the frozen Weddell Sea within the Antarctica Continent.

Yes it was a bit of a hike to get there. It took me a couple of days to travel to the gathering point in Punta Arenas, Chile. [Read more…] about Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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Tags: adventure, bereavement, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, education, fundraising, health, inspiration, memory, ovarian cancer, storytelling, travel

Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

December 2, 2016 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

We don’t normally see the name ‘Chandler’s Ford’ being mentioned in the national news (ok, the HSBC armed robbery on Bournemouth Road in September 2007 was an exception: “Two armed robbers were shot dead by police”).

However today, ‘Chandler’s Ford’ is mentioned all over the media, from The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Mirror…, and on the BBC radio programme. [Read more…] about Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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Tags: adventure, bereavement, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, education, fundraising, health, inspiration, memory, ovarian cancer, storytelling, travel

Memory: I am Sure I Knew What it Meant

November 30, 2016 By Gopi Chandroth 5 Comments

My memory is leaving me.

This morning I packed a suitcase with clothes and my Hungarian goose down pillow ready for my next business trip. The intention was to leave the suitcase in the office, so I could travel at short notice. But then I met the crossword man on the platform and started chatting to him. We were soon joined by Jan, my colleague, and the three of us talked about heirlooms and how these were more valuable than Nikon cameras and so on. Generally shooting the breeze, but enough to make me forget all about my suitcase which I had stored on the luggage rack near the doors. [Read more…] about Memory: I am Sure I Knew What it Meant

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, creative writing, humour, memory, storytelling, train station, travel, writing

Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell

November 20, 2016 By Janet Williams 7 Comments

Last Sunday I had a brief interview with Frank Damerell, the 92-year-old war veteran from Chandler’s Ford.

Frank arrived at the War Memorial on Hursley Road just after 10.30am, accompanied by his son Phil. Frank later laid a RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association) wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the war memorial at St. Boniface Church in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, history, inspiration, interview, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War Two

Chandler’s Ford Memories: Station Lane; Being a Cadet in the 1950s

November 15, 2016 By Roger White 7 Comments

I have another little memory from my childhood in Chandler’s Ford prompted by a very old photo of Station Lane in Chandler’s Ford.

I remember there was a Mills’ family. They had moved down from Bootle in Liverpool. Mr Mills was I think in the The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) during World War Two, but he was in the St. John Ambulance brigade. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Memories: Station Lane; Being a Cadet in the 1950s

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Railway Station, Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local businesses, local interest, memory, Station Lane, storytelling, train station, writing

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016

November 13, 2016 By Janet Williams 5 Comments

About two hundred people gathered at Chandler’s Ford war memorial for Remembrance Sunday service and laying of wreaths this morning.

From 10am this morning, many people started walking towards the war memorial on Hursley Road at St. Boniface church. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

Remembrance and Thanksgiving

November 4, 2016 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

November is a month of remembrance.

Remembrance services will be taking place throughout the Borough of Eastleigh on Sunday 13 November 2016.

The Royal British Legion calls on the nation to unite in commemorating Remembrance Sunday at the 2016 Cenotaph Service and Parade in Whitehall on 13 November.
[Read more…] about Remembrance and Thanksgiving

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Tags: celebrations, Chandler’s Ford community, church, community, culture, Dovetail Centre, event, good neighbours, memory, Methodist Church, religion, Remembrance Sunday, viewpoint, Winchester Road

Teachers Who Inspire

November 3, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick Leave a Comment

It is exactly 65 years since I arrived at my boarding school in Cheltenham as a new boy. A harrowing time for me for I did not know where to go and what to do. A bell rang and everyone disappeared.

I was left alone in the vast main corridor with 20 or so closed class-room doors to choose from. The head boy saw me and asked me which form I was in. I hadn’t a clue. I eventually arrived late in the English class. [Read more…] about Teachers Who Inspire

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Tags: education, memory, school, storytelling, writing

Memories of Station Lane, Chandler’s Ford

November 1, 2016 By Roger White 19 Comments

Station Lane, Chandler's Ford old photo. Stories shared by Roger White.

I saw a photo of Station Lane on this website: Chandler’s Ford Memories (Facebook). It is the bottom end of Station Lane before going onto the Railway property and yard and Station beyond.

The year is unknown but very old as the railway line that served the old brickworks at the bottom of School Lane can be seen through the gate this is way before my time. [Read more…] about Memories of Station Lane, Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local businesses, local interest, memory, Station Lane, storytelling, train station, writing

Where is “The Parade” in Chandler’s Ford? Memories from my 1950s Childhood

August 22, 2016 By Roger White 52 Comments

I remember “The Parade” of Chandler’s Ford well. It is along Bournemouth Road, coming from Southampton, just past the School Lane lights, down past the advertising hoardings. It’s the row of shops on the left before you get to Hursley Rd.

At that time, the Butchers shop where I worked was the first on the left, L.S. Horn, next was Lowmans the bakers, then I think it was the Lloyds Bank, Jenkins sweet shop, G.H.Baker & Sons, and grocers. I can’t remember the next one or maybe two shops, and at the end it was Mr Perrot’s fishmonger. [Read more…] about Where is “The Parade” in Chandler’s Ford? Memories from my 1950s Childhood

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Roads that Change Their Names in Chandler’s Ford

August 17, 2016 By Christine Clark 5 Comments

If you live in Merdon Avenue, did you know that it used to be called The Crescent? And that Twyford Road, Eastleigh, was once Winchester Road, Eastleigh? And that Consort Road, Eastleigh used to be Park Road?

I expect you have detected a pattern here. When Eastleigh became a borough that included Chandler’s Ford, it was found that some road names were duplicated between the two towns and, presumably so as not to confuse the postman, some were renamed so that there was only one of each. [Read more…] about Roads that Change Their Names in Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, Information, local interest, memory, Merdon Avenue

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

August 11, 2016 By Roger White 24 Comments

I was born in Chandler’s Ford in 1942 and lived in Station Lane until about 1972.

I remember many of the old places. We used to play in the old brickfield then go off up to Knightwood where there was a big sand pit created allegedly by a stray bomb during the war. [Read more…] about Roger White: My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, Hursley, Hursley Road, local businesses, local interest, memory, storytelling, war memorial, writing

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Rotrax Memories; Joy of Powerboat – Part 14

June 11, 2016 By Martin Napier 1 Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

Another episode from Boats and Bikes…

Cycle Time Trials – the 1970s

I found the competitive side of cycling to be just what I wanted at that time. I needed a new angle on cycling and this was it! I managed to be moderately successful and I improved my “Personal Best” times over the distances I raced – mainly 10, 25 & 50 mile events. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Rotrax Memories; Joy of Powerboat – Part 14

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Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Passions for Power Boat, Bike, and Lambretta (Part 13)

May 16, 2016 By Martin Napier Leave a Comment

growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin Napier

More favourite memories including thoughts about my boats and bikes……

1964 – The year that Radio Caroline started broadcasting! [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Passions for Power Boat, Bike, and Lambretta (Part 13)

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, cycling, Eastleigh, education, family, history, hobby, local interest, memory, powerboat, storytelling, travel

Life aboard a Tall Ship: Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Ship Lord Nelson

May 6, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick 5 Comments

I was on board Lord Nelson ship at the Seed2Sailing – the launch party for this year’s Jubilee Sailing Trust Autumn Pumpkin Festival and Scarecrow Avenue, which will take place on Saturday 8th Oct 2016.

“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;”

Sea Fever by John Masefield
[Read more…] about Life aboard a Tall Ship: Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Ship Lord Nelson

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Tags: adventure, charity, community, Eastleigh, education, event, fundraising, good neighbours, how-to, JST, memory, Southampton, storytelling, travel
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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

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Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

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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

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Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

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