memory

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle! (Part 5)

July 13, 2015 By Martin Napier 10 Comments

Herewith another saga……

While I was attending North End Secondary School, I became interested in cycling, not just as a means of transport, but as a sport and pastime.

I was pretty useless at conventional sports like football and cricket, so a chance discussion with another paper boy, introduced me to the Southampton group of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC). This was and still is, a National & International club, with local “Sections” based around the country. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle! (Part 5)

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

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: North End School (Part 4)

July 6, 2015 By Martin Napier 16 Comments

Continuation of my memories of North End School in Eastleigh.

I recently met up with one of my boyhood friends whom I have kept in touch with ever since.

We met over a coffee recently, and agreed that we must have caused our teachers a great deal of anguish.

Youngsters quickly detect a weakness in others. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: North End School (Part 4)

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, family, history, local interest, memory, North End School, storytelling

My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 1)

July 1, 2015 By Doug Clews 15 Comments

About the writer: Doug Clews lived in Chandler’s Ford between 1938 and 1966. Now living in Perth, Western Australia, Doug shares his fascinating childhood memories of Chandler’s Ford with us.

At age 5 at the outbreak of WW2, I did not have anything to compare life and standards of living with, so the War, as I remember it, did not seem to be such a hardship for us, as it was for many, many, thousands of other people in England.

So many of them lost loved ones, their homes, their possessions, and in many cases, their dignity. [Read more…] about My Memories of ‘The War Years’ in Chandler’s Ford: 1939 – 1945 (Part 1)

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, history, local interest, memory, storytelling, World War Two

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)

June 29, 2015 By Martin Napier 6 Comments

Before I relate more of my life at North End Secondary School, I might regale you with some of the other events and things happening in the area back in the late 1950s and into the 1960s.

The area at the bottom of Hursley Road, where the Central Precinct is now, was somewhat different then.

The precinct was built in the 60s, [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: The Central Precinct; Bonfire Night (Part 3)

Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, family, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, North End School, storytelling, Winchester Road

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Paper Boy; North End School (Part 2)

June 22, 2015 By Martin Napier 23 Comments

I grew up in Chandler’s Ford in the 1950s and 1960s.

When I was about 12 years old, I started my first (part-time) job.

This was as a Saturday van-boy for Mr Smith, a greengrocer, who had a shop opposite “The Hut” on Bournemouth Road. (not to be confused with Mr Smith who had a grocers shop in Hursley Road, opposite the Railway Station.) [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Paper Boy; North End School (Part 2)

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, education, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, history, Hursley Road, Kings Road, Kings Road Infant School, local interest, memory, Merdon School, North End School, storytelling

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s (Part 1)

June 15, 2015 By Martin Napier 31 Comments

I was born, not in Chandler’s Ford, but in Tooting, South London, in 1947.

My father came from Lancashire, and my mother from Tooting.

We lived in Streatham, a mile or two from Tooting, but just before my second birthday, my mother died from influenza. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s (Part 1)

Brides in The Aisles for Countess Mountbatten Hospice

May 13, 2015 By Cecily Casey 2 Comments

Countess Mountbatten Hospice Charity “Brides in the Aisles 2015” event was held at the Haskins Garden Centre on Sunday 10th May 2015.

It was the CMHC’s second attempt at a Guinness World Record for the number of “brides” in one place.

For the purpose of the record attempt “bride” equals wedding dress and head dress – i.e. veil, tiara, fascinator or similar. [Read more…] about Brides in The Aisles for Countess Mountbatten Hospice

Tags: Chandler's Ford, charity, community, event, fundraising, good neighbours, memory, storytelling

Do You Remember…The Precinct Gift Centre?

May 4, 2015 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

This is a new Do you Remember series. You’re invited to share your fond memories of Chandler’s Ford.

Is there a particular shop, a person, or a service that you remember and want to share?

Today I start off this series with my favourite gift shop, The Precinct Gift Centre, which closed in February 2006.

The Precinct Gift Centre was a precious gift shop at the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Do You Remember…The Precinct Gift Centre?

Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, community, family, good neighbours, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory

A Hero of Trees – Richard St. Barbe Baker

April 6, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 6 Comments

One hundred years ago, on the battlefields of Flanders, lay a young officer of the Royal Horse Artillery. He was wounded, presumed dead.

Twice more during WWI he was wounded and recovered. He was awarded the Military Cross.

After the war he was able to pursue his dream and study forestry at Cambridge. [Read more…] about A Hero of Trees – Richard St. Barbe Baker

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Eastleigh, education, history, memory, nature

Comedy Review: Worth a Fortune by MDG Players

March 28, 2015 By Janet Williams 5 Comments

Chandler’s Ford MDG Players successfully performed yet another comedy, Worth a Fortune, to a packed audience at the Methodist Church, from 26 – 28 March 2015. My son and I watched it last night and we were hugely impressed.

Hiltingbury resident Tom Whyte sent me his review of the comedy Worth a Fortune:

“With my wife and a couple of friends went to see the production of Worth a Fortune performed, to a packed house, by the MDG Players at the Methodist church in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Comedy Review: Worth a Fortune by MDG Players

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, entertainment, event, local interest, MDG Players, memory, Methodist Church, social, theatre, Winchester Road

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park: Can You Help?

March 27, 2015 By Dave Key 39 Comments

About the author: Dave Key is the voluntary archivist and historian at Hursley Park. He is trying to locate as many ex-Supermariners, or their relatives, as possible in order to record their stories. Could you help?

In September 1940 the Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Woolston & Itchen workshops were bombed, forcing the complete dispersal of Spitfire production around the south of England (principally Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire). [Read more…] about History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park: Can You Help?

Tags: architecture, community, culture, history, Hursley, local interest, memory, storytelling

The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade

March 12, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 12 Comments

People blog about, talk about, write about and visit Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford so there must be something good about it.

Shortly after Fryern was opened in 1967, Ian Nairn, an architectural journalist wrote in the Observer (October 8th 1967) about Fryern and compared it with a similar development, the Fairwater Centre, in Cwmbran, South Wales. [Read more…] about The Good and the Bad of Fryern Arcade

Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Library, community, discussion, Fryern Arcade, history, local businesses, local interest, memory, post office, review, Winchester Road

Have Your Say: Your View about Chandler’s Ford Fryern Arcade

March 7, 2015 By Janet Williams 12 Comments

The joy of running Chandler’s Ford Today is that I get to know more people in the community.

We all want to find out about our community. We contribute to the discussions, and help each other research local history.

Chandler’s Ford resident Teresa Buckley recently contacted me as she needs to find out your views on the Fryern Arcade. [Read more…] about Have Your Say: Your View about Chandler’s Ford Fryern Arcade

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, discussion, Fryern Arcade, history, local businesses, local interest, memory, post office, Winchester Road

Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

March 3, 2015 By Janet Williams 15 Comments

Last Saturday (28th February 2015), Chandler’s Ford historian Barbara Hillier shared a poignant story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier, who died on the 7th of October 1916 in action in France, aged only 30.

Barbara’s storytelling was linked with a unique memorial plaque, which was once lost, but was never forgotten.

It was a story about a conscientious objector who later changed his mind, his love for his family, [Read more…] about Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

Tags: Barbara Hillier, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Dovetail Centre, education, event, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Methodist Church, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War One

March 2015 Highlight: Comedy Worth a Fortune by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

February 27, 2015 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

You may not believe this but March is approaching.

In Chandler’s Ford, the highlight for March will be Worth a Fortune, a farcical comedy by Frances A Lewis, performed by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players.

Chandler’s Ford MDG Players will perform Worth a Fortune from Thursday to Saturday, 26th – 28th March 2015 at 7.30pm, [Read more…] about March 2015 Highlight: Comedy Worth a Fortune by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, entertainment, event, local interest, MDG Players, memory, Methodist Church, social, theatre, Winchester Road

In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier

February 25, 2015 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

On the 7th of October 1916, 30-year-old Wilfred Herbert Hillier from Chandler’s Ford was killed in action in France. There was no known grave.

You’ll find Wilfred Herbert Hillier’s name on Chandler’s Ford War Memorial.

This post tells you the story of a lost and found plaque for Wilfred Herbert Hillier, [Read more…] about In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier

My Poignant Visit to Auschwitz 30 Years Ago

January 26, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

Some 30 years ago I found myself in Krakow, Poland, alone in a communist country with contact phone numbers that did not work and meet and greet arrangements that had gone wrong.

I had a day to fill and looked at the hotel tours of castles, lakes, mountains, ski centres, pretty villages or Auschwitz.

Auschwitz? Was that really a tourist attraction? Should I go there?

Tags: education, history, memory, politics, storytelling, travel, viewpoint, war memorial, writing

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

January 21, 2015 By Andy Vining 19 Comments

A few days ago my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting up with Janet Williams and her husband at the Hiltonbury Pub, my old home, and we discussed the way Chandler’s Ford had grown over the years.

In the entrance hall of the pub there is a photograph of Hiltonbury taken from the air in about 1974 and Janet suggested that I took a photograph of it and put it on the blog with some descriptions of some of the buildings in the photographs so here goes. [Read more…] about History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse

Tags: architecture, Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, culture, education, family, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, history, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 4 of 4)

December 27, 2014 By Brian Green 1 Comment

This will be the last of my ramblings about what I felt on and after my various visits to Israel.

Firstly, I would like to consider my sole visit to the Upper Room, scene of the Last Supper.

This was something which I had approached with considerable anticipation. Unfortunately, I was not appreciative of what seemed more like a nondescript block of flats, with the upstairs room entered via a suspended walkway more suited to downtown New York. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 4 of 4)

Tags: Chandler's Ford, church, community, culture, education, history, memory, storytelling, travel, viewpoint

Merry Christmas: From Good Neighbours Brian And Suzette Matthews

December 25, 2014 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

Do you remember The Precinct Gift Centre?

I miss this little gift shop very much.

The Precinct Gift Centre was loved by many. It held many local people’s childhood memories.

It was my favourite gift shop. Sadly, the shop closed in February 2006 after 16 years [Read more…] about Merry Christmas: From Good Neighbours Brian And Suzette Matthews

Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, Christianity, Christmas, community, crafts, good neighbours, local interest, memory

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