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Days to Treasure: Faith and Literature

April 13, 2023 By Christine Clark Leave a Comment

This year Winchester Cathedral hosted the Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature (subtitled as a three-day literary festival with a theological slant). Some of our parish went along to see what was on offer.

One of us volunteered as a steward at the West Downs campus for the Saturday. She says, “I had a very interesting day.  As a steward I had the opportunity to attend a number of seminars.  My day began with hearing from Brian Draper on the subject of Soulfulness, followed by Rowan Williams speaking on Christian Ethics and Solidarity. I then listened to Catherine Fox and Francis Spufford as authors in conversation together on faith in fiction, and rounded it all off with a discussion between Rachel Mann and Jay Hulme as poets, on (un)holy desire with a trans perspective – a fascinating and eclectic day by anyone's standards, with much to reflect on! (And so much more I didn’t get to hear!)”

Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral – via Pixabay
[Read more…] about Days to Treasure: Faith and Literature

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Tags: Christianity, event, literature, music, review, Winchester, Winchester Cathedral

Paperback Writers

August 13, 2021 By Robbie Sprague 11 Comments

The Beatles Image by Maxpinsoo from Pixabay

Did you know that the Beatles have 229 songs to their name? The Fab Four have each contributed brilliant songs to this total but Lennon and McCartney were the most prolific.

The Beatles Image by Maxpinsoo from Pixabay
The Beatles Image by Maxpinsoo from Pixabay

Yesterday, we heard from our neighbours, who were visiting Liverpool, that they were drinking in the Cavern Club, birth place of the Beatles. It gave me the idea of writing a  short story using the titles of some of those famous hits. It took fifteen minutes and I had a little help from my friend, my wife Jill. It’s not going to be a Booker Prizewinner but it contains 29 Beatles song titles (plus one repeat) and it goes like this:  [Read more…] about Paperback Writers

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Tags: creative writing, culture, humour, music, storytelling, writing

Previous St. George’s Day Parades in Chandler’s Ford – Video and Photos

April 24, 2021 By SO53 News 1 Comment

14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band - St George's Day 2017

Did you remember or celebrate St. George’s Day on the 23rd of April?

This is a video with some footage in 2017 showing the St. George’s Day parade, by the magnificent 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” Band.

This video features the band’s second and third parades of the day in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford.

14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band - St George's Day 2017
14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band – St. George’s Day 2017

[Read more…] about Previous St. George’s Day Parades in Chandler’s Ford – Video and Photos

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

Music in Chandler’s Ford during Lockdown: “Love thy neighbours is so true”

May 9, 2020 By SO53 News 1 Comment

Steve Allen has shared these videos, in which he captured some happy moments in the neighbourhood of Chandler’s Ford during the lockdown. These included music on Thursday evenings, and a piper playing for a neighbour’s birthday.

With Steve’s permission, we are sharing these on Chandler’s Ford Today.

1 – Malcolm the Piper was playing for a Scottish lady on her birthday.

Malcolm and lovely neighbours in Chandler's Ford - supporting key workers and sharing community spirit.
Malcolm and lovely neighbours in Chandler’s Ford – supporting key workers and sharing community spirit.

[Read more…] about Music in Chandler’s Ford during Lockdown: “Love thy neighbours is so true”

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Tags: celebrations, Chandler’s Ford community, Covid-19, family, good neighbours, local interest, music, news, storytelling

Reasons To Be Cheerful

April 17, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Reasons To Be Cheerful

Reasons to Be Cheerful was the title of a song by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Strictly speaking, it was Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3. It was part of the soundtrack to my teenage years.

Reasons to Be Cheerful

Naturally the song is upbeat (and there is a poetic feel to this too. Another great one for writing poetic lyrics is Ray Davies of The Kinks. I think Waterloo Sunset is a fabulous, evocative song).

Following on from my Murphy’s Law for Readers last week, I thought it would be good to have a reminder of some reasons we have to be cheerful.

Feature Image - Reasons To Be Cheerful
Feature Image – Reasons To Be Cheerful. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Reasons To Be Cheerful

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Tags: appreciation, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Help, good neighbours, gratitude, looking forward, music, rainbows, Reasons to be Cheerful, soft toys

Review: Chameleon Theatre Group – Atlantis – The Panto

January 31, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Atlantis - The Panto. Programme cover photo taken by Allison Symes-1

Image Credit:  A big thank you to The Chameleon Theatre Group for kind permission to use their excellent photos. The images of the programme cover and the cast (from the pantomime programme) were taken by Allison Symes.

Feature Image - Atlantis - The Panto.
Feature Image – Atlantis – The Panto. Programme cover photo taken by Allison Symes-1

What do Camille Saint-Saens, Eddie Cochran, Queen, Bob Marley, and Sir Elton John have in common?

Not an awful lot, you may be thinking, but they did all have their music included in Atlantis – The Panto, which was recently staged by the ever excellent Chameleon Theatre Group.

I’ll share a song list later but the answer to my question tells you the music for the show was an eclectic mix, as it should be. There should be something for everyone to enjoy in a panto musically as well as in the jokes and storyline.

Well done to all in the chorus, you were excellent
Well done to all in the chorus, you were excellent

Atlantis – The Panto was written by Paul Reakes. It ran at the Ritchie Hall from Friday 17th – Saturday 25th January 2020, and was directed by Sheila Hardiman.

Janet and I went on Thursday, 24th January and a great time was had by all, one of many signs of a wonderful panto. I’ll share a few more signs later.

[Read more…] about Review: Chameleon Theatre Group – Atlantis – The Panto

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Tags: acting, amateur theatre, Atlantis-The Panto. entertainment, Chameleon Theatre Group, humour, music, pantomime, Ritchie Hall

Time Away

January 24, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Time Away

Time away from usual routines is a necessity. Whether it is for holidays, taking time out to go for a really good walk with the dog, time to think, to take a metaphorical deep breath and refresh your batteries, is vital.

Time to escape for a while then
Time to escape for a while then – Pixabay

[Read more…] about Time Away

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Tags: breaks, dog walking, music, reading, retreats, time away, writing conferences

‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ by The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” and Friends

December 20, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The latest recording by the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band, released December 2019. Featuring Hampshire Scouts Present, The Spitfire Sisters, Elijah Jeffery and Christian Wood.

Written by Greg Walker, Principal Director of Music, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band.

Here’s our talented group of youngsters at The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band showing what we can do, along with a mass choir of Scout and Guide Shows from all across Hampshire, with our cover of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’... we hope you enjoy it – we had GREAT fun recording and making it.

“The Spitfires and Friends do Christmas” CD (2019)

[Read more…] about ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ by The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” and Friends

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, local interest, music, news, scouting, The Spitfires marching band

Christmas Songs

December 20, 2019 By chippy minton Leave a Comment

Christmas Songs

It seems that pretty much every singer has recorded a Christmas song.  Some are originals; some are covers (which may or may not be better than the originals).  Some of the songs are quite enjoyable; others are less so.

Here are some of the less well-known songs that have made it to my Christmas playlist.  You may or may not agree with my somewhat erratic and eclectic selection.

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey is possibly the oldest recording in the list.  This is such a fun song that it is permanently on my MP3 player – proving, perhaps, that a Hippopotamus isn’t just for Christmas but for all year round. [Read more…] about Christmas Songs

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Tags: Christmas, music

Is It A Good Idea to Have Favourites?

September 6, 2019 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - Is It A Good Idea to Have Favourites

Well, is it? The simple answer is not on everything. It’s never a good idea to have favourite children, for example. [Read more…] about Is It A Good Idea to Have Favourites?

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Tags: arts, being open, books, favourites, music, nostalgia, photography, Queen Elizabeth Tudor, the story of Joseph

Chandler’s Ford St George’s Day Parade 28th April 2019

April 29, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The annual St George’s Day parade took place yesterday in Chandler’s Ford. We have brilliant images from the parade yesterday (28th April 2019) in Chandler’s Ford. These photographs were taken by Richard Doyle. Thank you, Richard.

The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (The Spitfires), in perfect step, marched on Chandler’s Ford St George’s Day Parade 2019. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford St George’s Day Parade 28th April 2019

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

Chandler’s Ford St George’s Day Parade 2019 with The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”)

April 28, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”) once again led three St George’s Day Parades today: 10:00 in Eastleigh, 12:45 in Winchester, and 14:30 in Chandler’s Ford.

Chandler’s Ford Today has received stunning photographs of today’s parade in Chandler’s Ford from two photographers. Today we’re sharing some photographs taken by Debbie, from Debbie Pearce Photography. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford St George’s Day Parade 2019 with The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”)

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

Signs of Spring

March 29, 2019 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Signs of Spring

What are the signs of spring you love the most?

I adore the lighter evenings and start to spot these in February (though that’s weather dependent). Being out with the dog a lot, you notice when you have that little bit more daylight before needing to get the torches out. [Read more…] about Signs of Spring

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Tags: community, HIltingbury Recreation Ground, music, spring, wildlife

Adaptations

March 1, 2019 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Do you like adaptations of your favourite stories? I guess the answer to that is “yes, if it works” and then it is up to us to decide whether it does or not.

Famously The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock is an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s short story of the same name so it isn’t just about novels being “translated” to a different media. [Read more…] about Adaptations

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Tags: adaptations, classical music, entertainment, fiction, film, music, plays, radio, theatre

Eastleigh Remembers – Truly Memorable

September 15, 2018 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Eastleigh is marking the 100th anniversary year of the end of the first world war today. The event pays tribute to Eastleigh’s role in the First World War.

In Eastleigh this afternoon, I visited a re-enactment of a field hospital, some vintage military vehicles, and have seen great displays by charities and businesses, such as Hampshire Scouts, One Community, Defense Medical Welfare Service, British Legion, Eastleigh and District Local History Society, Eastleigh Gurkha Nepalese Association, Royal Air Forces Association, the Rotary Club, Air Cadets, Peter Green, and local author Paul Nolan. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Remembers – Truly Memorable

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Tags: community, culture, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, entertainment, event, history, Leigh Road, music, scouting, social, The Spitfires marching band, World War One, World War Two

Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens

June 26, 2018 By chippy minton 6 Comments

You probably know a few mondegreens, even if you didn’t know they had a name.  It’s when the words of a song or poem are misheard to give a different meaning.  The word comes from 17th-century ballad “The Bonnie Earl o’ Moray”:

Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands,

Oh, where hae ye been?

They hae slain the Earl o’ Moray,

And Lady Mondegreen [Read more…] about Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens

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Tags: music

Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade 2018 with The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”)

April 22, 2018 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”) had a busy day taking part in three St George’s Day Parades today.

They started at 10:00 in Eastleigh, and 12:45 in Winchester, then 14:30 in Chandler’s Ford. Emma Thompson, Media Officer and Deputy Drum Major from the Band said they would like to thank everyone who turned out to support each event.

All photos of “The Spitfires”: courtesy of MJDS Photography. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade 2018 with The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”)

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, Merdon Avenue, Merdon School, Methodist Church, music, scouting, social, St. George's Day, The Spitfires marching band, Winchester Road

Creativity is Good for You

January 26, 2018 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Creativity Is Good For You

It doesn’t matter what your “artistic bent” is but creativity is good for physical and mental health. There is, of course, the joy of creating something that has not existed before (whether it is a story, a new garden plot, a piece of music, a cake or a painting or what have you), and there is the enjoyment of getting to that finishing point.

Better still is the joy of going on to create another piece of work and going through the whole process again. Then comes the satisfaction of watching your work improve as you gain more experience. [Read more…] about Creativity is Good for You

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Tags: creative writing, music

Music and Moods

January 12, 2018 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Music and Moods

I never used to write with music on in the background as I found it was influencing what I wrote! Trust me, it is difficult to write a death scene with some lovey-dovey ballad coming out of the radio. Talk about killing the mood… (Likewise, you try writing a love scene to, say, Meatloaf’s Bat Out of Hell. Just doesn’t seem right somehow). [Read more…] about Music and Moods

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Tags: creative writing, music

Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

September 18, 2017 By Janet Williams 6 Comments

Yesterday afternoon I had a rather good time at Hiltingbury Extravaganza. There were quite many people and lovely animals (pigs, horses, dogs, owls…). Musicians, dancers, writers, volunteers, and many businesses all helped to make this special event remarkable.

Credit to The HCA (Hiltingbury Community Association) at The Hilt for its organisation for another fantastic Extravaganza community event on the Hiltingbury Recreation Ground.

The Hiltingbury Extravaganza was officially opened by Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2017

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, community, crafts, dog, entertainment, event, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, local interest, music, news, One Community, social, The Hilt, theatre, Thornden Hall
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