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How do you Define Chandler’s Ford? What does Chandler’s Ford mean to you?

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If you use Wikipedia today (24.07.3021), you may find the Featured Article today looks rather familiar:

Chandler's Ford featured in Wikipedia 24.08.2021 (screenshot 24.08.2021)
Chandler’s Ford featured in Wikipedia 24.08.2021 (screenshot 24.08.2021)

“The Chandler’s Ford shooting was an attempted robbery on 13 September 2007 in which two men were shot dead by officers of London’s Metropolitan Police while robbing a cash-in-transit van. The Met had been tracking a gang who had stolen an estimated £500,000 from security vans and learned that the gang intended to rob the HSBC bank in Chandler’s Ford.”

Not sure how often Chandler’s Ford gets the global attention like today.

However we don’t think the community is proud to be defined by “The Chandler’s Ford Shooting”. [Read more…] about How do you Define Chandler’s Ford? What does Chandler’s Ford mean to you?

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Our River, the Monks Brook

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We have two beautiful rivers in south Hampshire, the Test and the Itchen. Both chalk streams, in their upper reaches these are noted for their water quality. In fact, due to the chalk aquafer on the Itchen, which has excellent storage and filtration, we get our water supply from this river.

But here in Chandler’s Ford we know of another, less well-known river, the Monks Brook. ‘Fordians see it popping up here and there, through Hiltingbury Lakes, at the bottom of people’s gardens, under roads: sometimes pretty as in Flexford Reserve, sometimes business-like as it rushes down a manmade culvert under Hursley Road.

Monks Brook
Monks Brook

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Barclays Bank Chandler’s Ford Branch is Closing on Friday 30 July 2021

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Barclays Bank Chandler’s Ford Branch is Closing on Friday 30 July 2021.

The nearest branches are in Winchester and Eastleigh.

Barclays Chandlers Ford branch is closing on Friday 30 July 2021.
Barclays Chandler’s Ford branch is closing on Friday 30 July 2021.

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Dovetail Café at the Methodist Church: Now Open 3 Days a Week

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The Dovetail Café at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church is now open 3 days a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 9.30 am until 12 noon.

I was there last Saturday and really felt life has started to feel a bit ‘normal’.

Dovetail Cafe at the Methodist Church in Chandler's Ford - now opens 3 days a week.
Dovetail Cafe at the Methodist Church in Chandler’s Ford – now opens 3 days a week.

What has changed?

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Fundraising for the 2nd Chandler’s Ford (Ramalley) Scout Headquarters

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2nd Chandler’s Ford Scout Group needs your help.

The Scouts are raising £8,000 to help complete their new building on Ramalley Lane, to make it an amazing new venue for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and the resident pre-school.

Before - The 2nd Chandler's Ford Ramalley Scout Group
Before – The 2nd Chandler’s Ford Ramalley Scout Group
Old Hall vs New hall under construction - The 2nd Chandler's Ford (Ramalley) Scout headquarters.
Old Hall vs New hall under construction – The 2nd Chandler’s Ford (Ramalley) Scout headquarters.

The 2nd Chandlers Ford (Ramalley) Scout headquarters celebrated its 80th birthday in 2018. Over 83 years, it has enabled local children and young people to have fantastic opportunities, have fun, and develop new skills. They have learnt team work, problem-solving, resilience, independence, to name but a few. [Read more…] about Fundraising for the 2nd Chandler’s Ford (Ramalley) Scout Headquarters

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Great Daffodil Appeal – Supporting Marie Curie

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This year’s Great Daffodil Appeal will be one like no other. Thousands of Marie Curie volunteers will not be able to collect donations in exchange for a daffodil at local supermarkets, trains stations or town centres like they usually do each spring. However, you can still be a part of this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal by donating online

You couldn’t pick a better year to support Marie Curie Nurses. Like everyone, Marie Curie has been hit hard by coronavirus. Their Nurses and hospices have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic, caring for dying people and their families.

Picture of a nurse - Marie Curie charity

Marie Curie have also seen more people than ever calling their Support Line, looking for help because they are feeling isolated or have had to grieve for a loved one alone during lockdown. [Read more…] about Great Daffodil Appeal – Supporting Marie Curie

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Online Chinese New Year Celebration from Southampton: Sunday 14.02.2021 at 5pm

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You are invited to join the first online Chinese New Year event on Sunday 14/2/2021 at 5pm, organised by Southampton Chinese Association.

If you are unable to join Zoom, you can join using the YouTube Live link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_OkT9EdD6k

Programmes include: Lion dance, Martial Art display, Chinese dance and music, Chinese opera, and Dragon dance.

It is the Year of the Ox.

Chinese New Year celebration at West Quay.
Chinese New Year celebration (previously at West Quay, 2013)

[Read more…] about Online Chinese New Year Celebration from Southampton: Sunday 14.02.2021 at 5pm

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Another Pandemic, A Long Time Ago …

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Most of us have heard of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-20 – when ten times the number died of the virus than had been killed in the four years of the First World War. However, I confess I was a bit hazy on the details. So, with time on my hands during the lockdown, I thought I’d find out a bit more. I was quite surprised at some of the facts – but also at how many similarities there are between the earlier pandemic and the one we are currently living through.

questions image by geralt via Pixabay

First of all, some facts about that pandemic

How long did the Spanish flu pandemic last? Just over two years – February 1918 to April 1920. [Read more…] about Another Pandemic, A Long Time Ago …

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O Tidings…!

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The title for this week’s post comes from the old Christmas Carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen of course and the moment I hear it or sing it, I automatically think of Dickens (and from there to his wonderful story, A Christmas Carol).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?

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There is a story of a pompous man pushing into the front of and airport check-in queue. The check-in girl tells him to go to the back of the queue. ‘Do you know who I am?’ asks the man. The check-in girl asks the queue, ’can anyone help? This man does not know who he is.’

I sympathise with this man, not because of pushing into a queue, but because I am not known by my name any longer. The days when I heard people say, ‘Hello, Mike, nice to see you,’ have gone because, in COVID protection mode, no one sees me.

kaboompics - man working on a computer
Image via Kabookpics

Reduced to a Binary Digit

I am known to my computer but only as a string of digits. The screen wants to know my ID number, password, authentication code, admin password, username, wireless key, PIN, account number or registration key. Then there are numbers and codes sent to my phone which last only an hour or so. If I go to a bar or restaurant, my phone communicates with a QR code. I can text my order and someone brings drinks. [Read more…] about Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?

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#SaveOurTheatres – Plaza Theatre Romsey

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Romsey Plaza Theatre launched its first ever CrowdFunding event this Monday to raise money to cover its box office losses due to Covid.

#SaveOurTheatres – Plaza Theatre Romsey

 

Over the past 6 months, the Plaza has been closed and we have had virtually no income. We need your help to ensure that the Plaza is able to continue covering our basic overheads. In conjunction with the Theatres Trust and their #SaveOurTheatres initiative, we have started a crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds which will make sure that our theatre continues to operate safely through the lockdown and for years beyond. [Read more…] about #SaveOurTheatres – Plaza Theatre Romsey

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Shops Reopening – Support Local Businesses in Chandler’s Ford

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Yesterday I drove past the Fryern Arcade, and could see lots of people outside Costa Coffee.

Chandler's Ford Central Precinct: Keep Safe
Chandler’s Ford Central Precinct: Keep Safe

At the Central Precinct, I also saw a tent outside Up & Running running shop. I was quite pleased, so went to check if my trainers had arrived. I had ordered a pair of trainers a week before lockdown, so have been waiting for the shop to reopen.

Up and Running - running specialist at Chandler's Ford Central Precinct.
Up and Running – running specialist at Chandler’s Ford Central Precinct.

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Prosody

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It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. The panel game, Just a Minute depends on it. My granddaughter (aged 6) wrote a performance poem about the programme. I have kept the original spelling:-

This is

Cklap, cklap, cklap

A game of

Cklap, cklap, cklap

Consontrashon

Clap, clap, clap

No repeets

Clap, clap, clap

Or hesetaison

Clap, clap, clap

I’ll go first

Clap, clap, clap

And I’ll go second

Clap, clap, clap

Subject is

Clap, clap, clap

Enithing.

By GT

Jan 2020

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

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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.

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VE Day 75 in Chandler’s Ford – Memories of the Original VE Day

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Lakewood Road decided to have a socially separated street party yesterday for VE75. I replied to the invitation and said I was at an original VE day party. Several people expressed an interest in the comments so I thought Chandler’s Ford Today might like to see them. As it turns out, I am not the only one who attended an original party.
[Read more…] about VE Day 75 in Chandler’s Ford – Memories of the Original VE Day

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Care in a Time of COVID

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We are beginning to think of ending the lock-down. How different will it be afterwards?

That little strand of RNA wrapped up as COVID-19 has altered our behaviour. It has shut our institutions; schools, universities, travel, industries, retail and the legal system. Health, policing, food and pharmacy remain active with some local travel.

Some of us have been able to work from home and found it satisfactory. A friend is wondering why he keeps a London office; a weekly meeting in an office hired for half a day may be sufficient. Others strive to work amid the domestic activities of children and housework. The fashion for open-plan living areas in houses has not helped.

Coronavirus image by Karolina Grabowska

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Can you help? Making Mask Extenders to Help the NHS

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Calling all knitters & crafters!

Southampton District Methodist Church has had a direct plea from one of the hospital chaplains for mask extenders.

Recently some mask extenders were taken to a particularly hard-hit ward and they were very well received. This is a plea district-wide to help all our local hospitals. Below is a poster with instructions.

Can you make some mask extenders for frontline NHS workers?
Can you make some mask extenders for frontline NHS workers?

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First Livestream Service from St Boniface Church; Crisis Care Team

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First livestream service from St Boniface at 10am this morning, led by the Rev’d Ian Bird (Vicar).

CRISIS CARE TEAM from the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford

“We have set up a team of volunteers who make up a Crisis Care Team. They offer practical help to those who are self-isolating. Help can involve essential shopping, posting letters and/or regularly chatting on the phone.

If you need help, please contact Suzie in the Parish Office (8026 5977) or email: office@parishcf.church

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED.

If you could help with any of the above, please email Suzie at office@parish.church (Tel: 023 8026 5977). As more people self-isolate there will be an increasing need for this scheme, so please do sign up to help if you are able.

Parish Church of Chandler's Ford - Crisis Care Team supporting the neighbours in our community.
Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford – Crisis Care Team supporting the neighbours in our community.

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Parish of Chandler’s Ford : “We are not stopping loving and caring for those around us.”

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It’s an anxious time to every one of us. Shops are closed. Events are cancelled. Schools are to shut. Church services stop. Supermarkets are stripped bare. A few weeks ago you might have asked yourself, “What should I be giving up for Lent this year?” Well it’s clear that you’ve given up a bit more than you had thought.

If any resident want more information on the virus please see the Government and the NHS websites:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response

NHS: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Here is a brief update from Rev’d Ian Bird on Chandler’s Ford Parish’s response to the latest developments of the Coronavirus.

“Sadly we are having to stop all our church services and activities, but we are not stopped being church. We ae not stopping being a faith community. And we are not stopping loving and caring for those around us. We’re just going to be church in a different way for this season.”

The Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford announces that “Due to Church of England guidelines all public worship is currently suspended. However, please …to see how we can still support you practically, emotionally and spiritually, including information on live streams of the Sunday service.”

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M27 Closure; Eastleigh Derailed Freight Train

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From tonight the M27 will be completely closed in both directions between junctions 3 (M271) and junction 4 (M3) this weekend – from late evening Friday 31 January to early morning 3 February. Read Chippy’s report: M27 Closure 31 Jan – 3 Feb.

To add to the chaos, there’ll be disruption on your train journey. Since Tuesday, a rail line has been blocked after a freight train derailed in Eastleigh. The line between Southampton Central and Basingstoke and thousands of people have been affected.

Route Director, Mark Killick, explains what happened and what they’re doing to get the railway reopened for Monday. “We apologise for the continued disruption and line closure; passengers should continue to check with @SW_Help before travelling.”

Eastleigh derailment - image via Network Rail
Eastleigh derailment – image via Network Rail

Watch the video below and see the huge task of repair:

[Read more…] about M27 Closure; Eastleigh Derailed Freight Train

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