Yesterday I drove past the Fryern Arcade, and could see lots of people outside Costa Coffee.
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.
[Read more…] about Shops Reopening – Support Local Businesses in Chandler’s Ford
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
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.
[Read more…] about Music in Chandler’s Ford during Lockdown: “Love thy neighbours is so true”
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.
Am I the only one in Lakewood Road who attended an original VE day party? I was seven years old or, as I would surely have reminded people, seven and three quarters. When Mother picked up the newspaper that day, I was having breakfast. She opened it, yelled for joy, and ran out into the street declaring ‘The war is over.’
That evening I was taken to a bomb site about a mile away from our house in Sheffield. We children were given currant buns to eat – wow, and a fizzy drink. Normally the best we could expect was some bread and margarine or dripping if we were lucky. There was a huge bonfire, taller than the adults. Someone put a figure of Hitler on it. The most vivid memory was of fireworks which I had never seen before. I learned about rockets, Roman candles, Catherine wheels, sparklers and bangers. Roman candles were my favourite.
There was bunting strung everywhere made of any scraps of material that could be found. Houses, walls and shops had ‘V’ painted on them in whitewash. The morse code …- for V was daubed on doors. I did not know at the time about Beethoven’s 5th symphony but I had heard the call sign on the radio preceding the coded messages going out to the resistance workers. Whitewash signs reading ‘Welcome home, Jim’ or Fred or Sam were beginning to appear. A little insensitive if your neighbour no longer had a loved one to welcome home.
It was a brief and joyful interval but the overall mood was one of relief and thanks that it was all over at last. Our parents had been through 2 world wars and fortunately, we had not lost a close family member.
Father served in WWI but in WWII he was a haulage contractor and a member of Dad’s Army which was known as the Home Guard. They practised throwing grenades using clods of earth. I was excited to go with father on his lorries loaded with the ‘tallboy’ bombs from Sheffield to the ordnance factory where they were filled. I wasn’t allowed in the ordnance factory but stayed with the guards at the gate who always gave me something to eat.
There was no thought of the 75th anniversary but here we are and it will be an interesting party. Mother’s immediate post-war aim was to get me educated so that I would not have to go down the pit like most boys in our district. Orgreave Colliery was nearby and my contemporary, Arthur Scargill, who I never met, could tell you all about that.
We had a great party yesterday, sitting outside our gates on the pavement. There was an abundance of bunting and we all dressed in red, white and blue. I learned that I was not the only one old enough to remember. Someone told how he remembered seeing Portsmouth ablaze from a raid in 1942. Another spent a lot of his time in a Morrison Shelter. Robbie Sprague was there too but he cannot remember it as he was only 1 year old.
Another resident Peter wrote the following story –
Mike, No, you are not the only one in Lakewood Road that remembers VE Day. At six years old we had a street party with bonfires in the road, not gardens, with singing and parties where I threw my teddy bear onto the bonfire, having just thrown-up on it (the teddy, not the bonfire)!
I came out of my parents’ Morrison shelter (Father fought and was wounded in WW1 and was in Dad’s Army) awaiting the demolition of the concrete built shelters in the road so that everybody could use.
However, we stayed at home in the Morrison shelter with our neighbours.
Thank GOD! We have survived and to those young lives that fought and died for us to be what we have today.
I cannot thank them myself, but I do remember them with gratitude.
I am pleased that lock-down muted the celebrations. I feared that it may become too jingoistic and nationalistic. It is a tribute to the human spirit that, when these 75-year-old memories are activated they bring a wave of emotions with them. People do not forget.
There must be other readers of Chandler’s Ford Today who have memories of the original day. Tell us your story.
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.
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.
[Read more…] about Can you help? Making Mask Extenders to Help the NHS
First livestream service from St Boniface at 10am this morning, led by the Rev’d Ian Bird (Vicar).
“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.
[Read more…] about First Livestream Service from St Boniface Church; Crisis Care Team
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:
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.”
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.”
Watch the video below and see the huge task of repair:
#EASTLEIGH derailment update. Our Route Director, Mark Killick explains what happened and what we’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. pic.twitter.com/K15cmhhz71
— Network Rail Wessex (@NetworkRailWssx) January 31, 2020
[Read more…] about M27 Closure; Eastleigh Derailed Freight Train
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.
This is the third and final closure required for the replacement of the Romsey Road bridge. More details can be found on the Highways England website. [Read more…] about M27 Closure 31 Jan – 3 Feb
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.
Have a safe Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!
Stay safe in your home this Christmas and don’t increase the risk of fire. Drive safely.
This is a beautiful Christmas parody ‘A Tale of Safe & Well’, produced by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
It’s performed by firefighter Jon Arey and featuring Abi Austin with the Fixby Songbirds. It’s a parody of the original song by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl.
With heavy rain forecast overnight and into the weekend, @hantshighways have extra crews, gully tankers and jetting machines ready to go out across Hampshire.
Check our colleagues @romanse feed for the latest traffic information
Stay safe out there 💦https://t.co/QFme8Ds14C pic.twitter.com/6Nyh9eAs88
— Hampshire County Council (@hantsconnect) December 20, 2019
This morning, Aaron Joseph, the Fryern Hill gift and stationery shop manager, told Chandler’s Ford Today that the post office will re-open on Monday the 18th of November 2019, from around 2pm.
He said The Post Office team would re-start the system from before noon, and it might take around 2 hours to set everything up. So it’s likely that the post office would re-open from around 2pm.
It’s great news for the local people – though it’s unsure how long the post office will continue to run. It’s a relief for local residents and businesses during this busy Christmas time.
Following the sudden closure of the Fryern Hill Post Office, Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine has given an update via his Facebook post.
“Thank you to constituents who have contacted me this week after the sudden closure of the PO at Fryern Hill in Chandler’s Ford. Had a confidential briefing from the Post Office this morning to understand what’s gone on here. Suffice to say, while I understand the temptation to grandstand and stir this up, it’s very complex and is extremely unlikely to be resolved this side of Christmas. [Read more…] about Steve Brine MP on the Fryern Hill Post Office: “unlikely to be resolved this side of Christmas”
Aaron Joseph, the Fryern Hill Post Office manager, told Chandler’s Ford Today that Post Office Ltd has decided to close the post office down.
It’s happening on the 23rd of October. They are also taking away the computers, which will make it impossible to re-open any time soon. [Read more…] about Urgent: Chandler’s Ford Residents: Will You Help Save the Fryern Hill Post Office?
This morning at the Fryern Arcade I was surprised to see that we now have a Specsavers in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists – Now in Chandler’s Ford
Did you know there was a Plants and Crafts sale at St Boniface church yesterday (Saturday 18th May 2019) from 10am to 2pm?
It was a popular community event run by Judith James, Chair of The Friends of St. Anne’s Hospital (Tanzania), with support from many members of St Boniface and St Martin’s churches. [Read more…] about Fundraising for Friends of St Anne’s Hospital and Defibrillator Fund
Chandler’s Ford Today regularly receives emails / letters from readers. Today we’re sharing 2 items here.
This has just happened this evening (15th May 2019), at around 5.40pm. You can see the pictures for yourselves. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford News from Readers: Road Accident and Nottingham Knockers
The author of this post is David Overton, Chair of the Executive Board, Chandler’s Ford 15th Scouts.
The Rotary Club of Chandler’s Ford and Itchen Valley recently raised £3,000 for the 15h Chandler’s Ford Scout Group.
At the recent Fryern Funtasia on the May Bank Holiday (6th of May 2019), President of Rotary Ed Burt handed over the cheque for £3000 raised by Rotary for Chandler’s Ford 15th, this year’s President’s charity. [Read more…] about £3,000 Raised by The Rotary Club of Chandler’s Ford and Itchen Valley to 15th Chandler’s Ford Scout Group
I have visited Sri Lanka over 15 times now, living there for several months every year for the last 10 years. Early visits were during the civil war and there were inconveniences such as roadblocks, curfews and limitations on travel.
On one occasion my friends arranged an escort to the airport. There were no problems with me giving lectures at the University and to audiences containing Sinhala and Tamils. [Read more…] about Sri Lankan Bombings
