Chandler's Ford Today

remembering

VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945

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We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead – Winston Churchill.

VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, 8 MAY 1945 (MH 21835) HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret joined by the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London on VE Day. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205021954
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, 8 MAY 1945 (MH 21835) HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret joined by the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London on VE Day. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205021954

Tuesday, May 8 th 1945, was an ordinary day. I was seven years old, and the only special event was that we had an egg for breakfast, a real egg, not dried egg powder, which came in
packets from America. When the newspaper dropped through the letterbox, mother picked it up.

‘The war is over,’ she cried, waving the paper high above her head. She rushed out into the street. ‘It’s over, the war is over,’ she shouted gleefully to an empty road. She gave me a hug and a kiss. ‘The war is over, it’s peacetime now.’ [Read more…] about VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945

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VE Day 80 Celebrations in Chandler’s Ford – Thursday 8th May 2025

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VE Day - Thursday 8th May 2025 from 8.45pm at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground
VE Day 80 – Thursday 8th May 2025 from 8.45pm at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground

Chandler’s Ford Parish Council invite residents to come together to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday 8th May, at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground, from 8.45pm.

“With live music from Michelmersh Silver Band from 8.45pm, why not bring a chair and join us at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. The Beacon will be lit at 9.30pm with reading of the official tributes. The evening will be closed by the singing of the hymn ‘ I vow to thee my country’ as performed by local resident Emily Blackledge, accompanied by Michelmersh Silver Band. Join us.” [Read more…] about VE Day 80 Celebrations in Chandler’s Ford – Thursday 8th May 2025

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Who are the Mysterious Postbox Topper Ladies in Chandler’s Ford?

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Dear readers, you must have seen many intriguing postbox toppers around Chandler’s Ford. They surprise us, delight us, and make us smile. A splash of colour; a creative design; a world re-imagined. For the past few years, the remarkable ladies (with some of their ‘helpers’) from Chandler’s Ford u3a have graced our streets and quiet lanes with their creations made with love and crafted with great skills. You may even feel a bit uplifted on a mundane trip to Asda, as the topper may remind you of an upcoming special celebration or a significant historical event, or its playful, whimsical nature may take you back to your childhood.

The ladies who have brought us joy with their Postbox Toppers.
The ladies who have brought us joy with their Postbox Toppers.

Credit: Special thanks to Sandra and Dave Claxton for providing the story and all the photographs in this article below.

Since the amazing response to our 25th Anniversary Postbox Toppers of 2023, our “Topper Ladies” have barely stopped in their endeavours producing themed Toppers for the King’s Coronation, Remembrance Week, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Summer, the Olympics and were even asked to produce a Postbox Topper to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Eastleigh Borough last May.

Eastleigh Borough Council's AGM at The Point, Eastleigh, on Monday 20th May 2024. The new Mayor Councillor David Pragnell was elected. Photo by Chris Balcombe for Eastleigh Borough Council. Chandler's Ford U3A created a postbox topper to celebrate 50 years of Eastleigh Borough Council.
Eastleigh Borough Council’s AGM at The Point, Eastleigh, on Monday 20th May 2024. The new Mayor Councillor David Pragnell was elected.
Photo by Chris Balcombe for Eastleigh Borough Council. Chandler’s Ford U3A created a postbox topper to celebrate 50 years of Eastleigh Borough Council.

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The Role of Chandler’s Ford in the Run-up to D-Day

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Writer: Christine Clark
Photos: All crochets by Chandler’s Ford u3a.

On 6 June 1944, the long-awaited Allied landing in northern France began. Facing Hitler’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications, soldiers of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and other Allied nations landed on beaches in Normandy, beginning a campaign which lasted until 24 July 1944.  

Hitler and his generals had been expecting an invasion that year. However, the successful Operation Bodyguard, a military deception strategy, misled the Axis powers into believing that the invasion would be later in the year and further north-east, nearer to Calais. Instead, the Allied war planners had selected a 50-mile stretch of coastline in Normandy on five beaches codenamed Utah, Omega, Gold, Juno and Sword.

Crochets by Chandler's Ford u3a.
Crochets by Chandler’s Ford u3a.

A key part of the strategy of Operation Bodyguard was to hide the amount of troop buildup in southern England. Approximately 160,000 Allied soldiers had to be mustered, fed, watered and moved to their embarkation points without it being obvious to the Axis powers’ intelligence.

These muster points, or marshalling areas, spread right across the south coast of England. In our area, Marshalling Area C was central south Hampshire and included Southampton, Botley, Winchester, Chandler’s Ford, Hursley, Ampfield and Romsey. The closest embarkation point was Southampton docks, although there were others in the New Forest and Gosport. [Read more…] about The Role of Chandler’s Ford in the Run-up to D-Day

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Lest We Forget

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Lest we forget.

You may have seen these beautiful crochet and knitted postbox toppers for Remembrance commemorations. They are on Ashdown Road and Bournemouth Road in Chandler’s Ford.

Thank you for those who made these. People have been talking about them and admiring them.

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The Importance of Remembering

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay and used on previous CFT post.

Remembering matters. There are some things we dare not forget. I believe in the truth of the saying those who forget history are destined to relive it. It is an honour and privilege to join in with the Acts of Remembrance for Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. The television and radio coverage is moving (as it should be).

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Remembering

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Image Credits:-   
Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Others are taken from the Chandler’s Ford Today archives.

Today is Armistice Day. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – a poignant moment in history.

This year’s events will be familiar and as moving as ever. I think this year they will seem more so I suspect to many of us given one familiar figure will no longer be laying a wreath at The Cenotaph.

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Anniversaries

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Image Credit:  Book covers from Chapeltown Books. Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Author images taken by Adrian Symes.

Today would have been my late parents’ 61st wedding anniversary. (They made it to 55 years together when we lost Mum in 2015).

Anniversaries are important. They form much of our history (1066 probably being the most famous and yes the entire year is an anniversary date. A less “well known” year for this is 1936 – the Year of the Three Kings – George V, Edward VIII and George VI. There has been a Year of the Three Queens too – 1536 – Catherine of Aragon, who always maintained she was rightful Queen of England, Anne Boleyn, both of whom died in this year thanks to the same brute of a man, and Jane Seymour. I’m no fan of Henry VIII incidentally as you might have been able to tell!).

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