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Fryern Funtasia 2025 – Drizzle, Sunshine, Stilt Walker, Steam Train, Puppet Shows … What an Amazing Event!

May 6, 2025 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Fryern Funtasia was such a great success. The weather was quite ‘unpredictable’ but the drizzle didn’t seem to bother us. The event was well organised, and the atmosphere was superb. When people said it’s a ‘community’ event and it truly was. There was something special for everyone, whatever your age. There were favourite games and crafts for children, and there were also boats and steam train for enthusiasts. There was a stilt walker who entertained and surprised the kids. Animals. Music that filled the air. Ice Cream.

The Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Dave Pragnell and the Mayoress Jean went round to meet many people. At the u3a pitch, the mayor spoke with Pam Moffat (Vice Chair) and Dave Claxton (Chair) about u3a and their role within the community. [Read more…] about Fryern Funtasia 2025 – Drizzle, Sunshine, Stilt Walker, Steam Train, Puppet Shows … What an Amazing Event!

Tags: Chameleon Theatre Group, Chandler's Ford Parish Council, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, days out, Eastleigh Borough Council, event, Fryern Funtasia, Fryern Recreation Ground, fundraising, local interest, Methodist Church, review, social, u3a

Fryern Funtasia Chandler’s Ford 2024

May 6, 2024 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

Once again Fryern Funtasia was held during the May Bank Holiday Monday, at Fryern Recreation Ground. Did you have a good time? Yes we did despite the rain.

You can imagine the organisation of this event was a mammoth task and it was so wonderful to see so many people and animals, and so many stalls, games, and activities.

Some children sang some songs about the ‘sunshine’ and don’t we love these children from Fryern schools?

Thanks to Chandler’s Ford Parish Council and Event sponsors – TMT Legal Services are supporting this year’s event, along with
National Lottery Community Fund,
Infinity Playgrounds,
Dripool Ltd,
Vitaplay
and A&A.
(Source – Chandler’s Ford Parish Council)

Below are some photos taken before the rain. Let’s start with some animals –

Tags: Chandler's Ford Parish Council, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, days out, Eastleigh Borough Council, event, Fryern Funtasia, Fryern Recreation Ground, fundraising, local interest, Methodist Church, review, social

Flying an Autogyro

December 4, 2023 By Mike Sedgwick 2 Comments

An autogyro is a strange flying machine resembling a helicopter but has no engine power to the rotor. Forward thrust is provided by a conventional propellor, usually mounted at the back. There are no wings; lift is provided by the rotor blades. Power for rotation comes from the wind moving through the rotor, like a child’s windmill. I set out to fly in one.

To get the autogiro into the air, its propellor pushes the machine forward, and the slipstream flows through the backwards tilted rotor. When the rotor is up to speed, it is tilted slightly forward to provide upward lift. Because the rotor blades are long and heavy, it takes a while to get them going. Modern machines have a flexidrive from the engine to start them off. The drive is disconnected when the rotor is up to speed, about 200 rpm. [Read more…] about Flying an Autogyro

Tags: adventure, Hampshire, hobby, how-to, nature, social, storytelling, travel

Fryern Funtasia 2023 Chandler’s Ford

May 1, 2023 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

Have you been to Fryern Funtasia today? I hope you have enjoyed this event. This morning I went to Fryern Recreation Ground for a quick visit and this place has brought back some very fond memories. I used to go there with some of my friends and our children, but now our children have left home and my friends were elsewhere, so it did feel quite different and I even felt a tiny bit meloncholic. However it was wonderful to see some friendly faces, beutiful owls, really fluffy dogs, and lots of happy children. It was very lovely to see many local groups such as Scouts, Girlguiding, Boys’ Brigade, Lions Club, Stroke support group, Churches Together….. local businesses such as Peter Green and Gair Gas and many others.

St George’s Day Glide

July 2, 2022 By Mike Sedgwick 4 Comments

St George’s Day, April 23rd dawned clear and sunny. A cold front had passed, and a gentle breeze from the North covered the land. With no rain for a while, the land was dry, and so was the air. The sun warmed both and the warm air rolled gently southwards over England. When the air rolled up against the South Downs, it had to rise and being warm, it continued to rise as thermals from the top of the Downs.

This was precisely the right day for soaring the South Downs. Everyone at Lasham gliding club had the same idea, but we made an early bid and were number twelve on the take-off grid with many others behind us.

As soon as the air temperature reached the trigger value for thermals, the tugs fired up their engines and began to tow us into the air. There is a delicious moment when I have my parachute on, I’m strapped in the cockpit, and all the pre-flight checks are done. Then, I can sit quietly, watching the others take off.

Ready to depart

Tags: adventure, gliding, hobby, how-to, nature, social, storytelling, travel

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

April 24, 2021 By SO53 News 1 Comment

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

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

Review: Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’

December 2, 2019 By Ben Williams 4 Comments

This year’s performance by the MDG Players is a pastiche of sci-fi storytelling that lampoons radio plays and the stories of Stephen King and John Wyndham. Presented as a radio play, Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully is filled with clever humour and wit that results in a very original, fun way to spend an evening.

Mike Standing (A Minion), Lester Parry (Gryvook), and Mike Slatcher (Uljabaan)

The plot is simple – the village of Cresdon Green, Buckinghamshire, is a normal English town that has just happened to be slowly invaded by aliens. It starts with a dome being placed over the village and then Uljabaan, an alien trying desperately hard to impress his superiors, attempting to blend in with the villagers. Whilst some embrace the aliens, others, led by the rebellious Katrina Lyons, want to see the aliens gone. Hilarity ensues. [Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’

Tags: acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

MDG Players’ Production: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’ – Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th November

November 2, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

MDG Players’ next production is ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’ by Eddie Robson on Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th November, in the Dovetail Centre Café, of Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church, at 7.30pm.

Tickets £8 can be purchased from The Dovetail Café or Brenda Discombe on 023 8025 3922 or email: johndiscombe1962@talktalk.net

Tags: acting, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, social, theatre, Winchester Road

The Hiltingbury Extravaganza: 22 September on Hiltingbury Recreation Ground from 12 noon

September 15, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

The Hiltingbury Extravaganza is back on the 22nd September on the Hiltingbury Recreation Ground from 12.00 noon to 5.30pm.

This year the new Pavilion creates a welcome addition to the events activities and enables the local community to take a look at the excellent facilities on offer throughout the year from both The Hilt and The Pavilion. [Read more…] about The Hiltingbury Extravaganza: 22 September on Hiltingbury Recreation Ground from 12 noon

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, event, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, social

Fryern Funtasia 6th May 2019 in Chandler’s Ford

May 7, 2019 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Once again I spent the May Bank Holiday at Fryern Funtasia yesterday – as I did every single year in the past few years.

I really love the traditional open-space event, where I met up with a few old friends there, and soaked up some local news (or gossips) from just walking about. [Read more…] about Fryern Funtasia 6th May 2019 in Chandler’s Ford

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

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”)

Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘He’s Not Here’ – Friday 12th April at 7.30pm

April 2, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

MDG Players are staging for one night only, on Friday 12th April at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church, a thought-provoking drama called, ‘He’s Not Here’ by Les Ellison. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘He’s Not Here’ – Friday 12th April at 7.30pm

Tags: acting, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, social, theatre, Winchester Road

6th May 2019 – Bank Holiday Monday – Fryern Funtasia in Chandler’s Ford

March 21, 2019 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

6th May – Bank Holiday Monday – Fryern Funtasia

From Chandler’s Ford Parish Council:

Fryern Funtasia 2019 is only just over a month away so put the date in your diary – 6th May Bank Holiday Monday. 12.00pm – 4.30pm. Take a look at the fun we had in last years video and please share with your friends. See you in May. [Read more…] about 6th May 2019 – Bank Holiday Monday – Fryern Funtasia in Chandler’s Ford

Review by Ben Williams: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

November 30, 2018 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most iconic stories of all time. Centered on the miserable and rude Ebenezer Scrooge, the book – oh who am I kidding, everyone knows the story. There have been countless adaptations of the story and everything from The Muppets to Blackadder to Doctor Who have tackled it. [Read more…] about Review by Ben Williams: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

Tags: A Christmas Carol, acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

A Christmas Carol – The MDG Players – Review by Allison Symes

November 30, 2018 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is amongst my favourite stories, as I’m sure it is with many of you. It is ultimately a tale of redemption and also a cracking ghost story.

My favourite versions of it (and there have been many produced over the years) are The Muppet Christmas Carol (Michael Caine playing Scrooge) and the version starring Patrick Stewart. It is a question of getting Scrooge’s hardness of heart right without it spilling over into melodrama, something both knights of the realm did fantastically well. [Read more…] about A Christmas Carol – The MDG Players – Review by Allison Symes

Review by Hazel Bateman: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

November 23, 2018 By Hazel Bateman Leave a Comment

I enjoyed a very entertaining evening yesterday when I went to watch A Christmas Carol by the Chandler’s Ford MDG Players. It was held in the Dovetail Centre of the Methodist Church, and this venue facilitated an intimate theatre experience.

The production followed Charles Dickens’ famous story using acting, narration, carol singing and audience participation for the sound effects, which was great fun! The play was brilliantly adapted by James Reynard. [Read more…] about Review by Hazel Bateman: A Christmas Carol by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players

Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market and Other Local Events – from October 2018

September 30, 2018 By SO53 News 1 Comment

Don’t forget the renowned Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market is back on Saturday, the 6th of October, from 10am to 1pm.

It’ll be held at the Age Concern Hall, on Brownhill Road. Thanks to Steve Allen for running the market since 2015, supporting local people and local small businesses.

Tags: Age Concern Centre, arts and crafts, Brownhill Road, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, craft fair, crafts, Dovetail Centre, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, Fryern Arcade, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, hobby, local businesses, local interest, Methodist Church, social, The Hilt

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

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

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6th May – Bank Holiday Monday – Fryern Funtasia

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