“It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas” – well, it certainly is for the 380 people who went to “A Swing-Along Christmas” concert presented by the Thornden Community Wind Band with their special guests The Spitfire Sisters on Friday evening. This was a wonderful concert and a fine introduction to the week before Christmas.
[Read more…] about Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert
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Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2016
I went to Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market this morning and realised that Christmas has indeed arrived.
The market was held at the Age Concern Centre on Brownhill Road (just next to the Co-op and the Fryern Arcade). [Read more…] about Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2016
Review: The Spitfires: Last Night of the Proms 2016 – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
As expected, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” gave an outstanding performance at their concert on 5th November. A varied programme included musicals, military marches, and classical pieces – even The Village People’s music got a look in.
The concert included two soloists. The first sang Nessun Dorma – a piece normally heard as a tenor voice, but no way diminished by the soprano (I think it was) at the concert. A wonderful voice, singing the high notes with as much precision and clarity as the lower ones. [Read more…] about Review: The Spitfires: Last Night of the Proms 2016 – the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band
Joint Charities 43rd Christmas Market: Saturday 12th November 2016 at Methodist Church Hall
The Joint Charities 43rd Annual Christmas Market will be on Saturday 12th November 2016, from 9.30 am – 12 noon at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church Hall (Winchester Road SO53 2GJ).
The Joint Charities Christmas Market is an annual tradition in Chandler’s Ford.
The past Eastleigh Mayor will open it officially at 9.45 am. There will be 12 charity stalls, each selling their own Christmas cards and other goods. There’ll also be a cake stall and raffle. [Read more…] about Joint Charities 43rd Christmas Market: Saturday 12th November 2016 at Methodist Church Hall
Review: The Railway Children
Sometimes I write reviews of concerts and shows; sometimes I write about places to go for a day out. This post isn’t intended to be either of those, though it may look a bit like both.
Last week I fulfilled an ambition I’ve held for several years by going to see the stage version of The Railway Children. This was one of my most-loved books as a child (and that of my sister too), and the 1970 film is undoubtedly one of my all-time favourites. [Read more…] about Review: The Railway Children
Spitfires in Concert – Last Night of the Proms – 5th November 2016
On Saturday, 5th November 2016, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” will be in concert at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.
The concert promises a wide range of music from the Village People to Puccini, and will end with the band’s rousing “Last Night of the Proms” finale including Pomp and Circumstance (aka Land of Hope and Glory), Auld Lang Syne, Rule Britannia and Sunset. [Read more…] about Spitfires in Concert – Last Night of the Proms – 5th November 2016
It’s Back – Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market
This morning, I met Karen Stephen and Catherine Griffin at the local produce and craft market.
They were promoting their first book: Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford: A Collection of Short Stories.
Mike introduced this book and its four authors before in this post. [Read more…] about It’s Back – Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market
Review: Thornden School – Singing in the Rain
It was back to the 1920s at Thornden School last week.
I don’t mean that slates and the 3 R’s were reintroduced, or that poor performance in class was admonished with a cane across the hand.
No, I mean that this was the decade in which the school’s summer performance of “Singing in the Rain” is set. [Read more…] about Review: Thornden School – Singing in the Rain
Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert
The Thornden Community Wind Band presented their summer concert, “Round the World in 90 minutes” on Friday 17 June. This was a light-hearted programme of music loosely themed on a trip around the world. Light-hearted doesn’t mean low quality. This was a performance of very high calibre – and great entertainment.
The auditorium was metaphorically became an aeroplane for the concert. The audience were the passengers, the conductor was the pilot, and the band was the engine. We appreciated the range of instruments during the “engine testing” at the start of the concert when a representative from each section played one or two bars of their own choice. [Read more…] about Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert
Review: One Man, Two Guvnors by Thornden School
What’s the secret of comedy?
Timing.
Yes, but what else do you need for a play to be funny. A witty script – maybe with some running gags. Visual gags to complement the verbal ones; possibly a bit of intentional confusion caused by misunderstandings and/or mistaken identity – particularly when the audience are in on the joke and the characters aren’t; and slapstick, done well, will always amuse an audience. [Read more…] about Review: One Man, Two Guvnors by Thornden School
Fun Day – Fryern Funtasia 2016
Another first for me this year has been to visit the Fryern Funtasia on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May 2016. How to tell it is a Bank Holiday Monday? Because the weather closes in!
The weather held off long enough to not get in the way of a good show at the Fryern Recreation Ground. Nor did it stop the youngsters having a wonderful time on the bouncy castle, the bouncy slides, the pony ride, go kart track and so on. [Read more…] about Fun Day – Fryern Funtasia 2016
Not Britain’s Got Talent
You may have noticed that Britain’s Got Talent is back on our screens.
I’ll admit to having an ambivalent attitude to the programme. It’s not something I go out of my way to watch but when I do I find it generally entertaining. [Read more…] about Not Britain’s Got Talent
Chandler’s Ford Fryern Funtasia 2016
Music. Food. Ponies. Dogs. Games. Stalls. Friends. Queen.
Fryern Funtasia this afternoon on the Fryern Recreation Ground was enjoyable.
It’s the 5th Fryern Funtasia event in Chandler’s Ford. The Fryern Funtasia is a community event organised by local volunteers and businesses, with the help of the Chandler’s Ford Parish Council. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Fryern Funtasia 2016
Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade 2016
This post is about Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade last Sunday (24th April 2016).
The parade was led by “The Spitfires” – the brilliant 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade 2016
Where can you Join an Alpha Course in Chandler’s Ford?
Got questions about life? Is there more to life than this?
Alpha is aimed at those wanting to explore more about the basics of Christian faith – looking at the big questions about life, God and Jesus. [Read more…] about Where can you Join an Alpha Course in Chandler’s Ford?
Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (better known as The Spitfires) returned to Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church last weekend for a St George’s Day concert in aid of One Community.
As we have come to expect from a band of such high calibre, the concert showcased the musician’s skills and wide repertoire. We were also treated to a display by the band’s Corps of Drums, who had been busy with other scouting activities at the October concert.
[Read more…] about Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
Not Just Crafts: Chandler’s Ford Craft Market – Crafters, Author, Cartoonist
This morning there were a few surprises at the local Handmade Craft Market at Chandler’s Ford Age Concern Centre.
It was a delight to meet a popular local non-fiction and military writer Penny Legg, based in Southampton. [Read more…] about Not Just Crafts: Chandler’s Ford Craft Market – Crafters, Author, Cartoonist
Romsey Male Voice Choir’s Special Charity Concert
Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church will resound with the ‘Power of Song’ when Romsey Male Voice Choir and their special guests Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir offer up a feast of classical choral singing and popular songs from the shows.
The concert, in aid of Action for Children and Wessex Cancer Trust, begins at 7.30 pm on Saturday 16th April. [Read more…] about Romsey Male Voice Choir’s Special Charity Concert
April Events in Chandler’s Ford
Spring is finally here! Chandler’s Ford is full of great events this month to suit all tastes.
I’ll highlight a few events here. If you know of other events, please let me know so that I could add them to the Upcoming Events page. [Read more…] about April Events in Chandler’s Ford
Maiden Flight
In the age of steam every boy wanted to be an engine driver. In my boyhood this desire became a fighter pilot and in modern times it might be an astronaut or a pop star. The nearest I got to being a fighter pilot was to sit in the cockpit of a spitfire and press the firing button. Then came the jet age and we aspired to becoming test pilots.
Then, seventy years later, I was to be a test pilot. A group of us had bought a new glider, a top of the range Duo Discus XLT with a 20 M wingspan. [Read more…] about Maiden Flight