At 11 in the morning of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 the guns fell silent on the fronts of the world at war. Turn your minds to that event and write a strict 500 words to catch the moment. [Read more…] about Armistice
war memorial
Chandler’s Ford War Memorial – In Loving Memory of William Joseph Tosdevine
I walked past Chandler’s Ford war memorial this morning and saw this wreath:
In loving memory of my great great grandfather
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford War Memorial – In Loving Memory of William Joseph Tosdevine
Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2018
There was a rainbow in the morning and the rain stopped for the Remembrance parade and services.
At the Chandler’s Ford war memorial, a crowd of hundreds – from veterans to youth groups, families, and people of different ethnic groups – all gathered to pay their respects.
Hursley Road looked like this in 1918 (peace day celebration), and 1989. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2018
Margatet Doores: Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
In the late spring of 2014 I read with interest of the national plans to commemorate the fallen of WW1. It was accepted that these commemorations would not in any way be an attempt to glorify war but were to be an acknowledgment of the great sacrifice made by so many.
It was also decided that these commemorations would continue until November 2018. It was suggested that researching the names on local war memorials could be an appropriate way of doing this. [Read more…] about Margatet Doores: Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
Book Review: Margaret Doores’ Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
If you have ever walked past the war memorial outside St Boniface Church in Hursley Road, you may have wondered about those named on it. Perhaps you wanted to know a bit more about them and how they died in the Great War. Or maybe a bit more about the Chandler’s Ford they left in 1914. [Read more…] about Book Review: Margaret Doores’ Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance, by Margaret Doores
Have you ever walked past the war memorial outside St. Boniface Church and stopped and wondered about the lives that lie beneath the names? Where did they live? Were they born here in Chandler’s Ford?
What sort of work did they do before joining up or were they career soldiers? And who was Margaret Caswell? She’s the only woman who is remembered here.
Well, now’s your chance to find out. [Read more…] about Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance, by Margaret Doores
Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017
This morning, veterans and a few hundreds people commemorated those who lost their lives in the two World Wars and later conflicts, at the Chandler’s Ford war memorial.
Remembrance Sunday, which falls on 12 November in 2017, is a day to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.
A two-minute silence was held across the country and wreaths were laid at memorials.
In Chandler’s Ford, people old and young were gathering at the war memorial, outside the St. Boniface Church on Hursley Road, including 93-year-old war veteran Frank Damerell, Night Fighter Navigator (the aircraft was “The Mosquito Night Fighter”) during the Second World War. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017
Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell
Last Sunday I had a brief interview with Frank Damerell, the 92-year-old war veteran from Chandler’s Ford.
Frank arrived at the War Memorial on Hursley Road just after 10.30am, accompanied by his son Phil. Frank later laid a RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association) wreath during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the war memorial at St. Boniface Church in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Meet 92-year-old War Veteran Frank Damerell
Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016
About two hundred people gathered at Chandler’s Ford war memorial for Remembrance Sunday service and laying of wreaths this morning.
From 10am this morning, many people started walking towards the war memorial on Hursley Road at St. Boniface church. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016
Sunday 13th November 2016 – Remembrance Sunday Service in Eastleigh Borough
Eastleigh observed a two-minute silence at this morning’s Armistice Day service at the town’s war memorial.
On Sunday 13th November 2016, there will be a service taking place in Chandler’s Ford at St. Boniface Church, Hursley Road.
The Remembrance Sunday service in both St. Boniface Church and St. Martin in the Wood Church will start at 10.45am. [Read more…] about Sunday 13th November 2016 – Remembrance Sunday Service in Eastleigh Borough
Where is “The Parade” in Chandler’s Ford? Memories from my 1950s Childhood
I remember “The Parade” of Chandler’s Ford well. It is along Bournemouth Road, coming from Southampton, just past the School Lane lights, down past the advertising hoardings. It’s the row of shops on the left before you get to Hursley Rd.
At that time, the Butchers shop where I worked was the first on the left, L.S. Horn, next was Lowmans the bakers, then I think it was the Lloyds Bank, Jenkins sweet shop, G.H.Baker & Sons, and grocers. I can’t remember the next one or maybe two shops, and at the end it was Mr Perrot’s fishmonger. [Read more…] about Where is “The Parade” in Chandler’s Ford? Memories from my 1950s Childhood
Roger White: My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley
I was born in Chandler’s Ford in 1942 and lived in Station Lane until about 1972.
I remember many of the old places. We used to play in the old brickfield then go off up to Knightwood where there was a big sand pit created allegedly by a stray bomb during the war. [Read more…] about Roger White: My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley
50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 2)
Now for Part 2 of my 50 things to like about the Chandler’s Ford area.
26. David’s Fish Bar
It is a family tradition to have a takeaway and watch a movie on a Friday night. We visit David’s Fish Bar (who regularly offer fish and chip suppers as prizes for various charities raising funds. A delicious prize!). [Read more…] about 50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 2)
Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford: 8 November 2015
On Remembrance Sunday on the 8th of November in 2015, people from Chandler’s Ford remembered and honoured the fallen.
180 people assembled outside St. Boniface Church at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial as poppies were laid at the foot of the memorial. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford: 8 November 2015
From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson
Chandler’s Ford Today covers a wide spectrum of interests – from football to gliding, from local history to reviews of shows in nearby theatres and Thornden Hall. From memories of the Gang Show to news of the latest fundraising efforts by the Scouts and the Fairtrade events.
Naturally a blog like this will attract writers. People like Richard Hardie, whose young adult Temporal Detective Series (Leap of Faith and Trouble With Swords), will be highlighted in Chandler’s Ford library next Thursday 29th October. People like Brenda Sedgwick whose first novel, Marriage, a Journey and a Dog, was out earlier this year. [Read more…] about From Dancer to Writer: Felicity Fair Thompson
Inspired by Slapton Beach: Felicity Fair Thompson
One of the great joys of fiction writing is you have two basic options which are to either invent it all or base your work on a real event. You can be said to be writing history.
Historical novels obviously fall into the second category (as do some crime books). One of my favourite books, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, is based on The Princes in the Tower mystery. [Read more…] about Inspired by Slapton Beach: Felicity Fair Thompson
Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque
Last Saturday (28th February 2015), Chandler’s Ford historian Barbara Hillier shared a poignant story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier, who died on the 7th of October 1916 in action in France, aged only 30.
Barbara’s storytelling was linked with a unique memorial plaque, which was once lost, but was never forgotten.
It was a story about a conscientious objector who later changed his mind, his love for his family, [Read more…] about Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque
In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier
On the 7th of October 1916, 30-year-old Wilfred Herbert Hillier from Chandler’s Ford was killed in action in France. There was no known grave.
You’ll find Wilfred Herbert Hillier’s name on Chandler’s Ford War Memorial.
This post tells you the story of a lost and found plaque for Wilfred Herbert Hillier, [Read more…] about In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier
My Poignant Visit to Auschwitz 30 Years Ago
Some 30 years ago I found myself in Krakow, Poland, alone in a communist country with contact phone numbers that did not work and meet and greet arrangements that had gone wrong.
I had a day to fill and looked at the hotel tours of castles, lakes, mountains, ski centres, pretty villages or Auschwitz.
Auschwitz? Was that really a tourist attraction? Should I go there?
[Read more…] about My Poignant Visit to Auschwitz 30 Years Ago
Chandler’s Ford Today November 2014 Round-up
We published 45 posts in November this year.
Our posts in November centred on Remembrance, Christmas markets / fayres, and history (Montgomery of Alamein School in Winchester, the Hutments).
November we also carried stories of charitable work (Jubilee Sailing Trust, Kenya Project UK), theatre review (Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense), community news (road safety and burglaries in Chandler’s Ford), nature (woodpecker in Hiltingbury), and many more. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Today November 2014 Round-up