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
World War One
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
The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams
Since I was very young Blackadder has been my favourite comedy show. The antics of the various members of the Blackadder family throughout history is one of Britain’s best loved comedies and for good reason.
The latest Chameleon Theatre production brought to life the show’s most beloved series – Blackadder Goes Forth, which sees Captain Edmund Blackadder desperate to escape the trenches of World War One. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams
The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Allison Symes
IMAGE CREDIT: A very big thank you to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for kind permission to use the images in this post.
I’m delighted to review the Chameleons’ latest production – Blackadder Goes Forth. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Allison Symes
The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Dominic Mayes
This review is written by Dominic Mayes
Blackadder Goes Forth, performed by Chameleon Theatre Company, went beyond all expectations. It truly brought back a classic comedy set during one of the greatest conflicts in history on the Western Front in 1917. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Dominic Mayes
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
Eastleigh Remembers – Truly Memorable
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
Days Out – Fort Nelson
Where can you see a dolphin near Portsmouth?
Well, I suppose “looking out to sea” is a possibility, but Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill is more likely. The handles on a cannon barrel are also called dolphins – because of their resemblance to swimming dolphins arching out of the water.
April Trio of Plays – The Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes
Image Credit: Many thanks to Lionel Elliott and the Chameleons for supplying the images.
It was good to be back at the Richie Memorial Hall to watch the Chameleons’ latest production on Thursday, 26th April. They staged three plays in one show. All were set in different times and backgrounds. [Read more…] about April Trio of Plays – The Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes
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
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
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
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
Football Remembers – Eastleigh
Players from Eastleigh under 13 whites & under 13 blue came together before their Tyro Div 1 game last Sunday.
Football Remembers Week takes place from 5-14 December 2014.
This is a joint collaboration between The FA, the Premier League, the Football League and the British Council. The aim is to engage football fans and players [Read more…] about Football Remembers – Eastleigh
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
The Poppies At The Tower Of London
Whilst visiting London on business a few weeks ago I made the time to wander down to the Tower of London to have a look at the poppy artwork installation, which has received quite a bit of positive commentary.
My visit was at the end of October so the artwork wasn’t complete but a substantial portion of it was done as you may see from the few pictures that I took. [Read more…] about The Poppies At The Tower Of London