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.
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.
Photo by Chris Balcombe for Eastleigh Borough Council. Chandler’s Ford U3A created a postbox topper to celebrate 50 years of Eastleigh Borough Council.
That Topper was installed outside The Point in Eastleigh at the Mayor Making Ceremony for Cllr. Dave Pragnell. Others have been produced to reflect various community activities in the borough including “The Big Spring Clean” and “Love Your Community”. Whilst the Mayor was in one of Eastleigh’s twin towns, Kornwestheim, in Germany he noticed that there was a British red post box in Eastleighplatz, a square in the town so it was not too long before a special Topper was made, and presented to the Mayor of Kornwestheim.
‘Thank you’ to the Topper Ladies
The excellent skills of our “Topper Ladies” – Lyn Atkins, Debby Bartlett and Sandra Claxton and Pam Moffat, take in knitting, crocheting as well as needlework. A couple of husbands have also contributed their skills in making the wire frames that form some of the structures and hold the figures. Not only are the ladies involved in the Toppers but as part of Chandlers Ford u3a‘s Crafties Group they also produce items such as woollen hats for babies in neo-natal wards in Southampton and Basingstoke, twiddle-muffs and blankets for care home residents locally among others.
VE Day – Victory in Europe Day
The 80th anniversary of VE Day will be marked on 8 May 2025. Here are several VE-Day Toppers for your appreciation.
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