Down Your Way

That was once a really popular radio programme - it ran from 1946 to 1992, usually on a Sunday afternoon on the Home Service - and later BBC Radio4. In 1975, the BBC took it off the air as an 'economy measure' - even though it was the second most popular programme at the time. There was a public outcry and it was promptly re-instated. The basic premise was that each week the presenter would visit a different town or village somewhere in the British Isles, talk to the locals about what made the place interesting, and then they would choose a piece of 'light music'. The theme tune was a piece called "Horse Guards" by Haydn Wood. 

We have two local facebook groups - My Ferndown, and Spotted Ferndown. Most members post helpful comments. Lost pets are found, mislaid bags are recovered, local businesses and events are promoted. Some people, however, appear to be just nosey or complainers "Why was there a helicopter over Sainsburys all afternoon?" "Who put that awful graffiti on the gantry over the A31?" "People who light bonfires and BBQs in their gardens should be fined. It ruined my washing" "Why do the young people insist on playing loud music/congregating in the park/dropping fast food wrappers?" "Why were the police outside the house opposite the M&S foodhall at 3pm yesterday?"

And if someone says "I am thinking of moving here, can you recommend a good primary school?" there will be 90% positive stuff about the three schools, and 10% "They are all rubbish! I am paying for my child to be educated properly in Bournemouth"

I'm not sure they could make the Down Your Way programme anymore, so many people seem to have such a negative opinion of their surroundings and their neighbours. 

Well I have been here nearly six years and I like Ferndown. I continue to discover new parts of my town, and even in these strange times, I am meeting new and interesting people. There are many peaceful wooded areas to walk, all within a mile or two of home - like Ferndown Common, Poor Common, and the wonderfully named Slop Bog. 

The pharmacy and the GP surgeries work hard to provide reliable health services for the community, along with other medical facilities like "The Practice" . It's just round the corner, with physiotherapists, osteopaths, acupuncture etc. The skeleton is outside whenever the business is open, and until now has worn an ever changing selection of seasonal hats and scarves. This year, unsurprisingly, he is wearing PPE. I smile whenever I see him

Stopping at the traffic lights on our way home from church on Sunday, we noticed the wind had blown down all the sweet chestnuts. They lay on the verge looking just like those spiky little green coronavirus images you see in the paper.  

The other Saturday, when we had our flu jabs, the surgery had a very efficient system in progress. We entered the front door, were diverted down a side corridor

[where they took your paperwork, asked a question or two, then gave the injection] and then sent out through the back door - through the surgery garden and the doctors' carpark - and back to the pavement. We were amused by the Podiatrist Parking Bay - somehow appropriate that the sign was completely surrounded by [a]corns

If you do come "Down Our Way" you will always find something interesting or amusing to look at, and good people to meet. Yes, every community has its share of grumpy old men, dotty old ladies, loitering youths, litter-louts, giggling schoolgirls, and nosey busybodies. But there are the hard workers, the joyous children, the friendly neighbours and the helpful shopworkers too. I do hope your community is as pleasant as ours.