Nextdoor Andover // October 2023 – Present

“Culture comes into play at precisely the point where biological individuals become subjects, and that what lies between the two is not some automatically constituted ‘natural’ process of socialisation but much more complex processes of formation” – Stuart Hall

Tenah Elisabeth Asamoah at The Market

We used to live in London, we wanted to buy a house. 

We’ve been in Andover for eight years. Me, my husband daughter and son. It hasn’t been easy but we’re adjusting to it. Andover is not a million miles from everything, I can still visit family in London

One thing I do love is the nature reserve and villages where we go for walks. I go to the cultural forum meetings. They bring a bit of diversity to Andover.

I used to organise an Afrobeats dance class. I wanted a bit of diversity so I thought oh Afrobeats. I knew that not many would know about that. I wanted people to come and have fun. We did it at King Arthurs Way Hall, a perfect venue in the middle of many estates. The lady there is amazing they do a lot of community work. Slowly people started coming, young children and adults vibing together. This was new for Andover so the struggle was there. The support wasn’t 100% and that’s why I had to stop.

I’m the CEO of Afrike Boutique. I’m known for what I sell, especially my fans and baskets. I sell African prints, accessories and clothing. I organised my 1st fashion show “Black History Vibes”. We had African and Caribbean food, African drumming, and an Afrobeats singer. With the help of friends and family it was put together in 3 weeks, I was so grateful.

I enjoy it because I meet new people and it’s Interesting.

Susan Risdale at Harmony Wood, Andover Trees United

When I was three we came to live here with my grandparents on the Redenham Park Farm Estate. My grandad was the farm manager there. I went to the original Redenham school which had about 20 children. I was one of the first pupils in the new Appleshaw School. Then Redenham closed, I think it’s a private house now.

For me, staying in Andover is totally about the people. I’ve made great friends over the years, raised my son and I think we’ve got everything here. You can easily go and visit people, and they can come and visit you – we are so central. The scenery around Test Valley is stunning and I have loved many years of swimming in our beautiful chalk streams.

I’m standing in one of my favourite places, Harmony woods which I only discovered a few years ago. It’s great to have somewhere lovely to walk, where the people are community minded and you know you’re always welcome. Volunteering is important to me.

I’ve been made to feel welcome in Andover all my life. One of the best things ever to feel. Andover has got great people; an inspiration. I hope to be an inspiration too. Your home town is what you make it. There are so many gems hidden away lurking all over the place. But it is the people that make this place so special. You have the opportunity to lead a good life here. I absolutely love Andover.

Sarah Gisbourne at The Andover Museum

I was born here, and I’ve never left. I enjoy living in Andover and appreciate the sense of community, so I never felt the need to move elsewhere.

I consider myself fortunate because my mother was always actively involved in the community. I’ve been engaged in community activities from a young age. My mother was a member of the Salvation Army, so naturally, I joined along with her. I played in The Salvation Army Band. As I entered my teenage years, I left the Salvation Army as it wasn’t the right environment for me. Subsequently, I met someone, had my own children, and eventually started and managed a parenting website.

I organised events and activities for local families, and I’ve been fortunate to continue working within the local community. I’ve consistently worked in this area and have established strong connections.

Despite what some may think, there is always a lot happening in Andover. In my community role, I ensure that people are informed about the events and resources available because there is a bustling scene.

I believe people should take a closer look around, discover what’s actually happening in the town we live in, and participate in community events. If you’re unsure how to get involved, collaborate with individuals who are knowledgeable about community engagement.

Ash-Lee James at Picket Piece Sports Ground

Having lived in Dallas for 20 years and around the Farnborough and Camberley area, when I was looking to buy my first property, those areas were not fantastic value for money in my opinion. As I had lived in larger metropolitan areas like Dallas previously, I wasn’t bothered with a reasonable commute if I could come back to a home I could appreciate. After looking at several areas like Southampton, Winchester, Newbury, etc Andover seemed like the best commuter link and also a place to bring up a family. Andover has a great sense of community and potential which is also of great interest to me.

The strength of Andover is that unlike larger cities where you might just be a number, I feel like you can make a difference here. No place where you live is perfect but being part of this project and other projects in Andover I feel like I can make a change. Many people want to feel like they can make a change in this world so any small change is where you have to start.

Being in the mortgage industry and seeing the different types of small businesses and large businesses that are here, many people might think they need to be London based or have the London number. But there are people already here that want to do business with people in Andover.

There is a lot of uncovered potential here. Andover is its own community and together we can make it great.

Harold Deeming at Chilbolton Cow Common 

My wife and I moved here from Hong Kong. I took her from Devon to Yorkshire, Shropshire, Cambridge, East Sussex, and everywhere in between. We looked at cities and rural towns. She chose Andover, she made a good choice and I’m completely happy with that.

She decided. Let’s not live in a city let’s live somewhere people have got a little more time, where it’s a bit friendlier, cleaner and safer. From the point of view of my daughter, being here in Andover is absolutely the best choice.

In a period when humankind has become more of an urban species, most people live in cities and live relatively anonymously. It’s so refreshing to be in an environment where people have time for each other. The people here are friendly. There’s a genuine community, people have got time for each other and care about each other.  

We’re so lucky to live in a place where we’re not living with pollution. We can paddle in a clear flowing chalk river with trout, we can go walking and see red kites which were very nearly extinct but are now commonplace. We just saw two Kingfishers on the river while we were making the photograph. For a child to grow up in this environment is absolute heaven.

Some people can be quick to complain but we are blessed. What a great place this is especially for children to grow up. Andover is a wonderful place to be and refreshingly free of snobbery.

Lidia at Riverside Park

I came from Hong Kong and settled here.

I used to live in an environment with lots of buildings. It was very crowded, full of noise, and convenient but Andover is different. This place has a lot of green areas. It is so relaxing.

Things are a lot cheaper, everything is double where I used to live.

The food is especially fresh when I came here it was like wow everything is fresh, the vegetables are so nice, even the meat.

There are a lot of nice people here. I lost my bag twice and when I went back on the same road I found my bag.

It is such a nice place. You can find a river, colourful flowers, birds, trees, trouts, graylings, mallards, etc. I was so excited when I first saw a Mallard!

I like River Anton in Andover. It leads me to the town centre. It is also one of the landmarks and historical places.

It is so amazing in Andover.

Amanda Kane-Smith at Dead Man’s Plack

I moved from London to Andover with my husband after the birth of our first child. We wanted to find somewhere more rural – within shooting distance of London, the West and the sea. My husband was still working in London, and Andover was on the train line. We also had family here.

We parked in the Chantry Centre to have a look around before we moved. There was a cheap bookshop, a Waitrose, and a little hippie café in the High Street where Willows is now. It seemed like a good mix. We decided to go for it.

Andover is surrounded by beautiful landscapes. I love the chalk streams and the rivers, the wildlife and nature. Within five minutes from my house, I can be walking through a tunnel of tall trees, along a grassy pathway across farmland, and when I look in the other direction, I see there’s a lovely little market town in the valley with more countryside stretching beyond.

It’s been a brilliant decision. We settled and I love living here. The people are friendly, very inclusive, and accepting of others. There’s a good mixture of hardworking and creative people. There’s space here to be what you want to be. There’s lots of interesting stuff going on if you look for it. You’ve just got to have your eyes open.

Andover is not trying to be something else, it’s authentic, it has its own identity. Andover is a place we should all be proud of.

Shankar Gurung at The Cenotaph, St Marys Church

I come from a military background, and Andover has a rich military history. The Army headquarters and RAF Andover are located here, along with several nearby army bases.

I’ve witnessed many military relationships flourish in this community. Many veterans are choosing to retire in Andover and its vicinity. When I was serving in Blandford Camp, I began searching for a suitable place to settle down after my retirement. Andover emerged as the perfect location for me and my family.

I’ve been living in Andover for two years, and I’m thoroughly enjoying my time here. I have relatives nearby, and we have a vibrant Nepali Community. I feel fortunate to serve as the chairman of this community, which brings me great happiness.

Despite being a small town, I believe Andover has a promising future due to its excellent road, transport, and train connections with London. Numerous houses and businesses are under construction, and there is a council plan to revitalise the Town Center in the future.

I see Andover becoming a lively place to live, catering not only to adults and the elderly but also to the younger generation.

Susanne Hasselmann at The Dissenters Chapel, CAS

I’m an immigrant. I came to England when I was 17 to learn English for a year. I loved it so much that I decided to stay. I initially lived in Eastbourne and later in London, where I met my future husband, who was in the Army. He was posted to Tidworth, and we bought a house in Little Ann and then Wherwell. I’ve lived in the area for about 25 years.

It’s a beautiful place to live, and I love the people in my community. I find it to be a friendly place where I easily connect with others. It is frustrating to hear people being negative and, instead, I think we all need to start discussing the positive aspects of Andover and the surrounding areas.

In my current job, I feel that I can make a difference. I started working at Chapel Arts Studio over two years ago, and while I don’t claim ownership, I see CAS as entrusted into my safekeeping. I’m dedicated to ensuring its continued existence and development for artists and the people of Andover and the surrounding areas.

To me, culture is community, and it’s about what we, as a community, can innovatively and creatively achieve. Bringing the community together to use art and culture as a means of well-being. It’s about feeling good about what you do, about the moment, about mindfulness – it’s about the process, not the end product. It’s about being together, creating, enjoying it, and that is what culture should be.

Ronnie Hoo at Keens House

I came to Andover in July 1979 because the Lloyds TSB Trust Company employed me as a management accountant. I have not moved from Andover because it’s such a lovely town. My sons have grown up here. I live in Corunna Main. 

Now I am retired I help women who are victims of domestic violence. I support people in court and am a McKenzie friend. I spend a lot of time reading books and studying government websites and guidance, trying to understand the law. I help people with visa problems and to understand immigration law. I help people with parking and road traffic fines. I help people with food banks. I help a lot of people. 

Andover is very cool because it’s such a small town and there are hardly any traffic jams in the mornings or the evenings. I love this place because the people are so lovely. They are very kind and they are very generous. They always come and help people who need help. 

I’d like to say that the people here are so lovely. I came from Singapore many years ago and most people accepted me as part of the Andover community.

I am very, very happy with that.

Roy Chatfield at The Andover Tap 

I was born in Portsmouth. Coming to Andover was a long circuitous journey. I was four years working in West Africa and I didn’t want to live in London again. I got a job with an associate firm in Southampton. They opened an office in Andover so I came to Andover.

The initial idea was to stay here until I got another job, then it was we’ll stay here until I retire. I’ve been retired for 12 years now and I’m still here. There were just too many people that I couldn’t leave behind.

Andover is very conveniently situated. What isn’t in Andover is near at hand. Nearer than when we lived in London, believe me. We are surrounded by lovely countryside. It’s a good community here too. Very friendly. More so than other places I’ve lived. 

Over the past few years since I retired Andover has also changed. It’s become much more multicultural and the creative arts have flourished. There’s now a lot more creative activity here, a lot of it more exciting than anything you might find somewhere more established, like Winchester for example.

There are people that say “Oh there’s nothing to do in Andover”. I’ve heard that in every place I’ve lived, but you get out of any town what you put into it.

Dmitrijs Meiksans at The Guildhall

In 2012, my mum made the life-changing decision to move our family from Latvia to the UK, for a better opportunity in life. We settled in Andover and eventually found a home in the charming Picket Piece.

Andover, with its tight-knit community, has proven to be more than just a location for us. It’s a place where familiarity prevails, and the bonds among residents create a remarkable sense of unity. One standout feature is how everyone seems to know each other, fostering unique interconnectedness, especially evident during challenges like the Coronavirus pandemic. The community coming together showcases the strength and resilience that define Andover.

While Andover may not be everyone’s ideal town, what sets it apart is the tight-knit community spirit – the collective willingness to support each other creates an environment where neighbours become friends and friends become family.

Despite any shortcomings, Andover is our town, bringing a sense of ownership and pride. It’s where our roots have taken hold, and shared experiences have woven our lives into the fabric of Andover. Embracing the town’s uniqueness and appreciating the strength derived from the collective spirit of its residents is a beauty in itself.

Andover may not be perfect for everyone, but for us, and many others, it’s a community we can truly call our own.

Katherine Bird at Andover War Memorial Hospital Maternity Unit

I came to Andover after I met my now husband. I was living in Maidenhead with my then fiancé and I left him and moved in with my new partner in Andover. I came here for love. 

I immediately felt at home. I was welcomed by my partner’s group of friends and other groups that came in. Initially, I wasn’t working in Andover so it was just somewhere I came to see friends and sleep. Then I changed jobs and was in Andover more and I felt so embraced by the community.

The hospital is a community project. It was built through fundraising after the First World War. The Midwives are such enormous pillars of the community who get little recognition. Emotionally and physically holding the parents who come through at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. They are such amazing calm support and are here whenever you need them. A few years ago, we fought very, very hard to keep the maternity unit open. The community came together for the common good. That’s the thing, Andover is about Community it’s about being somewhere that has a huge heart. Where people stop you in the street because they know you, they care about you and they want to chat.

The most powerful thing about Andover is when it puts its mind to something the community comes together and makes things happen. 

Liz Hammond at The River Anton

It was art that brought me to Andover. Specifically, Chapel Art Studios drawing research group facilitated by Yonat Nitzan-Green. Through this, I met some really inspiring artists. We collaborated, talked about drawing, read about drawing, and drew about drawing. It was an amazing experience. As a freelance artist and educator, I then worked for TVBC and CAS delivering many creative community sessions. I fell in love with the people and the place.

I had one of my most treasured creative conversations at this spot by the river with artist Maija Liepins. My collaboration with her was a turning point in my artistic practice and it cemented my feeling of belonging to this town.I have been welcomed and included even though I don’t live in Andover. I feel embedded here. I’m making a home here even though I don’t live here and I like that.

I like the possibilities. There is a lot of opportunity here, especially for creatives. I feel the council are behind the creatives and is willing to support creative ideas. They want art to flourish and they’re doing their best up against all the red tape. I like that Chapel Art Studio exists here and how passionate everyone is about bringing art to the area.

I like the multiculturalism. The mix of people from so many different backgrounds and life experiences. I like the people and the history. 

There’s a lot to like about Andover. There’s magic here.

Iris Anderson at St Marys Church

All my family were brought up in Andover. In 1970 John got a job at locomotors which is sadly no longer with us. We moved to Caesar Close on King Arthurs Way.  and that’s how I came to live here.

The area around the beautiful St Mary’s church is special and there’s lots of local history. We’ve got the Andover museum. We’ve got Chapel Arts Studio in the St Marys church grounds.

There’s the old workhouse, of course it’s not there anymore but most of it stands facing Junction Road and has been turned into housing. There was a huge scandal at the workhouse around 1845 which played a significant part in bringing about the poor laws. Would anybody believe there was a workhouse in Andover?

Silk weavers used to live at the bottom of Vigo Road. There are almshouses called Pollen Row in Marlborough Street and almshouses on the acre just across from Vigo Park. We used to have an Avery in Vigo Park which everybody loved.

Andover is very community-minded. You could live somewhere like Winchester or Salisbury and nobody would know you from one end to the other end. In Andover, everybody knows everybody and if anything happens the community comes together which is a wonderful spirit.

Jennifer Penny

In the mid sixties we moved down with the London overspill because of my husbands job. He was a milkman. Andover creameries was bought out by Express Dairies. It was fabulous because we had a brand new house. The locals in the shops weren’t keen on serving us and would natter away and ignore you as a customer. I’ve walked out of lots of shops and sworn never to go back.  

Things took quite a long time to change, they just couldn’t see that we were bringing a lot of money into their town. That’s all in the past now and things are better.

If you were growing up in the 50’s and 60’s you’ve had to work very hard to get any equality today. I had two kids and remember having to have my husband or a guarantors signature to buy a washing machine! It was horrendous. You couldn’t do anything without somebodies agreement.

Things have improved, it’s so nice to be a single woman able to go and do what you want, when you want.  

I’m very thankful for the national health service. I’ve had three years of quite bad health, including cancer. I’m thankful that I’ve had three extra years quality of life, God bless the NHS.

Marta Lichocinska

I’m originally from Poland.

I came to England 20 years ago and we found jobs in Andover.

I’m not very strongly connected with Andover town itself but with people.

I’m working in a local school, with the local community, so the people are a really strong factor.

Not so much the town itself, because I’m not here very often.

I have been working as the artist in residence in the Chapel on some large scale paintings.

I really enjoyed this project.

This is a perfect ending to the whole story with you being in the studio taking photographs.

Mac McIver

I worked for the MOD in Cirencester and my job brought me here around 1983. I was working for the United States Airforce and took a promotion board, passed it and was accepted to go to Netheravon with the REME. Rather than commute everyday I decided to move to Andover. 

The town is very unfriendly. I think there’s four or five different factions within the town itself. You have the original Andoverians, the London overspill, people like myself who came to this area due to their jobs, and then you’ve got the military side. At times this causes some ill feeling within the younger generations. 

The community always seemed more friendly in Cirencester, coming here you could almost feel “hey hey here comes an outsider”.

Susan Woodhead

People are always very generous if they garden and they give you cuttings of things they have grown. 

The Hellebores which have just gone to a very green colour but were a rich burgundy colour a about a month ago, they came from a friends garden. And another friend in Romsey, who’s no longer alive, she gave me a beautiful little plant, a Pulmonaria, a Lungwort which seeds and flourishes freely on the chalk and produces lots of plants. I had that in my previous house and brought cuttings with me and I’ve given lots of cuttings of that to other people. It’s a wonderful plant because it comes out in the early spring and flowers in march. I think of her and that’s a lovely memory to have. 

And then my lilies of the valley, which again was a little tiny clump which somebody gave to me and this year I’m going to have about 50 lilies of the valley. 

It’s just a joy, it’s just a joy.

My garden is my sanctuary and it’s the place that I find tranquility and balance in my life. It’s the place where very often my heart is.

Luke M

I lived in Ireland with my dad years when I was sixteen. Dad moved back to Test Valley to live with a lady in Stockbridge, she was the manager of a hotel in Leckford. So he got a job and as soon as I turned eighteen he got me a job working out of Andover. I moved into Andover and stayed until I was about twenty. Then I moved to America. I lived in California for seven years, got married, got divorced, came back, lived in London for a bit and then ended up back to Andover.  

I like Andover and enjoy living here. Andover is one of those places that’s big enough to live in, get on with your own stuff, work, keep your head down and nobody knows you. It’s not like Basingstoke or London where nobody knows each other. You’ve got that in between community, which I like. It’s the same as everywhere I’ve lived, it’s all about what you make it. If you want to surround yourself with idiots, you are going to be surrounded with idiots. If you want to surround yourself with good people, you can do that, because there are plenty of good people in Andover.

People need to respect each other a bit more. 

Football is powerful. If anyone is going through tough times or they need a focus then I recommend Sunday league football, or any kind of football, it really helps. I was lucky to find this team, not a lot of big egos. Win or loose, we always support each other, on or off the pitch.

Suzy Ebanks

I was born at Andover hospital in 1958. I’ve lived here all my life.

We have to go else where for shopping because we just haven’t got any shops anymore. Our Andover used to be a lovely little town. We had beautiful shops and now we have nothing. 

The council haven’t invested in us. They need to lower the rates of the shops so we can get our shops back. Make the prices affordable for the retailers so they can make money. So they don’t all shut down. All we get is cafes, betting offices and hairdressers.

Agnieszka Kostecka

I’m from Poland, down in the south by the mountains. I came for a holidays 15 years ago and never went home. I would like to stay. 

It’s really good and a really nice quiet area, I really like it here.

I don’t have many friends because I have a social phobia, it’s hard. I’ve got a few friends but they live in Southampton.

I was thinking I can get nice pictures with me, especially with me because I’m always doing pictures for the kids and I’m not there. I don’t have many portraits of me. Thank you, I really appreciate this thank you so much thank you.

Ben Betteridge

I’m from Oxford. I met my partner Peta on tinder and she moved up to Oxford to be with me. We moved in together and started a family. Childcare prices as well as mortgage and everything else got on top of us. Fortunately our inlaws were in a position to help with childcare. We made the decision to sell our property in Oxford and move to Andover for an easier and more sustainable family life.

It’s pretty cool here. Relatively quiet and it’s got everything you need. Basingstoke is half an hour away, Bournmouth an hour, London only an hour and a bit away, nowhere’s too far. It’s good enough here, nice and quiet. A lot different to Oxford with regards to busyness but everything’s on the doorstep if you need it.

Mind your own business, you live your life and let other people live theirs however they wish. Be who they want, do what they want. Don’t push your ideologies onto anyone and don’t let anyone push their ideologies onto you and your family. Simply put,

People should stay in our own lane. There’s stresses going on in everyones life and we don’t need to have that added hate from each other as well. If this could be printed on the front page of a newspaper and everyone could see it I think this would help things be happier in the world. 

Mind your own business. 

Katie Garwood

I was born in Andover and left when I was 18. I went to the London College of Fashion, completing a degree in fashion management, thinking I would stay there. You always get dragged back!

I returned to Andover after 6 fulfilling years in London, to have my son. My family were here and that’s important to me. It was just about the quality of life really.

I was 24 when I came back and my attitude towards Andover has changed a lot over the last 3 years. Close friends have moved away from the area so I don’t have a strong network close anymore. However, forming the group “Stand Together Andover” has brought a sense of community back to me. I’ve realised that without forming the group I wouldn’t have met all the great people involved.

I’m grateful for the local people around me who I can lean on for support and guidance. We bounce off each other. I never thought I would come across such a good tribe. Collectively we are so strong.

I’ve realised that Andovers not quite so bad. There’s lots of caring and kind people here who want to make a difference.

I want people to know how inspiring the younger generation are. There is power in the way young people come together as a group. They are more aware, more open minded. The kids are bloody awesome.

Nigel Bealey

I was born in the village of Hatherden in a council house.

My father was an engineer, I wanted to be an engineer too and here I am now.

I started photography back in the early 80’s. A couple of mates were in the pub and they had these lovely prints of the formula one at brands hatch. I had a Kodak Ektra 110 camera for christmas and it was poor, really poor. I couldn’t believe what they had, they had all these lovely, sharp, vibrant prints and I was amazed. I bombarded them with questions. A week later I had an Olympus OM1 and it all started from there. I didn’t have any money so I got it from a mates catalogue, I paid more than I should have done but I could pay him a little bit every week. Little acorns. And here we are 43 years later and I’ve got an ARPS from the Royal Photographic Society that I had to work really hard for and I’m very, very proud of that.

 I speak as I find.

I want the world to be fairer. We should all treat people with trust, dignity and respect. I just want the world to be a great place to live in.

Debbie Edgington 

My parents moved down with the London overspill in 1967. We moved onto an estate, Cricketers Way, which was newly built. I grew up on the estate. I went to Shepherds Spring infant and junior school, then went onto Winton and further education at Cricklade and Salisbury college. 

I wouldn’t say there’s a great deal of facilities here. I know they’re trying their best to have a bit more but there’s not enough. There’s not enough for young children and I just feel that when we were younger there was a lot more to do. Well we done our own thing., we made our own games up. Nowadays it’s all children on their devices, obviously things have changed so much. 

I feel that if we want to do anything as grown ups, we have to go out of town to find nicer places to travel to. Which is quite nice to do as it gets you out, but actually our own community there’s not really much that offers us anything.

I want the retirement age to be lowered. So I can spend more time with my grandchildren. So I don’t have to work up until 65 or 66 it probably will be by the time I leave work. 

Everyone should all mix in as families how they used to years ago and help out especially with the elderly.  I do quite a lot for elderly people, it might be just a pedicure or something or to go around and do a bit of  shopping. Families seem to have drifted and we haven’t got so much of that anymore. 

Anita Nutter

I don’t like my own company. I like to meet people, I like to see places, I like to chat to new people. I’m very sociable.

I have to be doing something all the time. The local people are very nice. I’ve started volunteering, phoning up people who are bereaved because I’m bereaved. I’ve been bereaved. For 7 years I’ve been on my own. Except for the lodgers, I took in lodgers when I moved here and that was great because they are good company. I joined the Andover Baptist church, it’s very friendly and nice there.

I have a camper van and I’m going to explore the area a lot more.

My partner was a master photographer and I was a DPAGB, so I was one under him. And every time I won a competition people said he was doing the work. So when he died, I had to carry on and show everybody that it was my work. And I think that shocked a few people, they didn’t think a woman could do it. 

I also did a lot of judging. Women judge differently than men, they have a different eye and see different things. They said you are right about that and the men weren’t keen on having a woman judge. 

Men are much more technical. Women are more creative sometimes.

Be nice to each other.   

Pauline Broad

When I finished college in 1962, all firms were run by men. All managers were men. Women were definitely secondary usually working in secretarial and support roles.

I don’t think equality will ever come because it’s very difficult to combine a family with a responsible job. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision. I didn’t want to be the president of a company, chief executive or anything like that. It was bad enough sitting next to “him”. It was always a man, there were few women on the board, one token woman perhaps to six or seven men.

I’ve worked overseas for small companies, big companies and been self employed. Being self employed as a French tutor was quite rewarding. It was all about helping people to pass exams and get a job. Which I liked, I don’t like thinking about myself really. 

Now I’m retired I like voluntary work, probably because I like to feel useful.

I gather that things have improved very slowly for women. I’m glad not to be working. I’m glad I lived when I did. We had the war and rationing for ten years afterwards. Things were drab. we played on bomb sites but everybody was in the same boat. We were happy and those were the days.

Eva Wheeler

At 19 and 20 years old my parents left Spain to come here. Franco was just coming out of power. There was a massive economic depression and no work. 

A couple of years later, after they’d worked and saved, they went back to Spain and found nothing much had changed. So they came back to Andover and decided to stay. They made friends, found jobs, learned the language and here I am 52 years later.

A lot more people from further away have come to live in Andover compared to how small it was. It’s become a lot more diverse.

I enjoy going out, you see the same faces, its nice. You do get familiar with the people around you, everyone is super friendly and people help each other. It’s a friendly community, everyone is willing to help if you need it. 

I do like where we live.

Helen Jephcott

I moved to Andover in 1993. I love Andover, I absolutely love andover. 

I used to work at the college and met a lot of people there. I used to work at the community hall on King Arthurs Way and got really involved in the community and met so many people. Everyone helps everyone out.

There’s lots of green open spaces. It’s a lovely place to bring your children up I wouldn’t want my kids to be brought up anyone else.   

My job in the funeral industry makes me appreciate my family even more. It makes me appreciate my kids, my parents, my friends because you do see the other side of it. And life isn’t forever and it’s for living.

The funeral industry is very male dominated. To have females is just amazing because females have that caring touch. They look after peoples loved ones, their care and attention is amazing. They are a lot more emotional about it so they want to do their best, they want to put the best into it. 

On my team I have a female conductor who is absolutely fantastic and when people see a female conductor they always comment on how lovely it is. It’s not what you see everyday. We are going to take over the funeral industry.

I think it’s fantastic what you are doing. There are so many people under represented and everyone meeds and deserves a voice. I think it’s amazing.

Sam Benson

I came from London. I was sick of London so I tried to look at somewhere that has a bit of country, a bit of town, a bit of community. I think London lacks community sometimes. 

We had to commute to London so looked at places on the train line. We came to see Andover and it felt like home already and the house prices were quite attractive as well. Thats the reason why we moved to Andover.

Andover is completely different from London. London is isolated and lonely what I see here is friendly people. When I first moved here I was so surprised when people said good morning to me, which is a strange thing to say but it’s something that is totally new to me. It’s such a simple thing but it really makes your day. If you need help there is always someone out there who is willing to help, this is not something you find in London.

One of the biggest things I love to do is to walking around the countryside looking at the views. I like walking my dogs, I like meeting new people, I like coming home and being warm in my own environment. I like inviting people over to enjoy the warmth with me. I’m the hostess with the mostest and I really like having everyone around me. 

I also like to have my own time and have a warm cup of tea.

John Wheeler

It does make you angry that people take advantage of other people.

There’s still misogyny, because people don’t feel they are going to get support if they do say “look this happened”.

Things are starting to improve because things are publicised more widely, information can become available and that’s probably one upside of social media. People can see that if someone does make a stand they’ll get support, other people will actually stand up to the plate and say “this happened to me as well, I didn’t say anything because I felt on my own”. You get a bit more collective support.

There are signs of improvement but its frustrating that’s its taken this long. Hopefully more people will stand up and not tolerate any form of abuse.

Sophie Williams

My family live in Ludgershall and I came to secondary school in Andover. I’ve always had Andover as a base point, even when I went to university in Liverpool I would always come back to Andover.

I think it’s lovely here. Everyone always slates Andover and how is a terrible place to live and there’s so much wrong with it. But it’s what you make it, and as long as you know nice people it’s a lovely area there’s loads to do it’s a lovely place.

Don’t stress about the little things. There’s so much more to life, take a step back and look around and enjoy it.

Try to be less judgemental. You can be so judgemental, not necessarily about others but about yourself. You should really learn to appreciate everything you’ve got and love the little bits about yourself that maybe you didn’t realise you had before.

Margaret Willoughby

I’ve always wanted to have my nose pierced but up until now I’ve not had the confidence, but now all of a sudden I have so I just went for it. Confidence comes with age. 

And the tattoos, I hated them when I was young but since ive been older I just love them, I see them as an art form.

At the age of 21 I had my son. My mum had died previous to that and I was living with my younger brother in a caravan. When the baby came along we needed a house, so luckily enough I got a council house. 

The house I’m living in now is not the original one, because when they did the remedial work on Pilgrims Way I applied to have this two bedroom house. I knew the garden got the sun all day and I wanted a house with the stairs in the hallway as opposed to the stairs in a room. 

That’s how I’ve ended up here and since then I bought it. 

It’s my own, it’s all paid off. It’s a nice spot.

I wish the world was a kinder place. Be at peace with everybody and be kind.  

Sarah Johnson

My dad was in the army, we moved here when I was 12 and I started at Winton in what was the second year of secondary school. 

Everybody else had gone through infants and juniors together and formed friendship groups and then I come along and didn’t fit in. I felt like I latched on. Those friendships aren’t real friendships and when I left school I didn’t see anybody anymore. 

Then you go through life and you get to an age when you realise those friendships aren’t real. I was there for them yet they were not there for me. I couldn’t necessarily talk to them about any issues or problems I was having. 

As you get older you pick your friends more wisely. You start to know the people who will be there for you if you need them in a crisis, or you are feeling down you know you can just call and they will support you. 

These are the friends you can count on. 

Milly Jephcott

School is good, sometimes it can get boring. 

This community is nice.

Sexuality and stuff, race, people don’t get treated the same. 

This needs to be explained more. I feel like most women don’t feel safe in their area and workplace, they should feel safe everywhere but they don’t. Men think they have all the power and think they can do what they want and get away with it. 

They think this because they do get away with it.

Treat everybody the same.

Toby Philip Pearce

I am me. 

I am who I am and I’m OK with that. 

I don’t want to be seen as disabled or the child who has seizures. 

I want people to see me as just a boy who does things differently. I want to be known as the boy who smiles all the time, the boy who enjoys life and is a happy soul. 

That’s what I want people to see in me. 

Kerry Gillespie

I was born in Buckinghamshire and grew up with my dad who unfortunately passed away when I was fourteen. That’s probably the biggest thing that’s shaped me in my life. 

I moved to Hampshire in 1999 and lived in Gosport until 2009. I went to South Africa and spent seven years over there and then, in 2015 it was time to come home. I went to Nether Wallop, and then to Tangley and then to Andover. And here I am and here I will stay.

I had a very interesting work life. I had my own company in South Africa heading up a 50 seat call centre. Unfortunately, I came back and am now registered disabled.

I’ve got three kids, obviously all grown up and now my life is my furry children, I have three pugs.

It’s great here. Close to town, easy. The communal gardens are nice, people are pleasant and we get on well with the neighbours.

Simon Peter Green

I first came to Andover as part of the London overspill. My family uprooted from Brixton in Lambeth to Cricketers Way in 1968.  Admirals Way was finished, River Way was finished and Cricketers Way was half finished. All the other estates were still open fields full of grass, cows and watercress.

It’s beautiful in North West Hamsphire. We are near some incredible countryside, especially out towards Chute,  Avebury, Stonehenge, the Bourne Valley, the North Wessex Downs and South towards Winchester. We are near London so if you get bored you can easily get up to the capital city. 

I would like to call for equality, a fundamental human right the same as air, food, water, and shelter. The world we are living in is not equal. There are millions of people in struggle, the poor, the old, the marginalised, minorities, blah, blah. Some people live a tough life and some people live an easier life.

I want working class people to have much more control over how society is managed. Even though we do all the work, we haven’t got much say about what happens. We need decent pay, a decent environment, decent schools, decent hospitals, decent diet, decent housing, dentists, increased family time to rest and relax, bread and roses.

If I had my way working class people would play a much bigger role in how society is organised and there would be more fairness.

Nextdoor Andover – Word Salad

I have curated sentences from audio recordings of participant interviews and paired them with a sequence of images, creating a short film.

The film, designed to respect the limited time and attention of exhibition visitors, loops on a plasma screen in the gallery’s corner. Its purpose is to offer an glimpse into the longer narrative without overwhelming the audience.

For those seeking a deeper engagement, a printed catalogue is available. This catalogue features both the images and the full interviews, allowing visitors to explore the material in greater detail at their own pace, perhaps accompanied by a mug of coffee in the comfort of their home.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to the sitters for your trust, stories and portraits.

To Cheryl Green, Lucy Agius, Xuesheng Ma, and Dave Smith for your encouragement and patient ear.

To Anna Fox, Karen Knorr, Jean Wainwright, Effie Paleologou, and Sunil Gupta for your help in developing the concept. 

To Imogen Colley, Susan Risdale, Ash-Lee James, Jackie Sarafopoulos and Susanne Hasselmann for your patience, energy, and faith in the value of this work.

To Liz Hammond, Sophie Willoughby, Ian Grierson, Lydia Fee, Sarah Lindsell, and Rebecca Maddox for your support.