MEG Newsletter & Social Evening

The Milford Environment Group (MEG) & Wildlife Recording Group have been busy all around Milford on Sea. You can read about all of their activities & adventures on the link below.

www.milfordonsea.org/#/meg-newsletter-1

MEG are also holding a Social Evening on the 19th November. The evening involves a talk about ‘Pennington & Keyhaven Marshes and Sturt Pond Nature Reserves’ by Pete Durnell (The Nature Reserve Manager). There will also be a small buffet. If you would like to go along, or simply find out more please take a look in the new Community Calendar from the link below.

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Get on your bike!

A new bicycle hire business has started in Milford on Sea. You may well have noticed this already, due to the bike positioned on the grass outside Harvest House B&B in Lymington Road. The new venture is called ‘Going Dutch Bicycle Hire’ run by Jon Devereux. The business name is inspired by the type of bikes they have available, as you may have guessed the bikes are from The Netherlands & like the thousands that can be seen on the streets of Amsterdam every day.  If you fancy a day in the saddle give Jon a call on 07968 765433, or visit their shiny new website from the link below.

http://www.goingdutchbicyclehire.co.uk/

Three Tenor’s Sell Out

Tickets for the forthcoming ‘Mince Pies, Mistletoe and Mischief’ performance by ‘Milford’s Three Tenors’ went on sale last Monday at Milford on Sea Community Centre. The temporary box office for the day was due to open at 10am, and a queue started to form from around 8.30am. As you may expect, the 146 tickets sold out almost immediately, leaving scores of people without a ticket. The guy’s have are now planning to do a second show during December on a date yet to be confirmed. There is a now list on the inside window of the Community Centre for anyone who wants to add their name to a ‘ticket waiting list’. At the last count it already contains over 100 names!  When the new date is announced it will appear in the Village Community Calendar: http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

...STOP PRESS... We have just heard the additional performance is now at 8.30pm on the 6th December......

Mince Pies, Mistletoe and Mischief is a gala operatic performance from Milford's Three Tenors with a splattering of spontaneous humour. The evening brings together professional opera singers; Milford's own Colin Judson, Nick Ransley & Wynne Evans (from the ‘Go Compare’ TV advert). Anyone who saw the boys perform at the Milford Arts & Music Festival will be looking forward to being thrilled once again. Proceeds will be going to the new Milford Village Music Trust Fund founded by Colin Judson in support of young people in the village who have musical talent and who are in need of financial assistance to develop that ability.

To find out more about Milford's Three Tenors, please visit: http://www.maestro-class.com/

More about the individual artists :

Colin Judson: http://www.colinjudson.co.uk/

Wynne Evans: http://www.wynneevans.co.uk/

Nicholas Ransley: http://www.nicholasransley.com/

Spain comes to Westover Hall

Westover Hall are holding a ‘Spanish Night’ in aid of Naomi House Children’s Hospice next Wednesday, 10th November. A last few tickets are still available, so you would like enjoy a special Spanish Night, with a fabulous three course dinner including tapas, plus entertainment from Classic Spanish Guitarist & flamenco dancers it might be best to book now. The event starts with a welcome glass of Cava from 7pm. Tickets are £35 per person.

If you can’t make that one, Westover Hall are now offering Full Afternoon Tea with 2 for the price of 1! Now, that is right up my street, a classic British Afternoon Tea with fresh baked scones, jam & Cream, homemade cakes & sandwiches!  At only £19.50 for the lot, I am planning to treat my wife.  She doesn’t like cream, but being a martyr I will only be too happy to help her out with her scones!  I know, she is lucky that I am so chivalrous.

To book for the Spanish Night: Please call Westover Hall on 01590 643044 or e-mail:

info@westoverhallhotel.com

Mark wins Retail Award

One of our local newsagents, Mark Cumming of The Village News in the heart of Milford on Sea village, has won a major regional Retail Excellence Award.

Mark was aware of his nomination when he attended the ‘Retail Excellence Awards 2010 Presentation Evening at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton, what he did not know, was that he was about to be presented with the CTN (Confectionery, Tobacco & News) Sector Runner Up for the NFRN South East Region.

Congratulations Mark, it was worth wearing a suit to the evening!

Magic Night at Zaika

To celebrate Fireworks Night, (& having decided a firework display would not be too practial inside of a Milford on Sea restaurant!), Zaika are having an Evening of Magic on the 5th of November.

Why not go along & enjoy ther fun.

Zaika is open from 6pm, ideal if you want to eat before going onto your firework party!

To Book please call: 01590 643084 (Booking recommended)

Zaika Indian Restaurant website:

http://www.zaikanewforest.co.uk/ 

New Producers Market in Everton

Following the end of the farmers market’s at Braxton Gardens in Milford on Sea, we are pleased to report that the ‘New Forest Marque Producers Market’ is moving just across the road! The relocated farmers markets will be held on the first Saturday of each month at Everton Nurseries Garden Centre, which is on the main Lymington to New Milton road. The market will run from 9am to 3pm every first Saturday. Having not really enjoyed the muddy field at Braxton, we are now looking forward to buying some local produce at the new market’s first day on Saturday the 6th November.

Everton Nurseries Garden Centre website: http://www.evertonnurseries.co.uk/

See market dates on the Milford on Sea Community Calendar:
http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Food Week Public Meeting

I know open meetings are generally boring to attend, but why not make the exception with this one. Everyone in the village is invited to come along to find out what is being planned to happen in April next year.  You can even get involved to lend a hand at some events if you wish. We only expect the meeting to last around an hour.

Milford on Sea Food Week website:

http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

Wildlife Trust launch book

We have heard from Peter Hutchings that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust are just entering their 50th Anniversary year.

To mark the occasion they have produced an impressively illustrated book called ‘Wild Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’. The new publication has a foreword by Chris Packham, who says; "Such is the abundance of species in Hampshire. We have the rare, the glamorous, the bizarre and the beautiful. The author's (Clive Chatters) admiration, lifelong experience and enthusiasm for the region shine through in this exploration of our local wildlife".

If you would like a copy, the book costs £14.99 and proceeds go to support the Wildlife Trust's conservation work. Copies can be ordered online at http://www.hwt.org.uk/ or call 01489 774400

From Wind Farm to Solar

Following our recent story about the proposed Wind Farm we have heard from a Milford on Sea resident who runs a local Solar Energy company which is an approved solar photovoltaic installation company under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. A lot of long words there that I don’t understand, but basically Aztec Solar provide systems to generate your own electricity using the power of the sun.

To encourage people to use solar energy the 'Green Energy Cash Back scheme' was launched in April 2010. It is a government backed scheme designed to incentivise people to generate their own zero carbon electricity using solar systems. The encouragement takes the form of a very generous payment scheme, called the "Feed in Tariff" and it's guaranteed and index linked for 25 years.

If you would like any more information, you can find it on their website below.

Aztec Solar website: http://www.aztecsolar.co.uk/

Ashtons start letting service

Local village estate agents, Ashtons have announced that they are now offering a lettings service as well as residential sales. There is a strong demand for rental property in the area, both from local residents and from visitors to the area who wish to rent in the locality initially to get a true feel of living here before making a big move on a permanent basis.

If you have a property to let, or are looking for a property to rent, I’m sure Sarah and Linda will be happy to help.

25 High Street, Milford on Sea | Tel: 01590 644191.

Ashtons website: http://www.ashtonsrealestate.com/

Would you like a Milford on Sea twin?

Thanks to the Village Voice, I recently discovered that Hordle is twinned with Yerville, not far from my old adopted homeland in Deauville, France. I already knew that Lymington has a Twinning Association. I guess it is because Lymington is so posh that they can have three twinned towns, Vitré in France, Almansa in Spain, and Mosbach in Germany. I am not sure if these should be more accurately described as ‘tripleted towns’?

As you may expect, the fact that Milford on Sea hasn’t even got one ‘Twinned Town’ got me thinking. My first reaction was to see if we could nick one of Lymington’s friends, but that plan may not be easy to execute. I therefore wondered why we did not get a twin when the others did. I am unsure whether this is due to us never considering the concept, or whether we have approached towns around the world to only receive abject rejection.

Previous readers will of course know that a few years ago we emigrated to France, for 6 weeks, so almost being a Frenchman myself, I consider myself an expert of cultural exchanges.  I asked a few friends for their ideas of places for us to twin with, Alistair came up with Monte Carlo, Colin thought New York might be good, Jon suggested Blackpool (Don’t think he really got the gist of the twinning concept!), and Bill recommended that I just join the Lymington or Hordle groups & leave the other poor unsuspecting international towns alone.

Sometimes I really wonder why I ask for opinions from the half-witted friends I have. My wife, ever interested in my fanciful projects, helped by suggesting; ‘Baghdad’, adding that I should perhaps go on a research mission for a year or so.

If you have any ridiculous suggestions of Towns we should twin with just let us know by posting a comment below. Should you prefer to get involved in some ‘proper’ local Twinning Associations, take a look at the following links:

Hordle & District Twinning Association:

www.hordle-twinning.co.uk

Lymington & District Town Twinning Association

www.lymingtontwinning.weebly.com

www.lymington.org/towntwinning

www.lymingtoninternationaltwinningassociation.co.uk

Are we going to lose our Carnival?

The Milford on Sea Carnival is one of the highlights of our village summer. The event has raised money for good causes, and provided many days of fun for villagers & holidaymakers alike. At a recent open village meeting it was revealed that the carnival needs more floats joining the procession to keep it viable. The organising committee are also in dire need of some more ‘helping hands’. The current tough economic times are of course adding pressure to people participating, but the main success of any float is not really the cost, it is more to do with creativity & the simple willingness to be involved. Indeed, a number of ‘floats’ are now dressed vans, classic cars or ‘walking groups’, which enable more people to get involved, even if they do not have access to a lorry. Having watched the carnival for several years, it is a great day of ‘old fashioned village life’ which achieves a simple aim of bringing people together. The carnival crosses all age boundary’s, it is great to see the young one’s beaming faces & the adults dressed in costumes they would never normally consider! The smiles run from one end of the village to the other when everyone enters the spirit of the day.

Our Milford on Sea Carnival is organised by the Milford on Sea Village Community Committee, which was founded in 1977 to create the village celebrations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Since then they have annually run the Carnival, the May Fayre & the Christmas ‘Carols on the Green’. Like some many great activities & events in our village, the Milford on Sea Carnival is run by a small group of dedicated volunteers.

It would be sad to think the carnival is under real threat due to dwindling support, but the event is of course totally dependent on local people getting involved. If you are a member of a local club or association, or run any type of local business, why not give some thought as to how you could be involved with a float next year? Alternatively, if you can spare a few hours as an individual volunteer, this would also be gratefully received. There is a real chance we may have seen our last village carnival unless more people step forward to help run the event, or join the procession. Let’s not lose this ‘old time’ tradition from our seaside village.

To get involved or lend a hand please contact:

Ray Sales, Milford on Sea Village Community Committee Chairman on 01590 643149 | e-mail: info@milfordcarnival.com

Milford on Sea Carnival website:

http://www.milfordcarnival.com/

Wind Farm plans revealed

Plans of the proposed giant wind farm west of the Isle of Wight & 12 miles from the New Forest coastline (Sounds like that could be due south of Milford on Sea?), will be on display at St Thomas’s Church Hall on the 11th November. The Wind Farm would apparently be the size of Anglesey & if approved building would commence in 2016.

The Wind Farm would be built by a Dutch company, Eneco, & would comprise of 200 wind turbines rising 145 metres from the water. It has been reported in the Daily Echo that the £175m scheme will generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes and is expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs to the area. An Eneco representative was reported in the Daily Echo as saying: “They will only be seen far in the distance on a clear day.” Whilst it is likely that environmental groups will raise objections, it appears that support can be found in council offices & at Westminster. If you would like to see the plans, ask questions or air your views you can visit the exhibition below.

Wind Farm Exhibition: 11th November | 2.30pm to 8.30pm

Location: St Thomas Church Hall, St Thomas’s Street, Lymington

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Flu Jabs

The next round of Flu Jabs are being held at Milford Medical Centre in Sea Road on: 

Thursday: 11th November 2010 - 2pm to 6pm

Monday: 29th November 2010 - 2pm to 5pm

To Book please call: 01590 643022

http://www.milfordmedicalcentre.com/ 

Milford on Sea Guides Reunion

More than a hundred of Milford’s past and present 1st Milford on Sea Guides and Guiders, friends and supporters of the Company came from across the country as well as locally and gathered in Milford Church Hall recently (16th October 2010) to celebrate the Centenary of the founding of the Girl Guide movement.

One side of the hall was given over to a display of photographs and memorabilia showing Milford Guides and their activities across the nine decades from the 1920s to the present day. Some former Guides brought their Guide and Brownie uniforms from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, their badges and even their camp blanket. Much hilarity and reminiscing resulted as ladies recognised themselves and friends of their youth. Recollections of camping escapades, map reading mishaps and the like abounded, comments such as “look at those hats” and “do you remember …..” echoed round the hall. Many of the photographs had very generously been loaned for the evening by former Guides and supplemented those collected over the years by the Company, with some coming from Milford’s Historical Society.

Milford’s present day Brownies and Rainbows entertained the gathering with songs they had learned at their meetings and this was followed with everyone joining in a selection of favourite campfire songs. After which came the ceremonial cutting of a Centenary cake by Mrs. Janet Parker the Guide County Commissioner who was helped by the youngest of Milford’s Rainbows present. It was then time for the Brownies and Rainbows to go home to bed, each taking with them a slice of the celebratory cake.

Following supper and more reminiscing, catching up and story-telling, Guide Arnewood District President, Mrs. Marcia Baker sprang a surprise when she announced a further celebration was to be marked that evening as the previous day had been the 90th Birthday of probably Milford’s longest serving Guide, and Captain of the Milford Company for 45 years, Mrs. Freda Cheyney (formerly Miss Freda Lane). With a resounding rendition of “Happy Birthday” Freda was presented with a floral decoration and a photograph album recording her Guiding years, which had plenty of space left for photos taken during the evening. She was then called upon to blow out her candles and cut the second cake of the evening, her own Birthday Cake.  Both celebratory cakes were made by Carole Deacon, Guide Division Commissioner.

The evening closed with the singing of the Guides’ traditional Taps but the reminiscing continued out into the car park and beyond.

Freda Cheyney

Freda, Freda Lane as she was then, first enrolled in Milford Guides in 1933 and her membership continued thus -

1st Milford-on-Sea Guide Company: Guide 1933-1938

1st Milford-on-Sea Rangers: Lieutenant 1938-1940

1st Milford-on-Sea Guide Company: Lieutenant 1939-1941
1st Milford-on-Sea Guide Company: Captain 1941-1986

Arnewood District Commissioner: 1975-1986

Under the rules as set down by the Guide Association Freda retired from active guiding at age 65 in 1986. However that was by no means the end of her association with Guiding in Milford, Freda is a member of the Trefoil Guild and also serves on the Milford Guide Hut Committee and continues still to manage the Hut bookings. Indeed at the recent Book Sale to raise Hut Funds, she was at her table by the door, cash box to hand collecting the entry money.

In July 2009 Freda was presented with a certificate to mark her 50+ years service to Guiding by the Guide County Commissioner.

The History of 1st Milford-on-Sea Guide Company

Milford Girl Guides were started in 1918 by Miss Mollie Woodd. The 1st Milford-on-Sea Guide Company was duly registered at the Girl Guides Association Headquarters on 5th July 1919. Until the mid-1930s the Guides met in the W.I. Hall which was in Keyhaven Road where they had a cupboard for their belongings, or in a barn in Lawn Road behind Carringtons. About 1935 Mrs Woodd bought what was then Ede’s Building Yard off Sea Road and presented it to the Guides. There was a tumbledown hut on the site which they could then use for meetings. It was apparently very draughty but the Guides scrubbed it out and were pleased to have their own home.

Plans were then drawn up and work started in 1937 to build a new, permanent, purpose-built hut so the Guides arranged various entertainments and a Jumble Sale was held raising £7 10s. 0d. to help defray the cost of furnishing, fitting out etc. To assist the fund raising a splendid dance held at Elmers Court raised £55 (all the accounts for that event have been saved and are now preserved in an album and very interesting reading they make too!).

The new hut was finished in about 1938 and the Guides moved in, delighted with their new home even if it did have a cess pit and elsan toilets.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939 the Home Guard requisitioned the hut and the Guides returned to their previous accommodation in the barn behind Carrington’s until hostilities ceased. It was not all doom and despondency however, the Home Guard paid £40 a month in rent for the use of the hut and had main drainage installed together with “pull flush” toilets.

At the end of the war the hut was returned to Guides and there they, the Brownies and (since 1991) the Rainbows have continued to meet ever since.

Unfortunately Milford’s Guide Unit of some fourteen girls is currently without any Guiders as those who had run the Company all went up to Universities in other parts of the country in September and are, therefore, unable to continue. So if anyone is able to offer any help at all and is over 18 years of age please contact Mrs Carole Deacon (01590 678986) the local Division Commissioner. Milford Guides would be very grateful if someone would come forward and keep their unit running otherwise it may have to close.

Village Blood Donation ends

The National Blood Service have advised us that with regret, the blood donation sessions at All Saints Church Hall in Milford on Sea have come to end. Fortunately, there remains an opportunity to donate blood in nearby New Milton or Lymington. The programme is below for those interested.

New Milton Memorial Centre, Whitefield Road, New Milton, BH25 6DE

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 13:00 to 15:25 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 13:00 to 15:25 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Lymington Masonic Hall, High Street, Lymington, SO41 9AA

Friday, October 29, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Thursday, December 23, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, February 9, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Friday, May 6, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Mole Men invade Village Green

They’re back! The infamous ‘Milford on Sea Mole Men’ have again returned to the village. This time they are excavating on the Village Green, using the cover story that they are gas men installing a new governor. The official looking plastic fencing doesn’t fool me. For those unaware of the real activities of the ‘Mole Men’ please read our previously published stories below.

January 2010: Lymington Road Slalom

It appears the invisible Mole Men from 'Southern Gas Networks' have appeared in the village. Their hobby is to dig holes that cut roads in half, & then to disappear. Having passed through several times, I have yet to see any Mole Men working. Some may assume that they have left the site, I however have another theory, - they live down the hole. Indeed, there is a whole town of Mole Men right under our feet. I suspect they only come out at night only to replace the batteries in the temporary traffic lights, or to pop down to The Smugglers. The regular traffic queues remind me of my birthplace in London, but without the muggers. If anyone see’s the Mole Men working in Lymington Road, please send in a picture, as I won’t believe you otherwise!

February 2010: Mole Men claim more territory

No sooner do I reveal the truth about the Mole Men living in their hole in Lymington Road that they test my patience by now appearing with a new hole in Cliff Road! Their efforts to conceal their real activity by installing temporary traffic lights and a spurious Southern Gas Networks sign, doesn’t fool me for one minute. I suppose that these could be independent burrowing structures by different tribes of Mole Men, but my theory is that our resident family has tunnelled from one side of the village to the other. Considering the length that the tunnel must be, it is not inconceivable that they are expanding their underground town, bringing their reinforcements in by the dark of night. Not that I am really that bothered, as even Mole Men need to live somewhere. Indeed I am sure if we were asked nicely I guess most of us would not object strongly. (Wouldn’t fancy their chances of getting permission from the Parish Council though). The likelihood is that they are under your house right now. Anyway, I hope I have not alarmed you with my revelation, as I am sure that they are quite friendly, although that may give a nasty nip if approached unexpectedly. (A bit like my wife really).

Footnote: Driving home tonight I spotted a sign saying that Sea Road is going to be closed for a few days from the 10th to 13th February. It seems the mole men are wasting no time in colonising the entire Milford on Sea subterrain. I wonder if we asked them nicely whether they would put in an underground railway? A station in Sea Road car park with a branch line to Hurst Castle could actually be very useful. Do you know anyone in the Milford on Sea Wildlife Group who speaks ‘mole’? Looks like we may need someone to negotiate on behalf of us surface dwellers.

On a related but separate note, I have to say that some readers of these news pages don’t always seem to take my stories seriously. After my story last week on the road mole works in Lymington Road, I then speculated that the holes are dug by Mole Men, who then disappear down the hole to live. My challenge to send in some photo’s showing any men actually working on the site was met with a response, but not quite as expected. Not being an expert on manual labour, I cannot be 100% sure, but I have to say, I do not think the photo’s sent in are genuine. On reflection, I am not sure it is a good idea to ask readers to send in pictures.

New Chef at Westover Hall

We have heard that Craig Watkins has joined the team of Chef's at Westover Hall. Craig was formally at Morton House in Wareham and Babbington House in Somerset, which is well known for its celebrity clientele. Craig's signature dishes include scallops with orange and chorizo, Milford potted lobster and paupiette of lemon sole filled with crab and spinach.  We were pleased to find out that Pastry chef Mike Rossi continues to create his exotic sweets from the kitchen, with my particular favourite being his ‘chocolate stove’.

It appears it could be a good time to test Craig & Mike’s skills and their new menu, as Westover Hall have a number of dining offers running at the moment. One Park Lane is now offering their winter menu with locally sourced game and fish, plus a free welcome glass of champagne for dinner bookings. They also have a new Sunday lunch menu, plus a new daily lunch with two courses & a glass of red or white wine for £15. Not to be left out, the Vista Bistro is offering ‘Buy a main course and receive a starter or sweet free’. Sounds like there is something to suit all taste buds.

Westover Hall Website: http://www.westoverhallhotel.com/

See all the current village dining offers in the Milford on Sea Community Calendar: http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/
- Go the opening page & then use the ‘drop down menu’ to select the ‘Dining Offers’ calendar.

Do you have a website in the village?



If you have a website in Milford on Sea for your business, club or organisation, we are after your help please! As you may know a Community Calendar has recently been launched detailing all of the events, club meetings, classes, courses & church services in the village, plus it even contains local dining offers. The idea of the calendar is for both villagers & visitors to easily find out what they can join in with, & of course, to boost local trade for everyone.

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

If there was a link/s on your site, people would keep returning to your site to see what is going on. Also, the calendar really helps holidaymakers plan when they would like to visit.

If you would add links on your own website, it would really help to promote all that is happening in the village, & genuinely be of benefit to everyone. We have heard that new people coming to the village are already joining in things through seeing the calendar, & of course local people are finding out about things they may not have known. If you would like some artwork & instructions on how to add the links to your site, please contact: david@milfordonsea.org