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Tuesday 17 March 2015

Holland's Present £500 to Guide Hut Roof


Holland's of Milford have made a generous donation of £500 towards the Guide Hut Roof Fund.

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The cheque was presented by Maureen Holland from their 'Make a Difference Locally' fund, to Mrs Jean Halliday (centre) and Mrs Pat Armitage (right) both long serving members of the Milford-on-Sea Guide Headquarters Management Committee.

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Our eighty year old village Guide Hut is a unique local meeting place which was built in 1936 by the local Guide Company. The roof is now in need of essential repairs, and the fundraising efforts are now underway.

The next fundraising event takes place with a Jumble Sale in the Guide Hut this Saturday (21st March) from 10am to 12noon.

Click here to read more about the Guide Hut Roof Fundraising

If you would like to make a donation, please contact the Treasurer of the Milford on Sea Guide Headquarters Management Committee: Jane Etheridge on 01590 642349 or jane.etheridge2@btinternet.com.

Milford on Sea Brownies

Holland's of Milford

Saturday 14 March 2015

New Brasserie with a view

The Marine now has a new enthusiastic general manager, Greg Noble. Since joining, Greg has been busy creating a new 'Brasserie Menu', together with a selection of 'Daily Specials', which will be served at various times in the Brasserie Bar which is now both on the ground first floor.

The Marine accommodates everything from quality breakfasts & lunches to tasty dinners, as well as providing luxury bed and breakfast rooms.

The appearance of the First Floor Restaurant has now become more relaxed by introducing tables and some soft seating. From this weekend you can now enjoy drinks and food in the First Floor Restaurant at all times of day from Wednesday to Saturday. The café/bar remains open from Mondays to Sunday.

On sunny days you will also be able to use the Roof Terrace, with drinks available from the more relaxed environment now in the First Floor Brasserie Bar.

We will be down to check out the new Brasserie Menu soon, but if you would like to see them now, they are available on the website link below.

The Marine
Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PY
www.themarinemos.co.uk

Thursday 12 March 2015

The King's Road is coming

Seven years ago, Heather Lewis, a Lymore resident, wrote a script based in the last few weeks of Christ’s life until the time of Pentecost, told largely by the women who were closest to him. 

Other local residents, Alyson Furness researched the music & Sonia Collyer directed the first production of ‘Passion to Pentecost’ in All Saints church in 2007. It proved to be a moving, powerful experience for audience & cast alike – unable to remain as simply onlookers, but drawn into the questions being posed. 

Now all involved are delighted by a new production – this time renamed ‘The King’s Road’ as a reminder that Christ did not remain in Palestine but is with us in as we along a busy road.

Rehearsals are well under way in All Saints church for the next production of this moving play. 

The event will be in aid of Milford Primary School & Oakhaven Hospice on Thursday 9th April 7pm and Friday 10th April 3pm and 7pm. Tickets are available from Milford on Sea Community Centre Box Office. 

For further information please phone: Christine Luxon 01590 719286 or Stewart 01590 643964.


Wartime Sea Defences Removal

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It is hard to imagine today, but during World War Two Milford on Sea beach was out of bounds and the length of the coast was a line of steel defences designed to thwart any invading troops and their landing equipment.

The Wartime Sea Defences were built in 1940/41 by troops of the Wiltshire Regiment. At the time of being laid on the surface, within two tides they had sunk to around 16 inches deep.

Removal of these Wartime Sea Defences is taking a bit longer than they did to erect.

Courtesy of MoSHRS
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The Milford on Sea Historical Record Society have generously share two newspaper articles which show winter removals using a 'Sea Mule' and small gang of men, and then further removal work in Spring 1949. 

Courtesy of MoSHRS
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It is evident that this was not easy work, not least because of the defences having now sunk to a depth of many feet.

Locally we have a hardy group of people who are members of the Milford on Sea Swimming Society, who regularly swim in the sea all year round. Their Facebook page often mentions sighting of steel tubing as they swim. 

Last month, and 75 years after their construction, the council returned again to once again remove what they could of the remaining Wartime Sea Defences in front of Hordle Cliffs.

Photo by Brian Pearson of MoSSS
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Brian Pearson. an active member of Milford on Sea Swimming Society, captured some excellent photographs of the steel removed and it is quite amazing the volume of the remaining defences that has been removed.

With a bit of luck it is all gone now! 

Photo by Brian Pearson of MoSSS
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Who Nicked Our Pill Box?

If you have known Milford on Sea for a long time you may be able to help throw light on a local mystery.

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The photograph (to the left) shows two World War Two Pill Boxes on the seafront outside of The White House. The first small pentagonal pill box to the left in the picture will be familiar to many, as it still stands in the same position today. 

To the right in the photograph is the much larger pill box which give us our mystery.

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The large pill box looks a substantial structure with more windows than would normally be expected. The roof also appears to have been camouflaged.

It is unclear what the purpose of this second pill box might have been? - As it would not be usual to have two constructions so close together.

Possibly, military commanders felt Milford on Sea was particularly vulnerable and required bolstered defences, but this is just a guess.

So basically, we are trying to find out 'Who Nicked Our Pill Box'?

If you know, or have any ideas on why the larger pill box was built, please drop a line to david@milfordonsea.org

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Milford on Sea Bridge

Another curiosity in the village is something all of us see hundreds of times a year, but many fewer know that this WW2 throw back is there, - or not there, to be exact.

I am talking about the stone capping on top of Milford on Sea Bridge. 

When the bridge was built it had a carved inscription reading 'Milford on Sea Bridge Rebuilt in 1929'. During World War Two, the section containing the words 'Milford on Sea' was chiselled out to make it unreadable, leaving just the inscription 'Bridge Rebuilt in 1929' as we see it today.

All local road signs had also been removed during WW2. This had been done to try to disorientate any invading troops. 

A gallant effort, but not sure it would really have held them up very much!

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Save Our Village Post Office

A group of local Milford on Sea village residents are considering forming a group of organisers and investors to purchase the Milford on Sea Post Office in the high street, in order to maintain postal services for the village. 

At some time or other, it is likely we all find our local Post Office useful, and many of our more elderly residents actually find it vital.

Purchasing the Post Office would be no mean feat, and an expensive exercise, as the property also includes a substantial flat upstairs.

The initial concept would be that a company would be set up, and anyone in the village could buy shares. The company would have Articles of Association to ensure that whilst the property is owned by the group, it would run as a Community Post Office with staff paid from shop profits and rental income from the flat, plus the income from the Post Office operation. This is simply a broad outline to get the juices flowing, and everything is up for discussion by those who get involved.

Whilst the investment is not designed to provide dividends for shareholders, the value of shares may have a capital appreciation based on future property values. The shares would be transferable by inheritance or purchase should a suitable shareholder be found.

There would be many hoops to jump through, not least coming to arrangements to run the Post Office under a new type of structure.

Naturally, there would be an awful lots of things to discuss and organise, but the initial group are confident that sufficient skills lay within the village from experts who may wish to get involved.

Naturally, the biggest challenge will be to raise the funds to found a company to purchase the Post Office.

So, to see if the project has any legs at all, if you are interested in getting involved in the organising group, or just find investing in this venture potentially worthwhile, please drop an e-mail to david@milfordonsea.org and your details will be passed on to the organising group.

If we lose the Post Office it is very unlikely the services will reappear anywhere else in the village. So if you would like this to happen please get in touch.

Time to Time Travel

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New sign at Sturt Pond for anyone interested in time travelling - see you there!

We went the Thursday before last and really enjoyed next Saturday. 

Planning to go again last Thursday to visit Cheltenham Races tomorrow, we can then pick a winner to back today.

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Join the Festival Team!

Milford on Sea’s Arts & Music Festival, now in its fourteenth year, is a hugely popular fixture in the local calendar. The 2015 Festival will run during the week beginning 20th July, culminating with a live music line-up on the Village Green over the weekend of 25th and 26th July.

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The festival attracts over 10,000 visitors, and it is an unparalleled showcase for the village. Organised and run by a team of volunteers who handle everything from planning the line-up to managing the site, it’s challenging work, but immensely rewarding.

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But the news is not all good. 

The Festival is in real danger of being lost to the local community because of a lack of volunteers and team members. Several of the Festival's dedicated organisers are stepping down this year, so they are in urgent need of ‘new blood’ to handle roles such as:-
site management & security
sponsorship & advertising
fundraising

The key committee positions of chairman and treasurer need to be filled and, as always, we need lots of volunteers during the Festival to help with activities such as stewarding, selling raffle tickets, manning the helpdesk and working behind the bar.

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In return, we can promise you a lot of fun, a tremendous sense of achievement and a truly rewarding place at the heart of your community.

If you’d like more information, please contact the team at committee@milfordfestival.org.uk.  

You can also check out the Streetlife page and the Festival's website on www.milfordfestival.org.uk.

50 B4 50-Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

At last the day had come to enjoy one of our belated Wedding Presents to Matthew & Kayleigh. Any present is of course best shared, so we had decided to go along too.

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The day did not start great, as the heating and hot water broke. However, my wife must have liked me a little bit this day, as I was not directly blamed for her cold shower!

Soon we were on the train to Clapham Junction, then a short taxi ride to Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea.

I have to be honest, my expectations were not too high, as it seems the 'Ramsey Brand' has become somewhat confused, also having taken a look at the menu on-line it had not jumped out at me.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay holds three Michelin stars, and is one of only four in the country to have this accolade. Today the Chef Patron is Clare Smyth MBE, and it was nice to hear she was actually in the kitchen creating her modern French cuisine for this lunchtime service.

The restaurant is small, but beautifully decorated, and there was a clever use of the space to generate a grand effect. The greeting was warm, and everyone of the many staff went out of their way to smile and say hello as we were taken to our table.

At the perfectly laid table there was a 'handbag stool', and nice touch for the ladies - and so French!

We had opted for the Menu Prestige, effectively the eight course taster menu. As we were offered drinks, the wine list also arrived, it was thicker than 'War & Peace' and the weight of a paving slab!

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I was drawn to a South African wine simply called 'The Chocolate Block'. Jan Kontezki, the head sommelier explained that it was a mixture of Syrah, Grenache & Cabernet, - and that name came from the concept 'that once opened you couldn't stop until you had finished!' The bottle was a magnum, but with four of us it was worth the treat.

As the feast started we were all waiting in anticipation. Then as the courses flowed we were not let down, indeed everything just seemed to be an exquisite new experience.

Over the four hour meal, we were busy enjoying both each others company, and the ridiculous conversations we were having. The girls were delighted to be facing the full restaurant, as they could also do plenty of 'people watching' and report on the activities taking place on the tables we could not see. It was obvious who were people like us having a very special treat, and those that were used to dining like this most days.

When we arrived at the main course we knew the previous courses of Foie gras, Ravioli of lobster, Isle of Gigha halibut must be almost impossible to beat. But no, the pigeon was the best ever, and the jus must have taken days to create judging by its amazing depth and richness. There was no doubt we were having one of the ultimate dining experiences.

The Hot Towel 'Chicken'
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The two sweet courses and cheese board continued the excellence, and the wine had been flowing nicely. So, when the hot towels arrived, we decided to do out party piece and make them into a 'chicken', - which we then sent into the kitchen with the 'diners compliments.' Not sure this happens every day, but the waiting team smiled, - either through amusement, or embarrassment!

Throughout the meal the deep and exotic flavours, were combined with perfectly matched ingredients and textures. It was also impossible not to notice that great thought had gone into all of the crockery, ensuring each dish also became a work of art to please the eyes as well as palate.

The whole experience had been as wonderful as it had been unexpected, and the numerous waiting staff had pulled off the difficult trick of providing formal attentive service with an informal air. The Maitre D', Jean-Claude Breton was friendly and chatty, and it was clear he was watching every corner of the dining room to ensure that everyone got the ultimate service experience to go with the sublime dishes.

Before visiting, we thought we had a clear Top 3 restaurants, - however Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has now thrown our list into turmoil!

Menu Prestige

Baked potato mousse with bacon in egg shell with black truffle
~
Pressed foie gras with green apples, turnips, watercress and smoked duck
~
Ravioli of lobster, langoustine and salmon poached in a light bisque, oscietra caviar and sorrel velouté
~
Isle of Gigha halibut with Atlantic king crab, finger lime and ras el hanout infused broth
~
Cotswold lamb and winter vegetable “Navarin”, braised shank and confit breast
or
Roast pigeon with fennel, sautéed foie gras, lavender, honey and orange
~
Selection of cheeses from the trolley or Mango, jasmine and passion fruit soup
~
Cucumber sorbet, salad burnet, lemon verbena and mint
~
Lemonade parfait with honey, bergamot and sheep’s milk yoghurt sorbet
or
English peppermint soufflé with bitter chocolate sorbet
Coffee &  Petit Fours


Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
68 Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HP
www.gordonramsay.com/royalhospitalroad

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50 B4 50-DINING CHALLENGE

Michelin Stars Collected So Far: 67


3 Michelin Star
London: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
London: Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester**
Berkshire-Bray: The Fat Duck

Berkshire-Bray: The Waterside Inn
Belgium-Bruges: De Karmeliet

2 Michelin Star
London: La Gavroche | Dinner by Heston Blumenthal | Hibiscus | Marcus | The Square
Berkshire: Michael Wignall at The Latymer**
Buckinghamshire: Hand and Flowers**** (Hand and Flowers at Harrods)
Oxfordshire: Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

France-Paris: Georges V Hotel

1 Michelin Star
London: Outlaw's at The Capital
PĂ©trus Social Eating House** | Pied a Terre** | L’Autre Pied | The Savoy Grill Hakkasan (Mayfair) | Lima (Fitzrovia) 
London (Indian): Benares | Quilon | Gymkhana | The Cinnamon Club | Tamarind | Veeraswamy | Amaya | Trishna 
Cornwall-Padstow: Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
Hampshire: Terrace Restaurant at Montague Arms | JSW Restaurant
Surrey: Drakes**

Surrey: The Tudor Room at Great Fosters Hotel
Sussex: Ockenden Manor
The Netherlands-Ubachsberg: De Leuf

**
Visited Twice  | ***Visited 3 Times or more!
*To read the review on any of the above restaurants, put 'restaurant name' in this blog's search box.

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No Michelin Stars, but restaurants visited since July 2013 that are worth a mention:

London | Street XO - www.streetxo.com
London | Mere - www.mere-restaurant.com
London | RAC Club - www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

Cornwall: Padstow |  The Seafood Restaurant (Rick Stein) - www.rickstein.com/eat-with-us/the-seafood-restaurant
Devon | River Cottage HQ - www.rivercottage.net/hq 
Dorset: Mudeford | The Jetty - www.thejetty.co.uk
Hampshire: Farnborough | The Aviator - www.aviatorbytag.com
Hampshire: Brockenhurst | The Pigwww.thepighotel.com
Hampshire: Lymington | The Mill at Gordletonwww.themillatgordleton.co.uk
Hampshire: Lymington | The Elderflower - www.elderflowerrestaurant.co.uk
Hampshire: Lymington | The Haven - www.havenrestaurant.co.uk
Hampshire: Lyndhurst | Hartnett Holder & Co - www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/hartnett-holder-and-co
Hampshire: Milford on Sea | Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant www.verveine.co.uk
Hampshire: Milford on Sea | La Perle - www.laperlemilford.co.uk
Hampshire: New Milton | Vetiver (Chewton Glen Hotel) - www.chewtonglen.com/restaurant
Isle of Wight: Yarmouth | The George - www.thegeorge.co.uk
London | The Ivy - www.the-ivy.co.uk
London |  L’Escargot - www.lescargot.co.uk
London | Dishoom - www.dishoom.co.uk
London | J Sheeky Oyster Bar - www.jsheekeyoysterbar.co.uk
London | Franco's www.francoslondon.com
London | Winter Garden (Landmark Hotel) - www.landmarklondon.co.uk/en/marylebone-bar-restaurant/winter-garden  
Surrey: Guildford | Brittens - www.brittensrestaurant.com
Surrey: Ripley |Toby Cottage - www.tobycottage.co.uk
West Sussex: Brighton | A Taste of Sahara - www.atasteofsahara.com
West Sussex: Brighton | 64 Degrees - www.64degrees.co.uk


There's Variety in Milford!

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They say variety is the spice of life, and it looks like a forthcoming Milford Palace of Variety Show is going to be another fantastic entertainment event at Milford Community Centre.

This exciting Variety Show has been devised, directed and delivered by Milford Entertainers, and is a very modern take on “The Good Old Days”. A boisterous Chairman will guarantee riotous, rollicking and uproarious entertainment! 

The programme includes: Comedians - Stanley Holloway and Max Miller impersonations; Dancers - Ballet: Pas de deux to the music from the film Amelie – For artistic appreciation! Belly dancers - For fun!

There are also hilarious melodramas* over-acted in true Edwardian style by the local thespians you know and love; Sketcherism Spoon (one of Ronnie Barker’s famous sketches), and lots of Music from the orchestra, singing and sing-alongs!

You can even dress up if you want!

Milford Palace of Variety Show - Performances:

Friday 20th March 7.30pm

Saturday 21st March 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tickets are on sale now at £6 each from the Community Centre Box Office 01590 644861 or visit www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk

Friday 6 March 2015

Love Milford Week in Pictures

Whether you were at events during Love Milford Week from 16th to 22nd February 2015, or missed some bits, you can now see or re-live the week in the photo albums below:

Love Milford Week Events: click here

Love Milford Week Shopping Challenge: click here

Exotic Car Show: click here

Love Milford Week will be back in 2017, and next year we see the bi-annual return of the ever popular Milford on Sea Food Week in April 2016. - Be there, or be square!

Milford on Sea Food Week
www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

Love Milford Week
www.lovemilfordweek.org

Help the Guide Hut Roof

The Milford on Sea Guide Hut roof is in need of essential repairs, and the fundraising efforts are now underway. 

Guide Hut
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Our village Guide Hut is a unique local meeting place which was built in 1936 following five years of fundraising (mainly through Jumble Sales) by the local Guide Company.

During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) as their meeting place for the duration of the War.

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The main structure is as originally built. The roof which is now nearly 80 years old has developed leaks and is not repairable. Therefore the roof needs replacing and insulating in order to enable this historic meeting place to continue to serve as a venue for the many local groups that use it, such as Milford Guides, Brownies & Rainbows, Arthritis Care, Royal British Legion (Women’s Section), Total Voice Choir, WI Craft & Drama groups, Stamp Club, local bands, art and craft groups.

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The Fundraising Sub-Committee are working hard, and have already participated in the New Milton Rotary Swimathon where hardy swimmers took part from Milford Brownies.

They are also planning a "Brownies Have Talent Night" on Monday 30th March, and a First Friday Lunch has been booked in August as a fundraiser.

Another fundraising project is 'Used UK & Foreign Stamp Collecting'. Envelopes for folk to collect and send away their own stamps, with postage paid for, can be found by clicking here - please enter the charity name: Milford on Sea Guide Hut.

A Quiz Night and Jumble Sale are in the offing, along with all sorts of other events on which more details will be available shortly.

Also during the Love Milford Week Craft & Produce Show, a stall was run on behalf of Milford Guide Hut mainly by Milford Brownies and their parents.

So far the team have managed to raise £17,000 towards their target of £25,000 - and any additional donations would be very much appreciated from local people or businesses who want to help the target be achieved.

We were delighted to hear that Paul Holland has pledged £500 to the new roof on behalf of Holland's of Milford.

If you would like to make a donation, please contact the Treasurer of the Milford on Sea Guide Headquarters Management Committee: Jane Etheridge on 01590 642349 or jane.etheridge2@btinternet.com.


Milford on Sea Brownies
milfordbrownies@gmail.com

Holland's of Milford
www.hollandsmos.co.uk

New Village Guides for All

Two new free Village Guides have been published, and are now available in the village newsagents and most village shops, cafés and pubs.

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The 'Eat, Shop, Play & Stay' Village Guide, is for Milford on Sea villagers and tourists alike. As titled, it carries details of all our village eateries and shops, gives ideas on thing to do and visit in the village, where to stay, plus community information, medical services & support groups, village charities, events and local clubs & classes for both adults and children. 

The Village Tradesmen & Professional Services Guide is for everyone in the village to find village businesses that they may find of use - and there are a lot of them! 

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This guide will give you details of village builders, handymen, plumbers, electricians, home cleaners, hairdressers, painters & decorators, plasters, tilers, window cleaners, gardeners, car repairers etc.  Plus professional village services such as; architects, interior designers, web designers, photographers, marketing services, consultants and solicitor. The guide even has all our local cake makers, chutney maker and so much more...
Collectively, the guides have over 900 entries, and all are in Milford on Sea!  It is quite unbelievable how much goes on in our small community.

These guides were designed and created for free by www.milfordonseanews.org, and the printing costs funded by Food Week. The guides were also generously sponsored by the Brand New Forest Card and Hall & Woodhouse, owners of The Beach House, both of whom are great supporters of events & activities in Milford on Sea.

Pick up your free copy in the village newsagents today.

Lisa becomes Best Practice Childminder

Milford on Sea resident, Lisa Lynk of Little Poppins, has been recruited by Action for Children as a ‘Best Practice Childminder’.

Lisa qualified as a primary school teacher before in 2011, moving on to become a Childminder, and to run the very successful Little Poppins in the village.

Lisa said; "It is the best move I ever made! The little ones I look after become like part of the family and I enjoy watching them grow and develop in my care. We have lots of fun exploring the countryside, playing outside and learning in my home and through play, nurture and encouragement they grow and thrive."

Little Poppins is fully subscribed, and Lisa hates having to turn people away, so in becoming a Action for Children ‘Best Practice Childminder’ she is looking to help local parents in other ways.

This includes:

1) Making parents aware that there is funding available for childcare (free early years education) for all 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds through OFSTED registered childcare providers e.g. approved nurseries, childminders, pre-schools etc. 

Two year old funding is a national scheme that allows children a head start! An opportunity free of charge to play, paint, read, cook, climb, sing and dance, dress up, run around, build, play outside and most importantly to learn alongside other children. It allows up to 15 hours a week for parents/carers to work, have a break, get things done, study or to look for work. (The criteria for 2 year old eligibility can be found by clicking here.)

Good early years education from a young age can help boost your child’s development, giving him/her the opportunity to learn, thrive and play.

2) To promote childminding as a career - if you love children it could be the ideal job! Just some of the benefits are: Being your own boss, Flexible working hours, Working from home, Being at home with your own children, making a positive contribution to children learning and providing a valuable service to your community.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of funding, or to talk about childminding as a career, please contact Lisa as below:

Lisa Lynk
Outstanding Ofsted Registered Childminder
01590 642925 / 07710 174869
lisa@little-poppins.co.uk
www.little-poppins.co.uk

Little Poppins
www.little-poppins.co.uk

Dominic Holland Writes a Winner

Top comedian, Dominic Holland, recently enthralled a full house at his show during Love Milford Week. His sharp observations, quick wit and well honed funny bones had the audience eating out of his hands and in fits of laughter.

The 'bloke in the coat' sitting in the front row, must really have wished he had taken if off by the end of the night!

As everyone discovered during the evening, there is a lot more to Dominic than comedy, not least that he is also an extremely good author.

Prior to his visit I decided to read his latest book 'Open Links', and which I have now finished. I enjoyed it so much, that I was unusually prompted to post the following review on Amazon:

"The last thing I would ever chose to read would be a book featuring golf and including a schoolboy with an illness as one of the characters. But, having previously read and really enjoyed the 'Ripple Effect' by the same author I decided to give it a go. - If ever it was true to never 'judge a book by its cover', this is the perfect example.

From the first page I was gripped, and delighted to be reading a 'can't put this down' book. The story was funny and inspiring, the warm characters formed clear pictures in my head and the writing flowed effortlessly without a dull moment. There were several laugh out loud moments, and I have to admit an occasional tear fell on my cheek.


To top it all, all the proceeds are going to a great charity. A five star read all round, and a chance to do a little good for someone else at the same time. - two great reasons to buy it!"


For less than four quid you can have several hours of excellent reading, which sparks a whole range of emotions.

To buy Open Links, please click here.

Dominic also regularly writes an insightfully and amusing blog, to check that out, please click here.

Another Jam Award for Jen

Local producer, Jen Williams of the Naked Jam Company, has won yet another national award to add to her growing collection!

Jen's Lime and Chilli Marmalade has won a Gold Award at The World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival at Dalemain.

As an artisan jam maker, Jen makes batches of jam by hand, and only a dozen or so jars are made at a time. She is dedicated to producing conserves of the highest quality where the flavour of the fruit is the most important ingredient. Jen is well known for foraging a lot of her ingredients and using seasonal local fruit.

The locally sourced fruits that go into naked jam are the best quality, ensuring great flavours. Artificial colours and flavourings, setting agents and preservatives have no place in any naked jam jar.

But, don't take my word for it, just give one of her jars of loveliness a try!

Naked Jam Company

Milford on Sea's Exotic Cars

The NFDC comes in for quite a bit of flack one way or another, but credit where credit is due, - we want to say a big thank you to the Car Parks team at the council for granting us permission to use the Hurst Road Car Park for the Exotic Car Show in Love Milford Week on Sunday 22nd February 2015.

The day’s weather started fine, but soon deteriorated. However, the great mix of cars were not deterred, and 58 cars arrived around 10.30am, staying until the rain was imminent at 12.30pm. During this time we had hundreds of visitors despite the cold. So, pleased to say another successful tourism event for the village.

Ferrari 458 Italia V8 GT (2013)
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There is no doubt people loved seeing the cars, and enthusiasm is high for us to do it again at some time, hopefully in better weather! This could become a significant attraction to the village and will help boost trade in village shops and eateries.

Facel Vega (1960)
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The event could not have taken place without the council's support, so once again, grateful thanks for helping us out. 

To see the pictures from the Love Milford Exotic Car Show – Which is a quite a unique collection, and all the cars are Milford on Sea owned! – please click here.


Vidibiz and Southpoint Films Partnership

Paul French, Milford on Sea resident, and owner of local company Vidibiz has announced that his company are combing resources with Southpoint Films to benefit both new and existing clients

The partnership comes after a long relationship between Southpoint Films Managing Director Rowan Johnson and Paul. 

Customers of both businesses will experience immediate benefits of the partnership, from additional production capacity to use of now-shared facilities such as Southpoint Films' wide range of high end video production equipment and the fully equipped Vidibiz studio located in the New Forest.

As part of the partnership both businesses will now be operating through the Southpoint Films brand.

Southpoint Films Managing Director Rowan Johnson gave the following statement:

"Paul and I have always had a close business relationship and I am delighted that we are formally pulling together resources to strengthen our already leading video production services. I am certain that his experience in business, particularly locally and within the New Forest, will aid Southpoint Films in offering our excellent service to a range of customers who never would have heard about us before, as well as opening up new business opportunities such as our new broadcasting service Southpoint Live."

Off the back of the partnership Southpoint Films is launching a brand new initiative ‘Southpoint Live’. The service is focussed on bringing high end online live broadcasting services to businesses of all sizes, opening up their localised events and training sessions to a wider audience. By utilising the latest web streaming technology Southpoint Live aims to provide a high end broadcasting service at a fraction of the costs asked by major broadcasters.

The complementary abilities and combined resources of both Southpoint Films Ltd and Vidibiz will ensure they continue to create and deliver the highest quality promotional, training and event videos that their respective customers are accustomed to, as well as aid with new initiatives.

Vidibiz 
www.vidibiz.co.uk

Southpoint Films

Milford on Sea in BBC Country File Magazine

Milford on Sea had a substantial feature article in a recent edition of the BBC Country File Magazine.

The article gave numerous reasons for people to visit, and some of us are even more fortunate to be able to live here!


Sunday 1 March 2015

MCV: March Newsletter

Milford on Sea Conservation Volunteers (MCV) are a local group of people dedicated to conserving and improving the parish wildlife and environment of Milford.

Formed in 2012 as an amalgamation of Milford Environment Group and the Wildlife Recording Group, the volunteers undertake a range of valuable local projects to improve habitats for wildlife across the parish, and report on the sightings and activities of local wildlife.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM), being held on 13th March at 7.00pm in the Milford on Sea Community Centre, is a perfect way to find out more about the MCV and see how you can get involved. The great thing is you don’t have to be a wildlife expert – an interest in local wildlife is all you need. The experts in the group are always on hand to share their knowledge and experience, so not only is a good way to meet new people, it’s also a great way to build on your existing wildlife knowledge.

The business part of the AGM will be followed by a talk by Sarah Harvey, owner of a Dexter cattle herd, explaining how grazing can be such a benefit to wildlife.

So please go along and find out more about Milford’s wonderful wildlife and the work that MCV are doing to preserve and enhance the local environment.

For further details, please contact:

Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV)
www.milfordcv.org or call 01590 645825