The White House in the 1950's

Having read a previous story about The White House on Milford on Sea seafront (read here), we have being contacted by Sharon Wickham.

 

Sharon’s mother, Carole Hobson, and her cousin John Neale, were both patients in The White House in the early 1950's.

 

Her mum is to be 70 this year, and Sharon is making a scrapbook of her life, and would like to try and put a few pictures of her time at the White house in it.

 

If you have any old pictures of The White House, or even your own memories, I am sure Sharon would like to hear from you. She can be contacted at: sharonwickham100@gmail.com

 

 

Miflord Music Festival Needs a Friends Help

After a very wet 2012 festival this year, and despite good attendance, the volunteer committee have been left with a shortfall of some £4000.

 

It takes almost 12 months, close to £25,000, and a lot of hard work by the committee and volunteers to put on this spectacular 4 day event, which it totally village organised, and remains free to attend.

 

They have informed us that they desperately need help form the village if they are to make the Festival happen again next year. To ensure that the Festival can continue to be staged, they need to replenish reserves that are held to finance the event and are looking to raise funds in a variety of ways throughout the year.

 

One way in which you can help is by becoming a Friend of the Festival at an annual cost of £50, which in addition to providing regular and invaluable support to the event will entitle you to attend the Friends’ reception before the festival. As a registered charity such subscriptions allow the festival to reclaim tax under the Gift Aid scheme at no cost to you, provided that you are a taxpayer.

 

If you want more details or a Gift Aid form then please contact our Treasurer, Alan Boyce at ajbconsultancy@yahoo.co.uk . Alternatively, look out for the Music Fesival charity collection boxes which are vivid purple so they can't be missed and are placed all around the village in pubs, restaurants and most of the shops. (Thanks go to Tim Ball of Ampress Digital for printing the labels on the collection boxes.)

 

Please make a donation however large or small, as without your help they may not be able to continue.

 

Should you wish to become a 'Friend', help out during the run up and or over the Festival weekend then please contact Sean Reeves at sean@hwsolictors.com  

 

Let's hope ths shortfall can be met, and that we can all look forward fantastic Festival in 2013.

 

 

Chamber Choir on Bournemouth Stage

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The Milford on Sea Total Voice Chamber Choir performed at the Bournemouth Pavilion on Saturday the 29th September as part of the Music 4 Meningitis concert.

 

The sell-out crowd of about a thousand was, as you can imagine, a very big deal for our little village choir. The gang sang a Michael Jackson Medley with some of the boys from Bournemouth School, many of whom had never sung in public before this event, and then joined up with Bournemouth choir Cantabile to perform Eric Whitacre's beautiful Seal Lullaby.

 

  The 'new' Chamber Choir has achieved so much in its first year, and I know Victoria love to hear from any singers who want to help them go from strength to strength.

 

If you would like to join the choir please contact Victoria at: victoria@totalvoice.co.uk  | 07824 388263.

 

www.totalvoice.co.uk

 

 

Studland Common Grazing Project

As you might know, the Parish Council has taken the decision to reintroduce grazing onto Studland Common.  The ponies currently grazing on the Meadow will be taken off on the 1st October, and towards the end of the year the Common will be re-fenced to make the whole common stock-proof.

 

Early in 2013, up to four Dexter cattle will be put onto one or other of the grazing compartments and will be there for a few months each year (total of 4 month’s).  The two compartments will not be grazed at the same time, so that those walkers who do not wish to walk in the compartments with the cattle have alternative footpaths to use.

 

Later this year, previously flailed grassland will be re-flailed back to the higher scrub of about three years ago to help recover the grassland habitat.  A central block of about .5ha will also form part of the first years work, but this might not be undertaken until the autumn/winter of 2013.

 

Full details of the first years’ work and the rest of the ten-year programme is contained in a new booklet, which can be downloaded from the link below.  These booklets are being distributed to properties surrounding the Common and will also be made available to everyone interested in the conservation grazing project from the Parish Office during normal opening hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10am and Noon and on a Wednesday 2 till 4pm).

 

To read the full 'Studland Common Grazing Project' booklet, please go to following link and hit the 'Stdland Project' button: www.milfordcv.org/publications

 

 

The Durnell ‘Secret Three’ is Out!

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Many of you will know that Pete Durnell is the nature reserve manager at Sturt Pond. Pete also looks after many of Hampshire’s other major reserves for the County Council, including the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve.

 

What you may not know is that Pete’s younger brother John is Head of Conservation – West Hampshire for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.  So just when you think that having two Durnell professional conservationists in one family is pretty unique, up pop’s Pete’s wife Aimee with her own superb contribution to the local wildlife scene with her first book publication ‘Secret Marsh’.

 

Aimee’s book; ‘Secret Marsh’ covers a year in the life of the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve and is beautifully illustrated with over 70 of her own original watercolour paintings.  The narrative is beautifully written both from the heart and deep knowledge and understanding of the local wildlife - from Sturt Pond in the west to Lymington River in the east.

 

The book refers briefly to the Bird Hide at Sturt Pond (from where I know she has painted some of her illustrations) and to The Marine (café and restaurant), which for those of us who pop in for a ‘cuppa’ or an ‘all day breakfast’ knows, offer respite from cold blustery winter days!

 

Signed copies of ‘Secret Marsh’ are available direct from:

• Aimee Durnell at ‘Normandy Farm’ Normandy Lane, Lymington, SO41 8AE at £9.95 each

or unsigned copies (also at £9.95) from:

• Braxton Gardens, Lymore Lane
• Inger Lise’s Café, High Street, Milford on Sea
• St Barbe’s Museum
• Nick Cox Chandlery, Lymington

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Wildlife Watercolour Course with Aimee Durnell

 

Sunday October 7^th 1.30 to 4.00pm and Thursday October 18^th 10am to 12.30pm

 

Your chance to create a watercolour or artwork in the field with local artist Aimee Durnell, author of ‘Secret Marsh’.

 

Discover the wildlife and flora of Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve and how to approach painting wildlife and landscapes in the great outdoors!

 

Meet at: Normandy Farm, Normandy Lane, Lymington, SO41 8AE | Tel: 01590 610021 or Mobile: 07851 387542

 

Bring: Sketch pad/watercolour paper and either paints, pastels, charcoal or pencils, water, something to sit on, binoculars if you have any and please dress very warmly!  You may want to bring a flask and snack if it’s chilly.

 

Bookings: Places should be booked in advance as there will be limited numbers. Contact Aimee on 01590 610021

 

Cost: £10 per person per session also payable in advance.  For further information, contact Aimee on the telephone numbers above.

 

A Good Old Evening at Hurst Castle

Barton on Sea’s Olde Tyme Players put on a wonderful Music Hall show on the evening of 14th September in The Garrison Theatre at Hurst Castle.

 

The journey over on Solent Rose was undertaken in reasonable weather, if a little windy, and the audience took their seats for two hours of well known sing-along songs (words provided but not everybody needed them) interspersed with comedy from the ‘Maxes Miller and Wall’ and guest appearances by some of the residents of the small village of Thicker Dicker who passed on their thoughts on village life, which were very amusing.

 

The whole show was very professional with numerous changes of wonderful costumes, spot on timing and great singing. It finished with a rousing chorus of Down at The Old Bull and Bush.

 

The Players thoroughly enjoyed performing in the historic theatre and said the Castle Café’s egg mayonnaise sandwiches were the best they had ever had. We hope to have the Players back again with a different show some time in the near future. It was a very enjoyable evening finished off with a clear sky for some stargazing on the trip home.

 

The next Friends of Hurst Castle event will be the Winter Barbeque – date to be arranged.

 

If you fancy finding out more about, or joining in with, the Friends', you can find more information on their website: www.hurstcastle.co.uk/friends.html

 

 

Cape Wine Tasting

Local wine importer, Dann Coetzee of Cape Wine Cellars is running a couple of wine tasting sessions nearby. 

It is hard to resist the opportunity to taste some excellent wines, so if you fancy going along, the details are below.

 

www.capewinecellars.com

 

Calling All Stall Holders

The Milford on Sea Pre-School Christmas Far is looking for some stall holders.

 

The annual event to raise funds for local children takes place from 11am to 2pm on 17^th November 2012 in All Saints Church hall.

 

A stall for the fair costs just £10.  They would also be very grateful if a local shopkeeper or tradesperson would be happy to donate a raffle prize.

 

If you would like to be involved please contact: Sarah Rix at: milfordsarah@live.co.uk

 

 

Doing Good on Fridays

The First Friday Lunch runs regularly at the Community Centre, but I wonder how many of us know what this actually is, and that everyone is welcome.  At each lunch a local charity or good cause is invited to be the hosts and beneficiaries, and over the years many thousands of pounds have been raised.

 

Milford on Sea is of course as good a place as you can get to live, but sadly this does not make people immune for personal tragedy.

 

In September, a lunch was hosted by Sonia Sewell, a stalwart volunteer for several causes and events in Milford on Sea.  The lunch was in aid of The Pink Palace, a Hampshire based breast cancer charity set up by her daughter, Julia Dingwall.  Tragically Julia was taken by this awful condition, but thankfully the good work of her charity carries on.  Sonia and her guests raised over £460 to give support to breast cancer patients.

 

The next First Friday Lunch on the 5^th October, is being organised by Christine Quinn in aid of The MJP Cancer Care Trust.  Christine & Kevin are the delightful couple who run Inger Lises Café in the High Street.  Everyone is always guaranteed a warm welcome when they visit, not to mention hearty food and plenty of tempting treats.

 

The MJP Cancer Care Trust is a charity set up by a small group of parents who have all lost teenagers to a rare bone cancer, Ewings Sarcoma. The condition mainly affects children and young people.

 

Christine & Kevin lost their beautiful daughter, Ali to Ewings Sarcoma.  She was only 17 when she was diagnosed, and after just 6 months of gruelling treatment she tragically lost her life. Ali was a talented Art Student studying fashion design, and planning to go to University, and the Charity is in loving memory of her and all the fine young people and children who have lost their lives.

 

The aim of the charity is to fund research into this form of dreadful disease, as due to the rarity of the cancer there is no government funding for vital research. The charity aim to raise £10,000 per year to support research at Leeds University which is a big ask as it is such a small charity. All monies go directly to this research, no monies are taken for running costs or admin.  Survival rate is less than 40% for the young people diagnosed with this cancer, so on-going research is vital so as to help survival rates improve. Christine & Kevin are determined that one day there will be a more positive outlook for others.

 

Although the reason for the lunches are charity based, and with sad stories, the day itself is fun and full of laughter, and also a great opportunity to meet new people whilst doing something for a good cause.

 

The next First Friday Lunch starts at 1pm on 5^th October, and costs just £4.50 on the door, which includes a 2 course meal.  There will also be a raffle and a Table Top Sale. If anyone is interested in going along there is no need to book but if you are not a regular to the lunch it may be useful to drop an e mail to Chris or Kev at:  quinns.ck@hotmail.co.uk  just to let them know numbers for catering purposes.

 

Go on, give it a try, eating and doing good is just my type of charity work!

 

 

Housing Objections Continue

The issue of the proposed green belt new housing development near Milford on Sea Primary School continues to raise disagreement with New Forest District Council, from a group of local residents, supported by Milford on Sea Parish Council.

The NFDC now have to go back to public consultation again on this site and any further representations need to be made by Wednesday 19th September.

Residents have already made representations to a plan that consisted of up to 30 homes, playing fields, allotments and pick up / drop off point for the school.

We have been informed that the NFDC submitted a totally different plan to the Secretary of State.  The final plan consisted of only 20 houses but no playing fields, allotments and pick up / drop off point.  The Secretary of State’s Inspector has now made NFDC go back to public consultation on the submitted plan.

It appears that Representations can only be made on three areas.  These are:
 

1.   The ‘Soundness of the Plan in the context of the final version of the National Planning policy Framework (NPPF) (published in March 2012).

2.   The NFDC Proposed Changes Schedule – these are the changes that NFDC made to their original plan of 30 houses which became 20 and no playing fields included.

3.   The Errata List – this is of no significance.
 

If you would like to make a Representation:

Please contact Amy Cullen at amynaturally@hotmail.com, and she can provide you with a partially completed statutory (& as you may expect, tediously bureaucratic!) council form to submit before Wednesday 19th September.

Numerous representations were made earlier in the year which managed to get the Secretary of State Inspector's attention. It will be interesting to see if this continues now that a further round of consultation is in progress due to the NFDC reportedly submitting a plan different to the one they originally went to public consultation on.