What’s happening on Bank Holiday

If you fancy seeing all that is happening in Milford on Sea and nearby for this weekend, and next bank holiday weekend, please click the link below:

www.milfordonseacalendar.org

PS: Don't miss Milford on Sea Carnival Funday on the village green next Saturday!

Artists at work!

It is probably no surprise that the natural beauty of the Milford on Sea coastline and surrounding countryside creates inspiration for many local artists.  For most of the year they are hidden away quietly creating works with their brushes, and this is the time of the year they emerge to show us the results of their efforts.

Today of course the village has ‘Art on the Green’, with an exhibition & sale of paintings from local artists. Refreshments also being served, so why not pop along to the village green.  Last weekend was Milford Art Group Exhibition, organised by the talented artists of Milford Art Group & Lymington Art Group.

From next Monday 15th August, until 29th August there is a Local Artists' Art Exhibition featuring: Tessa van Hasslet, Kate Danby, Shaun Stevens & Tony Clegg at Keyhaven Scout Hut (In car park opposite The Gun Inn pub). The exhibition is Free Entry with refreshments available in aid of Keyhaven Sea Scouts.

Hot on their heals follows the annual Hampshire Open Studios from Saturday 20th August until Bank Holiday Monday 29th August.  The Hampshire Open Studios is held at various studio locations across Milford on Sea (& New Forest), just follow the pink signs to find all of the local artists exhibiting in our village & nearby. The artist studios include art in many forms including: paintings, sculpture, woodwork, jewellery and pottery.

Where to find Milford on Sea artists: (All Free Entry)

Tessa van Hasslet, Kate Danby, Shaun Stevens & Tony Clegg at:
Keyhaven Scout Hut.
Joyce Grainger, Christine Rix & 'Bradley The New Forest Bear!' at:
Carrington Studio, 73 Carrington Lane, SO41 0RA
David Rogers: Vinegar Hill Pottery, Vinegar Hill, SO41 0RZ
Splinters Art Group with 8 local artists: All Saints' Church Hall
Maryvonne Hallet: 8 Glebefields, SO41 0WW
Eileen & Peter Sey: Coppins, Barnes Lane, SO41 0RR
Christina Young: Creek End, Saltgrass Lane, Keyhaven, SO41 0TQ

To see all that is happening, please visit:

www.milfordonseacalendar.org
www.hampshireopenstudios.co.uk/locations/new-forest

Hal of a Comedy Night

Milford on Sea has another top name comedian visiting the Community Centre at the end of September.  Hal Cruttenden is one of the UK’s top stand up comics, and fresh from television appearances on ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ (BBC1), ‘Comedy Rocks’ (ITV) and ‘The Rob Brydon Show’ (BBC2). If you have caught Hal on TV, I guess there a good chance that you may share my opinion that this guy is at the top of his profession.  I think his style was well put by ‘The Stage’: ‘Certainly not your typical comedian - and this is where he wins hands down over most others. Instead of relying on tired, old cliches for his humour, he actively sets out to attack and dismantle them, thus opening up those obvious new ways of seeing the world. Immensely satisfying.’

If you fancy seeing some snippets of Hal at work please click here:
www.halcruttenden.com/video

click image to enlarge

The next Milford Comedy Club is on Thursday 29th September, and tickets are available from Gwen’s in the High Street, or from:

www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk

Library offers something Shiny, Tiny or Techy

Milford on Sea Library has a good news story in these times of austerity and cuts.  Like every other library, their services have been under threat, however it appears they are safe for at least the time being. The local village community have certainly been vocal in their support, and also active in using its services.  If you have never visited our friendly neighbourhood library, it is situated in the Village Hall, Park Road (behind Mr Pink’s Chip Shop).  Some of the services offered include: Books, Audio Books, Large Print Books, Children's Books, Internet Access, Colour Printing and DVDs.  There is also a Library Club, on the second Wednesday of every month, for the housebound. (Transport provided)

Not standing still, Milford on Sea Library is also now offering regular Leisure Classes, the first being a Jewellery Workshop at 1pm - 4pm on 28th September.  For the mum’s, there is Toddlertime, which provides rhymes and stories for the under 5s from 9.30am - 10am on the first Friday of every month. (Starting Friday 7th October), and finally for those that wish to understand computers more, there are Free Computer Taster Sessions on Wednesday mornings (By arrangement), where you can discover how to use email, the internet and even how to print photos and more.  Let’s hope the new services available are popular, and that our library continues to received its well deserved support.

Milford on Sea Library Opening Hours

Monday 2.30pm - 5.30pm

Tuesday 2.30pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday 10am - 12.30pm

Friday 10am - 12.30pm

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/library/milford-on-sea-library.htm

New Forest Pub Guide

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) have published their latest New Forest Pub Guide.  As you may expect some great pubs across the New Forest are included in the 190 listings, and all of our excellent Milford on Sea village pubs are also included.  The guide features information on the facilities of each pub, and its breweries & beers.  If you would like a copy of the guide, it is available in Milford on Sea from The Red Lion and The White Horse.

http://www.shantscamra.org.uk/beer/newforest

Hurst Castle Ferry Crew in rescue mission

Last Wednesday (3^rd August) the crew of the Keyhaven Ferry, which runs between Keyhaven Quay and Hurst Castle, spotted a yacht in distress on the Keyhaven River. Immediately in action to help, ferry skipper, Jason Crane called for one of his smaller boats and went to assist along with Ewan Brown, one of his crew.

On arrival, the yacht (Altaire) had run aground and Ewan calmly performed CPR on the skipper. It appears he had suffered a heart attack & no pulse was evident. During the emergency, the single inexperienced crew member on the Altaire did all he could to help, and was understandably shocked & distressed.

The Hurst Castle Ferry guys called the Coastguard and briefed the air crew what to expect whilst waiting for helicopter to take the patient to hospital. The Keyhaven river warden was also soon on the scene. Sadly, despite everyone’s valiant efforts, it appears the yacht skipper did not ultimately survive.

Reading a couple of blogs on the emergency, it appears Jason & Ewan were extremely calm and professional in a serious situation. And their swift action and seamanship were exemplary.

Knowing people like Jason & Ewan are around makes the world a better place.

www.hurstcastle.co.uk/ferries.html

David Mans on way to The Pole

Among six sailors attempting to make history by rowing all the way to the magnetic North Pole is Dave Mans, the son Keith Mans, a Milford on Sea resident and councilor at the National Park Authority. Dave’s epic journey is now underway and their 450-mile voyage is expected to take between four and six weeks to complete.

The expedition is led by Polar explorer Jock Wishart, and they are rowing in a specially designed craft, built by Rossiter Yachts in Christchurch, Dorset.

The expedition party also includes a BBC cameraman and adventurer, Mark Beaumont. Mark is making a documentary about the expedition for TV.  (My wife suggested that I should apply to join the crew, apparently it would be good for my soul and I need the exercise.  She said she would really miss me for six weeks, but she would cope with the disappointment.  I suspect that really means, it would be great to lose you for six weeks, so I can go shopping endlessly, watch Eastenders without me loudly tutting, and meet with friends to talk about nothing for hours on end.  However, when I discovered they were not staying in luxury hotels each night I became less enchanted with the idea.  I then considered my aversion to the cold and hard work, and decided it was best I stay in the warm, continue to irritate my wife, and just read about how they get on.)

Dave Mans is a 28-year-old and currently serving as an Army Officer with The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in London. His eight years’ service has seen him serve in locations such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Norway. To gain his place on the team, Dave beat a list of 47 international competitors who were invited to compete head-to-head in a Pole Position Challenge Day in November last year. They were tested on their physical and mental abilities, took part in a two and a half hour endurance row, group interviews and psychometric tests.  (Hmmm, not sure I would have got through that bit.)

Dave’s father, Keith was also in the military, having had a career as a pilot with the Royal Air Force.  He was the Member of Parliament for Wyre in Lancashire for ten years and from 1998 Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is Chairman of the Oakhaven Hospice, Chairman of the Air League and a Trustee of the Hampshire Air Ambulance Trust.  It is evident where Dave gets his energy from!

If you would like to follow Dave's exciting adventure, you can do so on the weblink below:

www.rowtothepole.com/latest-news

Robbie & Bublé coming to Milford

We have heard that Robbie Williams and Michael Bublé are to be in Milford on Sea in September.

click to enlarge

Well, not actually the real ones, but a highly acclaimed tribute performer, by the name of Max Hutton.  Max is without doubt one of the UK’s top tributes to Robbie Williams.  Over his 10 years performing as Robbie, Max has played to large crowds all over the UK and worldwide, appeared in one of Robbie’s pop videos and even performed as the man himself, live at Knebworth!  He also seamlessly transforms into Canadian crooner and swing sensation Michael Bublé, performing a set of his international chart hits.

The shows are taking place at Zaika Indian Restaurant, and as you may expected there is also a tasty meal to accompany the nights musical excitement.

According to Kalam, tickets are already selling quickly for the ‘Robbie & Bublé Party Night’, so if you fancy going along with your partner, group of friends, or even for a girl’s night out, it might be worth booking now.

Zaika also have a new website that may be worth checking out.  The link is below for anyone interested.

www.zaikanewforest.co.uk | Tel: 01590 643084
www.maxhutton.co.uk

B&B’s boom in Milford

Milford on Sea has a new addition to the B&B accommodation available to holiday makers. New to the B&B community, ‘Dee's B&B by the Sea’, is in Knowland Drive and run by Dee Clarke.  Dee is now offering a double en-suite room in her recently built chalet bungalow.

Dee, along with her husband Tony, also run a company called Nuts & Berries, which sells wholefoods, nuts, berries, dried fruits & pulses.  You may have seen them at the Food Market during Milford on Sea Food Week.  I did briefly, but it all seemed to healthy, so I quickly moved onto the pies, chocolate & cake stalls!

Our village is of course a great holiday destination, but unlike places such as Bournemouth or Blackpool, the plethora of accommodation available is not evident as you travel around the village.  However, it might surprise you to know that the village has 17 Bed and Breakfast establishments.  It also has 36 self-catering properties, 2 hotels, static holiday homes at Carrington Park & Dowton, Lytton Lawn Touring & Camping Park, and Shorefield Country Park with holiday homes, chalets and caravans.  That’s a lot of beds!

Milford on Sea is also quickly becoming a ‘Foodie Destination’.  Our growing number of quality restaurants, added to the great pub food and café culture, is now attracting visitors for more reasons than just our spectacular location.  Whatever reason people chose to visit, they are all warmly welcomed as far as I am concerned, as they help keep our village shops and businesses alive, and contribute a lot to keeping our village vibrant.

www.milfordonsea.org/where-to-stay

www.deesbnb.co.uk

A Song for the village

Milford on Sea Total Voice Choir unveiled a new song in their repertoire at last weekend’s Royal British Legion event. This time, Choir leader Christine and her second lieutenants, did not simply add a popular classic or rock tune, they added an old song with new lyrics about the village. I don’t know how many of our readers will be able to recall the sixties band, The Kinks (Knowing Milford on Sea’s demographic, I suspect most will!), some may even remember their song ‘Village Green Preservation Society’. Well the tune is the same, but now the Milford singing crew sing about our shops, pubs, festival and local attractions. As you may expect, the choir belt out this new number with all of the gusto and enthusiasm for which they are becoming well known.

click image to enlarge

If you would like to hear the new ‘village song’, Total Voice will be performing at the Milford on Sea Carnival Fun Day on the village green, on Saturday 27^th August.

www.totalvoice.co.uk

David Mans on way to the North Pole





Among six sailors attempting to make history by rowing all the way to the magnetic North Pole is Dave Mans, the son Keith Mans, a Milford on Sea resident and councilor at the National Park Authority. Dave’s epic journey is now underway and their 450-mile voyage is expected to take between four and six weeks to complete.

The expedition is led by Polar explorer Jock Wishart, and they are rowing in a specially designed craft, built by Rossiter Yachts in Christchurch, Dorset.

The expedition party also includes a BBC cameraman and adventurer, Mark Beaumont. Mark is making a documentary about the expedition for TV.  (My wife suggested that I should apply to join the crew, apparently it would be good for my soul and I need the exercise.  She said she would really miss me for six weeks, but she would cope with the disappointment.  I suspect that really means, it would be great to lose you for six weeks, so I can go shopping endlessly, watch Eastenders without me loudly tutting, and meet with friends to talk about nothing for hours on end.  However, when I discovered they were not staying in luxury hotels each night I became less enchanted with the idea.  I then considered my aversion to the cold and hard work, and decided it was best I stay in the warm, continue to irritate my wife, and just read about how they get on.)

Dave Mans is a 28-year-old and currently serving as an Army Officer with The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in London. His eight years’ service has seen him serve in locations such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Norway. To gain his place on the team, Dave beat a list of 47 international competitors who were invited to compete head-to-head in a Pole Position Challenge Day in November last year. They were tested on their physical and mental abilities, took part in a two and a half hour endurance row, group interviews and psychometric tests.  (Hmmm, not sure I would have got through that bit.)

Dave’s father, Keith was also in the military, having had a career as a pilot with the Royal Air Force.  He was the Member of Parliament for Wyre in Lancashire for ten years and from 1998 Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is Chairman of the Oakhaven Hospice, Chairman of the Air League and a Trustee of the Hampshire Air Ambulance Trust.  It is evident where Dave gets his energy from!

You can follow their progress on the weblink below:

www.rowtothepole.com/latest-news

Milford on Sea, Home to award winning chutney!

Anyone who has spotted & bought the chutneys made by Spice ‘n’ Easy on the shelves of Hollands of Milford, will already know how tasty they are.  To his credit, Paul works hard to support and promote products made near to home.  Indeed, the more you visit Hollands, the more you spot ranges of various local produce. 

Spice ‘n’ Easy’s range of chutneys, sauces, spicy cooking pastes & marinades are all made here in Milford on Sea by Claire Lee.  She uses locally grown raw ingredients where ever possible, combined with herbs and spices from around the world to create delicious unique exotic flavours fresh from the New Forest.

At the recent national ‘Great Taste Awards 2011’, Spice ‘n’ Easy won two Gold Great Taste Awards.  Claire’s ‘Spiced Carrot & Pumpkin Chutney’ won gold in the Mixed Vegetable Chutney Class, and ‘Sweet Onion Marmalade’ won gold in the Savoury Marmalade Class.

The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food.  The awards are now in their 18^th year, and 7481 products were entered from 1600 companies this year. It took 350 experts, 34 days to blind taste all the entries and decide which entries would achieve the coveted one, two and three star gold awards.  (Now that’s a job I’d like to have!)  Bob Farrand, Chairman for The Great Taste Awards, said: “Winning Gold in the country’s largest and most respected independent food accreditation scheme is a massive pat on the back for any producer - independent proof their products are of the highest quality.“  I am guessing Claire is feeling pretty proud, and so she should be.  Yet again something else putting Milford on Sea on the map for food!

Claire founded Spice ‘n’ Easy in 2002 after returning to Milford on Sea from living and travelling in Malaysia and the Far East.  Claire said; “I am really delighted to have won these awards. Spiced Carrot & Pumpkin Chutney is my best selling product so I think all my customers should give themselves a pat on the back as they obviously have award winning taste!! Onion Marmalade is one of my firm favourites great in a sausage sandwich and delicious with a creamy goat’s cheese.”

The ‘Spiced Carrot & Pumpkin Chutney’ is one of the original Spice ‘n’ Easy products. The range now has grown to around 30 different lines including the ever popular fresh Curry and Chilli Pastes, with seasonal specialities such as Marinades for the summer, and unique Christmas goodies including Spiced Mulling Syrup and Christmas Mincemeat with Whiskey & Ginger.

The award winning chutney & marmalade are available for sale in Hollands.  Also, Simon and Sarah Relph (the extremely friendly new owners at Braxton Garden Tearooms) have also selected Carrot & Pumpkin Chutney to accompany their Ploughman’s lunch, and Christine at Inger-Lise's Coffee Shop serves the Onion Marmalade on her menu.  You will also be able to find Claire with her Spice ‘n’ Easy stall in the Local Food and Farming section at this year’s New Forest Show. Look for the Chilli Windsocks!  So, there are no shortages of places to go where you can get a literal ‘Taste of Milford on Sea’!

If anyone is interested in becoming a Spice ‘n’ Easy stockist please contact Claire Lee on 01590 645646 or info@spiceneasy.co.uk

www.spiceneasy.co.uk