Food Week 2014 & The Great Dining Bus

I thought I would let you be first to know that Milford on Sea Food Week is taking a break in 2013. Don’t worry though, it will be back with a vengeance in 2014!
 

As you may know, I semi-retired a couple of years ago, well at least I thought I had! All was going rather well, and then the calm was broken! Last year my business launched a major annual industry networking event, and right now we are heavily into organising a brand new industry exhibition for January 2013. On top of all this, we are building & planning a new business management software package to be launched to the industry in March 2013. As you may expect, all this activity is pretty exciting, and I have been drawn back into the business full time until all of these project are complete.

 

This may also explain why my wife & I have not been seen out and about in Milford on Sea over the past few months!

 

As a result, I simply do not have the time to organise of Food Week 2013. To do so, takes around three days a week from October until April, and sadly, I will now be fully committed elsewhere.

 

Having come so far with the help of great volunteers, the support of local restaurateurs and the enthusiastic attendance of so many from the village, it has been a big decision to make. Particularly, as I just love great food! However, I hope everyone will understand. This is a one off change, and I remain totally committed to what has been created into a significant village event over the past few years.

 

The Great Dining Bus: We do have some exciting news for next year though. The Great Dining Bus will again be on the village roads, taking you for a gourmet experience in all of our best village restaurants. The programme is going to be planned to take place in April 2013, and will be launched early in the new year. The restaurants don't know the details yet (as I haven't yet spoken to them!), but I know they are all keen to participate, and to have you all visit. They will all be involved in the planning towards to end of this year.

 

Having run the first Great Dining Bus during last Food Week we know many people missed out on the delectable and fun experience. Our aim is that more people can participate this time, enjoying each course in a different village restaurants, whilst making new friends and enjoying the company of who you come with.

 

For lovers of Food Week, don’t panic, we will be back from Monday 7th April 2014 to Sunday 13th April 2014, and it will be bigger and better than ever!

 

(School Holidays are Holiday from Mon 7th to 21st April 2014. Good Friday is 18th April and Easter Monday is 21st April 2014, so as always we are making sure the kids can be fully involved.)

Visit the Great Dining Bus Website: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk
 

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

 

 

Box Office Volunteers Needed

With the impedding retirement of Gwen and the closing of her wonderfully unique shop, the village is also losing its Box Office for local shows and events, - or is it?

 

The team at Milford on Sea Community Centre have decided that is now going to launch a village Box Office run by enthusiatic volunteers.

 

As yet, the 'enthusiastic volunteers' don't know who they are, but I am sure they will soon!

 

A meeting is being held this Friday at 1pm (19th October), for anyone who would be interested in doing a stint in the new Box Office.  If you fancy helping out, please just go along, you will be very welcome.

 

Psst, I haven't said this, but you will get to see what is coming up first, and be able to make sure you don't miss the best shows in the village!

www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk

 

Changes at Bon Appetit

Very soon there will be a new name above the door at Bon Appetit in Milford on Sea High Street. Christina has been travelling daily from Totton, near Southampton, to serve us with delicious coffee, great breakfasts and lunches, crepes and other tasty treats for around three years now, and as you may imagine a lot of time has been spent driving!

 

Sadly, for us, Christina has decided to be nearer her husband and daughter and is planning to open a new café in Totton in mid-November. Her last day will be Thursday 18th October. Not completely losing her connection with Milford on Sea, her new café is going to be called ‘Bon Appetit!’

Christina has asked us to say thank to all of her past customers, she will miss them, and we will certainly miss her cheery smile and the care with which she presented and served her food.

 

As yet we haven’t met the new owners, but they plan to re-open on Sunday 21st October under a new name. We have heard on the grapevine that the new café may be called ‘The Village Coffee Pot’. As soon as we find out more we will let you know!

 

www.bonappetit-milford-on-sea.co.uk

 

 

All change at Church

We have heard of good news and bad news for the Milford on Sea Methodist Church.

 

The bad news is that the NFDC planning department has refused their application to render the front of the building, move the notice boards onto the front wall and erect a hanging sign depicting the Methodist Church symbol as it was not felt to be in keeping with a conservation area.

 

The much better news is that work has already started on the rest of the refurbishment which is only subject to Building Regulations approval which has been granted.

 

The work includes creating a disabled toilet, refurbishing the kitchen installing a new sound loop system, a new energy efficient boiler and where applicable improved insulation. Doorways are being widened to take wheelchair access and new carpet and lighting fitted and then redecoration.

 

The outside may not look like our original vision but don’t judge a book by its cover as the Methodist church will welcome everyone to come in and see the improvements.

 

 In the meantime Sunday services are still being held in the church while possible and a notice will be displayed on the front doors should the venue have to be changed.

 

The once a month Thursday lunch club has moved to the Community Centre as a temporary measure and details of all other arrangements can be obtained by contacting Alan Boyce at ajbconsultancy@yahoo.co.uk or on 01590 641189.

 

 

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