Anyone remember Cathy Gillies?

We had an e-mail recently from Cathy Green, who some long term residents may remember as Cathy Gillies.

 

Cathy’s family moved to Milford on Sea in 1949 when she was 2. They lived in a converted coach house at Newlands Manor, until the family open ‘Gillies’ a sweet shop and tobacconist . I used to live at 60 High Street. (next door to Gwen’s). Cathy lived above the shop until she left Brockenhurst College at 18. Her parents finally retired to a house in Whitby Road.

 

Cathy recalls two current and eminent village residents; Gwen Peden, and also Freda 'Lieuty' Cheney MBE of the Girl Guides and Royal British Legion.

 

If anyone remembers Cathy and would like to contact or share some memories with her, please drop me a line at: david@milfordonsea.org, and I will pass it on.

 

Beaujolais Nouveau Thursday

It is Beaujolais Nouveau Day this Thursday 15th November.

 

Our local French bistro, La Perle in Milford on Sea High Street will naturally be celebrating, and have a special lunch & dinner menu accompanied by a free glass of the new crop.

 

La Perle's sommelier will also be attendance to talk through wines and offer suggested pairings with your meal.

 

The menu is also worth checking out, as always it contain exciting rustic french dishes from French onion soup to Leg of rabbit 'à la Moutarde', and you can even something like frogs legs, L'escargot or even eels if you are feeling adventurous.

To find out more please visit: www.laperlemilford.co.uk

 

A Family Story for Remembrance Day

I am sure that at this time of year many families recall stories of the war years & the part their own families played in the eventual victory.

Our family never really had any ‘war stories’, well we didn’t until my brother Peter, did some genealogical research during 2009. Like most families I guess, the war was not discussed when we were children, & the only thing I remember was that my dad’s brother had been a WW2 prisoner of war in an horrific Japanese camp, but he never spoke about it to anyone, ever.

I also knew that my Grandad’s lungs were badly damaged during the first world war, but did not know how. I remember him as a warm & kindly man who lived with us when we were children. In fact our three bedroom home in Kingsbury, North London, housed Grandad (Horace Hunt), my Nan, Mum & Dad, plus us three kids. He fondly told me great children’s stories as I sat on his knee, with his oxygen cylinder & mask sitting ominously next to him in the living room. He even caught me doing something I shouldn’t have, but kept it a secret from anyone forever.

My other Grandfather, Albert Long was born and bred in Hendon, North London. I remember him as a stern archetypal Victorian man, in a woollen suit with waistcoat & fob watch. His house was a standard semi-detached in Hendon, North London with an allotment at the bottom of the garden where he spent many hours. He was certainly of a mind that ‘children should be seen & not heard’ & the front parlour was a special treat to visit only on special Sundays. This all seems so far from the days we now live in. Having been born in the mid 1950's, I grew up with the war as being something 'old people' talked about, & in my teens & twenties I was much more interested in girls & pubs!

Sadly, when I eventually became interested in what happened during the two World Wars it was too late to ask many of those I had known that had been there. It was not until I was in my early forties that I took a trip to Ypres & the Belgian World War One battlefields & trenches, and the experience was unexpectedly emotional & a disturbing realisation of the scale of the slaughter. In subsequent years my interest in the war years grew, as I tried to understand & make sense of what had happened. It just felt important to know.

A visit to the World War Two D-Day Beaches of France soon followed. If these are trips you have never made, I thoroughly recommend a visit. I cannot say it will be fun, I also cannot guarantee you will not have an involuntary tear or two, but I can guarantee that the sights will put everything into perspective & steel your resolve for such a thing to never happen again. In my view, it should be on the curriculum of every school in the country to visit the battlefields & cemeteries to ensure our children never forget what happened to their own forefathers.

Back to Peter, (my Brother), a few years ago gave me a surprise present of two photograph frames with the most amazing contents following his research: each had a sepia photograph, name & rank panel, miniature medals & script on the back. The photographs were pictures of each of my Grandfathers in their military uniforms during WW1. The stories on the back revealed amazing things about two ordinary men during wartime. 

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Lewis Gun Letter | Click image to enlarge

My Grandad, Staff Sergeant Horace W Hunt had been in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps during WW1 as a Mine Sweeper, unfortunately he was involved in an explosion which necessitated his return to Hendon Cottage Hospital, England for treatment for temporary blindness & respiratory problems. During World War Two he served as a corporal in the Southgate Home Guard.

Being an engineer he invented an new loading device for 97 round Lewis Light Machine Gun which improved the loading efficiency by forty percent, which he donated to the war effort. Our family now has a letter from a Major M. A Moir, congratulating him on his ingenuity.

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My other Grandfather, Rifleman Albert Long, of the Rifle Brigade (Now merged into the Royal Green Jackets) was one of the few to return from the atrocious battlefields of Passchendaele, Belgium. During his time in the trenches we were proud to discover that he had been awarded the Military Medal for an individual act of bravery. His Military Medal was awarded on the 18th October 1917.

Unfortunately, all records of the exact event were destroyed during the bombing of the Army Records Office in London during World War 2. However, from family memory Peter discovered that he had saved a comrade from ‘no man’s land’ during battle. His medals were bequeathed by the family to his Regimental museum, the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester when he died in 1965 & can still be seen there today.

This personal story may not be read by many, but for those that do read this, I hope it conjures up memories from your own families. Most importantly, now that I have written this story online my Grandfathers will never be forgotten, & like so many other fathers & Grandfathers who sacrificed so much, they never should.

40 B4 40-Roux at Parliament Square



No. 24A: Roux at Parliament Square, London, SW1

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The strange numbering of this entry is created due to this entry breaking the 40 B4 40 rules. On this occasion my wife is not in attendance, but she has sanctioned my reporting on my day out with my bald red faced surrogate wife, Alistair.

Unlike our last foray into the big smoke, which ended a bit messy, this was far more of a sober affair. This time we were off to hear Prime Minister’s Question Time at the Houses of Parliament. As ever, the Palace of Westminster looked resplendent and the walk through St Stephen’s Hall was, as always, impressive. 

Having watched the ‘Speaker’s Procession’ through the Central Lobby, we were soon in the fully packed Public Gallery above the House of Commons. The view was excellent, and the glass panelling installed after someone threw flour at Tony Blair did not really effect the experience too much.

Our expectation to see David Cameron, and the other bloke, was short lived as Nick Clegg was standing in due to the Prime Minister being in the Middle East. For obvious reasons no one is told the Prime Minister is leaving the country in advance.

The best questions came from the floor, and some of the humour was quite sharp. Harriet Harman did not have her best day at the despatch box with her questions appearing somewhat weak. All in all, Nick Clegg seemed to handle the session pretty well.

It is interesting to know that the Despatch Box on the Government side houses a Bible and a Koran. The Opposition box contains a burnt Bible, dating back to the destruction of the Commons chamber by a German bomb on 10 May 1941 during the Second World War. Few know that the House of Commons was destroyed during the war, as there was a news blackout at the time to prevent the British people for being demoralised.

Having enjoyed our visit to the heart of UK democracy, it was time for a beer. In the shadow of Big Ben is St Stephen’s Tavern, an nicely preserved historic inn, and we were soon inside tasting their wares and admiring the architecture. The pub is owned by Hall & Woodhouse, who of course are the new owners of The Beach House (Ex: Westover Hall hotel) in Milford on Sea.

 

After a couple of pints and a good chat, it was time for lunch.

We did not have to walk far, as Roux at Parliament Square is just down the road. This is Michele Roux Jnr’s second restaurant after Le Gavroche, housed in a Georgian Grade II listed building of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.   The restaurant is contemporary and luxurious, combining period features and modern furnishings and the listed building was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, the architect of London’s iconic Natural History Museum.

 

On this occasion, rather than eat in the restaurant, we had previously decided to eat in the upstairs ‘Pembury’ lounge & cocktail bar.

 

Being a lunchtime, we had resisted the cocktails, and sat enjoying some beer and wine as we read the menus, it was surprising to see that their were no 'set lunch' offers in the restaurant.  The restaurant menu was solely a'la carte, and whilst enticing, also expensive.

 

Fortunately for us, the bar menu was the opposite price wise.  Alistair is a big fan of tapas, and I am a big fan of picking at food, so although it was not a tapas menu we decided to order a portion of most of what was on the menu.  It would of course been rude not to try as much as possible

 

As we awaited our meal in cosy armchairs by the fireplace, we enjoyed a bowl of Pork scratching with smoked paprika (£2), which was like a pork popcorn. Not long after we were moving to a table laden with food!, which included;  Pea and mint aranchini (£5), amazing Pepperdew peppers stuffed with feta cheese (£5), Pork & apple sandwich du jour on organic sourdough (£8), which was just like a hog roast sandwich, Home made scotch egg, piccalilli & secrets farm salad (£8), hmmm yummy, House cured salmon, crème fraiche, toasted multiseed (£8), Selection of cured Iberico pork, pickles & sourdough bread (£15), which was delicious.

 

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As you can see, the menu had a bit of a pork theme going on.

 

Saldy, due to over ordering the 'picky bits', one thing we did not try was the the Seasonal pie and mash, which today was Hare. However, it did look great value at just £15, and now marked down as one for next time.

 

To round off our lunch we had the Selection of sweet bites (£9), which all bar one had a lemon theme and included; posset, cake bites, macaroon, and I think the most amazing brownie I can remember.

On leaving, we bumped into two high profile cabinet ministers in the lobby, fortunately they did not recognise us, and we were not drawn into long conversation providing our advice on what next strategic move the government should make.

www.rouxatparliamentsquare.co.uk 

 

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Angels' Wine Tower Bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel

How about this for a wine rack!  We had a business meeting and lunch in the Angels' Wine Tower Bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted Airport, the bar is underneath this monolith containing 4000 bottles of wine in a spectacular glass storage tower.

 

If you are wondering how the wine is retrieved, it is collected by the restaurant's acrobatic bar angels, who soar into the tower on harnesses to retrieve the appropriate vintage. yes, ...really!

 

www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-stanstedairport

 

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If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

 

 

Wildlife Trust Needs Your Vote

We have heard that our local Hampshire Wildlife Trust is in a competition to win an integrated business system valued at £150k.

 

They have already made it to the 10 finalists stage. The next phase is a public vote and the good people of Milford on Sea may wish to vote for them. The Hampshire Wildlife Trust  do a lot of good work locally, and if we can help swell their budget, I am sure they would want to do even more.

 

The public voting is now open until 23rd November, and the winner will be announced on 23rd November.

 

Voting is very straightforward, simply visit this website: www.greentreegameon.co.uk

You can also read the Wildlife Trust’s profile on the website, and their plans for what they’d do with a new Greentree business system. Chief Executive Debbie Tann said; “We employ very few administration staff, and so people employed for special skills, such as conservation, spend at least a day a week doing paperwork,” Debbie continues. “A Greentree system would give them more time in the field, doing conservation work that is so vital, now and in the future. If we win we can spend more money on wildlife!”

The judging panel is made up of: Maggie Philbin, Terry Forsey, Liz Jackson, Campbell Williams and Harry Mowat
 

Vote here: www.greentreegameon.co.uk, it is easy, it must be, I just did it!

www.hwt.org.uk

 

Send a Hurst Castle Card at Xmas

We all love living in Milford on Sea, and I would be surprised if we did not all like to support local businesses, and landmarks such as Hurst Castle.

 

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For this year's Hurst Castle Christmas Card, Keyhaven artist Tessa van Hasselt has kindly donated an oil painting of Hurst Castle in the snow, complete with a Christmas tree.

Last year, sales of Christmas cards raised £700 and it is hoped to match or even exceed this figure in 2012.

The Hurst Castle Christmas Cards are available at £3.50 for a packet of ten from Milford newsagent The Village News on the south side of the green in the centre of the village.
 

Mark at Village News have very kindly agreed to sell Hurst Castle cards at no cost.

Alternatively, cards can be delivered locally or sent by post for an additional charge. Please telephone Jonathan Goodall on 07831 17770 leaving a clear message with your name and telephone number together with your instructions. He will then call you back as soon as possible to confirm arrangements.

 

If you are quick, you are also able to buy the original painting by Tessa van Hasselt (minus the Christmas tree) at the Community Centre where it is now on display.

All proceeds from the sale of both the cards and the painting will go directly to the conservation of Hurst Castle.  What a nice way to help out maintain our local heritage.

 

www.hurstcastle.co.uk

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Talking of Hurst Castle, have you taken a look at their website recently?  nope, didn't think so!

 

There is now a really nice five minute film showing the castle from the air, and if you have the time and interest, you can find out some fasinating facts by listening to Dennis Skillicorn's (former BBC Radio Solent presenter) audio tour of Hurst Castle.

 

Dennis will show you round Hurst Castle with a fascinating insight into its rich and varied history. From its origins under Henry VIII to the imprisonment of Charles I, through Napoleonic times and two world wars, you'll discover how guns and searchlights were developed and learn about the important role of lighthouses.

 

The audio Guided Tour is also available as a downloadable digital album, or to buy from the castle itself.  All of the proceeds go towards the restoration and maintenance of the building.

 

www.hurstcastle.co.uk

 

 

Salterns 24 Hour Sail-a-Thon

The countdown is on to Friday and Saturday 16/17th November when Salterns Sailing Club in Lymington is pushing the boats out for the 2012 Salterns Children In Need 24 hour Sail-a-Thon.

 

It is hoped that fund raising will add to a growing pot that has already raised over £80,000 through running the annual event over the past 14 years.

The 24 hours begins at 4.30pm on Friday when the young members will sail in a tag system through the night, keeping at least one boat on the water at all times. The following day the club has organised a series of fun activities including the Hairy Hair Salon which will offer a personal coiffure of white, red, blue and yellow hair and the Wild Water Tattoo parlour which can create some new scars, pirate gang motifs, or turn children into a beautiful butterfly or favourite flower. A funky Nails to Go Bar with yellow, green and orange nails is also helping to support Pudsey’s cause!

The RNLI Sea Safety Office is there to offer an invaluable free assessment/check of lifejackets followed by exciting seamanship races in decorated Spotty Oppies.

Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy tea, popcorn, candyfloss and cakes. Prizes include a signed Ben Ainslie Olympic Team GB shirt, Spa Day, Gite holiday in France, Northshore factory tour, Wightlink tickets, dinner at La Perle, breakfast at the Raft, lunch at Lymington Town SC and equipment donated by Force 4 Chandlery and Nick Cox Yacht Chandler.

Salterns Sailing Club is a sailing club for children, where they can experience sailing in Optimists, Moths and Scows. The club is run entirely by volunteers.

For more information, please contact: Nikki Mans, Salterns CiN Event Coordinator
nikkiandlancemans@btinternet.com

CLUB LOCATION:

Salterns Sailing Club, Eight Acre Pond, Maiden Lane, Lymington.

 

 

A Celebration for Gwen

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Friday evening at the Community Centre saw a substantial gathering for a very special occasion. As many will know, Gwen and her team are moving on to things new, and not being keen of a fuss, the girls arrive somewhat reluctantly for Gwen’s retirement party.

 

Over the years Gwen’s shop has become very much the hub of  Milford on Sea village centre, selling tickets for many village events alongside the ladies fashionwear. Thousands of tickets have passed through the girls hands over the years, and this was all done with no more reward than a smile.

 

Having so generously helped so many local organisations, they in turn felt than Gwen could not simply retire without them having the opportunity to say a collective thank you.

 

The afternoon guests enjoyed some pleasant light music from the local jazz band 'Four Winds', made up of musical village residents, and even the chairman of the Community Centre! Many commented on the terrific nibbles, and anyone who saw Amanda Tanner’s demonstration sessions during Food Week will know that she is a dab had at a spectacular canapé or two.

 

The main speech was done very effectively by another long standing village resident, Gloria Grantham Hill. Gloria delivered a well thought out speech reflecting on village times past, which stirred memories in many, and a great picture of the changing era's in the village for several others.

 

At the end of the party Gwen, Michelle and Anne were all presented with a bunch of flowers as a sincere thank you for all they have done from the village. This was of course extremely well deserved, and the girls will certainly be missed behind their counter.

 

 



 

From Milford to Hollywood

Frances Fisher-2012

Some of you may not know, but I am big in Hollywood. In fact, I am big wherever I go!

 

I was recently contacted by a Hollywood Agent, who I suspect was interested in me replacing Daniel Craig as James Bond. As they could not guarantee to film on location at Milford on Sea, to their great disappointment, I declined.

 

Anyway, whilst chatting ot my new agent friend, it became evident that the gentleman in question knew Frances Fisher. For those that don’t know, Frances is an American stage, television and film actress, who was born in Milford on Sea on 11th May 1952.

 

She has played leads in 30 plays and has 102 film and television credits to date, including Oscar-winners Unforgiven and Titanic (Best Ensemble Nomination). She played her idol Lucille Ball in the 1991 television-movie Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter. Ms. Fisher has eight films to be released in 2013; most anticipated is Stephenie Meyers'The Host. Ms. Fisher won The Drama-League Best Ensemble Award for Caryl Churhill's Three More Sleepless Nights, and recently the AC Cinefest Best Actress Award for Pandora's Box.

 

Favourite collaborations: Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan, Norman Mailer, James Cameron, Paul Schrader, Paul Haggis, Christopher Guest and Katherine Hardwicke.

 

Frances has a daughter, Francesca, with actor Clint Eastwood, and when she is not working, is actively lending her name and support to numerous political and humanitarian causes such as Peace Over Violence, The Creative Coalition, and the Pink Party for Cancer Research. She served 10 years on the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild, and is a board member of The Environmental Media Association, and a member of Amnesty International, The Actors Studio and Women in Film.

 

She has not done bad for a ‘Milford Girl’ has she. Anyone out there remember Frances from her time in the village? (Having seen her in a film does not count!)

 

www.IMDb.com

 

 

New Village Box Office

After many years of stalwart service to Milford on Sea village, Gwen is retiring and Gwen’s Ladies Fashions is closing for her to take a well-earned rest.  This of course also means the loss of the Village Box Office, .......or does it!

 

Well actually, no.  On 1^st November the new Community Centre Village Box Office will be opening its windows for the first time.

 

After a local appeal the Community Centre has had many generous people come forward offering their time to help out.  The new jolly band of volunteers have now been assembled to allow the Box Office to open Mon to Friday 10am to 4pm, and on Saturday's from 10am to 1pm.

 

They will also be selling tickets for any village organised event, plus of course events held in the Community Centre.  As an added bonus, there is a good chance when you may go to buy your tickets that you can enjoy a coffee in the café, or have a play on the interest using the free computers available to all.

www.milfordonseacommunitycentre.org.uk

 

40 B4 40-The Marine

No. 24: The Marine, Milford on Sea

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Friday night, and we had decided on a Chinese and catch up with friends.

 

Indeed, it was they that introduced us to the best Chinese takeaway we have ever experienced.  To me a takeaway is synonymous with delivery, however for this one we drive to China Town Takeaway Restaurant in Highcliffe.  A tough challenge I know, but one I can undertake when I know how great their crispy duck is.

 

As we all enjoyed our meal, the restaurant standards once again shone through, the sweet and sour balls were light and crispy, the prawn toast probably the best I have ever tasted, ribs full of meat & flavour, in fact everything was great.  I recall my first ever takeaway in the 1970's was sweet & sour pork, and the taste even stirred memories of my youth!

 

As we chatted, our friends mentioned that they had booked Sunday lunch at The Marine.  Their intention was to try out the new menu by the new head chef, Mark Speller.

 

By pure coincidence, we had done exactly the same, even the booked arrival times matched, so all of a sudden our bookings had merged to a table of four.

 

Having enjoyed our Chinese, some wine and a few beers, it was soon time to see if I could get up from the table and walk the short number of yards home.  I did, but only after unsuccessfully trying to convince my wife to call us a taxi.

 

Arriving at The Marine the welcome was as warm as usual. Quickly enjoying a pre-dinner pint, the café appeared to be doing a brisk trade, and that was not surprising with the £10 Meal Deal offering homemade favourites like pies, hot pot and casseroles. Soon we were taken to our window table in the upstairs restaurant. On entering you cannot miss the glorious sea views. The restaurant has a feel of ‘casual fine dining’, everything was quality, from the fittings to the tableware, however, there was no feeling of a need to dress up, everything was about the quality of the food.

 

Having caught up with our friends the night before, the girls still had no problem talking nonsense continually. Nothing new there then.

 

Our started served and devoured, and the Crab and prawn tian with tomato coulis and brown bread was considered delicious, however, the Double baked smoked Haddock soufflé with spring onion and cheddar cream trumped it by being simply amazing.

 

The menu was extensive, with several choices of meat, fish and vegetarian, indeed a nice set of options for a Sunday lunch. Whilst more expensive than a traditional pub Sunday lunch, it still felt good value.

 

My main course was a first for me, Keyhaven lamb. Yep, the little lambs you can see from the window running in the field next to Sturt Pond. The lambs are bred by Simeon & Lisa Morgan at Aubrey Farm in Keyhaven. Being raised in salty fields by the sea they certainly take on a favour of their own. My meal was Pressed Lamb shoulder with fondant potato, spring greens and mint jus. You could really taste the lamb was different, and it was a pleasure to eat. Other dishes we had included the Dexter beef, and Guinea fowl. All had been enjoyed with a cheeky red wine, which at £17 was a fair price.

 

For sweet, my wife abstained (as usual) but the rest of us were more sensible, having the Milford Mess with home-baked choc chip cookie, Apple and rhubarb charlotte with clotted cream ice cream and Cheese & biscuits.

 

Meal over, we all had very satisfied ‘food bellies’, Mark Speller's new role as head chef was looking more than promising, and I had high expectation of an afternoon nap ahead.

 

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

www.themarinemos.co.uk

 

Greengrocers to Close

Word has reached us that Marjorie’s in the village is planning to close.

 

Sandra & Pete are taking well-earned retirement, and after 33 years of running the village greengrocers, who can blame them!

Along with their customers and friends, we wish them a long and happy retirement.  We also wish Ann & Debs well for the future.

 

Naturally, many in the village will be sad to see them go, and losing a traditional greengrocers is sadly a sign of these modern times. We do not know the future plans for the shop, it would of course be nice for it to remain as a greengrocer, but we will have to wait see if the new shopkeepers decide that is what they would like to do.

 

You may also have noticed that there is a new build shop nearing completion opposite The Smugglers Inn, so the village will a couple of vacant shops soon, and look forward to seeing what exciting new traders join our village centre community.