Top Marks at School

Youngsters in Milford Pre-School appear to be benefiting from a great start in life. The local Milford on Sea school they attend has recently had their Ofsted Inspection, and they have come through with flying colours.

Milford Pre-School achieved the highest level ‘1 Grade’ in each measured category, with the statement that ‘This provision is outstanding.’ Current & future mum's and dad's must be very pleased what the school is doing for their kids'.

To view the full report please click here, and then click on the PDF Document as indicated below.

Milford Pre-School PlusLymington Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0RF
Tel: 01590 644684 | milfordpreschool@aol.com

www.milfordpreschoolplus.co.uk

Have Your Say!

The Parish Council are holding their third Community Engagement Event  this Friday & Saturday to present an update and to collect views on the Neighbourhood Plan.

A number of landowners have come forward with deliverable sites for development and you are now being asked for your preferences.

You will be able to see where the sites are located and learn about the potential for sustainability development of each site. You can talk to Steering Group members, make comments and raise your concerns and issues. At the event you can take your time to study the alternatives and then record your preferences anonymously and return your survey form to the Parish Office by Friday 24th May.

All the choices received by Friday 24th May will be used by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to prepare a multi-site proposal. Naturally some preferred sites might fit into a multi-site solution better than other preferred sites. The final proposal will be recommended to the Parish Council to go forward to our June Community Engagement Event.

Neighbourhood Plan  | Community Engagement Event

Friday 26th April between 2pm and 7pm and again on Saturday 27th April between 9am and 3pm. Venue: Community Centre, Sea Road, MoS.

They will then be holding their fourth Community Engagement Event in June and you will be asked to decide which you prefer: the Parish Council’s multi-site development or the District Council’s single site development (MoS1).

Neighbourhood Plan | Community Engagement Event

Friday 21st June between 2pm and 7pm and again on Saturday 22nd June between 9am and 3pm. Venue: Community Centre, Sea Road, MoS.

The website will carry information about the sites and how to record your preferences from Friday 26th April.

Further information on the Neighbourhood Plan can be found at www.ourplan.org.uk

Other local events: www.milfordonseacalendar.org

New Tourist Information in Village

Next time you visit The Village News in Milford on Sea High Street you will see a new Local Information Point.

The information service is organised by New Forest National Park, and Mark now has an attractive wooden sign outside, together with a well stocked rack of brochures of local attractions, days out and places of interest across the New Forest. He also has a full range of maps.

Naturally, this with be of great interest to our visitors, holidaymakers and tourists, but it will also be of use to local people in the village looking for ideas for a day out.

click image to enlarge

Mark as always, is looking to do something extra, he will also have a list of local B&B’s Hotels, Self Catering, Camping and places to stay for people not wanting to go home!

He is also happy for local accommodation providers and restaurants to drop in brochures and cards, which he is happy to give out on their behalf.

The new Local Information Point concept follows the demise of the New Forest District Council's TIC's (Tourist Information Centres) in Lymington and Ringwood. The New Forest National Park has selected local shops in nine villages to become places where leaflets and local information may be obtained.

Local Information Point at The Village News

74 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD

Tel: 01590 645595

Village Doctor on The Run

I am sure many of you will have seen at least part of the London Marathon last Sunday. What you may have missed, was me running dressed as a Space Alien. The course was hard work, and twenty six miles is certainly a long way in draylon and foam. Fortunately, I did not hit 'The Wall', but I was tempted to slap a running Dustbin who trod on my intergalactic toe. The Dog who tripped the Duck was not so lucky.

The irony was that I was running for the 'UK Mascot Society', and the £7.50 I raised with go towards their planned new 'Mascot Anger Management Programme'.

My time wasn't quite as good as I hoped, as I stopped at each drink station looking for something eat, and my support team had filled my drinks bottles with Scotch & Coke. I had been going well, but then my refreshment meant that it took me over an hour to just zig-zag up The Mall to the finish.

Whilst I was making up this nonsense, one of our local doctors from Milford Medical Centre was running the London Marathon for real.

Dr Charlotte Woodward was running in aid of Prostate Cancer Research, and she completed the course in 4hrs 43 mins, 9 minutes (about an hour behind me), Charlotte's time was an improvement on her previous run.

Charlotte said; "I had a great day, the weather was perfect, the atmosphere amazing & the support from everyone fantastic. Thank you everyone who has sponsored me for such a great cause."

Charlotte has raised about £2000 so far, and she would like to thank all the patients of Milford Medical Centre who have sponsored her.

It is not too late to show your support for Charlotte and her great causes. If you can spare a few quid please sponsor her here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlotteWoodward

MiCo & Milford Memories

click image to enlarge

Whilst we prefer not to cover forthcoming events in this blog (as they are all detailed in www.milfordonseacalendar.org & it would take most of my life to mention them all in here!), we do think this one deserves a special mention.

 

The local kids from MiCo (Milford Community Organisation) are running an exhibition at St Barbe Museum in Lymington about their project based on the history of Milford and its people. (There is no payment to enter the museum to see MiCO's show)

 

 Also, on the 18th of May at 11am in the exhibition room some of the MiCO group are putting on a performance: A story of a girl who wishes to leave "boring" Milford for the more 'with it' life of McDonalds, Primark and better phone signal......(they did their research!) She meets a time traveller who takes her on a journey stopping at various points through Milford's past, and gently convinces her that Milford is much more interesting than she thought!

 

The exhibition will travel into Milford in June, firstly at the school, and then from the 10th to the 30th of June into the Community Centre.

 

The group are also doing smaller performances for St Georges' residents and Milford School children.

 

The children from across the village have gone to lot of effort to put on the show, and it would be great if as many of us from Milford could go along.  I am sure there are displays that will stir a few memories, and others that will tell us things we may not know about our village.

 

MiCo are also hosting an open tea party next week on Friday 26th April from 3:30pm to 5pm in the Community Centre, anyone is welcome to come in for some cake and tea and a good chat etc etc. The young group organise it themselves and will be baking up some treats.....

St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, New Street, Lymington, SO41 9BH

 

A Job in a Cave

As new business venture takes shape at The Cave in the village centre, an enthusiastic team is being assembled, who love wine and giving customers a great experience.

 

The owner/host, Jon Crouch, is also looking for some more people to join his team as:
Full-time or Part-time Bar Team Staff
Part-time Wine Retail Assistant

If, you, or anyone you know, may be interested please contact Jon on: jon@thecavemos.co.uk or call 01590 64219

I did apply, but I 'was deemed not suitable'. Apparently, 'The job did not involve tasting every bottle, and I could not be trusted to not drink all the stock'. Charming.

The Cave is an exciting new concept in enjoying wine. Situated opposite the picturesque Milford on Sea village green, there will always a warm welcome whether you are looking to taste, buy, learn, or simply enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or even coffee with friends. They also have gift vouchers for a present with a difference.

The Cave will be open seven days a week and if you have a taste for good wine, or beer, please pop in - there is plenty to browse and enjoy. Take a look at the website to find out more, or to register for the Newsletter or join the free Wine Club, please visit: www.thecavemos.co.uk

The Cave

2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH

Tel: 01590 64219 | jon@thecavemos.co.uk

www.thecavemos.co.uk

 

How to paint a lighthouse

The Hurst Castle team have been on the telly again!

This time they featured in the BBC2 programme 'Coast' on Wednesday 10th April 2013. The guys from the castle had been filmed leaving Keyhaven Quay with a couple of their boats to put the painters on the Needles lighthouse.

This was actually filmed two years ago, but it takes time for the show to make it to our TV screens.

It may not be so well known that Hurst Ferries have the Trinity House contracts for the day to day maintenance of the Needles and Hurst Point lighthouses which is certainly an interesting job, alongside running both the Hurst Ferry and Hurst Castle.

 

Sean, Mary and Jason do not however take responsibility for the Needles Lighthouse fog horn keeping people awake!

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Addendum

 

What the show did not broadcast, was me, (in my rather tight luminous dungarees, which got several funny looks from the film crew and fellow painters) leaping 'gazzelle like' from the boat onto the Needles rocks. I then free-climbed up the outside of the lighthouse, racing the guys using the stairs to get to the top.

 

As I waited for them to arrive, I enjoyed the view, whist eating one of those tasty samosas from Hollands. My brand new set of brushes from Milford Hardware were poised, eager to get to work.

 

As we abseiled down the giant 'barbers pole' splashing paint in all directions, the boys decided they did not like the rather fetching shade of cerise paint I was applying. Apparently, the lighthouse was supposed to remain red & white. As I protested that a change of colour would be appreciated by the people from the shore, the rest of team did not agree, which they demonstrated by unclasping my harness. 

 

It is surprising how high the lighthouse is, which is particularly noticeable when you are falling past it at around 100mph.  As I swam to shore two things crossed my mind, firstly, it was time I gave up painting, and secondly, I did not know the difference between tight luminous dungarees and a mankini!

 

If only that last paragraph was true it would have made a good episode. My wife reckons I have better face for radio though.

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Hurst Castle & Ferry
A short relaxing boat ride, or for the more energetic, a walk along the shingle Hurst Spit, however you get there, it is worth the visit!.
www.hurstcastle.co.uk
 

Meet new people in the CAFE

Our research department, (me & Taz), has heard of social organisation called The Coast and Forest Events Group (CAFE), which is a group within Meetup. The group is based in Milford on Sea and currently has 97 CAFE Go-ers.

Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups, and they makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group. More than 9,000 groups get together worldwide in local communities each day, each one with the goal of enjoying themselves or improving their communities.

This Meetup group is aimed at people who live in or around the southern, coastal part of the New Forest. It sets out to help members perk up each other's social lives, by making the most of the excellent leisure facilities and venues we have here locally, right on our doorstep.

 

If you are 'Mid-Life' and maybe find yourself unexpectedly single, there are times when you probably feel like going out to see a film or play or to a comedy night, for a meal, for a walk, for a drink, or even just for a coffee. There's lots to do, but it's not so much fun on your own. This could be the group for you.

 

They have a website where member post events and activities, and find other people who would like to go along. The group offers friendship and, mostly-inexpensive, local social activities (pub quizzes, meals, walks, live music, a drink at a country pub on a Sunday evening) - while also keeping an eye out for bigger local events, as well as those in Bournemouth, Southampton and beyond for when people feel like making the extra effort!

 

People of any age and location are welcome, but please bear in mind that most events may take place within an area roughly Lyndhurst to Lymington, Christchurch to Calshot, or close by, and that activities will be focused on the age range 45+.

 

While most members will be single, the group is open to sociable singles and non singles alike, living in the south of the New Forest or surrounding areas, and especially to those who want to actively contribute event ideas to the group! So, if you wish to meet new people, this sounds a good group to join.

CAFE Meet up is non-profit-making, and exists solely to help its members have Fun! The organisers give their time voluntarily, and reserve the right to exclude from membership anyone they believe intends to use the group for purposes other than …. Fun! Group running costs (website, admin etc) will be covered by a charge of up to £1, collected by the organiser, when you attend an event.

To join or find out more, please visit: www.meetup.com/C-A-F-E

 

Scouts Afloat

We have received a rather nice message from the Milford and Keyhaven Sea Scouts, who are thrilled to announce the arrival of 4 new dinghies on Monday to kick start the sailing season.

These dingies have been purchased thanks to the excellent support of the local community at a number of fundraisers, such as; the Community Centre’s First Friday Lunch Clubs, where the WI kindly donated the proceeds of their raffle, The Milford on Sea Music Festival Committee and Waitrose green token scheme.  They have also been fortunate to have been in the thoughts of members of our community that have supported them in their Wills and donations rather than flowers

The Sea Scouts have also been brilliantly supported by Topper International, who gave a substantial discount on the dingies to enable the troop to get on the water this season.

The troop leaders are now able to provide our local young people with an opportunity to learn to sail in our beautiful coastal area. The colony offers scouting skills for a whole range of ages groups, which can only be acheive through enthusiastic volunteers.

For the small group running and working with the Sea Scouts, it is quite an achievement to have raised the level of funds that they have, and the generosity of the village just goes on. They send their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped them along the way.

 

The Sea Scouts can never have enough support or volunteers, so if you would like to join them any areas such as; fundraising, organising the weekly meetings, hut maintenance or have invaluable skills in camping, kayaking, sailing or powerboating they would love to hear from you.

 

If you would like to help, please contact: Amy Cullen on amynaturally@hotmail.com or pop in to see Nigel Harper at Milford Models and Hobbies.

Having reached this excellent milestone, the fundraising is not yet over, as they would still like to purchase some new trollies, a safety boat and general sailing equipment.  

 

To continue the fundraising, they are holding another event, this time 'An Evening of Sea Shanties' on Friday 10th May at the Village Community Centre. Tickets can be purchased from the Community Centre Box Office or at www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk.

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This could be my big moment..........

 

Thinking about it, I consider myself to be a bit of an 'old sea dog', as I have been across to the Isle of Wight on the ferry more than once, and was once master of a hire boat on the River Stour for over an hour. (Why we were late back to the hire point is another story.) 

I have heard that the Sea Shanty evening will feature some 'professional singers', but I am sure that it would be greatly enhanced if I took centre stage for a couple of 'shanties'.  To prepare I have been rehearsing in the bathroom, in spite of my wife banging on the door asking me to be quiet. (They were not her exact words!)  I have to say, the more rum I drunk, the better my singing got.

Having got my set perfected, my wife insists that 'Michael row you boat ashore', 'Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside', and Rod Stewart's 'I am sailing' are not sea shanties. My wife has never captained any sort of boat, so I am not sure how she would know? Sometimes I wonder who the master is in our house.

 

Ah, my wife has just reminded me, ....she is.

Cook Steak at The Granary

To celebrate their recent refurbishment, Local Cookery School, The Granary Kitchen have launched a 'Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price' offer.

The offer takes place on Saturday 27th April, and if you take a friend to the Morning session of their Cooking the Perfect Steak Cookery School - and you only pay £20!

I am trying to convince Christian to run a course on perfecting Beans on Toast, but he think that is a bit too simple. Easy for him to say, he should see my kitchen covered in splashes of tomato sauce and cremated toast when my wife leaves me to fend for myself!

If you fancy booking the Steak Course please click here or e-mail: cooking@thegranarykitchen.co.uk

The Granary Kitchen

The Granary, Newlands Manor Farm, Lymington, SO41 0JH
01590 673040 | cooking@thegranarykitchen.co.uk 
www.thegranarykitchen.co.uk



 

It’s good to care

Milford Community Care Group are looking for people happy to help some people in the need across the village.

Milford Community Care Group are a team of village volunteers who assist local people with transport to medical & dental appointments. 

 

The group are looking for anyone who is happy to contribute a few hours a month, in particular, taking phone calls in the office from villagers who need one of our volunteer drivers to transport them to medical appointments.

 

If you would prefer to be a volunteer driver, new people are always welcome to help out.

 

Becoming a volunteer for Milford Community Care Group also gives you a chance to meet lots of new people, and give someone a helping hand along the way.

 

If you have a little time you can give, please contact Wendy, on 01590 642882, or Val or Mike on 01590 645948. 

Milford Community Care Group
Winners of the 2012 Achievers Award
Community Centre Office, Sea Road, MoS
Tel: 08456 443628

Hampshire Life with Green Fingers

Milford on Sea Annual Plant Fair is being featured in the May edition of the Hampshire Life magazine.

 

During spring and summer the gardens of Milford on Sea spring to life and glorious colour, and the bi-annual 'Open Gardens' even give us all a chance to peek inside some great private home gardens.

 

The Milford on Sea Annual Plant Fair is organised by Milford Gardeners' Club, and will take place from 8.30am to 1.30pm on Saturday 18th May on the village green.

 

Not only do the Gardeners' Club meet regulary to talk about gardening, they also arrange outings, and get involved in local horticultural projects, one being maintaining and replanting at the Centenary Copse (by Milford on Sea Bridge) which they look after for the village.

 

As a aside, have you ever noticed that there is a chiselled out section in Milford on Sea Bridge. This was where the bridge name was once carved. This was removed during WW2, the idea being, that should the German's ever land, it would make it more difficult for them to know where they were. (All road signs across the south were also removed at the same time.)

 

If you would like to read more about the Milford Gardeners' Club please grab a copy of the Hampshire Life magazine in the Village News Newsagents.

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To find out more about Milford Gardeners' Club please visit: www.milfordgardenersclub.co.uk or contact: Jenny Spenser, Chairman at jspenser@talktalk.net