Hand-Diving Fishing in Milford on Sea

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Can't believe what I caught when I tried fishing by hand-diving today.

I wonder if Mr Pink's fancies putting it on his menu? ...Would need some really big chips though!

Blue Tides Performing Tomorrow

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If you like to hear a really good band, then tomorrow night may be for you.

The Blue Tides, which includes Friend of Food Week, Anthony Climpson, will debuting their new show at the Forest Arts Centre in New Milton on Saturday 16 April. (doors open 7pm).

If you enjoy soulful jazz, blues and reggae reworked then the 7 piece Blue Tides will give you a fun night. 

Highlights include a medley featuring the “Magnificent 7” theme tune, Arthur Conley’s “Sweet Soul Music” and Joe Tex’s Northern Soul hit “Show Me”, along with a reggae version of the Burt Bacharach classic “Walk on By” , Mose Alison’s “Swinging Machine” and “Soul Bossa” – the Austin Powers theme tune.

Tickets are £11 or £10 for concessions and if you produce your current Brand New Forest Card you’ll get a free CD!

Click here for more information and to book .

SUP Club for Local Paddlers

click here to view video

The New Forest Paddle Sport Company based in the High Street, had Alexis Green from the BBC come down for some paddle boarding and they have put together a fun short film. click here to view video

Sean has also now launched a SUP Club for local paddlers where people can meet and paddle together.

The "Club" sessions are every other Sunday starting on 17th April at 10am at Keyhaven and paddling to Hurst Castle. (The location and times may vary for each session due to tide.)

Sean is happy if you have a spot you enjoy paddling and want to share with others let him know and he will organise a session there.

If you have your own kit please feel free just to go along and join in there is no charge for going out with the group. If you need to borrow equipment, Sean offers a discounted hire rate for club paddlers of £15 on 3 hour hires.

Paddling sessions will not be instructional and all paddlers are advised to have 3rd party insurance which is part of a BSUPA membership which you can get by clicking here, to hold relevant launching license's and be proficient paddlers before coming along.

Tips and techniques will obviously be available but this is not a teaching session you are responsible for yourself when out on the water.

For more information please click here to contact Sean

Paddle Boarding Taster Day at Hurst Castle

If you fancy giving it a go there is another another £5 for 30 minutes at Hurst Castle on Sunday 5th June 2016.

The previous Taster Day which was a great success with 70+ people taking to the water to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Kayaking at Hurst Castle.

For more information please check out:

www.thenewforestpaddlesportcompany.co.uk or visit the shop.

Editors Note: Please do not make the mistake I made. After several hours of covering myself in goose fat, then shaving in places a razor should not go, and finally spending 20 minutes squeezing into a 20 year old pair of Speedo's, (which had obviously shrunk) - I made my way to the first Taster Session. On arrival I was informed that a dry-suit would be more suitable, and more alarmingly, that if I did not leave immediately they would call the River Warden as I was scaring the wildlife and several normal adults.

It was slightly maddening that my wife said this would happen as I left the house in my resplendent glory, I just caught her sweet and dulcet tones as I was padding down the path in flippers and wearing a snorkel. Don't you just hate it when your wife is right.


The New Forest Paddle Sport Company Ltd

46 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
01590 645270
info@thenewforestpaddlesportcompany.co.uk
www.thenewforestpaddlesportcompany.co.uk

Someone Stole My Trumpet

Local resident, Alex Hall has had his trumpet nicked! - Here is story in his own words:

On 2nd April 2016, I had my trumpet stolen from right under my nose outside a cafe in the Soho area of London. This person has prevented me practising and gigging - part of my livelihood - but also took something away from me which had huge sentimental value. The trumpet has a value of £502. There was a practice mute inside the case worth £113.

I have managed to claim back a reasonable amount of insurance money to buy a replacement, and have a temporary horn at the moment - but being a not so well off musician and desperately needing to make up the difference to buy a new one (and a new practise mute - so my neighbours don't kill me) - I really needed your support in helping get a lovely replacement instrument. Nothing would feel better than having an instrument (and hopefully this time for life) bought out of the love and generosity of kind people!

What will you get back in return? Well - to celebrate your kindness, I will be warmly hosting and inviting you for an evening of FREE music showcasing and performing some incredibly talented friends. There will be all sorts of different music for some out-of-town and more local acts for everyone to enjoy for one evening only in Milford on Sea at the end of April/start of May. The location and the artists will very soon to be revealed. There is a Facebook page, and also a Crowdfunding page if you want to give Alex a hand to get blowing again - click here.

Food Week Cake Decorating Fun

We had this interesting and slightly embarrassing review from Kate Wall who was taking part in Milford on Sea Food Week for the first time this year:

"As a newcomer to Milford-on-Sea I soon realised it was a very active community. I met Ruth Bufton (my new neighbour) early on who invited me to the Newcomer’s Supper and told me about Food Week. She suggested I contact David Long and get involved.

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Having discovered the Milford newsletter and webpages I registered, contacted David and within a couple of hours found I’d agreed to deliver a Hands-On Decorating Class, a Cake Decorating Demonstration and had a table booked at CakeFest. Both were in aid of in aid of Marie Curie. I was well and truly involved!

Ten willing ladies arrived for the hands on cake decorating session at which I showed them how to ice and decorate a cake. We had a great time with lots of laughs and ended up with ten ladies plus ten decorated cakes – success all round! Feedback was very positive with comments like: “So well organised – brilliant afternoon of fun – much enjoyed. Thank you so much”. A great day.

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The next day I returned to the South Lawn Cookery Theatre for my demonstration. Time was limited but I managed to create a handbag shaped cake which was auctioned at the end of the session to raise funds for Marie Curie. 

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David Long was commandeered to be our auctioneer and was not too pleased to see his wife join us and make the successful bid of £25, which David had to pay for – sorry David!  Editors note: Just about sums up my life!

After clearing up, the Longs then generously donated the cake back to raise more money at Cake Fest. So, back home for yet more baking before setting off for the Community Centre and CakeFest. 

Our table of goodies included the handbag cake in centre place and we asked the visitors to guess the weight of the cake plus the board. When David arrived I asked him to have a go and try to win the cake again but he surprisingly declined! However it proved very successful and the cake was won by a young lady called Tabitha who collected her prize with her mum. We were delighted she had won it as she told us her great grandma is in Oakhaven and had

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recently lost her husband so they were going to share it with her to cheer her up – what a lovely outcome!

Overall, it was a great week and it looks like I may be running more cake decorating sessions during the year, so watch this space if you’re interested. During the whole process I learnt several things about Milford-on-Sea:

• David Long and his long suffering wife are amazing people who work tirelessly for the village.

• Milford Food Week has nothing short of a whole army of volunteers and supporters without whom the week could not be achieved.

• If you want to get involved and make new friends then get stuck in – I’ve found everyone to be very friendly and welcoming.

So to David, Ella and all the Milford villagers I have met so far – it’s a huge thumbs up and many thanks from me!"

Kate Wall

Editors Note: Thanks for the kind words Kate, we can only do it because of the enthusiasm of the individual people, organisations and local businesses who get so involved in making the events happens, and a village load of foodies who come along to all of the events! - it is they who deserve the biggest thanks.

Winner of 'The Voice' coming to Milford

If you watched the final of the BBC series The Voice, you will have seen the show being won by Kevin Simm, (former Liberty X singer), who was clearly a fabulous singer.

Miflord on Sea Club have announced the Kevin will be appearing at the club in November.

Not sure how the club pulled that one off, it was either great foresight or contacts, but either way this looks a show definately worth seeing!

Keep an eye on www.milfordonseacalendar.org for dates of the show.   

Tickets will be on sale soon and everyone is welcome.

Milford on Sea Club

67 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG
Tel: 01590 643209
mifordonsea@yahoo.com
www.mosclub.org

Food Week Wrapped Up

Founded in 2010, the fifth Milford on Sea Food Week held in 2016 was the biggest and best ever. We estimate over 15,000 people visited the 150+ events held across the village throughout the entire week, possibly making Milford on Sea Food Week one of the largest foodie events in the UK - Not bad for a small foodie village by the sea with an impressive 20 places to eat and only 5000 residents!

The aim of Food Week is to boost and promote village trade, and to entertain, inform and educate the local community and visitors on anything related to food.

With a good number of people visiting Milford on Sea for the first time, we also hope they will have enjoyed the village so much that they will soon be back to the benefit of all village traders.

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As you may know, Food Week is totally community run, and over 300 generous people make everything happen.

This includes our wonderful volunteers, the village restaurants, pubs and café who work so hard to create special events throughout Food Week, the Cookery Theatre demonstrations by village home cooks and local professionals, the Lambing Live team at Aubrey Farm, local shops and businesses running themed events, and the many local organisations, clubs and village charities who organised events for Food Week. A massive thank you goes to them all! - Big thanks also go to everyone that attended any events, Food Week cannot be successful without you coming!

Milford on Sea Food Week is a not for profit community event, and very proud that it is entirely coordinated by a small dedicated group of volunteers who provide their expertise and time for free.

Whilst not a charitable event, Food Week has this year made some profit, so, some of this will be held as a fighting fund for forthcoming events and community ideas we have, and we are delighted to have made donations to:

Food Week Donations 2016

• New Flower Bed outside Tu Sui Bella in Park Road: £600
• Community Centre: £500 - Plus, additional Window Display: £116
• MoS Primary School & PFA: £500
• MoS Dementia Action Group: £250
• Friends of Ray of Hope: £250
• Milford & Keyhaven Sea Scouts: £250
• MoS Girl Guides/Brownies: £250
• MoS Pre-School: £250
• Scarf (New Forest): £250 
• Milford United Charities: £250 
• Milford Hospital League of Friends: £250 
• Total Voice Choir: £250
• Climbing for Nepal: £100
• First Friday Lunch: £50
• Someone Stole My Trumpet: £25

In addition to the Donations of around £4500+ made by Food Week, we were delighted to hear that the charity run events during Food Week also additionally raised in excess of £4700 for their own causes.

Milford Primary School also designed, made & sold 350 bottles of 'School Ketchup' across the village. All of the stock was sold out by 1pm at the CakeFest on Saturday!, and the project raised £600 for the school.

Since Food Week started in 2010, over £30,000 has been distributed across many village good causes.

The biggest thrill for us all behind the scenes in Food Week, is seeing people really enjoying themselves and meeting new people, together with the special pleasure of creating warm memories for our village kids.

We will be doing it all again from Easter Bank Holiday Monday 2nd April 2018, - please get the date in your diary so you don't miss it!

Milford on Sea Food Week

Bank Holiday Monday 28th March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

If you love food, you will love Food Week!

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Want to know more about Food Week? - please click here

Announcing Milford on Sea Diet Week

Following the excesses of Food Week, - Milford on Sea Diet Week started on Monday 4th April 2016.

The village food stores will feature on healthy food, and whilst this has no flavour or taste, it can help you shift those additional pounds gained during Food Week.

The village restaurants were reluctant to discuss removing the nice bits from their menus, but they are supporting Milford on Sea Diet Week by providing every dinner with a Ryvita biscuit at the end of every meal instead of chocolates. Salads will also be on special offer, but any tasty salad dressing will be charged at double the price.

Keep Fit, Zumba and Belly Dancing classes are full to bursting. (That is the attendance, not the costumes.)

Our local pubs have removed the pork scratchings from display for the week, and are running special offers on still or sparkling water, and our cafés have range a low fat options on the menu, which in my world means the taste has been removed.

On Saturday there will be a 'Community Weigh In' on the village green, when warm applause will be given to all who have lost weight, and anyone having gained weight will be given a 'piggy mask' and asked to run to the seafront and back.

Anyone losing 10% or more of their starting weight from Monday will be given a voucher to buy sweets from The Village Newsagent the week after.

There will also be a prize for the person who has eaten the most fruit and salad during Milford on Sea Diet Week, this presentation will be made in Sea Road Car Park just in case that person needs the public conveniences rather quickly.

Enjoy getting the pounds off!

Best wishes,

Skinny McSkinnyFace (Organiser)

PS: I am leaving the village for a week, - dieting is not for me!

Food Week in Pictures

Wow, what a Food Week - foodies everywhere!

To see many of the events in action: please click here - or if you can't access that page, please click here.

Food Week Culinary MasterClass
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Rosemary Shrager Food Week Recipes

Anyone who attend the Afternoon with Rosemary Shrager last Friday cannot help but have been enthralled, impressed and delighted by her friendly and exuberant personality.

Rosemary Shrager with
Milford on Sea WI
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We promised to share Rosemary's Food Week Recipes, and we are pleased that any one who could not make the show can now also now have a good time trying Rosemary's delicious food at home. Enjoy!

Rosemary Shrager Food Week Menu

• Wheaten bread
• Asparagus & pea pearl barley risotto
• Duck breast with a Pomegranate Glaze
• Rhubarb and apple gratin
• Smoked haddock scotch egg with curry mayonnaise

To view and download Rosemary's Recipes, please click here.

20th Anniversary for Pop-In Coffee Morning

The POP-IN Coffee Morning was extra colourful and noisy last week.

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Twenty years ago, Jo Alltree wanted to have a place for people who would enjoy the opportunity to meet others. Her idea was taken up and all the Milford churches joined in and arranged teams for each Thursday morning of the month.  So the POP-IN was born, and since then, in the Village Hall, coffee or tea offered by welcomers for people to meet their new neighbours or just come for a drink and a chat.

Originally the rotas were organised by Gillian Peard then soon taken over by Sonia Collyer.

The Anniversary Party was organised by Sonia and helpers and on the 20th anniversary exactly, she was able to welcome both Gillian and three of the helpers who had been there on the opening day.

Filling the room were former helpers, current regulars, people who had found new friends when they came as newcomers themselves, Gloria Grantham Smith from the Village Hall Trustees, a librarian and helpers from the new Library service who are now a welcome addition to each POP-IN.

Most appropriately three new visitors came for the first time and promised to return - despite being warned that there would not be balloons, decorations and cakes next week!

Warm thanks were expressed to Gillian and Sonia, to the Village Hall for their support, and to all the faithful helpers, then voices were lifted lustily singing old favourites and guests departed after a very happy morning.

The POP-IN Coffee Morning organising team of volunteers open the doors every Thursday between 10.30am to 12noon when the kettle is on, so why not come along. Look out for the sign on the Green.

Andy's 'Can't Cook-Yes You Can!' Recipes

Andy & Jane Joseph at Food Week
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Last Saturday, village resident and home cook, Andy Joseph demonstrated some easy to cook recipes along with the assistance of his wife Jane.

The main course meals are ideal for new or reluctant cooks, and also aimed at non-cooks who would like to have a go and maybe younger people who would like to help Mum or prepare for life at Uni.

The linguine and salmon recipe is the easiest and quickest of them all and from start to finish should take no more than 15 minutes and it tastes good too!

Andy's 'Can't Cook-Yes You Can!' demonstration was in the professional Cookery Theatre at South Lawn, where he showed how easy is was to create his tasty menu below: 

Andy's Menu 

• Fish Pie
• Roasted Salmon Pasta
• Chilli Con Carne
• Chinese style Chicken & Vegetable Noodles

To see Andy's Recipes: please click here.

Learn How to Make Cats Milk Cheese in Food Week

Discover how to make cheese from the milk of your own pet cat on Friday at Food Week. 

Professor Joe Kerr, from the Feline Dairy Research Department based at Southampton University will reveal his delicious Catzarella Cheese discovery.

This will be followed by his colleague Dr Oh Ubinad providing you with a taste, and showing you how to make this unique cats milk cheese at home.

Free Event - Don't come along! 

Date & Venue: 1st April 2016 - Up until 12 noon in Phantom Hall

When asked whether he would be stocking the Catzarella Cheese, Paul Holland our excellent local village grocer of Hollands of Milford said: "Will you stop coming into my shop, you and your stupid ideas are driving me insane."

It All Starts Tomorrow for Foodies!

If you have just returned from another planet, you may not have heard about Milford on Sea Food Week.

Well, if you are one of our new intergalactic friends, all of the information you may need is below.

Have a fabulous week, whatever planet you are from!

To buy Any Show Tickets: click here or visit the Community Centre Box Office

To View the Full Food Week Programme: click here.

Milford on Sea Food Week

Bank Holiday Monday 28th March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

If you love food, you will love Food Week!

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Want to know more about Food Week? - please click here

Dragons on Beach

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Phew, the weather on Good Friday was fabulous, and it was nice to see that golden sand was revealed by the missing shingle on the shoreline of Milford on Sea beach.

It took me longer than expected to build the dragon, but it felt worth it in the end. 

Shame the tide came in and just washed it away..., and now with a storm coming in, it is far too windy to create another one!

Saw another dragon on Milford on Sea beach yesterday.

OK, the pink one is not a real dragon. But there was nothing else to do as Storm Katie blew through, so I knitted it - and then released it to live on the beach.

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Entertaining the Kids at Food Week

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Educating and entertaining the children in the village is a key part of Milford on Sea Food Week.

Lots of the events are free, and we hope that many happy childhood memories are created.

Below if a brief summary of what the kids can do each day:

Mon to Sat: Food Themed Treasure Hunt
Mon to Sat: Food Colouring Competition
Mon: Kids Easter Egg Hunt
Mon: Sturt Pond Family Wildlife Walk
Tues: Kids Chocolate Workshop
Tues: Teenage Truffle Workshop
Weds: Kids Baking Masterclass
Weds: Revolting Recipes
Weds: Kids Chocolate Workshop
Thurs: Quirky Cooking for Kids
Fri: Teddy Bears Picnic
Sat: Woodland Wildlife Walk
Sat: CakeFest!
Sat: Kids Cupcake Decorating
Sat: Keyhaven Lambing Live
Sat: Lisa's Big Farm BBQ
Sat: Create a Pie Class
Sun: Free Seed Planting for Children
Sun: Free Childrens' Party at MoS Club

Don't forget to buy the School Ketchup around the village!

To View the Full Food Week Programme: click here.

Milford on Sea Food Week

Bank Holiday Monday 28th March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

If you love food, you will love Food Week!

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Want to know more about Food Week? - please click here

Fancy a Massage?

New Forest Sports Massage have moved into new premises at the: Seafront Clinic, 10 Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PY, where Dr Gail Benes previously operated her Chiropractor Practice.

New Forest Sports Massage were formerly based at Shorefield Country Park, Sally has now bought her services into the heart of the village. Her new practice works alongside a new chiropractor, both operating from the Seafront Clinic.

Sally can now offer Sports Massage, Remedial Massage, and Medical Acupuncture Treatments.

To celebrate her arrival in the village, Sally is offering both existing and new patients their first appointment at the new clinic at £33 for one hour treatment. (Normally: £43 - Valid until June 2016)

To book your session please call: 07824 876884 - or email: sally@newforest-sportsmassage.co.uk

New Forest Sports Massage

www.newforest-sportsmassage.co.uk

Watch Out for Parcel Scam

We have heard that the scam below has happened in the village. Please watch out and let your neighbours know.

What happens, is that you get a parcel delivery from a valid delivery company that you are not expecting.

Soon after, you receive a phone call saying that the delivery was in error and that a courier will be round shortly to collect it. Soon after, your doorbell will ring and a man will be there asking for the package back.

The scam is that your identity has been stolen and used to purchase a high value item (usually a smart phone) which is then registered to you, and which you are asked to hand over to a stranger! If you do so, you will have difficulty getting the contract that has been set up cancelled, plus the phone company will consider that you have “lost” the phone.

If you receive such a package, do not hand it over, but contact the sending company and ask them what you should do.

Last Few Tickets for Howard & Ping

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If you are looking to come to any of the Food Week Celebrity Shows, you need to get your tickets quick!

There are still a few tickets left for the delightful Ping Coombes (MasterChef Champion 2014), and the charismatic Howard Middleton (Great British Bake Off).

Rosemary Shrager, Culinary MasterClass and Only Fools & 3 Courses are totally sold out, - but don't worry, we have over 150 events, so still plenty to enjoy - and lots of the events are free!

Food Week's first big event is the ROCK & CHIPS PARTY: 7pm to 10pm on Bank Holiday Monday (28th March) in the MoS Community Centre 

Get your party shoes on, buy your fish & chips, and kick off Food Week with pulsating live entertainment from Zac and the Zeros, Hampshire’s premier Rock and Roll function band. They will get the party rocking with soul, rock & retro pop numbers. 

YOUR FOOD: Mr Pink’s will be open at 7pm and until 8pm - So, buy your fish & chips, or bring your own food with you - plates & cutlery provided! 

Doors & Bar Open: 7pm - Everyone welcome, just buy a ticket & have a great time - whatever your age! 

Tickets: £5 - (or Pay on Door: £6) - Advance Tickets Available from the Community Centre Box Office or online at: milfordfoodweek.org

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Hear the band online at:
www.zacandthezeros.co.uk

-----------------------------------------------------

To buy Any Show Tickets: click here or visit the Community Centre Box Office

To View the Full Food Week Programme: click here.

Milford on Sea Food Week

Bank Holiday Monday 28th March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

If you love food, you will love Food Week!

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Want to know more about Food Week? - please click here

Food Week 'Dine In Friday' Explained

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Dine In Friday on 1st April during Milford on Sea Food Week may need a bit of explaining... 

It's quite straightforward really; You simply invite friends, family or neighbours to come and Dine In with you on Friday. 

That is of course if you are not going out.

Now, its fine to go out, if you are going out to Dine In. This is because, the people who have invited you to Dine In will be Dining In, so in turn you are also Dining In with your Dine In hosts. 

For clarity and to put it another way, if you have an invite to go out, you are not going to dine out, you are going out to Dine In. Once you arrive, your are Dining In rather than dining out.

However, if you are not going out, but Dining In, then anyone you invite will be going out to Dine In.

It may also be a problem to Dine In without going out, as the rules say all your meal ingredients and drinks must be bought in the village, so you have to go out to do the shopping before you can Dine In.

Finally, beware of going out to Dine In if you have nowhere to go. In this instance you won't be dining out or Dining In, you will just be out.

One other thing to consider is if you have booked to go to a village restaurant to Dine In. Technically, you will be out, so you can't be Dining In. So whilst you are physically dining in the restaurant, you are actually dining out.

No idea why some people have thought the Dine In concept was a bit complicated!

Find out more about how you can join in Dine In Friday, it's fun and easy! - click here


Milford on Sea Food Week

Bank Holiday Monday 28th March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

If you love food, you will love Food Week!

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Want to know more about Food Week? - please click here

Post Office Closing - Shop Staying

After much publicity and exploration of numerous options, the village Post Office at 35 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QF is to close towards the end of May 2016.

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The shop will however continue to trade selling kitting materials, stationery, books, greeting cards, stamps and more.

It is a stark reality of life, that running a Post Office is now not considered a viable business activity, particularly when you take into account the volume of small transactions and security aspects.

After many years of providing an appreciated Post Office service to the village, and attempts to sell the entire business, building and accompanying accommodation, Sue had made the understandable decision to close the Post Office element.

We understand that the premises will remain for sale, and without the Post Office, it is likely to be a more attractive purchase opportunity, 

Whilst the closing of the Post Office will be a loss for people in the village, at least the shop is not going to be empty and people will still be able to purchase an interesting range of knitting and stationery items.

Food Week Plugged on Radio Solent

My wife was relieved that the Food Week interview on Radio Solent this morning went reasonably smoothly.

Her concern about coughing and swearing never materialised and some of the the points made were sort of coherent. Either way, several thousand more people now know that Milford on Sea Food Week is coming, and hopefully they will make their way to the village to enjoy the numerous events whilst spending some money to the benefit of our local traders.

To listen to the interview please click here, - listen from about 30 minutes into the programme, just after the Abba track.

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Milford on Sea Food Week

BH Monday 28th March until 3rd April 2016

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Food Week Erection Team in Action!

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You may have wondered how all the Food Week posters, signage, banners, bunting and flags magically appears around the village, - it is probably more likely that it has never crossed your mind, or even more likely that you are not bothered.

However, if you keep reading the nonsense in this article you will find out anyway!

We are lucky to have an energetic group of volunteers that make sure the window posters and programmes reach all of the shops.

Then, we have a motley crew of local men who form the Food Week Erection Team. On Friday they gathered in the Community Centre, with a range of tools in hand.

To record this activity for posterity, the picture below shows half of the Food Week Erection Team wrestling with the banner stands, without looking at the instructions of course.

Ignoring the instructions made it much more satisfying when the banner frame erection took something like the correct shape on the fourth of fifth attempt. Some of the tools the guys bought even came in handy, but not sure what we were supposed to do with a strimmer, radiator key and chisels. (Not sure why I bought those along.)

The other half of the team missed the photo, as they had taken the large signs and banners, and were busy putting their erections up around the village centre. 

The morning was quite strenuous, and taking the ages into account, it might be another week or so before the Food Week Erection Team are ready for action again. 

However this will be fine, as the Erection Team are not back on duty until after Food Week, when all of the erection activity will disappear from the village.

Hope you like the signage, and are looking forward to Food Week!

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Milford on Sea Food Week

Bank Holiday Monday 28th March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

If you love food, you will love Food Week!

www.milfordfoodweek.org

Want to know more about Food Week? - please click here

Go & See Irene's Easter Garden

If you are looking for somewhere to have an Easter walk, or to take the children, you could find it worthwhile heading up Church Hill.

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Before Hurst Castle opened their shop in Milford on Sea High Street, you may recall that Irene Ellis ran Ellis Hairdressers from the same location. Over the year's Irene's shop window became locally famous for the wonderful creations she would make for window display's on just about every occasion.

Having sold the business and retired you would expect that Irene's public creativity would have waned, but it certainly hasn't. 

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When you reach All Saints' Church, opposite the front Lynch Gate, you will find 'Irene's Pop Up Easter Garden' from lunchtime on Good Friday.

Ellis Hairdressers Shop Window
2012
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There is even a bench, for you to sit and while the time away.

Nice work Irene!

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PS: What is a Lych Gate?

Lych is derived from the Old English 'lich', meaning corpse. From 1549 it was required that lych-gates be built at the entrance to churchyards.

They were meeting places and shelters for the party bringing a corpse for burial, and for the priest to receive the corpse.

Medieval lych-gates were made of timber and most have long since disappeared.

However, many new lych-gates were erected in Victorian times, sometimes as memorials to prominent local people or as war memorials.

Creating Food Week: The Statistics

Since being launched in 2010, Milford on Sea Food Week has grown in so many ways.

The initial concept was born out of wanting to boost local village trade by promoting Milford on Sea as a 'Foodie Heaven', - and with 20 great places to eat, what better way for Milford on Sea to celebrate than to have an entire week dedicated to the joys of food!

Very soon this concept grew to involve the local community en-mass in organising and participating in events, promoting the quality local producers that surround us, and adding celebrity shows to enhance the enjoyment and to raise the profile of Food Week.

This year the ever popular Milford on Sea Food Week returns from Bank Holiday Monday 28th March until Sunday 3rd April 2016, and this time it is bigger than ever, with over 10,000 people attending the 150 events (many of which are free). Actually, it is 168 events to be precise!

Food Week Purpose: 
The core purpose of Food Week is to boost and promote village trade, and to inform, educate and entertain the local community and visitors.

Creating the Food Week Events
It is important to us that as many corners of the entire community are directly involved as possible.

To create so many events, there are as you might expect, a lot of people across the village that get involved, whether as a business, local organisation, club or as an individual. A quick count tells us that to create all the Food Week events means that 129 people are organising or participating in one way or another.

We also have 80 local producers who attend the Food Market as stallholders.

Behind the scenes there is a Core Organising Team of 7 volunteers who make sure everything is in place, prepare the events, create the marketing, raise the income, manage the finances, and keep an eye on things throughout the week.

Finally, there are also 43 important and enthusiastic volunteers who work on the event preparation, and provide day to day services and specialist support. Plus, an awesome team of 44 people who do a great job selling Food Week raffle tickets.

So, that's 303 people to make Food Week happen!

Funding Food Week Events
Food Week is run on a shoestring, and we are fortunate that many skills that organisers of other events have to pay for, we are able to do for free thanks to the expertise and time investment of our volunteers.

However, one main element that has to be outsourced is the printing of the publicity collateral, and it is surprising how substantially the cost of publicity material mounts up. Things like local advertising, village banners, window posters, flags, signage, and 20,000 Free Food Week Programmes for the village and 25,000 Flyers for the surrounding areas do not come cheap!

The celebrity events are always a risk, as good ticket sales are essential to ensure that we do not make a loss on any show.

Food Week could not happen without donations, and we are fortunate to get excellent support from Brand New Forest at NFDC, local Councillors, our local MP, 6 local main sponsors, 67 local businesses as gold or silver sponsors, and 41 local residents as Friends of Food Week. Food Week 2016 has so far raised £15,425 from these generous supporters.

Food Week is not a charitable or fund raising event, however we do encourage local charities to take part in order to raise funds for their own good causes.

Should Food Week make any profits, donations are made to local good causes and also spent on projects that may benefit the village overall. Since 2010 Food Week has made contributions of £20,738.

Spreading the Food Week Message

Prior to the fun of Milford on Sea Food Week, there is the little matter of making sure that as many people as possible know that the events are taking place.

As previously mentioned, we do as much as we can without costs and through volunteers, such as; the website, all design and artwork, PR, marketing, social media, e-shots, blogs etc.

Spreading the Food Week message is a multi-level marketing activity, and we regularly use the following:

• The MoS News Website. Which has 20,000+ page views a month. - (www.milfordonseanews.org) 

• The MoS News Bulletin. This is sent directly to 2,626 email addresses in the village. (NB: Milford on Sea has around 5000 residents in total.)  -  Perhaps surprisingly, we have a further 201 people who we know live in Milford on Sea, but have chosen to 'Unsubscribe' from receiving the News Bulletin. (This might be something to do with some of the nonsense we publish!)

• The Food Week News Bulletin: This is sent directly to another of our databases, which contains 1,543 email addresses of 'Foodies from outside of the village'. 

• Facebook: Milford On Sea Page: We have 1,621 Page Likes.

• Facebook: Milford On Sea Food Week Page: Only started this year, and we currently have 318 Page Likes to date. (Currently growing by around 50+ per week.)

• Facebook: Post Boosts: Used tactically to spread the word about Food Week and specific events.

• Twitter: 86 Followers. No idea what Twitter is all about really, we just randomly put stuff on it and hope that someone sees it!

• Streetlife: This is a local social network, so we are also giving this a go.

• Press Advertising & Editorial in Advertiser & Times, New Forest Post, Village Voice, Lymington Directory, Barton Bugle, Highcliffe Eye, Christchurch Eye, Hampshire Life and a few selected other local publications and magazines.

• Media: We contact all local TV and Radio looking for on air coverage. This year we had an interview on the Nick Girlder Sunday Show on Radio Solent, and Radio Solent's outside broadcast team will be at Lambing Live during Food Week.

• Press Releases: Articles are sent to local press and food/lifestyle magazine publications.

• Free Food Week Programmes: 20,000 free copies distributed within Milford on Sea village. (3000 of which are generously delivered to every home in the village by the team that distribute the Community Centre What's On Magazine.) 

• Food Week Flyers: 25,000 delivered door to door in nearby surrounding areas from Christchurch, and across the New Forest to Lyndhurst.

Then of course, we have the messages that everyone sees, like the village banners, window posters, flags and signage.

Summary
Milford on Sea Food Week is very proud that it is a not for profit community event entirely coordinated by a small dedicated group of volunteers who provide their expertise and time for free.

The Food Week organisers are more than satisfied that their sole reward is in seeing the enjoyment gained by people enjoying the events. 

Food Week is truly a ‘By the community, for the community’ event, so please come and join in or simply enjoy!

Milford on Sea Food Week
Bank Holiday Monday 28th March until Sunday 3rd April 2016
www.milfordfoodweek.org

Seeking New School Governors

Milford on Sea Primary School are seeking two people to join the team of Governors.  

In this role the governors provide strategic direction to the School and act as a critical friend. The school are specifically looking for finance and or premises management expertise.  Training is provided.

Requirements: some daytime, some evening and some flexible hours, self starters, team players and a sense of humour.  Rewards; No pay, but personal satisfaction of contributing to the development of the School, and the future of the children in our our village. 

If you are interested to know more please contact: Sue Towndrow, Chair of Governors at susan_towndrow@hotmail.com or on 01590 645442

From Moldova to the West End

This post has nothing to do with Milford on Sea, other than I was recently contacted by Tony Hawks, a comedian, writer, musician and philanthropist who is a funny man doing good for many less fortunate.

Anyone who has read any of his books like; Round Ireland With A Fridge, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, One Hit Wonderland, Once Upon A Time In The West...Country, and my personal favourite; A Piano In The Pyrenees, - will know his talents as a writer with a great sense of humour.

After accepting a bet from his mate and fellow comedian, Arthur Smith, Tony took on the challenge of finding the Moldova football team players beaten 4-0 by England in September 1997. The outcome is a funny as it is surprising. In his book; 'Playing the Moldovans at Tennis' he reveals his experiences in finding and playing each player one by one. As the story humorously unfurls, an unexpected subplot emerges when Tony, unexpectedly to himself, becomes entwined with a a local family and determined to help with creating a Care Centre in Europe’s poorest nation.

Since that day his life has literally changed, and he today he continues to tirelessly raise funds for what is now the Tony Hawks Care Centre in Chisinau, where they do amazing work for poor families with children who have cerebral palsy.

If you can make his 'Midlife Cowboy' show above in the West End you will be assured of a good night out. Click here for ticket information.

You might even see him here in Milford on Sea one of these days.

Tony Hawks

www.tony-hawks.com

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis

A feel-good film with the unbeatable combination of tennis, Moldova and British eccentricity - Sandi Toksvig
www.moldovansmovie.com

Tony Hawks Care Centre, Chisinau
www.tonyhawkscentru.md