Piers is a National Champion

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Milford on Sea now has a National hockey champion living in the village. Piers Everleigh was part of the winning Havant Hockey Club team at the end of January.  (Piers is the son of Garry Everleigh, local resident, forager and operator of Puffin Cruises in Lymington.)

The U16 Havant Hockey Club team played and won all six games in the National Indoor Championship tournament at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton 21^st/22^nd January 2012.  A very successful weekend saw the lads of U16 Havant Hockey Club team become the only team in the two pools to win all of their pool matches.  In the semi-final the Havant boys beat Canterbury, who are the reigning National Champions. The final was against Ashmoor Hockey Club (National Schools Indoor Champions) with Havant running out 2-1 winners to become crowned U16 Boys Clubs National Indoor Champions.

Piers also plays for the County and  SE England Wessex Leopards. Nice one Piers!

Havant Hockey Club Team: Piers Eveleigh, Laurie Bowden, JJ Brown, Joe Budgen, Josh Darlington, David Jones, Tom Lavery, Ethan Levy, Robbie Mansell, Ollie Nail, Tom Penlington. Coach: David Faulkner.

Garry forages with The Hungry Sailors

A number of you may have seen local Milford on Sea resident, Garry Eveleigh, on afternoon TV on Thursday 26^th January.  Garry is a well know character across the New Forest being both a forager and operator of Puffin Cruise in Lymington.  He is also known as 'The Wild Cook' and he forages for ingredients for many of his own recipes.  Not being busy enough!, he also forages for the kitchens at the impressive new restaurant/hotel The Pig in Brockenhurst, as well as providing foraging walks for guests at the luxury Limewood Hotel, in Lyndhurst in the heart of the New Forest.

Garry’s recent TV appearance was on the current ITV series of the ‘The Hungry Sailors’.  The show features an old friend of the village, Dick Strawbridge.  Dick was the headline celebrity at Milford on Sea Food Week in 2011, where he enthralled an audience of around 150 in his show; ‘An Evening with Dick Strawbridge’.  During the show Dick cooked a delicious full meal, interspersed with witty stories and anecdotes.  His skills in the kitchen are pretty well known since he made the final of the BBC series Celebrity Master Chef.

In ‘The Hungry Sailors’, Dick is joined by his son James on a sailing voyage around the south coast of Britain. James himself appears a decent cook, as well as a treat for the lady viewers. (I feel a bit odd having just written that!) 

During the programme the guys stop to meet local producers an interesting people, before cooking a meal from what they discover. (Sadly they used Lymington Harbour, rather than coming into Keyhaven.)  Garry took them to Hurst Spit where they foraged mainly for seaweeds such as samphire, laver weed, sea beet and sea purslane.  He also has a friend with a license to forage for gulls eggs.  Foraging complete, they set up a stove and using the ingredients found, cooked and tucked into a ‘Gull's Egg Tortilla’ on the water edge.

Garry will be demonstrating the type of wild edible food he collects, with various of his cooked creations, during this year’s Milford on Sea Food Week.  Come along to meet him, we can guarantee you will find out lots about the edible free fare only a short distance from your door.

To find out more about The Hungry Sailors’ TV Show, which is on ITV at 4pm, please hit the link below:
www.itv.com/food/programmes/hungry-sailors

You can also visit Garry's website here: www.garryeveleigh.com 

Gruffalo at the Library

As well as providing the services normally associated with a library, our own village establishment of books, provide a lot more in Milford on Sea.  As many rural and village location lose their libraries, it is good to see ours go from strength to strength.  The team have even set up a Facebook page which can be reached using the link at the end of this article.

Toddlertime already keeps kid’s entertained on the first Friday of the month, and on 16^th February there will be an afternoon of free ‘Gruffalo fun and games’ for the village little ones.  Not forgetting the adults, Painting and Jewellery Workshops days are also planned in the diary. 

I guess like most people, I was unaware that National Love Library Day is on 4^th February.  Should you find yourself in the village between 10am to 12noon it may be worth popping in, as there will be cakes on sale from the WI and a free prize draw.  The kids (over 4) are not forgotten either, as they will be enjoying a ‘Bear Hut’ at 11.30am.  Why not go along?

To see what’s on at the library, please visit:

www.milfordonseacalendar.org

www.facebook.com/milfordonsea.library

Do you enjoy the guitar?

Like me, I suspect many of you can remember you parents or grandparents telling you about The Four Tops and Mungo Jerry.  Well, Phil Braithwaite has performed along such bands and he will be visiting Milford on Sea village later this month.

Phil is a leading session guitarist and teacher, and he will be ‘In Session’ providing the opportunity to listen to, and learn from, an expert musician.  This event is a chance for guitarists of all ages and abilities to learn from a master and even if you can't strum a single chord, you're welcome to come along and listen. 

Tickets are £7.50 and include some refreshments, abd the session takes place at 7.30pm on Saturday 25th February 2012 in the Guide Hut.

Tickets are available from Total Voice, email info@totalvoice.co.uk or call 07824 966912 or email richard@milfordstrummers.co.uk

Village Voice Useful Numbers

Sue from the Village Voice has been in touch to say she has had a bad day at the office!  To explain; one column on the useful numbers page in the latest edition of The Village Voice has slipped slightly, so a lot of the numbers are incorrect. (Desmond Swayne cannot be reached by dialling 999!)

She is busy beating herself up for the error, and sends her apologies to all readers.  Normal service will be resumed in the next edition!

Seven great days for ‘Foodies’!

Don't miss Milford on Sea Food Week: 9th April to 15th April 2012

Milford on Sea is fast becoming recognised as the South coast’s ‘Foodie Heaven by the Sea!’. This small seaside village boasts over twenty places to eat, offering everything from fine dining to boutique cafés. It is also a vibrant village with an extremely active community spirit, and is home to the ‘Hampshire Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Hampshire Chef of the Year’.

Food Week is a celebration about local food, with all corners of the community taking part.  The event is designed to for people to have a lot of fun, and at the same time establish Milford on Sea as a ‘Foodie Destination’, which will create long-term sustainability for the village centre shops and its restaurants, for the benefit of local residents and visitors alike.

From Easter Bank Holiday Monday Milford on Sea Food Week celebrates all that is great about food for an entire seven days.  This New Forest seaside village is blessed with great places to eat and surrounded by quality local producers, so what better way to celebrate this, than to have an entire week dedicated to the joys of food!

Everyone at every age is welcome, and Milford on Sea Food Week has over 100 activities including: Themed Dining Evenings, Professional Cookery Theatre, Celebrity Shows, Cooking Demonstrations, Educational Talks, Film Shows, Cookery Competitions, Wine Tastings, Dining Offers, Kid's Events & a large Sunday Food Market, all are organised by local organisations, clubs, businesses and individuals.  A Programme detailing all of the events will soon be on sale in the village shops.

This year’s Food Week celebrity shows include ‘An Evening with Tom Kerridge’, a two star Michelin chef and TV personality, a ‘Comedy & Cake Night’ starring TV & radio comedian Jo Caulfield and the ever popular ‘Big Cook Off’ between top chefs in the local area. The ‘Great Dining Bus’ is also taking to the road, transporting diners to eat a different course in four village restaurants.  Now that really is a dining experience with a difference!  Tickets for the large events are available from the online ‘Food Week Ticket Office’ as well as in the village.

All of the village restaurants are running themed evenings & special offers throughout the week.  There is also a full programme of events to entertain the kid’s on half-term holiday. The professional Cookery Theatre provides a varied programme of events and activities that should excite every ‘foodie’.

On the final Sunday, the Food Market takes centre stage with over 60 stalls on the village green & along the High Street.  Local producers from throughout the New Forest will be selling tasty treats, and various types of hot food will be available.  You can also visit the many village shops that will be open.  Last year over 6000 people attended the Food Market, and this year all visitors will be entertained by a jazz quartet as they shop.

Food Week is co-ordinated by a small dedicated group of volunteers who provide their expertise and time for free. We are also fortunate to have a generous group of sponsors & supporters. Any income generated by Food Week is only used to cover promotional costs, and no fees or expenses are taken by any of the Food Week organisers. Food Week is not a fundraising event, however it is ‘not for profit’ and we are delighted to support local charities from any profits that are made.

David Long one of the organising team said “Milford on Sea is a great place to eat and a fun place to visit, so we wanted to celebrate this with a series of varied food related events around the village for all locals & visitors to enjoy and learn.  Why not come & join in the fun!”

Our event is truly ‘By the community, for the community’.

To find out more please visit:

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

BUY YOUR TICKET TODAY!  To see tickets now on sale please visit:

www.ticketsource.co.uk/milfordonseafoodweek 

New Seafront Houses Approved

A prime seafront site has been granted planning permission in Milford on Sea.  New Forest planners have approved that the old NHS care home site on the cliff top at Ravenhurst, Ravens Way, Milford on Sea can be developed as four detached luxury homes.

This former home for people with learning difficulties has been vacant for the last three years since the NHS Trust had moved the former residents to other premises in the District more suited to their present day needs.

The new development will be built by Pennyfarthing Homes with the existing dilapidated buildings on the site to be demolished to be replaced with four contemporary designed two-storey detached houses that will enjoy spectacular panoramic sea views of Christchurch Bay and the Isle of Wight.

This planning permission comes after an earlier appeal for 13 houses on the site was dismissed by a Government Inspector in November 2010.  That scheme was considered to have had adversely affected the setting of the nearby landmark building, ‘The White House’, a grade II listed building. In granting planning permission for the four modern seaside residences New Forest planners were satisfied that the revised proposal would preserve the setting of The White House and would maintain the spacious appearance of this cliff-top location.

The proposal generated a requirement for the provision of two affordable dwellings to be provided.  Normally the local authority would seek these to be provided on-site.  However Pennyfarthing have offered to provide 3 affordable family homes on one of their other sites at 29 Keyhaven Road in Milford-on-Sea, close to the village shops and facilities.  The New Forest District Council considered this a suitable offer.

Faster Broadband in Village

BT have announced that Milford on Sea had had an upgrade to make available download speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) – more than double the speed previously available from BT.

Around 30,000 more homes and businesses in Hampshire have now benefited from access to faster broadband; Hartley Wintney, Alresford, Bransgore, Medstead, Twyford, Hook, Lee-on-Solent and Milford on Sea.

This investment in the copper network is in addition to BT’s £2.5 billion roll-out of fibre-based broadband, which will bring even faster speeds to around two-thirds of UK premises by the end of 2014.

Don’t get nicked!

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There I was, wandering down the High Street minding my own business, when I spotted an innocent car parked on what I understand is technically called the ‘funny paved island thing’ on the outer edge of the parking spaces outside of the Co-op.  I say, innocent, because I was under the impression that this was a legitimate parking space.  In fact, I am sure someone in a grown up position in village had told me that.  But true to form, I can’t remember who it was.

Well, the traffic warden who must have only recently passed by thought differently, and they had awarded the car with one of their special self-adhesive plastic wallets, containing a delightful parking ticket.  I then spotted a couple of police officers sitting in a car nearby, so I stopped for a chat.  They had also seen the ticket being awarded and thought it was probably a ‘traffic calming island’ rather than for parking.

I then decided I would wander to the Parish Council to see if I could clarify the situation.  However, I then couldn’t be bothered, and went for some tea and cake in the village instead.

So there you have it, no clarity on the parking situation and some badly researched useless information. (Up to par for these pages really.)  I guess the conclusion is, park at your peril!

Arts & Music Festival AGM

Everyone is invited to the Milford on Sea Arts & Music Festival  AGM next Wednesday (18th January) at 6pm in the Community Centre.

Feel free to come along if you are interested to hear how the festival is progressing.

If anyone wants to make any comments or representations please contact Sean below:

Tel: 01590 644777 | sean@hwsolicitors.com

New Writer’s Café

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If you are interested in writing there is now an informal gathering of village writers of all abilities in Inger-Lise’s Coffee Shop in the High Street, Milford on Sea every Tuesday afternoon.

The hour get together of the ‘Writer’s Café’ is from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and provides an opportunity to meet other writers, share information and basically enjoy a social get together for the price of a cuppa. (and if you are in the mood, perhaps a slice of cake!)

The organiser, Cate Sweeney said “Sometimes we do a brief exercise or share a short piece we’ve written, but mostly it’s a social thing, it gets us writers out!  Everyone is welcome to just come along, and it’s free, too!”

Cate is a published author, who also runs some formal writing courses at the Community Centre, there are a few places left if you are be interested.

If you would like to contact Cate her e-mail is below, or of course just pop along to Inger-Lise’s Coffee Shop any Tuesday afternoon.

cate@wordaction.co.uk

www.wordaction.co.uk

Story of Bay Trees

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A few months ago Sarah & Mark Clayson took over The Bay Trees B&B in Milford on Sea High Street.  They are very keen to be involved in village life and Sarah is already involved in Food Week this year.

They are also very interested to learn about the history of The Bay Trees building and no doubt the many stories that people have.  So far they have heard about flooding in Milford on Sea, the buildings various reincarnations of restaurant, café & cake shop, and now of course it current life as a bed & breakfast.

Sarah & Mark would love to build up a photographic portfolio of stories and memories in relation to The Bay Trees formally known as Bridge House.  They have already joined the impressively informative Milford on Sea Historical Society, who I am sure can provide a lot of history for them.

If you have any personal or village stories to share, or photographs that you are willing to lend (they can to scan them and give back the originals) they would both be very grateful.

Please contact Sarah on:

01590 642186 | sarah.clayson@btinternet.com, or just call in when you are passing.

Chest Freezer Anyone?

The volunteer cooks at the Community Centre are in need of a chest freezer.  The valiant kitchen team provide the catering for many events in the Community Centre throughout the year, and it would really help them out if they had further storage for frozen food.

I did think I had this one sorted myself.  I was going to offer the services of a few people I know in the village, but then I realised they were after a 'chest freezer' and not an 'old geezer'.

Should you have a chest freezer you no longer require, or are feeling particularly generous and fancy sponsoring one, please contact Sue Whitlock on:

01590 643404 or susan@hwsolicitors.com

www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk

Singing Superstars!

Young singers in the village have an opportunity to join in a singing workshop run by professional singing teacher, Christine Mulgrew, who all runs the successful Total Voice Choir in the village.

The workshop will focus on singing skills, performing on stage, using a microphone and singing in harmony.  It sounds like it will be a bit of fun and likely to sell out quickly.

The workshop is on Saturday 4^th February at the Guide Hut.  The cost is £20 and you can book by contacting Christine on:

0845 900 5929 or info@totalvoice.co.uk

www.totalvoice.co.uk

Charity Shop Helpers

Our busy and vibrant Village Charity Shop is looking for volunteers to do a few hours helping out serving in the shop.  It is a great place to meet people and have a good time.

Cover is required on regular or occasional basis throughout the year. 

Also, Shop Manager, Judit is taking a well deserved holiday for a couple of weeks in February and some cover is still needed for parts of those weeks.

If you can lend a hand please contact: Sue Whitlock on:
01590 643404 or susan@hwsolicitors.com

www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk

Go on, get involved!

The events and activities for the Food Week programme are now almost complete. However it is not too late to get involved if you would like to.

If you have a cooking skill you would like to demonstrate, or are a organisation, club or society who would like to get involved in any way, please just drop me a line at the e-mail address below.

The Food Week Ticket Office is now open and contains lots of the main events we are running during Food Week.

If you fancy taking a look please just hit the ‘Ticket Office link’ on the Food Week website below.  Best to get your tickets before the events sell out.

david@milfordonsea.org

http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

Local Artist in London Exhibition

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Local pastel artist Barbara Rousseau has had her painting of a “Storm over Dubrovnik” accepted for exhibition at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London from 14th to 25th February 2012 by the Pastel Society. Her work was selected for exhibition from amongst hundreds of entries.

Barbara has previously won the Society of All Artists (SAA) Artist of the Year competition in 2006, however she looks on this accolade by fellow pastelists to exhibit in London as the pinnacle of her career.

Barbara will be exhibiting more of her work at Exbury Gardens with the “Four Seasons Art Group” from 9th April to 9th June 2012.

Be a Food Week Sponsor

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To cover the cost of advertising for Milford on Sea Food Week we are delighted if anyone decides to become one of our sponsors.

This year we are offering even more for your money, with your sponsor advert appearing in 15,000 free programme which we will be delivering to homes in Milford on Sea, Barton, Lymington plus surrounding areas across the New Forest.

Your advert also appears on the Food Week website, and can be seen all year round at:

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/oursponsors

Prices are: Baby Silver £50 | Silver £75 | Gold £150

If you would like to support us with our community event please just drop me an e-mail at:
david@milfordonsea.org

http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/
Bank Holiday Monday 9th April to Sunday 15th April 2012

New Carnival Route

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We have received the letter below from Sean Reeves, with the arrangement details for the Milford on Sea Carnival in August 2012.

The committee have worked very hard to make it easy to join in, so if you have a club, organisation, business or even just a group of friends, why not become part of the carnival procession this year?

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

I am a member of the Milford on Sea Village Community Committee and as I am sure you are aware we did not to organise the procession this year. I have (with the assistance of four other volunteers) created a sub-committee whose specific remit is to revitalise the procession for the Milford-on-Sea August Carnival Procession 2012.

As a sub-committee we have opted for a smaller provisional route and a copy of the proposed route is enclosed for your information. This is of course is subject to the number of entrants and the council agreeing to the road closures (which they have in principle). The date for the event is 25 August 2012 and starting at 4 pm.

The theme as you can imagine can only be one thing and in keeping with the big event next year – the Olympics. We therefore are organising the ‘Milford on Sea Village Olympics’. With this in mind we are looking for entrants to enter the procession either on a motorised display float or as a walking display with the design consisting of anything to do with the Olympics.

The main committee shall also be organising (hopefully) village games on the green throughout the day and hope, like previous years, the event will be well attended.

Insurance has been arranged insurance through Events Insurance and the policy is underwritten by AXA. We are also happy to advise you that they have agreed to cover third party motorised float entrants for an administration premium of £30.00 per float subject, of course, that the vehicle is insured against all usual comprehensible risks under the Road Traffic Act. With this in mind we would be obliged for a minimum contribution of £15.00 for any motorised entrants.

On previous years we understand that you have participated in the procession and we would be very much obliged, at this early stage if you would confirm that you would be willing to participate in next year’s event. I attach a copy of our entrance form which should be returned to me together with the contribution for insurance or a copy of your insurance policy confirming that you are covered by your own insurance (if you are entering a motorised float).

We are unfortunately not able to accept any further entrants after 17 August 2012.

We look forward to hearing from you.

With kind regards

Sean Reeves

For and on behalf of Milford-on-Sea Carnival Sub-Committee

*Please contact Sean for an Entry From at:

sean@hwsolicitors.com

01590 644777

The Joy of Christmas Presents

My wife of course needs for nothing, she is pretty, youthful, a good cook and has a wonderful husband. Shortly before Christmas I had bought her a top of the range Dyson, but apparently this was not a good ‘Christmas present’.

Christmas (I am led to understand) demands a 'special present'. In our early years together gift buying was quite easy, but fifteen years later new ideas become more of a struggle. Fortunately, I have survived the past few years by my wife telling me what she wants and I give her the money. I’m happy, she’s happy and it is the perfect solution for us simple men. This year life got a little more complicated when she said; “I would like a bracelet”, “Which bracelet?”, “Surprise me”. That final comment struck terror into my whole being. ‘Surprise her’, the only surprise will be if I am capable of doing this.

Christmas is of course a time when I excel in being the perfect husband, I always compliment my wife on how well she get the tree from the loft and decorates it beautifully. I comment positively on all the presents she buys for everyone, and of course help out the best I can with all of the food she makes and buys. Not easy I know, but certainly worth the effort.

It was nearly Christmas Eve when I set about my Christmas present mission, only to discover Ratners had disappeared. Several online searches later I found out that this challenge may be a bridge to far. It soon became clear that I had no idea what I was looking at, the options were vast and my ability to tell the difference was nil. I became even more confused when faced with knowing what size I needed. Had it been shoes or a dress I could have raided her wardrobe to find out. But measuring her shirt cuffs did not help me much. How is any man supposed to know the wrist size of their partner?, I struggle remembering her age and birthday.

A call to my friend did not help, he could only advise me that the necklace he bought from Elizabeth Duke last year had resulted in his wife not speaking to him for a month. (Could be worth it?)  He then reminded me that they divorced a few months later, and I had no intention of spending that much!

A final attempt on Christmas Eve proved fruitless, so there was only one thing for it.

Christmas morning arrived and it was time to open our presents. My wife looked a little apprehensive as she received her plain envelope, I think she had worked out it was not a bracelet. Her ability to contain her excitement was impressive as she opened the enclosed letter with the loving words; “I owe you a bracelet. Love you xxxx”. Although not signed, somehow she knew it was from me.

To complete my wife’s surprise I took her shopping (online) just after Boxing Day, and she chose a bracelet ‘that she had wanted for ages’ (apparently). The ‘LoveLinks bracelet’ was perfect, she was happy, and my wallet had a big dent in it. Perhaps if I had known that a ‘surprise’ had actually meant ‘I want a LoveLinks Bracelet’ I may have solved this mammoth challenge a little earlier.

Roll on next Christmas.

Party on New Year’s Eve

We have heard that ‘The Raft’ is holding ‘The Shipwrecked After Party’ on New Year’s Eve. The newly opened bistro and bar will have a ‘shipwrecked theme’ and will be serving canapés. Doors open at 10pm and it is £10 to get in and party past midnight.

The Marine and Westover Hall both have celebration dinners with entertainment, La Perle has a six course French menu, Zaika & Britannia Thai are providing an Asian option to see the new year in, and of course all of our local pubs have events happening. So, if you haven’t made your plans for your New Year’s Eve yet, there are still plenty of options to party the night away in Milford on Sea village.

Doctors Advice

I watched a doctor on television this evening who said that, we all could use more calm in our lives; and in order to achieve inner peace, we should always try to finish the things we start.

So, I looked around my house to find the things I’d started and hadn’t finished. I finished off a bottle of Chassagne Montrachet 2004, a bottle of Chateau Pape-Clement 2008, a bodle of Jin, a butle of wum, tha mainder of Valiuminun scriptins, an a boks a chocletz.

Yu haf no idr how fablus I feel rite now.

Sned this to all who need inner piss. An telum u luvum!

Are You a Village Newcomer?

Each February a ‘Newcomers Supper’ is held at All Saints Church Hall in Milford on Sea. This year the supper will be held on Saturday 25th February 2012.

Anyone that is new to the village since February 2011 is able to apply for an invitation and the event is entirely free.

The evening consists of two parts. In the first hour or so, there is a ‘mini exhibition’, where you can wander around and informally meet representatives from the many clubs, associations & organisations in the village. They can tell you anything you want to know, and if you fancy getting involved you can. This is then followed by a sit down supper with the chance to meet new people & have a bit of fun.

Most years the event has over a hundred people attending, and it is a great way to meet new people, and to get a warm welcome to your new home. The village is full of friendly people and the ‘Newcomers Supper’ is a fast-track way of getting to know all about our village life.

The ‘Newcomers Supper’ is funded & hosted by all of the churches in the village & tirelessly organised by Ruth Bufton. The event is by invitation only, so if you are new to the village this year & would like to come along please contact: Ruth Bufton on:
ruth.bufton@btinternet.com or 01590 641875

Love our shops

We have had an interesting letter from Christopher Beeton, a long standing local resident.

He comments; “When I first visited Milford in 1948/49 there were about the same number of high street shops as we have now but, of course, Milford was then only a small village.  By 1984, when I moved here on retirement, there was a very wide range of shops with at least two of each of the essential ones but, by then, we had become a small town. Even Keyhaven had its Post Office & shop.

In the 1990s when I was a NFDC councillor, considerable concerns were expressed about the plans for the (then) new Tesco in Caird Avenue and, in particular, how it would affect high street shops in nearby villages.  Our own shops were already dwindling and, in a letter to the Lymington Times, I suggested to those Milford residents who used our shops only in emergency, that they make a point of buying at least something in the village every week. With some 6000 residents even if only half did this, most of our shops should remain viable.  With the increase of ladies' hairdressers and commercial businesses, the loss of a baker or greengrocer is not, at first, so noticeable.  But we cannot afford to lose many more if we are to retain any character at all.”

Who can argue with that.  Christopher goes on to suggest; “Since the demise of Milford's Traders Association there does not appear to be much co-ordination and this is likely to increase pressure on some of our smaller, but very useful, shops.  How about a series of short articles on each of our shops (in addition to eating places of course!).”

Writing an article on each shop would be a bit of a ‘Forth Road’ job, however we would love any of our shops to write a comment about what they offer for all to see.  Alternatively, if you have anything to say about any of the great things you can get in the village, why not post a comment below to give them a plug?

PS: That reminds me, if you want a plug, (or anything DIY for that matter), Milford Hardware is your place to go!

Carnival Parade Back!

Many of you are aware and saddened that the carnival procession did not take place in 2011. However, we are delighted to announce that a sub-committee of volunteers has been formed to assist the Milford on Sea Village Community Committee to organise and run the procession in 2012.

The new team are in the process of organising and fundraising for the 2012 procession and are getting great support from the local community which is very encouraging.

The first fundraising event is the January First Friday Charity Lunch held at Milford Community Centre. Some of you may know all about the First Friday Lunches, which are organised by dedicated team of volunteers and raise money to support many charities.

Everyone is invited to come along on Friday 6th January 2012 at 1pm where you can feast on a main course and dessert for only £4.50 per person. You would be made very welcome and no booking is necessary, - just show up, have a tasty meal and support a local community event.

If you would like further details about the First Friday Lunch Club or helping to support the carnival procession please do not hesitate in contacting Sean Reeves of Hugh Whitlock Solicitors at: sean@hwsolicitors.com

Boxing Day Left-overs

Zaika have come up with a novel way to enjoy your left-overs on Boxing Day.  Fortunately this does not interfere with the traditional ‘bubble & squeak’.  On Boxing Day, if you have any left-over drinks, Kalam has said everyone can feel free to take them with you to enjoy a curry.

Zaika is open for lunch and for dinner from 6pm on Boxing Day, - and your drink is as welcome as you!

Zaika Indian Restaurant
01590 643084
www.zaikanewforest.co.uk

Onward and upward for Total Voice!

Many of you will have heard our very own community choir, Total Voice, performing in an around Milford over the last couple of years.  The choir’s leader, Christine Mulgrew, and one of its founder members, Victoria Hopkins, are now joining forces to take Total Voice to new heights with a programme of workshops and events to complement its choral performances. 

Christine and Victoria have many years of singing and performing experience between them and are passionate about spreading the joys and benefits of singing for everyone.

The first event Total Voice has planned for the new year is “January Tune-up”, a Saturday afternoon workshop to banish the post-Christmas blues with some rousing group singing.  Participants will learn techniques to build their confidence and improve their voices. 

Please visit the Total Voice website at www.totalvoice.co.uk for more information.

Fancy Running an Event at Food Week?

Our calendar for Food Week is now filling up fast, but it is not too late if you want to join in.  We love to see Clubs, Charities & Community Organisations and individuals getting involved.  Almost anything can fit in, as long as it is related to food in some way.

If you have any ideas on anything that you would like organise or be involved in for Food Week, please just drop me an e-mail at:

david@milfordonsea.org

Food Week runs from 9th April to 15th April 2012 and we love for as many of the community to get involved as they can.

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

Concert raises over £3000

Milford’s very own Total Voice Contemporary Choir are delighted to have raised £3.390.03 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton following their ‘All You Need Is Love’ concert and appeal.  The choir put on a concert featuring songs about love and friendship in October at the Milford Community Centre and also organised many other events themselves including coffee mornings, an after show party and a vintage cream tea!

Christine Mulgrew and Victoria Hopkins of Total Voice along with choir members presented the cheque last week to Suzie Simmons Fundraising Officer for Southampton Hospital Charity.  The group also visited the unit where their money will go towards a new suite of parental accommodation for those with babies being treated there.  This will make a real difference for parents in what is a very difficult time.

The hospital provides specialist care to around 600 sick term and pre term (premature) new born babies a year from Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Chichester, Dorchester, Basingstoke, Isle of Wight, Salisbury, Winchester and the Channel Islands - with such a wide-spread 'catchment' many parents do not have the option to go home.

The target funding needed for the parental suites is £100,000 and staff at the hospital climbed Kilimanjaro last year for the cause.  With our contribution they have now raised nearly £90,000 of that target.



The fundraising was very personal to Choir leader Christine Mulgrew and her husband Jonathan as their baby son Archie was looked after on the unit when he was born earlier this year.  Christine said; “the care which Archie received and which we received as a family from the Neonatal staff was amazing and I have heard many similar stories from choir members and local people during the course of our fundraising.   It has been fantastic to get the support of the choir and local community to raise such an amazing amount as a thank you.”

We would like to thank everyone who supported us by coming along to our concert and to all the local businesses who donated such wonderful raffle prizes.

www.totalvoice.co.uk