Ainslie at Hurst Castle

We hear that the BBC has been filming at Hurst Castle recently with Olympic & America's cup hero, and local sailor Ben Ainslie.

 

It is understood that the piece relates to the 'BBC Sports Personality of the Year', which will be on air next Sunday evening. (15th December)

 

The winner of the award will come from a shorlist of 10. The nominees alongside Ben are: Athletes Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Hannah Cockroft are included, as well as tennis star Andy Murray and cyclist Chris Froome.

 

Golfer Justin Rose, jockey AP McCoy, cricketer Ian Bell and rugby union player Leigh Halfpenny also make the list.

 

 

Cornwallis Remembered Celebrations: Rear Admiral John Peyton Memorial

As part Cornwallis Remembered Celebrations to take place in July, the Milford on Sea Historical Record Society have provided this article on one of 'The three Admirals'.

John Peyton Portrait
click image to enlarge

John Peyton (1752-1809) came from a naval family: his grandfather, father, and two brothers (one of them quite undeservedly) all achieved flag rank. He was the most distinguished of them all, although a nephew in some ways surpassed him. His fame nonetheless is immortal: he was one of the ‘Band of Brothers’, the fifteen Captains at the Battle of The Nile in 1798, the first of Nelson’s three great naval victories.

In October 1807 it was announced that Captain J Peyton had been passed over for promotion and retained on the list of superannuated captains, but allowed the nominal rank of rear admiral. Twelve days later, the Morning Chronicle expressed concern that a hero of The Nile should be treated this way. In fact, John Peyton was already a Rear Admiral at this date, and the officer who had been passed over was his undeserving brother Joseph.

John Peyton Memorial
click image to enlarge

Ill health affected Peyton at The Nile, but his ship, Defence, was still able to engage with the slightly larger French 80 gun Franklin, taking the surrender after a four hour duel. In the aftermath of the battle he wrote to his wife – a wealthy widow in her own right – to say that he expected to receive prize money of two thousand pounds, about a quarter of a million pounds today.

click image to enlarge

Unwell, he was forced to return home, and retired to Priestlands House, Pennington. On his death, his widow erected a memorial in All Saints Church, Milford, which has recently been restored by Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society and the 1805 Club. 

To find our more about all of the Cornwallis Story and the Cornwallis Remembered celebrations, please click here.

Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society: www.milfordhistory.org.uk

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Cornwallis Remembered Weekend: 

Friday 5th July 2019: includes a family friendly celebration on Milford on Sea village green and much more. Keep the date free!

Click here for event details.

Salterns 24 hour Sail

Salterns Sailing Club
CiN 2012

Salterns Sailing Club in Lymington is once again supporting the BBC Children in Need Appeal by running their annual 24 hour Sail-a-thon on Friday 15th November for its young members.

 

The club, in its 15th year of Children in Need fundraising, hopes to smash a £100,000 target.

 

This year the club is running a series of on-going events, which started with their Children in Need Parent & Child Round the Islands Time Trials in September and a cake sale on Lymington High Street which raised an amazing £1160 - brings their tally to a very impressive £93,000 over the last 14 years.

 

The climax is the annual 24 hour Sail-a-thon running from 16h30 on Friday November 15th to 16h29 on Saturday 16th, where the children will keep a boat afloat for 24 hours. This year the fundraising is even more focused as the child who raises the most Sponsorship will win a priceless private lesson with Olympic gold medalist and America’s Cup hero - Sir Ben Ainslie CBE!

 

On Saturday 16th as the Sail-A-Thon continues, the club is organising a series of fun activities, kicking off with a presentation by the RNLI. There will also be a funky nail bar, throw a welly, guess The Pudsey competition, a temporary tattoo parlour, and a tombola – these will all encourage the strong turnout that is anticipated this year from the 200 families that make up the club’s membership.

 

Everyone is invited to visit the club for tea and homemade Pudsey cakes during the two-day event.

 

There will be a silent auction with lots including a ride on a Severn Class Lifeboat, a Gite in Cognac, a children’s “Survival” party, a Mercedes Day out for Four, a signed Americas Cup shirt signed by Sir Ben Ainslie CBE, a family day out on a yacht - to name just a few!Our Salterns donation to CiN charity sets us apart as a club for children and run by children giving tangible support to much less fortunate children.

Salterns Sailing Club
www.salternssailingclub.co.uk
 

 

 

A more than Fayre Carol Night!

Not a great start to the day in Milford on Sea, torrential rain in the morning, followed by an afternoon of horizontal stair rods. Thankfully, the evening changed miraculously to a dry crisp winters night. So, around 6pm we set off for the Village Christmas Fayre & Carol Singing Concert. As we approached the village centre we could already hear the sound of merriment, with Christmas music & lively voices. 

To start our evening we made our way to Monk Fishmongers, soon to discover that they had a new name, ‘Verveine’, on the front window (Verveine is of course a citrus herb. Yes, OK, Stacey had to tell me what it meant!). The new name is part of the rebranding for the new restaurant which is due to open early next year. As soon as we went in we were offered mussels by Dave, followed by a taste of a chocolate & fig compote, which was excellent. Next we popped into Inger-Lise’s & were forced to try some traditional Norwegian biscuits, of course we did not refuse. 

Things were going well, so on to the opening night of the Landfall Gallery. Now we know the new art gallery contained mince pies, but the thronging crowd inside prevented us reaching Sally’s generous offering. I suppose I have to be honest at this point, & explain that when I say ‘we’ in respect of food, my wife is normally a spectator as her body is a temple, mines more of a waste bin. I nobly tasted everything on behalf of us both. (I know, she is so lucky to have someone so caring.) 

Now off to the centre of the High Street, on the way admiring the Christmas decorations in DJ Gregory’s Butchers & the impressive nativity scenes created in Ellis’s Hairdressers window. Feeling peckish we (I) spotted that Dave Gates was providing Hog Roast Baps & Sausages in Rolls for a charity donation. It just seemed my duty to help the charity. My wife opted for a bag of chips, & of course I would do anything to keep her happy, whatever the expense.

As we wandered with food in hand towards the now thronging High Street, I helped out by testing her chips, & I can confirm that Mr Pink’s had done a good job. ‘Um, those chips have made me really full up’(?!!) my wife exclaimed, just before bumping into someone she knew. I picked up her startled friend as they started chatting. Whilst I pretended to be interested in their conversation, (you know what I mean guys), I concocted a plan to get myself another Sausage in a Roll. Without a moment’s hesitation, I checked they weren’t looking & then made a quick turn, rushed up Church Hill, and I was back near Dave Gates Butchers Shop. However, I then thought it might appear strange to be back so soon for another one. So, I put on my glasses to act as an effective disguise. As I reached the front of the queue I spotted Dave now had a turkey on his head! I soon worked out that it was actually a turkey shaped hat & not a real one, but I was now perplexed as to whether not only had he seen through my clever disguise, but also whether he thought his disguise would make me think he had a twin brother? I am not sure how a simple evening becomes so complex, but for us it is normal. A second sausage in roll was soon devoured, so I now had to get back without being missed. Luckily, I am good at  making cunning plans, so, I went to the cake stall outside of Boots. 

A moment later I was the proud owner of two slices of millionaire shortbread & a cup cake. To give me energy for the journey to re-join my wife outside of Piccolo Mondo a few yards away, I ate the cup cake. Her conversation over, I explained to my wife how a large surge in the crowd has involuntarily dragged me off & I had laid unconscious for several minutes before being taken to the St. Johns Ambulance tent, where they revived me. To make the story more convincing, I then explained how on the way back, I had fought through the pain to buy her two slices of her favourite millionaires shortbread. In her usual caring way she playfully hit me really hard around my head, clearly stating that there was no St. Johns Ambulance tent (whoops, should have checked), and that I still had tomato sauce on my chin, and that millionaires shortbread was a favourite of mine, not hers.

To make peace, I offered to show her a penguin, Father Christmas & an elf. How could any girl resist. So, our next destination was Ashton Estate Agents with Santa’s Grotto. I thought it might be best not to stop for a crepe at Christina’s Bon Appetite, or at the mulled wine stall at this stage. At Ashtons, Sarah & Isobel were dressed as Santa’s little helpers & the elf looked very similar to Nick, the guy from the Co-op. For some reason there was an under 50 age limit for sitting on Santa’s knee, so I couldn’t have a go, so we left. Outside I was attacked by the penguin, & all I could hear was Lesley for Sullivan Mitchells muttering something intelligible from inside her fur costume. The Village Coffee Shop stood aglow across the road with its colourful Christmas display and the Red Lion seemed welcoming, full of happy diners & even happier drinkers. "Shall we...?" "No we won’t, the carols are starting now", my wife explained with grace & a punch in my rib cage. Wasn’t thirsty anyway, I said to her, carefully just out of earshot.

The Lymington Town Band then fired up against the backdrop of the giant lighted Christmas tree on the green. We (I) quickly grabbed a bag of roasted chestnuts from the barbeque manned by Rob from the Bay Trees. We then bought our carol song sheet from a man in a funny Christmas hat. Moments later we were in a happy crowd humming & miming. Unfortunately, so was everyone else, so the first carol just had a mumbled accompaniment to the band. Not for long though. As the carols progressed, the significant crowd found its voice & soon everyone was joining in without a care in the world. My wife was even impressed that I knew the third verse to ‘O come all ye faithful’ without the song sheet. It is nice to be her hero sometimes. The atmosphere was genuinely delightful, & to feel the community spirit was special. 

At the close of the carols Reverend Eric Parker was presented with a memento for his retirement by the organising committee. Eric has led the Carol Singing for the past nine years. To round off the evening Father Christmas arrived on his sleigh, (from the North Pole apparently, which I understand is connected to Lymington Rotary Club), he was soon swamped with local children as he handed out sweets to eager hands. Now, I am not one for all of the hysteria around Christmas time, but to see delight on children’s faces genuinely made our night. A big round of thanks goes to Ray Sales & his team of little helpers at the Village Community Committee, plus all of the local shopkeepers, who did a great job for us all. Thanks everybody!

Vote for Milford on Sea Bowls Club in National Award

​Milford on Sea Bowls Club have been shortlisted for a Bowls England Award in the Fit for the Future category. 

Their nomination is based around the successful inclusion of Paul, who has autism and is now a full and active club member.

Paul, wanted to give bowls a go and went to an Open Day at Milford on Sea Bowls Club.

The members were unaware of his Autism to begin with, but it soon became apparent that he was struggling to follow the Coaching guidance throughout his time on the green. His limited verbal communication skills also impaired.

One of Milford on Sea’s coaches had a wealth of knowledge and experience of working with people with learning difficulties, so she took over Paul’s coaching with a clear focus on his abilities and not his disabilities.

The coach now delivers one-to-one coaching sessions with Paul, ensuring every stage is adapted to his own individual learning needs. A short talk was given to all members about Autism and Paul’s individual needs to ensure more understanding of some of his difficulties. Raising awareness amongst our membership was critical to the success of Paul’s inclusion.

Initially, Paul regularly played in the club roll ups with the one-to-one support of a few key supportive members, plus the combined support and understanding of all playing members. He even entered a competition, succeeding in winning his first round. Paul has also successfully engaged with the club’s special bowls and social events. As a club, Milford on Sea took pride in ensuring that every bowls event at the club was accessible to Paul to ensure full inclusion.

Paul is now a full member of Milford on Sea Bowls Club and participates regularly in roll ups, competitions and social events. Considerable improvements can be seen in Paul’s social and communication skills, which highlights the benefits of playing bowls in an inclusive manner.

To vote for Milford on Sea Bowls Club, please click here and scroll down to the voting link in the Fit for the Future section. (Strangely, It appears that you need to vote in the 'Unsung Hero' category before being able to vote for Milford on Sea Bowls Club in the 'Fit for the Future' category.)

Voting closes at 3pm on Thursday 19th January 2023.

The decision about who wins is down to a public vote, so they need your help! 

About Milford on Sea Bowls Club

The club was founded in 1933 and provides an inviting seafront location for its members to enjoy the playing of bowls and participate in our social events.

The Club’s Green has 6 rinks that are amongst the finest in the area and are situated on Hurst Road, Milford-on-Sea enjoying spectacular views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the Needles.

The outdoor playing season runs from early April until late September. The mixed membership has Club roll ups on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and the club participates in the New Forest and Bournemouth & District Leagues. During the winter months the players enjoy indoor, short mat bowls.

Open to the Public

Locals and visitors are invited to give bowls a go on some days of the week when there are no league matches, competitions and/or special events taking place. Shoes and bowls available to hire. You can see the weekly timetable on the clubs website.

If you would like to play on the bowling green, please speak to the Duty Steward at the club who will be able to help you.

Milford on Sea Bowls Club
Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PY
www.facebook.com/milfordonseabowlsclub
www.milfordonseabowlsclub.org

The Village Pumpkin Hunt is coming

The Village Pumpkin Hunt will take place on Tuesday 31 October, and you can decorate a pumpkin, host a pumpkin, or just take part in the Pumpkin Hunt.

Numerous village shops and businesses will be hosting a Halloween decorated pumpkin for you to find. To join in the hunt, just register below.

Those joining in the Pumpkin Hunt are encouraged to wear a Super Hero costumes.

After the Pumpkin Hunt, you can visit All Saints’ Hall between 5.30pm to 6pm for Hot Chocolate and doughnuts.

To register to take part in the Pumpkin Hunt, please click here.

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Create or Host a Pumpkin

The organisers are now looking for people to create decorated pumpkins, or to host them in a window to be found.

The designs required are not after scary faces but beautiful designs to spread joy and light throughout the village.

Find out more below:

To decorate a pumpkin, please click here.

To host a pumpkin, please click here.

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All Saints' Church & Church Hall
Greenbanks Close, Milford on Sea, SO41 0SQ
01590 644992
office.allsaintsmilford.org.uk
www.allsaintsmilford.org.uk
www.facebook.com/AllSaintsMilfordOnSea

Cornwallis Remembered: Total Voice Chamber Choir to perform

The Total Voice Chamber Choir will be performing as part of the entertainment at the Cornwallis Remembered Weekend, which is a family friendly celebration on Milford on Sea village green on Friday 5th July 2019. Keep the date free!

For the occasion a new adaptation on the maritime song; Billy Blue has been written. The four part music was specifically composed by Peter Holgate for Victoria’s chamber choir who will have spent many hours practising for the performance.

Lyrics to Billy Blue (Recomposed)

It was just at break of day.

We were cruising in the Bay.

With Cornwallis in the Sov’reign in the van;

When a French Fleet bound for Brest,

From Belle Isle came heading west.

And so, my lads, the saucy game began.

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

To the lads Cornwallis told,

Like some hero chief of old,

When he bade them from the quarterdeck, good luck.

‘To no foe upon the sea,

You may take it, men, from me,

Is the ensign of the Sov’reign to be struck!’

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

‘Let the odds be what they will,

We just go on fighting still,

For the honour of the Sov’reign’s old renown.

And when, men, all is done,

As we fire our final gun,

With our colours flying still, we will go down.’

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

Then they came on, looking slaughter,

Like to blow us from the water,

As they near’d to port and starboard and astern.

But we put in double shot,

And we paid them back so hot,

That they looked at one another with concern.

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

Next the Triumph they attacked,

And the Mars got badly whacked,

‘Twas the Sov’reign with her broadsides beat them back.

Her three tiers all aflame,

Sweeping round the flagship came,

Leaving death and Frenchman’s wreckage in her track.

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

So we close this gallant story,

Of a day to England’s glory,

Two hundred years ago, and twenty-four

‘Twere a pity to forget it,

And to slide forever let it,

Because the men that fought are here no more.

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

Ay, Blue Billy, here’s to him, with three times three,

To the honour of his name upon the sea: 

‘He upheld Old England’s credit’ said the country in its pride.

‘Cornwallis’s Retreat’,

Greek Xenophon’s great feat.

In its spirit we may claim to set beside.

Billy Blue, here’s to you. Billy Blue, here’s to you.

About Total Voice Chamber Choir 

The Total Voice Chamber Choir was formed in 2012 and is made up of about thirty-six local singers. The choir’s aim is perform an eclectic range of choral music to an excellent standard. 

The choir has enjoyed many successful performances in venues ranging from Bournemouth Pavilion to Milford’s own village green and has taken part in several concerts with the New Forest and Westbourne Orchestras. 

With its focus firmly on singing for pleasure as well as striving for excellence, Total Voice Chamber Choir provides a place for keen singers to develop their vocal skills in a friendly and encouraging environment. 

Victoria Hopkins 

Victoria comes from a musical family and has been singing all her life. A hugely enjoyable career in the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus followed university, along with regular engagements as a mezzo-soprano soloist and a ‘day job’ as a lawyer. These days, Victoria divides her time between running Total Voice Chamber Choir and online business Community Choir Professionals, which trains and supports choir leaders world-wide. 

Peter Holgate 

Peter studied at The London College of Music under the watchful eye of William Lloyd Webber. 

He then spent 36 years as Director of Music in a large school in West Sussex, where he built up several choirs, instrumental and orchestral groups. 

He is a prolific composer and arranger and has many years of experience as a conductor and musical director. 

He has given performances at The Royal Albert Hall, Central Hall Westminster, The Fairfield Halls as well as countless regional theatres. He has performed alongside the Russian Army Band, United States Airforce Band and the Royal Marines . 

Since retiring to Milford on Sea he has done many arrangements and compositions for local vocal and instrumental groups.

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To find our more about all of the Cornwallis Story and the Cornwallis Remembered celebrations, please click here.

Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society: www.milfordhistory.org.uk

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Cornwallis Remembered Weekend: 

Friday 5th July 2019: includes a family friendly celebration on Milford on Sea village green and much more. Keep the date free!

Click here for event details.

Carols on the Green 2009 Remembered

Sadly, Milford on Sea Carols on the Green could not take place this year, but I have come across an old article from Carols on the Green in 2009. 

These were strange times when people could actually meet up in large crowds and enjoy each others company!

Hopefully the story will evoke some memories and even provide a smile or two.

Here is the old article from 2009:

Not a great start to the day in Milford on Sea, torrential rain in the morning, followed by an afternoon of horizontal stair rods. Thankfully, the evening changed miraculously to a dry crisp winters night. So, around 6pm we set off for the Village Christmas Fayre & Carol Singing Concert. As we approached the village centre we could already hear the sound of merriment, with Christmas music & lively voices. To start our evening we made our way to Monk Fishmongers, soon to discover that they had a new name, ‘Verveine’, on the front window (Verveine is of course a citrus herb. Yes, OK, Stacey had to tell me what it meant!). The new name is part of the rebranding for the new restaurant which is due to open early next year. As soon as we went in we were offered mussels by Dave, followed by a taste of a chocolate & fig compote, which was excellent. Next we popped into Inger-Lise’s & were forced to try some traditional Norwegian biscuits, of course we did not refuse. 

Things were going well, so onto the opening night of the Landfall Gallery. Now we know the new art gallery contained mince pies, but the thronging crowd inside prevented us reaching Sally’s generous offering. I suppose I have to be honest at this point, & explain that when I say ‘we’ in respect of food, my wife is normally a spectator as her body is a temple, mines more of a waste bin. I nobly tasted everything on behalf of us both. (I know, she is so lucky to have someone so caring.) Now off to the centre of the High Street, on the way admiring the Christmas decorations in DJ Gregory’s Butchers & the impressive nativity scenes created in Ellis’s Hairdressers window. Feeling peckish we (I) spotted that Dave Gates was providing Hog Roast Baps & Sausages in Rolls for a charity donation. It just seemed my duty to help the charity. My wife opted for a bag of chips, & of course I would do anything to keep her happy, whatever the expense.

As we wandered with food in hand towards the now thronging High Street, I helped out by testing her chips, & I can confirm that Mr Pink’s had done a good job. ‘Um, those chips have made me really full up’(?!!) my wife exclaimed, just before bumping into someone she knew. I picked her startled friend up & they started chatting. Whilst I pretended to be interested in their conversation, (you know what I mean guys), I concocted a plan to get myself another Sausage in a Roll. Without a moment’s hesitation, I checked they weren’t looking & then made a quick turn, rushed up Church Hill, and I was back near Dave Gates Butchers Shop. However, I then thought it might appear strange to be back so soon for another one. So, I put on my glasses to act as an effective disguise. As I reached the front of the queue I spotted Dave now had a turkey on his head! I soon worked out that it was actually a turkey shaped hat & not a real one, but I was now perplexed as to whether not only had he seen through my clever disguise, but also whether he thought his disguise would make me think he had a twin brother? I am not sure how a simple evening becomes so complex, but for us it is normal. A second sausage in roll was soon devoured, so I now had to get back without being missed. Luckily, I am good at plans. 

So, I went to the cake stall outside of Boots. A moment later I was the proud owner of two slices of millionaire shortbread & a cup cake. To give me energy for the journey to rejoin my wife outside of Piccolo Mondo I ate the cup cake. Her conversation over, I rejoined my wife & explained how a large surge in the crowd has involuntarily dragged me off & I had laid unconscious for several minutes before being taken to the St. Johns Ambulance tent, where they revived me. To make the story more convincing, I then explained how on the way back, I had fought the pain to buy her two slices of her favourite millionaires shortbread. In her usual caring way she playfully hit me really hard around my head, clearly stating that there was no St. Johns Ambulance tent (whoops, should have checked), that I still had tomato sauce on my chin, and that millionaires shortbread was a favourite of mine, not hers.

To make peace, I offered to show her a penguin, Father Christmas & an elf. How could any girl resist. So, our next destination was Ashton Estate Agents with Santa’s Grotto. I thought it might be best not to stop for a crepe at Christina’s Bon Appetite, or at the mulled wine stall at this stage. At Ashtons, Sarah & Isobel were dressed as Santa’s little helpers & the elf looked very similar to Nick, the guy from the Co-op. For some reason there was an under 50 age limit for sitting on Santa’s knee, so I couldn’t have a go, so we left. Outside I was attacked by the penguin, & all I could hear was Lesley for Sullivan Mitchells muttering something intelligible from inside her fur costume. The Village Coffee Shop stood aglow across the road with its colourful Christmas display and the Red Lion seemed welcoming, full of happy diners & even happier drinkers. "Shall we...?" "No we won’t, the carols are starting now", my wife explained with grace & a punch in my rib cage. Wasn’t thirsty anyway, I said to her, carefully just out of earshot.

The Lymington Town Band then fired up against the backdrop of the giant lighted Christmas tree on the green, we (I) quickly grabbed a bag of roasted chestnuts from the barbeque manned by Rob from the Bay Trees. We then bought our carol song sheet from a man in a funny Christmas hat. Moments later we were in a happy crowd humming & miming. Unfortunately, so was everyone else, so the first carol just had a mumbled accompaniment to the band. Not for long though. As the carols progressed, the significant crowd found its voice & soon everyone was joining in without a care in the world. My wife was even impressed that I knew the third verse to ‘O come all ye faithful’ without the song sheet. It is nice to be her hero sometimes. The atmosphere was genuinely delightful, & to feel the community spirit was special. 

At the close of the carols Reverend Eric Parker was presented with a memento for his retirement by the organising committee. Eric has led the Carol Singing for the past nine years. To round off the evening Father Christmas arrived on his sleigh, (from the North Pole apparently, which I understand is connected to Lymington Rotary Club), he was soon swamped with local children as he handed out sweets to eager hands. Now, I am not one for all of the hysteria around Christmas time, but to see delight on children’s faces genuinely made our night. A big round of thanks goes to Ray Sales & his team of little helpers at the Village Community Committee, plus all of the local shopkeepers, who did a great job for us all. Thanks everybody!

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To view the evenings photo album, please click here.

Happy Christmas everyone!

click image to view album

Enigma Machine Hero Lived in Milford on Sea

Enigma machine

Lieutenant Commander David Balme, who seized the Nazis’ top-secret Enigma machine while raiding a sinking U-Boat has died aged 95, having lived at St George's nursing home in Milford on Sea in his final years.

Lt-Cmdr Balme was born London on 1st October 1920 and joined the navy in 1934.

David served aboard the Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Bulldog, and he led a team that stormed the German ship U-110 and seized the Nazi code machine.

Sir Winston Churchill acknowledged that those involved in the code-cracking operation had helped shorten the war by two years.

DAILY ECHO PICTURE
Lt-Cmdr David Balmeclick image to enlarge

New Forest East MP Julian Lewis presented a certificate from David Cameron to Lt-Cmdr David Balme at St George's nursing home before his passing.

To read the full story in the Daily Echo - click here.

Let us know your Unsung Lockdown Hero

Over the past few weeks we have been receiving lots of worthy nominations for Milford on Sea 'Unsung Lockdown Heroes'; these are people who have helped others with acts of kindness however large or small.

This could be local people who do anything from:

• supporting a neighbour by getting their shopping or prescriptions, 
• it could be friends who have kept your spirits up, 
• a kind stranger who has lent a helping hand, 
• or people volunteering to help other people in the community in any way. 

It could also be a:

• village business or organisation who are going that extra mile to get the community through this crisis.

We will continue to add nominations, so please keep sending them in to: david@milfordonsea.org.

See who has been nominated over the past few weeks:

To view the latest Milford on Sea 'Unsung Lockdown Heroes', please click here.

Wartime Memories in Brave Faces

Former Milford on Sea resident and author, Eve Warton has published a new book entitles Brave Faces (under the pseudonym Mary Arden). Eve will be doing a book signing at Waterstones in Lymington this Saturday (7th November) 11am to 12 noon.

click image to enlarge

When one of Eve Warton’s granddaughters asked, “What did you do in the war, Granny?”, little did she know it would lead to a book signing 10 years later at Waterstones in Lymington – on the day before Remembrance Sunday.

Eve, now 91, first came to Lymington in 1959 to start a new life with her three young children following the death of her war hero husband Iain Robertson. She bought a house in Daniell’s Walk and ran a nursery school for the next eight years.

In 1967 Eve moved to Keyhaven where she met and married her second husband Robin Warton. The family joined the Keyhaven yacht club and spent as much time on the Solent as they could, also sailing to France and the Channel Islands. 

In 1985 they moved to Milford on Sea, and during the Falkland’s War Eve offered her nursing experience to St George’s Hospital. When she became a widow for the second time Eve moved to a small village near Salisbury to be closer to one her grandchildren. However, she often returns to the Lymington area to visit her friends.

Picture from:
www.salisburyjournal.co.uk
click image to enlarge

It was after that question about her war experience that Eve first began writing down her war memories – now published as ‘Brave Faces’ under the pen name Mary Arden.

In the book, Eve explains that when the Second World War broke out her parents were determined their daughter’s privileged upbringing should continue, and life should carry on as much as normal. She was sent to finishing school and became a debutante attending ‘coming out’ balls in London, despite nightly bombing raids.

Eve, however, wanted to do her bit for the war effort, initially volunteering as a Red Cross nurse before joining the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and embarking on a very different life –not as an officer, but as ‘other rank’.

As a junior Wren, Eve had to learn to live a very different kind of life to the one she had been brought up to expect. She was used to being chaperoned, only talking to men she had been ‘introduced’ to, so finding a suitable category for such a naïve girl was an almost impossible task for her senior officer.

Eve said: “I joined the WRNS in 1942 when I was 17, but unfortunately was not accepted as my initial choice, boats crew, as I was not considered strong enough. I was then tested as a driver but as I was only five foot two my legs wouldn’t reach the pedals. 

“Luckily the First Officer Wren at HMS Vernon in Portsmouth, where I did my training, had just been contacted by the surgeon commander in charge of the special eye unit at HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-Solent to find a suitable girl to be trained as a night vision tester.”

She explained: “This role was perfect for me because the only qualifications required were a clear speaking voice and the ability to fend off amorous pilots when I was locked in the dark test room with eight of them at a time. Having been brought up with two noisy brothers and their rowdy friends I thought, ‘This will be easy’. It wasn’t!”

After initial training at HMS Daedalus, Eve was posted to six different naval air stations around England, Scotland and Northern Ireland as a leading Wren night vision tester. 

The many stories in Eve’s book include such accounts as the day a low-flying aircraft went past while she was cycling along a deserted road towards Lee-on-Solent and HMS Daedalus.

She wrote: “It was flying very low and the downdraft was so violent it made the leaves fall from the trees…It was almost as if the road had become the runway and it was now heading straight towards me.

“Wobbling all over the road and shaking with fear, I yelled angrily at the pilot, ‘I’ll report you to your commanding officer!’

“I then saw two aircraft following each other across the sea…Both aircraft were flying very fast and low, as if they were chasing one another. Low flying was forbidden in a built-up area and I thought you silly boys, you will get into real trouble.

“Both aircraft then swung towards the hill near my billet on the seafront and disappeared from view. I sighed with relief and was just regaining my composure, when I heard a loud engine roar…when I looked up I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. On the wings of the plane flying in my direction were black crosses. It was a German Messerschmitt.

“I then heard the sound of gunfire followed by a different sound, the roar of another plane. It was one of ours.

“My goodness, a dogfight is going on right above my head, I now realised, as more gun-fire sent me into a cold sweat. Suddenly a hail of bullets hit the road not very far from where I was, and that’s when instinct took over. I dropped my bicycle in the middle of the road and quickly ran for cover. I saw a high garden wall and decided that the sooner I got behind it the better. It was a life-saving decision. I only just made it over the wall, as more bullets hit the road right at the spot where I had been standing only seconds before.”

In the book Eve recalls screaming up at the sky that she was too young to die, adding: “The reality came as quite a shock. My parents would have been devastated if I had died. I was still only 18, the war having started when I was just 15, when passing my school exams had been my priority. Remembering the summer of ‘39 that I’d spent without a care in the world, I now thought how utterly and unbelievably different my life was now to how it was back then.”

Talking to the ‘Advertiser & Times’ about ‘Brave Faces’, Eve said: “I am hoping my book will bring memories back for those who still remember the war years, and that the younger generation might benefit from understanding what it was like having to put on a brave face every day and just getting on with it despite the war.”

‘Brave Faces’ is available via Troubador, Amazon, Waterstones and The Book Depository - plus of course Eve will be signing copies at Waterstones, Lymington, between 11am and midday on Saturday.