Village Blood Donation ends

The National Blood Service have advised us that with regret, the blood donation sessions at All Saints Church Hall in Milford on Sea have come to end. Fortunately, there remains an opportunity to donate blood in nearby New Milton or Lymington. The programme is below for those interested.

New Milton Memorial Centre, Whitefield Road, New Milton, BH25 6DE

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 13:00 to 15:25 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 13:00 to 15:25 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Lymington Masonic Hall, High Street, Lymington, SO41 9AA

Friday, October 29, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Thursday, December 23, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, February 9, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Friday, May 6, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 13:30 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Mole Men invade Village Green

They’re back! The infamous ‘Milford on Sea Mole Men’ have again returned to the village. This time they are excavating on the Village Green, using the cover story that they are gas men installing a new governor. The official looking plastic fencing doesn’t fool me. For those unaware of the real activities of the ‘Mole Men’ please read our previously published stories below.

January 2010: Lymington Road Slalom

It appears the invisible Mole Men from 'Southern Gas Networks' have appeared in the village. Their hobby is to dig holes that cut roads in half, & then to disappear. Having passed through several times, I have yet to see any Mole Men working. Some may assume that they have left the site, I however have another theory, - they live down the hole. Indeed, there is a whole town of Mole Men right under our feet. I suspect they only come out at night only to replace the batteries in the temporary traffic lights, or to pop down to The Smugglers. The regular traffic queues remind me of my birthplace in London, but without the muggers. If anyone see’s the Mole Men working in Lymington Road, please send in a picture, as I won’t believe you otherwise!

February 2010: Mole Men claim more territory

No sooner do I reveal the truth about the Mole Men living in their hole in Lymington Road that they test my patience by now appearing with a new hole in Cliff Road! Their efforts to conceal their real activity by installing temporary traffic lights and a spurious Southern Gas Networks sign, doesn’t fool me for one minute. I suppose that these could be independent burrowing structures by different tribes of Mole Men, but my theory is that our resident family has tunnelled from one side of the village to the other. Considering the length that the tunnel must be, it is not inconceivable that they are expanding their underground town, bringing their reinforcements in by the dark of night. Not that I am really that bothered, as even Mole Men need to live somewhere. Indeed I am sure if we were asked nicely I guess most of us would not object strongly. (Wouldn’t fancy their chances of getting permission from the Parish Council though). The likelihood is that they are under your house right now. Anyway, I hope I have not alarmed you with my revelation, as I am sure that they are quite friendly, although that may give a nasty nip if approached unexpectedly. (A bit like my wife really).

Footnote: Driving home tonight I spotted a sign saying that Sea Road is going to be closed for a few days from the 10th to 13th February. It seems the mole men are wasting no time in colonising the entire Milford on Sea subterrain. I wonder if we asked them nicely whether they would put in an underground railway? A station in Sea Road car park with a branch line to Hurst Castle could actually be very useful. Do you know anyone in the Milford on Sea Wildlife Group who speaks ‘mole’? Looks like we may need someone to negotiate on behalf of us surface dwellers.

On a related but separate note, I have to say that some readers of these news pages don’t always seem to take my stories seriously. After my story last week on the road mole works in Lymington Road, I then speculated that the holes are dug by Mole Men, who then disappear down the hole to live. My challenge to send in some photo’s showing any men actually working on the site was met with a response, but not quite as expected. Not being an expert on manual labour, I cannot be 100% sure, but I have to say, I do not think the photo’s sent in are genuine. On reflection, I am not sure it is a good idea to ask readers to send in pictures.

New Chef at Westover Hall

We have heard that Craig Watkins has joined the team of Chef's at Westover Hall. Craig was formally at Morton House in Wareham and Babbington House in Somerset, which is well known for its celebrity clientele. Craig's signature dishes include scallops with orange and chorizo, Milford potted lobster and paupiette of lemon sole filled with crab and spinach.  We were pleased to find out that Pastry chef Mike Rossi continues to create his exotic sweets from the kitchen, with my particular favourite being his ‘chocolate stove’.

It appears it could be a good time to test Craig & Mike’s skills and their new menu, as Westover Hall have a number of dining offers running at the moment. One Park Lane is now offering their winter menu with locally sourced game and fish, plus a free welcome glass of champagne for dinner bookings. They also have a new Sunday lunch menu, plus a new daily lunch with two courses & a glass of red or white wine for £15. Not to be left out, the Vista Bistro is offering ‘Buy a main course and receive a starter or sweet free’. Sounds like there is something to suit all taste buds.

Westover Hall Website: http://www.westoverhallhotel.com/

See all the current village dining offers in the Milford on Sea Community Calendar: http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/
- Go the opening page & then use the ‘drop down menu’ to select the ‘Dining Offers’ calendar.

Do you have a website in the village?



If you have a website in Milford on Sea for your business, club or organisation, we are after your help please! As you may know a Community Calendar has recently been launched detailing all of the events, club meetings, classes, courses & church services in the village, plus it even contains local dining offers. The idea of the calendar is for both villagers & visitors to easily find out what they can join in with, & of course, to boost local trade for everyone.

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

If there was a link/s on your site, people would keep returning to your site to see what is going on. Also, the calendar really helps holidaymakers plan when they would like to visit.

If you would add links on your own website, it would really help to promote all that is happening in the village, & genuinely be of benefit to everyone. We have heard that new people coming to the village are already joining in things through seeing the calendar, & of course local people are finding out about things they may not have known. If you would like some artwork & instructions on how to add the links to your site, please contact: david@milfordonsea.org

Inger-Lise’s changes hands

Inger-Lise’s Coffee Shop in Milford on Sea High Street has recently changed owners. The coffee shop’s new owners are Christine & Kevin Quinn. Both are new to the village & are looking forward to their new venture. Chris is originally from London, but has spent the last 26 years in Shropshire. She told me that it has always been her dream to run a coffee shop, having previously been involved in the front of house of an outside catering business, and also spending time running a deli and tea shop.

Christine is planning to maintain the coffee shop’s popular ‘Scandinavian feel’, but of course to also add her own style. The menu now also includes tartlets, fresh salads, homemade soup and a dish of the day. Some of you may have seen the new range of cup cakes that has be introduced, including a range called ‘Tiny Temptations’ which cost only 50p. Chris can make cup cakes to your own theme if you would like some. Inger-Lise’s Coffee Shop is very child friendly and they have an activity play area for all ages, together with baby changing facilities. Chris is also considering some new ideas, which include opening between 5pm to 7pm to provide healthy teas for children. This will lend busy mum’s a helping hand if they are rushing around getting the kids to evening clubs etc. The Coffee Shop is also available for private parties. A first for Milford on Sea shops will be the new Facebook page that Chris & Kevin are setting up, the plan is to use the online page to keep customers informed about all that is happening at the coffee shop. Of course, most in the village are unlikely to use Facebook, but not to worry, there will still be posters to advertise all that is going on.

Inger-Lise herself was always warm & welcoming, and the Norwegian twist she bought to her food was always fun. She is currently planning her next venture & we wish her well in whatever she chooses to do. Inger-Lise’s Coffee Shop is open from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday to Saturday, & is soon to be open on Sundays. If you are passing, why not pop into Inger-Lise’s to give Chris & Kevin a warm welcome.

Friday Tapas Night at The Marine

To mark the arrival of Sam Hughes, the new chef at The Marine, last night was the first ‘Tapas Night at The Marine’. The Tapas Night is now to become an occasional Friday night event starting from 6pm & running throughout the evening. (Next one is on Friday 15th October) Everyone is welcome to turn up to treat themselves to an informal Tapas dish and to enjoy a relaxed casual drink. As this is the first time that The Marine has opened in the evening, it was the first opportunity to see the spectacular interior lighting that has been installed in this amazing landmark building. The effect transforms the interior from the daytime cafe, into a colourful relaxed lounge. We certainly enjoyed the varied selection of Tapas food on offer & at £2.20 per dish it was excellent value.

The Tapas Night is the first of what is hoped will be many regular themed events at The Marine. Why not pop along next Friday night for a taste of Spain?

See all the current village dining offers in the Community Calendar: www.milfordonseacalendar.org  - Go the opening page & then use the ‘drop down menu’ to select the ‘Dining Offers’ calendar.

Jazz Lunch at Belle Epoque

If you fancy a 'cool' Friday lunch it may be worth popping in to the Jazz Lunch at Belle Epoque.  During the event there will be music from the village's very own '4 Winds Saxophone Quartet' accompanied by a guest vocalist.

There will also be a free wine tasting and free nibbles all afternoon.  The lunchtime food menu is also available.  The event is this Friday (8th October) with free entry for all.

See more village events at: http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/ 

Changes at the Hardware Store

Milford Hardware Store in Keyhaven Road now has new owners & a new name. Nici & Lionel Illgner have renamed the store to ‘Hardware @ Milford’ and are in the process of creating a website to promote their increasing services. The hardware store always had an interesting mix of products, & this is currently being expanded. Do you remember those old DIY shops that had things you needed or had heard of, well it is a bit like that. The store contains DIY bits & bobs, key cutting, tools, kitchenware, plumbing, electrical, light bulbs, paint, gas, car accessories, pet food & toys, gardening equipment, crab fishing nets & beachgoods. A new key cutting service will also soon be available. So, before you run off to B&Q for some DIY bits, our own Milford on Sea village Hardware @ Milford is certainly worth a look.

On the same site Darren & Dave of ‘Milford Autos’ continue to offer MOT’s and car servicing. Mark from ‘Cars 4 You Lymington’ also has plenty of interesting used cars for sale on the forecourt. Whilst John Scardifield no longer has any connection with the businesses, he continues to own the premises. Nici & Lionel also own the Carrington Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast next door.

You can contact Nici or Lionel on: info@hardwareatmilford.co.uk  

http://www.hardwareatmilford.co.uk/

Hardware @ Milford can be found 20 Keyhaven Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QY (At site of old Petrol Station)  |  Open 8.30am to 5pm  |  Tel: 01590 644242

New Chef at The Marine

Sam Hughes has now joined The Marine team as Head Chef. Sam is fresh from his most recent position as Head Chef at the award-winning ‘The Sir Charles Napier’ in Chinnor, Oxfordshire. The Sir Charles Napier restaurant has won numerous awards including: ‘100 Best Restaurants in the UK’ in The Independent, and was ‘Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year’ in The Good Food Guide. He has many years of experience working with some of the country’s finest chefs including Mark Broadbent at Mortons of Mayfair, Raymond Blanc at Le Petit Blanc, and Pierre Chevillard at Pebble Beach, following a 3 year apprenticeship in the kitchens of Kensington Palace.

Sam, 30, is pleased to be returning to his roots, & the area where his family still live. As a passionate chef who excels in creating fine dishes, Sam is excited about the people of Milford on Sea enjoying his creative food & I am looking forward to eating it!

More in the Community Calendar

A number of visitors to the Milford on Sea Community Calendar have not realised that there are more calendars than you actually see on the opening page.  To see all of the various calendars available, please follow the instructions in the picture below.  If you have any queries please e-mail: david@milfordonsea.org

To see the Milford on Sea Community Calendar please visit:

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Community Giggles

The evening started with a relaxed couple of pints in the Smugglers Inn, before we moved onto the Milford on Sea Community Centre for the first ‘Fifth Thursday Comedy Club’. We were accompanied by our friends Alistair & Natalie, of course you won’t know them, but she is really sweet & he is rather loud. In fact, when he becomes excitable his red bald head lights up like a belisha beacon. As we found our table we were pleased to join familiar friendly faces from the village, & it was pleasant to have a chat whilst we awaited the evenings curry made by our local restaurant, Zaika. The bar was also in full swing, with around 120 eager customers. Once the curry was served & consumed we were all ready for the star comedy turn. However before this, an ‘open mic session’ featured Mike Collison, who took to the stage to tell some amusing farming jokes in a dodgy Dorset accent, & John Bradley who told a story about a gorilla I can’t repeat here. It would be fair to say Mike & John set the tone for the evening & everyone loved it.

It was now ‘show time’ & Jo Caulfield was soon justifying her star billing. I suppose comedians are invited to appear on shows like ‘Have I got news for you’, 'Mock the Week’ & ‘Michael McIntyre's Roadshow’, for a good reason, & we were soon seeing why. Arriving on stage Jo immediately expressed her shock at Mike’s gorilla joke & then shared her experience of her earlier exploration of the village. As you may imagine, she wondered if she had arrived on the film set from the 'Cocoon’ movie. Within seconds she had us eating out her hands for a full hour. Stories of her friends, family & thoughts on our village had the audience in fits of laughter & I am sure a few people wet themselves. True to form, Alistair was an embarrassment, and his head was soon flashing bright red as predicted. I guess everyone was disappointed when the show came to an end, and there was no doubt that Jo had fully earned her rapturous applause. It was a great value night of the finest entertainment.

Feeling happy & content we all made our way home. Lulled into a state of happiness, I had forgotten the dramas of the recent week. However, on arriving home I was soon reminded of the plague of crane flies that had been infesting our home daily. I am not sure if everyone in the village has had the same problem, or whether everyone has just been sending them down to our place. Our flying friends were surrounding the doors & windows trying to get in like our village old folk at the Post Office on pension day.

As we opened the door we slipped in as quickly as possible, doing our best to avoid the invading army of ‘Daddy long legs’ joining us. Unfortunately, & for girth reasons, I have to open the door wider than my wife to actually get in. As you have probably guessed, I did not enter alone. My wife of course deals with our uninvited guests in a rational manner, by screaming like a banshee and running to another room. When I try and explain they can’t actually hurt anyone, she simply insists that they carry dreadful tropical diseases & have fatal bites that kill elephants in Africa. (She doesn’t watch many nature programmes) In order for me to avoid personal injury, I have ten seconds from the first paranoid warble, to stop whatever I am doing & then arrive at the scene of the imaginary attack to deal with the offender. She would make a really bad Buddhist. So, my great night was followed by the disposal of several innocent long legged insects for the hundredth occasion this week. I was glad that I still had Jo’s one liners in my head, plus of course the drink I had consumed helped numb the agony caused by my wife’s paranoia!

Jo Caulfield's website: http://www.jocaulfield.com/

New Forest Local Food Summit

I have certainly never been accused of being an eco-warrior, in fact my cars have to be over 4 litres, & switching lights off I feel is a waste of my own energy. However, for some reason I was invited to the inaugural ‘New Forest Local Food Summit’ last Wednesday. I suspect this had something to do with my involvement in Milford on Sea Food Week, or more likely because of the copious amounts of food I consume? Intrigued, I decided to go along. The first challenge was for Colin, my fellow attendee & driver for the day, to find the Treehouse Study Centre hidden in the depths of the Beaulieu Estate. Thanks to Colin’s numerous irritating techy gadgets, the treehouse was found & we were soon clambering across the rope bridge to the Food Summit meeting.

The assembled group of around seventy people was an eclectic mix of local producers, local farmers, hoteliers, restauranteurs, food buyers, allotment holders, environmental groups, Julian Lewis MP, the New Forest District Council, the National Park Authority, and some suits & sandal wearers I didn’t identify - plus Colin & me. Indeed any and every group in the forest associated with local food appeared to be represented. The event was hosted by Richard Barnett the chairman of New Forest Transition. Having met Richard before, I had learnt not to pigeonhole vegans as weird green hippies. In fact, Richard is a ‘normal, warm and interesting bloke’, & his arguments are compelling, even to a global warming sceptic like me.

As I understand it, the New Forest Transition’s objective is to support local communities, and to develop local community sustainability & self sufficiency. I can totally understand why they see ‘local’ as being a long term solution which can contribute to solving the ‘ticking bomb’ we all face. To explain, I think most people accept that oil & fossil fuels are running out, and that there will be unpleasant consequences in the not too distant future. It also appears insane that we regularly eat beef from places like Argentina, chicken from China or runner beans from Outer Mongolia or somewhere else.

Transition simply want us all to grow & eat more local food for lots of good reasons, and who can really argue against this. It is likely that in the next ten or twenty years we will see a major change in food availability & food costs, so planning to address the resulting issues now sounds worth considering. Whilst I draw the line at riding a bike, growing vegetables (none of which appear in my ‘Top 1000 Favourite foods List), or turning lights off when I leave a room, I can certainly buy into the Transition concept.

The summit attendees were broken into groups to discuss the issues facing local food & the resulting presentations were quite fascinating. Just a few of the issues that were discussed in the groups included, the need for more farming land, more growing land, more local producers, more produce for sale, a local abattoir, consistent standards, better local distribution, more supply outlets, cheaper prices, clearer marketing and more. There were also some ingenious solutions, & whilst some may say it can’t be done, I could see that it could. No doubt it is a massive project, but I was taught that ‘The only way to eat an elephant, is in bite size chunks’. If the commitment of the assembled group turns into action, & just as importantly, the local authorities are supportive, rather than bureaucratically obstructive, we could see some exciting developments in the coming years.

The morning was concluded with a fine lunch containing a fantastic spread of local bread, local cold meats, local cheeses, local pickled onions & local chutney. If the argument for local food needed any more support, the lunch certainly achieved that!

On returning home, I attempted to explain the morning activities to my wife. But, when I started with; ‘you need to consider what you eat more’, she went off at a tangent, replying: ‘Why, am I putting on weight? - You are a fine one to talk fat boy.....etc!’. I soon gave up, & decided that I will just wait for her to start talking to me again after she has read what I actually meant.

To see the film, ‘The challenge for Local Food’ , please click link: (You may recognize a somewhat large contributor!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQT7JMUA9_4

________________________________________

To find out more about New Forest Transition please visit:

http://www.newforesttransition.org/

White House Memories

We recently received a fascinating memory from Geoff Merritt, about The White House, on the seafront in Milford on Sea.

“In December 1949 at the age of seven, I was sent to a Sanatorium in Chandlers Ford which catered for Women in one part of the building and children in another part. 

At the time I was suffering from TB, whilst there my Mother was also sent to the same Sanatorium and unfortunately died from the same illness in May 1950. In 1951 the Children’s wards were closed down and I was sent with the other children to The White House in Milford on Sea. 

I remember that everything in the White House was brand sparkling new, the beds in the dormitories, the tables and chairs in the dining area etc. and everything smelt of very fresh paint. I also recall that the kitchen was below the dining room as our food was delivered to the dining room by a dumb waiter (and yes I did have a ride up and down inside it!). 

If memory serves me right the beach was just outside the main building which was skirted by a tall wall, well to a nine year old it was tall. The White House itself was indeed painted white and several windows were circular like the portholes on a ship. 

I only stayed there for a few months but I do have very good memories of the building and the staff who looked after us. Fortunately, I recovered from the TB and was fit enough to be a Fireman for 21 years. I hope this clears up any mystery from the period of the early fifties for you. Best wishes, Geoff Merritt.”

Thanks for your reminisces Geoff.

New Community Calendar

A new Milford on Sea Community Calendar has just been launched which contains details of local events & village activities everyone can join in with. Using the ‘drop down’ list at the top of the calendar will reveal further calendars, such as ‘Clubs & Classes’ showing all the activities you may be interested in, a ‘Church Services’ calendar, a ‘Farmers Market’ calendar, and even a ‘Dining Offer’ calendar, where you can see the special offers available in our local eateries.

If it is happening in Milford on Sea it will be in the Community Calendar, so no one should miss a thing now! If you know of anything happening that you would like to be added please just let me know.

(david@milfordonsea.org)

To take a look at the Community Calendar please visit:

http://www.milfordonseacalendar.org/

Petrol Station lost

You may find it disappointing to hear that we have lost our petrol station in the village. I guess that this is no great surprise knowing the current state of the economy. It’s sad, but understandable, that providing such a service for a small community is not really viable.

The good news is, that we hear the Hardware Store, already in the shop area on the garage forecourt at Milford Motors, may have plans to expand. If you have never ventured inside it is certainly worth a look. Do you remember those old hardware stores that had things you never heard of, or expected, well it is a bit like that. So, before you run off to B&Q for some DIY bits, our own Milford on Sea village Hardware Store may be worth a look.

Ravenhurst Development Charade

There is still no decision on the appeal relating to the redevelopment of the Ravenhurst site, adjacent to the White House. Following the three day public enquiry this week at Lymington Town Hall, the hearing has been adjourned to the 29th September for closing statements. We understand that a decision will then not be announced for six weeks. It warms my heart to see bureaucracy is still operating at its very best. Even my wife can’t talk for that long on a subject without coming to a conclusion. I bet it didn’t take this long for Erno Rubik to invent his cube.

Whilst plenty of people are being well paid through this lengthy process, & many others are wasting time hanging around awaiting the outcome of the whole event, how about public enquiries are done away with for planning issues? Then, simply give all of the many thousands of pounds spent on the public enquiry’s to the applicants. They can then offset this windfall against designing a building project that can please everyone, without this endless rigmarole.

Better still, base the result of the enquiry on who can eat the most cream crackers without having a drink.

Snobbiest Town in the UK!

Throughout the BBC news bulletins last Tuesday there was a feature story about Lymington. This was not just on the local news, but the story was apparently important enough to warrant national coverage. So, what major national story had taken place? Had an international drugs ring been busted on the Isle of Wight ferry? Nope. Had the pope refused to visit Lymington town centre because it has a Pound Shop? Hmm, nope. Was it because an 80 year old lady had skateboarded from the top to the bottom of the High Street naked? Err, nope. Actually, it was because a Wetherspoons pub had been refused planning permission to open in the old C.Ford & Co shop at the top of the town centre! A real national crisis of course needed to be reported thoroughly. So, Graham Satchell from the BBC carried out in depth interviews with unsuspecting locals passing by, then the producers decided to select the most fun ones to air on the TV. Amusingly it seems the whole purpose of the TV news bulletins was to declare Lymington the ‘Snootiest Town in Britain’.

If only they had found the time to come across to Milford on Sea, we could then have had a great time winding ‘dear old Graham’ up. I know I could pick some interviewee’s for him in the village that would make great TV. Not sure what ‘national title’ we would win, but it would be good to find out. Come on Wetherspoons, apply to get a pub in our village.

If you missed this great bit of crucial journalism you can watch it on this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-11297261

Rosie & Poppy Visit Hurst Castle

It seems like writing children’s books is a popular pastime in Milford on Sea. One of our local artists, Shaun Stevens, has just published her first book. The title is 'Rosie & Poppy Visit Hurst Castle' and it is available for sale at Hurst Castle, St Barbe Museum, and has been in a special display at Lymington Library all summer.

We also have Christine Calder (Rix), who is another author of children’s books in the village. Christine has written a series of books about the adventures ‘Bradley the New Forest Bear’.

Shaun’s website: http://www.shaun-stevens.com/

One for the Wine Buffs

The Community Centre has a new Wine Course local wine lovers can attend. The ‘Discover a World of Wine’ Course allows you to experience the wines of the world & learn how to detect any faults the wines may have. The course also features: Basic wine tasting techniques and how to match wines with food. If you think this may be something for you the course starts on the 4th October & runs until the 25th October. The Course Fee is £45 which includes wine, tasting glasses and work file.

The course is run by our very own John James (Tel: 01590 642176

john@vineassociates.org.uk) or Jonathan Rogers of The Solent Wine Experience (Tel: 07771867809 - info@thesolentwineexperience.co.uk) I am sure that they would be happy to hear from you if you have anything else you would like to know.

A Lymington taste of France

Last Sunday I decided that we would venture out of Milford on Sea for Sunday lunch. My plan had already been compiled, and the dining destination of Lanes Restaurant in Lymington had been chosen. I had heard good reports, but we had never been. It was the least I could do, as my wife had had a traumatic week, nothing had happened in particular, but I think she finds living with me a bit more difficult these days. I suspect the constant excitement may be getting too much for her.

Whilst she got ready & painted her face with all sorts of mystical stuff, I got the old Jag fired up & ready for our little jaunt. I suggested to my wife we shared the driving, & that I would happily drive there. For some reason I was greeted with a withering look.

On arrival we played one of my favourite games; ‘find a space to park in Lymington’. I felt quite pleased when we found a parking space where the NFDC didn’t get any more of our cash. We then made our way to ‘Lanes Restaurant’ for our Sunday treat. Wandering up the alleyway to the restaurant I was feeling quite pleased with myself for getting something right for once. My wife was even looking forward to it. That was of course until we discovered the doors locked. In my wife’s usual understanding manner, she queried ‘Do you practice being so inept?’. No answer to that one I’m afraid – other than I am a man of course.

Before I received any more abuse I suggested we had a drink in The Angel Inn to decide where to eat now. A nice pint of cider later we were still undecided, & it had started raining. (My fault again.) I then had a brainwave. My wife had quite liked me during the time when we emigrated to France. My wife insists that a six week holiday does not constitute emigration, but I am sure that I am technically correct. Anyway, on the way up the hill I had spotted ‘Brasserie Gerard’, perfect to get back into her good books I thought. (I think she has some good books, just struggles to find room for me in them these days.)

Our new dining venue agreed, we set off, with my wife containing her excitement admirably. Regular readers of the ridiculous nonsense that I scribe will know that I am fluent in my own version of French, & indeed take great pleasure in wearing berets, so a French Restaurant is a perfect choice. On entering ‘Brasserie Gerard’ we were impressed with the chic contemporary style & very soon I felt myself transported back to the cafes of Deauville on the Cote Fleurie.

As I greeted the waitress with a friendly ‘bonjour’, my wife just looked at me & said a firm ‘don’t’. Once seated it was good to see that the menu was in French with a translation in English for the other diners. A quick look warmed my heart, as I saw such French favourites as ‘pear helene’ & ‘tarte au citron’. Strangely, the French do not have their own words for ‘creme brulee’. Sweet chosen, I could now concentrate on the rest of the meal. Starters of ‘French onion soup’ & ‘champignon farci’ were soon selected by us, to be followed by ‘steak baguette et frites’ and ‘poulet burger with brie’. As our waitress took our order, I chatted away to her in French, she was charming, but did not seem to understand. I was later to discover she was actually a single language speaker from Pennington.

The food arrived promptly, just after I had explored the whole restaurant. Being narrow, they had made good use of the space & even made it feel light & airy with a glass roof section. The walled garden also offered a pleasant dining option with lots of coloured pots of flowers.

As we tucked into our meals we were approached by another waitress with a charming French accent. She asked how we were enjoying our lunch, so being polite, I responded with something like; ‘Tres bonne madame, mes compliments au chef’. The next thing I heard was a swish of air, as a 6 inch heel embedded itself in my leg. Luckily my wife could not extend her leg far enough to actually break my leg. ‘Ce mal‘ I mumbled to myself. I decided to concentrate on enjoying finishing my meal, which I have to say was not hard to do. As the French waitress reappeared to take my dessert order I had spotted a special of ‘Armandine tarte’. This time I decided to save my leg & just ordered the ‘cherry & almond tart please’. I looked to my wife for approval, but her eyes were simply staring at the ceiling as she made a funny huffing sound. Whatever it should be called, it was delicious. As our delightful French waitress brought our bill I could resist no longer, and asked her which part of France she was from. ‘Poland’ she replied. As I explained that I can’t speak Polish, but have been to Hungary, my wife was slipping under the table giggling like a five year old. I sincerely hoped she wet herself.

On our way home I mentally made a list of friends I would happily recommend ‘Brasserie Gerard’ to. Feeling nostalgic, I asked my wife if she would like to emigrate to France again. ‘Not really’ she replied, ‘but I would like you to’.

Help our boys in the Armed Forces

This week is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and we are all reminded of how a few saved so many. The Poppy Appeal by the Royal British Legion helps all serving and ex-Service personnel and their families. Not just those who fought in the two World Wars, but also those involved in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still fighting abroad today. Milford on Sea village has a small dedicated band of collectors for the Poppy Appeal, but not enough people to really cover the whole village. Surprisingly, they don't seem to have many male volunteer collectors for some reason.

This year our local Royal British Legion W/S is aiming for every road in the village to be covered. So why not give up a few hours of your time to visit your neighbours in your road? You will be given a poppy box to collect for this years Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, and your efforts will really make a difference. Plus you get a chance to have a chat! Although the collections do not take place until the end October/early November the team are keen to get volunteers on the list now.

Joining in is easy, simply contact: Jan England on janengland@uk2.net or 01590 642291, or Freda Cheyney on 01590 642899 and you will be on the team.

Jo Caulfield headlines Comedy Club Night

Our new Community Centre is holding its first ‘Comedy Club Night’ on Thursday 30th September 2010. The headline act is Jo Caulfield, a regular face & voice from TV & Radio. Best-known for her legendary one-woman shows, Jo Caulfield is “one of the finest female comics at work” (The Observer) and has recently been nominated as “the best female Stand-Up in the country” (Chortle.co.uk). She is also Graham Norton’s head writer. “She is, quite simply, a damn funny woman” (The Scotsman). Jo is in demand at all major UK comedy clubs, and has completed numerous nationwide theatre tours. Recent international performances include New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and soon to be Milford on Sea! She is also a regular guest on both Mock The Week (BBC2) and Have I Got News For You (BBC1). Jo wrote and starred in 3 series of her own critically acclaimed Radio 4 comedy show, “It’s That Jo Caulfield Again”. Jo’s quick wit has led to her being in demand as a guest on a huge variety of Radio shows.

The evening will also include an excellent curry from our local Indian restaurant, Zaika. The Community Centre plans to run four Comedy Club Nights on every month that has a ‘5th Thursday’, bringing a night of adult comedy to the village for the broadminded. Everyone is welcome, just bring your chortle glands. Tickets are now available at £12.50 each from Gwen’s. Please book early as the evening is expected to be a sell out.

Community Centre opens to acclaim

The new Milford on Sea Community Centre opened its doors yesterday with music, celebration & over a thousand smiling faces. The new building is massively impressive & the achievement of the community a great example of what can be achieved when people pull together. The day was full of celebration & merriment. The official opening of the Milford on Sea Village Community Centre took place at 3.30pm Friday 3rd September when an esteemed group of local representatives from each of the past nine decades cut the ribbon. Margaret Richens the Community Centre chairman & Bob Bishop from the Parish Council gave short and impassioned opening speeches. As the New Forest Dixieland Band played, the local community were invited to view everything that was now available to them. Over the next two hours hundreds of happy people explored every nook & cranny, with sounds of approval everywhere. During the day a thank you was also made to all that contributed, with over 250 people attending the lunch or evening party featuring the Windmill Swing Band. Each guest invited had made a voluntary contribution to achieving our new gathering place in some way. If you missed the opening of the centre it is open between 10am to 4pm on Saturday & Sunday for people to drop in & take a look around.

Only a few months ago the Community Centre consisted of a few second hand portacabins, & today it is a welcoming eco friendly modern building. I won’t bore you with its credentials for saving the planet, mainly because I wasn’t listening when it was explained to me, but what I can tell you is that you will be impressed. The centre greets you with a light & airy entrance hall which takes you into the main corridor. From here you can access the Main Hall which has a fully functioning performance stage, lighting & sound equipment. The room also has an atrium ceiling which not only provides a light & spacious feel, but also dissipates the sound of background noise. The hall can seat around 125 diners or an anticipated 200 seated in ‘theatre style’. Across the corridor is the ‘Community Cafe’ which will be opening on a number of mornings for people to drop in & relax. The room also has computer facilities to operate as an ‘internet cafe’. When events are taking place, a magic shutter is opened to reveal a fully stocked bar. Next to this, and separated by a ‘folding wall’ is a ‘Boardroom’ which can seat around 25 people, and is available for meetings & small classes. The ‘folding wall’ unsurprisingly folds back, & when this happens a large additional function room is created. These rooms will also contain the ‘Smarter working Centre’ which will be a service to local small businesses & organisations from October. The main kitchen is substantial in size & fully equipped to cater for anyone using the centre. Modern building regulations have dictated the inclusion of four sets of toilets; a ladies & gents, one for the disabled & another unisex unit with baby changing facilities. It was slightly disappointing to find that government legislation did not stipulate that another one did not had to be provided for transsexuals or cross dressers.

The Youth Club is now situated in a large room at the back of the building providing games & entertainment for the younger members of the community, demonstrating the Community Centre has truly been built to include everyone. The building is modern & cutting edge in every aspect, from the mix of architectural gabled roofs, through to the use of sustainable timber & eco materials. Throughout the building’s interior is a clever colour scheme which achieves an effect that is both calming & striking. The choice of white as the main colour, with carefully selected accents in lime green, raspberry & deep purple, provide a mix of colours that do not work in the mind, but which become more that aesthetically pleasing when experienced in true colour. The well thought out decoration brings the building vibrantly alive & lightens the soul. (Blimey, I sound like that bloke from ‘Grand Designs!’) Finally, at the rear is an outside paved patio, a compact garden area, and the boiler house, which contains something very hi tech with lots of knobs, lights & switches, which was fascinating to some. To complete the transformation the ‘old Youth Club building’ has now become a modern dance & exercise studio with fully sprung professional dance floor & wall of mirrors. How I will look in leotards & leggings is scary, but it is tempting to give it a go.

Many have worked tirelessly to provide us all with a spectacular new village facility, and rather than leave anyone out, I am sure we would all like to say congratulations to everyone that played a part, for a job magnificently done.

Community Centre website

http://www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk/

Carnival rides again

Following the success of last week’s Milford on Sea village carnival we have some videos for you to watch from You Tube.

Please click link below to view the videos.
http://www.milfordonsea.org/#/gallery-carnival-2010/4543526930

Village Charity Shop now a Beach Hut

The new Milford on Sea Village Charity Shop opens on Wednesday (8th September) having gone through a major transformation. An enthusiastically willing group of volunteers have refitted the old bakery in Church Hill from a wreck to a bright ‘beach hut’ style interior, on next to no budget. Thanks to the extremely generous donation of timber from David Farwell at G Farwell Ltd, Chris Lakey's craftsmanship & Colin Holdsworth sawing abilities, they have covered the tired tiled walls with sawn wood, giving the interior a bright seaside beach hut effect. Another major donation was from Peter Sanders at Sanders Sails in Lymington, who provided numerous metres of sail cloth to cover the walls in the rear room with blue & orange fabric. Ruth Sanders even helped to hang the material! More volunteers have been at work with a paint brush, doing odd jobs and making other contributions to make everything ready for the opening. Judit sends a warm thank you to everyone already mentioned, Hugh Whitlock Solicitors, Christine Seamer, Jim Bunting, Liz & Richard Newsom, Nikki Billett, Andy Clarke, Patrick Howard, Brian Turnbull, Paul Mander, Alan Pryke, Tony & Marguerite and the ‘De La Warr’ gang.

Judit & her team are now looking for donations of items to sell. Everything will be gratefully received, but please no large items (like beds) as there is insufficient room for display.

To donate items for the shop, or to volunteer your services to help out serving for a few hours please contact: Judit on 01590 644073 or judit.th@gmail.com

Les rides the British Coast (Well he was!)

Since writing the story below, Les fell in the house last Thursday and has broken his shoulder in two places. (That's two places in his arm, not in the house.) Having spent months in planning the trip, and a fortune on equipment, Les now hopes to complete his epic ride next spring. Get well soon Les, your saddle awaits!

Local Milford on Sea classic motor cycle enthusiastic Les Spicer, is taking a break from his Applecrust B&B at September Cottage, to complete a motorbike ride for charity. Riding his classic 1968 Triumph Tiger, Les is planning to travel 3200 miles around the coast of Britain over the next month. His ride will also raise funds for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. His epic journey starts on Thursday 9th September from the Hants Air Ambulance base in Thruxton. During his ride Les will where possible stay with friends & relatives, at other times he has a tent in his kit to spend the night at one with nature. Enjoy the ride Les!

If you would like to support Les with a donation please visit his charity website: www.justgiving.com/lesspicer

Clowning at the Carnival

After a glorious August week of storms & gale force winds, Milford on Sea Carnival Day arrived. My wife concealed her excitement by sleeping late with an occasional snore & regular dribble. I however, was keen to get into the spirit of things, so I considered how we could join in the celebrations later in the day. We had no float or costumes, but having made a go cart when I was seven years old I felt I was evidently qualified. A quick search for suitable materials drew a blank. No pram wheels, no bunting & no lorry, so my float plans were looking a bit forlorn. Unperturbed, I turned my attention to our costumes. Clowns, I thought to myself. Yes, we could go dressed as clowns. Our costumes would be fine as my colourful wardrobe could provide for us both & a pair of my sizes thirteen’s on my wife’s size six feet would look just the part. The key to being a good clown I decided was actually all in the makeup. This however is not my area of expertise, but my wife has plenty of tubes & coloured stuff she gracefully applies to herself, so I was sure we had all we needed. I checked to see if the excitement had yet got the better of her, but her slumbers were still winning.

Wanting to be on the village green in plenty of time, I decided there was only one thing for it as I gathered together arm full’s of strange beauty enhancing cosmetics. As my wife slept, I commenced her reconstruction into a clown. Things went well at first, as I applied the exaggerated red lips, a big red nose, white circles around the eyes & giant black eyebrows. I even had time to stand back & admire my creation. As I noticed her ‘clown like eyes’ start to flicker I realised she was at last awaking from her beauty sleep. Her very large red lips then curled as she asked; ‘what are you doing this time you idiot?’ Now, as my wife regularly spends hours on her appearance, I thought she would appreciate my helping hand. However, I soon realised that she lacked any appreciation in my efforts, as before I could even answer her question her alarm clock came crashing down on the top of my head. I thought to myself this might not be a good time to ask her where we could get some wigs.

As my wife drank her second cup of tea & was slowly stopping calling me names, and I was really struggling not to call her ‘Co-Co’, I thought I would explain what I had been planning. This did not help, it simply increased the name calling to a new level. The rest of the day then took a move towards normality as we strolled to the Carnival to enjoy the delights of a traditional village experience. The Unlimited Swing Big Band and Total Voice Choir were great to listen to & the village green was alive with interesting stalls, hot food & fun for the kids. It was really quite a pleasure to sit in Bon Appetite with a coffee, slice of cake watching the Milford world go by.

We were invited by our friends to watch the evening carnival procession from their balcony. There we were joined by a throng of neighbours, a few of which enquired about the strange lump on my head. As we watched the beginning of the parade my earlier plans were still ringing in my head, so I decided to slip away & metamorphosise into a clown. On completion of my impressive transformation I attempted to discretely join the parade, but rather than being warmly welcomed, I was almost immediately wrestled to the ground by a bunch of majorette’s. As I waddled away, I was unable to identify which one left her baton in a particularly delicate place. My plan had not gone well. Thankfully, as I returned to the balcony in pain, no friends or neighbours recognised that I had been the ‘pathetic clown’ they were all discussing, however, my wife gave me one of her ‘knowing looks’. Ah well, perhaps next year I need a slightly better plan.

Smarter Working Centre coming to Community Centre

Your new Community Centre is planning to provide a ‘Smarter Working Centre’ (SWC) in October. The SWC will provide a professional & flexible work space for start-up, home-based and fledgling businesses & not for profit organisations. Smarter Working Centre ‘work hubs’ offer a new, flexible and an affordable pay-as-you use new way to work, meet and learn. The local, low-cost, no-commitment ‘work-hubs’ provide high-speed broadband and office equipment, plus easy access to business advice from Business Link, Enterprise First, Hampshire Chamber and Job Centre Plus. The Milford on Sea Community Centre can also provide meeting or training room space for local business.

The aim is to encourage more local business start-ups, to better support the needs of existing fledgling and micro home-based businesses or community organisations, as well as provide a local work-hub for those that currently endure the daily commute out of the area and either do not wish to or find it isolating/difficult to work from home.

The proposal is that desk space will be available from £12 per day (or £4 per hour). Meeting room space will typically be £40 per day with equipment such as data projector and flip chart available, as well as refreshments and catering. Regular usage of the facilities will attract rate reductions and not for profit organisations will automatically receive a 10% reduction.

The ‘Smarter Working Centre’ would be in addition to the Internet Café, which is a pop in service for local people who wish to have access to the internet & e-mails.

If the ‘Smarter Working Centre’ would be of interest to you please download and complete the Smarter Questionnaire below, this will help the Community Centre team access how you feel about this new service.

Community Centre Smarter Working Centre Questionnaire:

http://www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk/SmarterQuestionaire.pdf

Fancy finding out more about wine?

John James will be running a ‘Discover a World of Wine Course’ at the new Milford on Sea Community Centre. The course will run for four weeks & commences on Monday 4th October 8.00pm to 9.30pm. The course will enable you to experience the wines of the world & learn how to detect faults in wines. It also includes basic wine tasting techniques, how to match wines with food, & to gain the confidence to purchase wines you know you will enjoy. The Course Fee is £45 pounds which includes wine, tasting glasses and work file. There are limited places available, so if you fancy joining in it might be wise to book now!

The course is run by John James of Vine Associates in association with The Solent Wine Experience. To book please contact: John James at Vine Associates - Tel: 01590 642173

E-Mail: john@vineassociates.org.uk

Vine Associates Website:

http://www.vineassociates.org.uk/

The Solent Wine Experience:

www.thesolentwineexperience.co.uk

Tel: 07906 243889 | info@thesolentwineexperience.co.uk

Tour the New Community Centre

The new Community Centre’s official opening is on Friday 3rd of September between 3.30 & 5.30pm. The official opening will be accompanied by music from the New Forest Dixieland Band after which everyone can tour the new facilities at their leisure. If you can’t make it on Friday, the Community Centre will also be open on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September for people to wander around. Members of the Community Centre team will be on hand to answer any question you may have.

Pssst! The Marine is Open!

The long awaited opening of The Marine took place on Tuesday with no fanfares; the doors were just quietly opened. My wife of course doesn’t miss a thing, so we were soon inside. Anyone who has been watching the development of this attractive Art Deco styled building will be intrigued to get inside. When you do you will not be disappointed, the cafe bar is a modern and inviting space, with silver & grey theme highlighted with some hi-tech lighting & subtle splashes of colour provided by what I believe the girls call ‘accessories’. At the back there is a secret ‘snug room’ where visitors can sit in a more private space, or watch the flat screen TV. Keep your eyes peeled for the wine cellar, which is set into the floor with a glass viewing panel. On the way to the ‘snug’ you will also get a glimpse of the enormous kitchen with every conceivable piece of cooking equipment known to man!

The new team have obviously had some good training, and are welcoming & efficient. You may wonder why there has not been a major launch?, & the reason was explained by owners Richard & Sue. They simply wish everyone’s experience to be a good one. So, as everything is brand new and they are trying all of the systems & service for the first time, an initial steady stream of customers will enable them to ensure everyone goes home happy. Having put their heart & soul into creating this spectacular building, they now want to ensure everyone enjoys coming to visit. This week The Marine is open & serving a limited menu from 9am to 6pm & 9am to 9pm on Saturday. As of this Saturday they will be on regular hours from 9am to late, with a full service offering breakfasts, sandwiches, coffee, cakes, afternoon cream teas and a tasty full lunch & dinner menu. The first floor al la carte restaurant will follow in the next few weeks.

The new restaurant, bar & cafe on the seafront in Hurst Road is an exciting addition to the Milford on Sea dining scene, with a location that must be one of the most spectacular in the UK. So, take a trip to see for yourself over the next few weeks, but don’t tell anyone we told you it is now open!

The Marine website:

http://www.themarinerestaurant.co.uk/

Dick the MasterChef coming to Food Week

Dick Strawbridge will be joining us at Food Week 2011. Dick was a finalist in the 2010 BBC series of Celebrity Master Chef, and he is also a television presenter, Eco Engineer, Ex-Army Colonel & proud owner of the best moustache in showbiz! Dick’s warm & exuberant personality was energetically demonstrated in his 'Scrapheap Challenge' days, & in his popular BBC2 series 'It's not easy being green'. The series featured his family’s lifestyle changes and experiments into sustainable living and eco-technology. The programme was filmed at his family home, Newhouse Farm, which is a self-sufficient environmentally friendly smallholding in the West Country. Dick also published his latest book ‘Practical Self Sufficiency’ in 2010. His love of food is excitingly demonstrated in his hearty food and focus on flavours.

‘An Evening with Dick Strawbridge’ will be on Thursday 14th April 2011, and will feature anecdotes & stories relating to his life exploring self sufficiency and his experiences as a TV Celebrity Master Chef. Certainly a date to put in your diary now!

Dick Strawbridge website:

http://www.dickstrawbridge.com/

Handy with a brush?

As the new Village Charity Shop prepares to open they are in dire needs of some volunteers happy to do some painting. Any time you could contribute would be gratefully received. To volunteer your services with a brush please contact: Judit on 01590 644073 or judit.th@gmail.com

The Nearly Naked Chef is coming to town

Milford on Sea Food Week has its first new exciting event for 2011. Hardeep Singh Kohli will be performing his ‘The Nearly Naked Chef Show’ for Food Week on Saturday 16 April 2011 in the Community Centre. The Nearly Naked Chef show is a wonderfully laid back evening of entertaining stories and aromatic stir-fries. Just think Ready Steady Cook but with good cooking and great conversation. Who could wish for more from an evening’s entertainment than to arrive with your carrier bag bulging at the seams with carefully selected ingredients and a whole heap of expectations, and to leave with your taste buds bursting with the flavours of fine cooking and your mind abuzz with a mouth watering selection of pitch-perfect anecdotes? Hardeep's show has appeared at the Edinburgh fringe, & is a currently touring production.

Hardeep will be remembered as a regular reporter on the highly successful BBC1 programme The One Show. He is also a regular guest on BBC 1's Question Time, This Week with Andrew Neil and was a former Newsnight Review presenter. He has also written & presented a number of TV shows for Channel 4. His love of food was demonstrated when he was runner-up on the first BBC series of Celebrity MasterChef, which then led to two series for UKTV Food, New British Kitchen and Chefs and the City. His foodie passion is also expressed in his larger than average belly and the publication of his first book Indian Takeaway, which was nominated for an Independent Book Award. He has written about food for The Times, The Sunday Times, Olive, Observer Food Monthly, The Spectator and various other publications and was appointed as a columnist for Waitrose Food Illustrated. Hardeep is also a member of the judging panel for the Soil Association Awards 2009.

Hardeep Singh Kohli website:

www.seabrightproductions.co.uk/hardeep.html

Milford on Sea: UK’s Second Most Expensive Seaside Town

New research by Halifax, Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, finds a strong correlation between waterfront views and buoyant property prices. The study found that Milford on Sea is the UK’s second most expensive seaside town for property.

Despite the trend being downward elsewhere. Estate agents Knight Frank suggest that a waterfront view adds more than 30 per cent to house prices on average. Explanations include demand from boat owners, second home owners and people seeking clean air and a good quality of life.

Nine of the ten most highly priced seaside towns also feature among seaside towns with the highest quality of life. Sandbanks in Dorset is the most expensive seaside town with an average house price of £545,000 followed by Milford on Sea (£335,000) and Lyme Regis in Dorset (£308,000).

Five seaside towns in southern England also provide good value for money with relatively low property prices. These are Dover, Newhaven, Folkestone, Burnham on Sea and Weston Super Mare. Halifax claim that residents of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex have the highest quality of life among Britain’s seaside towns followed by Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex and Christchurch in Dorset. All three towns have higher than average weekly earnings and an above average employment rate. Over nine out of ten adults report themselves as having good health and residents have an average life expectancy of around 80. They also have four more hours of sunshine per week than the average for seaside towns.

Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside!

Public Enquiry relating to Seafront Development

The redevelopment of the Ravenhurst site, adjacent to the White House on the seafront has become subject to a public inquiry relating to a planning appeal. We understand that the developers, Penny Farthing Homes, have applied to build thirteen new houses in place of the now defunct bungalow buildings. The old Ravenhurst buildings in Ravens Way, Milford on Sea currently consist of four unused single story buildings, which were once a NHS residential home for people with severe learning difficulties. The original development plans were refused by the council and a public inquiry relating to a planning appeal by Penny Farthing Homes is now scheduled to take place from 14th to 16th September 2010 in the Council Chamber in Lymington Town Hall. The three day public inquiry has a 10am start on the first day and will probably finish around 5pm with a break at lunch time. The second and third days may start a bit earlier, and the inspector will decide on the first day. Anyone can go for one day if they cannot make the 3 days.

We have been informed that a group of local residents have joined forces to fight the appeal, calling themselves PMH (Protecting Milford’s Heritage) and are led by Martin Pitt. PMH are preparing specific questions to ask, all aimed at preventing the overdevelopment of a site which is in an area of natural beauty, and in a prominent seafront position with important wildlife & next to a listed building. PMH had considered organising a petition, but they have been informed that the more villager’s that turn up to the hearing is a stronger demonstration that people feel strongly about the outcome, the inspector said that a petition would not be given as much credence.

Everyone is welcome to go along to the public inquiry to find out about the latest plans, & to listen to the discussions. There is a formal process which limits who from the public can express their own views. We suspect that not many people would object to the buildings being sympathetically replaced, and it is a course a fine balance to redevelop a disused site in keeping with natural surroundings, and not just to maximise the developers profit. Let’s hope the people making these decisions on the future of our seafront get this one right.

Alex Aitken moors up at The Jetty

Living in Milford on Sea we are of course blessed with many fine places to dine in the evening, or we can while away the afternoons with delicious cream teas. Our local eateries provide just about every dining experience you could want, fine restaurants, international cuisine, pubs, cafes & tea shops, plus of course, The Marine will soon be opening to add to our extensive list of quality dining options. For those that regularly eat out, occasional forays to restaurants further afield is also fun. Many will know of Alex Aitken, who is one of the South of England’s most respected Michelin starred chefs. Alex started his career as a trawler man and this ‘raw’ fishing experience proved invaluable to Alex during his subsequent career as a chef. Alex has had twenty five years of cooking experience within the New Forest, including many years running his own highly-acclaimed restaurant, Le Poussin in Brockenhurst, followed by a move to Parkhill, a country house hotel at Lyndhurst. Alex became a partner and director of cuisine when Parkhill was developed into the luxurious Lime Wood.

His latest venture has been created in a breathtaking glass walled environmentally-friendly waterside restaurant, which was formerly home to the Gary Rhodes restaurant, Rhodes South. Alex’s has named his new restaurant, bar & grill ‘The Jetty’, and under his direction, The Jetty will be an informal, unpretentious and relaxing place to eat. The location is right on the very edge of the water within the grounds of the Christchurch Harbour Hotel at Mudeford. The views of Christchurch Harbour, Mudeford Quay & Hengistbury Head cannot be described as anything other than breathtaking.

Anyone who has had the pleasure to taste Alex’s food in the past, will know that he is a ‘home-grown’ chef with a huge amount of food knowledge and experience, which will ensure that his menu never disappoints & that his love of local food will shine through. Alex has won many of the UK’s top food awards and is now serving fresh fish & seafood, caught and landed daily from Mudeford Quay, including local oysters, shrimps and lobster, and tasty local meat grills cooked in The Jetty’s charcoal oven. If you are planning to venture out of Milford on Sea for a dining treat, The Jetty is certainly worth putting at the top of the list.

Alex Aitken at The Jetty Restaurant Bar & Grill:

http://www.thejetty.co.uk/