It’s not Dolphin Bank

One of our more intelligent & studious readers (I know, we don’t have many that fit that description), has contacted your editor to point out that it is not in fact Dolphin Bank that is current in view west of The Needles. Apparently, accordingly to ‘Admiralty Charts’, it is in fact part of ‘Shingles Bank’. (And I didn’t even know the Admiralty made records, never seen them mentioned in my copy of ‘Smash Hits’ magazine)

Dolphin Bank is in fact further west. Fortunately, I do not pride myself on the accuracy & factual content of my ramblings, so I am happy to take his word for it! Brian has also let us know that jet skiers have now been spotted using this bank to jump off the ramp! Although I am pretty confident he was not one of them.

Settled snow was seen on the bank over Christmas, this of course means that the bank has remained permanently above sea level. Brian makes an interesting point relating to the many tons of shingle laid on Milford on Sea beaches each year, and their subsequent disappearance! Could our new ‘shingle bank’ be their new home? What is clear, is that this area of ‘Shingle Bank’ has not been seen before by long standing residents in such size or duration. Perhaps global warming is working in reverse with sea levels falling! Al Gore is welcome to visit anytime to explain what is happening.

Milford on Sea Arts & Music Festival at risk

I guess this is not the sort of news that any of us want to hear, but the Milford on Sea Arts & Music Festival is seriously at risk. The past & present volunteer committee have all done a magnificent job in organising the Music Festival for the past nine years, but it appears that festival may not make its tenth year, as it is desperately in new of new volunteers. The current committee is so reduced in strength and numbers that the wonderful annual event may not even happen at all.

All they need is a few willing hands and they could spread the workload to make everything happen. If you feel you could lend some time as one of the organisers, or as a helper please drop me an e-mail and I will pass it on. Hopefully we can save our Music Festival somehow.

If you can help, please contact me at: david@milfordonsea.org

The Island is back!

The shingle bank has once again raised it's sustantial presence above sea level just west of The Needles. Dolphin Bank is rarely seen, but it just keeps popping up this year.

If you fancy finding out more, please read our previous story 'New Island off The Needles', which was published in November.

Nigel in Daily Mail

Nigel Swann, a local businessman, & reader of these ridiculous pages, had one of his astute observations published in The Daily Mail on 7^th January.  Nigel wrote: ‘I think seasonal sales are over-hyped. I went to the local Pound shop and they didn’t have any reductions at all.’  I don’t think anyone can argue with that!

Food Week Calendar & Website Now Online

All of the events at Milford on Sea Food Week have now been added to the Milford on Sea Community Calendar.  Please don't let these stop you buying a programme when it comes out in a couple of weeks, as the income from the programme helps cover the costs of Food Week!

To view the Food Week Calendar please click here.

The Food Week website has undergone a ‘makeover’.  If you fancy a look there is a link at the bottom of this article.  As it now looks so pretty, I asked my wife if she would like me to do her a ‘make over’, unsurprisingly she declined, and continued searching the web for plastic surgeons who specialise in liposuction.  ‘You’re not fat’, I told her.  Mischievously she replied, ‘It’s not for me you idiot’. If you fancy a look at the Food Week site please visit:
http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

Swimming Banana in Milford

If you wandered along the seafront on Sunday lunchtime you may have seen a banana swimming in the sea. Our fruity friend was accompanied by several other hardy souls, all in fancy dress. The sea was pretty cold, so the most suitable costume was probably the guy dressed as a penguin!

As this is not the normal swimming attire for Milford on Sea beach we decided to investigate. We discovered that they were taking part in the Portage Plunge, which was in aid of Ashurst Hospital near Southampton.

I did offer to go in, wearing just my ‘furry lounge suit’, but they said the charity was not that desperate!

You can watch the Portage Plunge here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQwWHkHWMb8

Get Involved in Food Week

Events: Lots of people are now well underway with planning their involvement in Food Week (11th to 17th April 2011)  If you would like to be involved in running an event, or know someone else who would like to, you will need to be quick!, as we are sending the Food Week Progamme for printing this week. 

So, please let me know if you are interested in adding any events asap please. david@milfordonsea.org

Food Week Volunteers: We now have a list of around 20 volunteers who are happy to be invited to help out when we need a hand at an event.  Our volunteers simply select or reject any requests they receive.  Luckily, we do not need to beg very often!  'The BIG Family Breakfast' has already had four volunteers agreeing to lend a hand on the Saturday of Food Week.

If you would like to be on the Food Week Volunteers List, please drop me an e-mail at: david@milfordonsea.org

Another Live Bomb on Hurst Spit

This is spooky! Last year, well to be exact, on a Sunday afternoon at around 3.30pm on 8th February 2010, the flashing blue lights from a Bomb Disposal Unit truck was spotted driving though Milford on Sea village. 

click image to enlarge

Your intrepid reporter was enjoying an afternoon of relaxation after a particularly spectacular Sunday lunch with friends at Westover Hall. (Surely the pastry chef, is one of the finest masters of his craft in the country. His sweets are so amazing that we had ordered five between the four of us.) I digress, so back to the bomb disposal. I now had a duty to find out what’s going on, but couldn’t really be bothered.

I then decided to wake my sleeping wife to tell her of the excitement - this is always a dangerous manoeuvre.

Not sure why, but she wasn’t greatly impressed. Her speech is quite incoherent when unexpectedly woken, but I guessed she was trying to tell me how much she adored being with me. I quickly asked ‘Do you fancy a walk to Hurst Spit?’, ‘Grrrr, if I must’ she said as clearly as she could under the circumstances.

For some inexplicable reason, her eye’s became glazed with that ‘mass murder look’ when I replied: ‘Great, can you find out what’s going on & tell me when you get back’. I was a bit worried for my life for a few seconds, but mustered the courage to explain that I had just got comfortable & was watching the rugby. Without her saying anything, I got the impression that my wife was not the least concerned about my afternoon sporting pleasure.

Anyway, my wife soon trotted off with our two sniffer dogs, both of whom would be willing to help out if the bomb disposal guys needed a hand. At around 4pm I heard a loud explosion. Dutifully, my wife later reported back that the Bomb Disposal guys had detonated a device on the beach just along the Spit after the bridge. My wife had failed to investigate what type of bomb it was, but I thought it best not to mention her error to her, as I hear ‘strange accidents’ can happen to husbands when a wife is annoyed!

This year, it happened again on a Sunday afternoon at around 3.30pm, but this time on 2nd January 2011.  We were returning along the seafront after another delicious Sunday lunch at Westover Hall, when we could see in the distance a large crowd on Hurst Spit. This was almost immediately followed by a loud bang, and a plume of smoke. The Bomb Disposal guys had detonated yet another WW2 bomb. As I eagerly turned towards my wife, she simply said ‘If you value your manhood, don’t even think of asking me to go down there.’ I did, so I didn’t.

Food Week Ticket Office Now Open!

Tickets are now available online for key Milford on Sea Food Week Events!

This year we have an online Ticket Office for the ‘Major Ticketed Events’.  There will also be lots more free events during Food Week, all of which will be featured in the ‘Food Week Online Calendar’ and in the printed ‘Food Week Programme’, which is due in the village shops during early February. 

Last year many people were disappointed, due to all of events selling out early. So, this year you will not miss out if you order your tickets for your favourite events online now. There are a lot of new shows this year, so please click here to visit the ‘Ticket Office’ and take a look.

Of course, not everyone has access to the internet, so to be fair to all, the quantity of ‘online tickets’ are limited, and we shall have others available to buy at the ‘Food Week Box Office’, which will be held on advertised days before Food Week.

Tickets will also be on sale at Gwen’s for selected events from this Friday.

Food Week Calendar: We also have many ‘Free Events’ taking place during Food Week 2011. So, to view everything that will be happening please click here.

________________________________________

Milford on Sea Food Week is a celebration about all that is great about food. Our village is blessed with great places to eat and surrounded by quality local producers, so what better way to celebrate this than to have an entire week dedicated to the joys of food!

Everyone at every age is included, and Milford on Sea Food Week has over 100 activities including: Themed Dining Evenings, Professional Cookery Theatre, Celebrity Shows, Cooking Demonstrations, Educational Talks, Competitions, Dining Offers, Kids Events & a Sunday Food Market, all organised by local organisations, clubs, businesses and individuals.

Food Week is co-ordinated by a small dedicated group of volunteers who provide their expertise and time for free. Any income generated by Food Week is only used to cover promotional costs, and no fees or expenses are taken by any of the Food Week organisers. We are delighted to support local charities from any profits that are made.

As our event is truly ‘By the community, for the community’ your support is critical to us, and we thank you for getting involved by enjoying the events during Food Week.

http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

Gingerbread House Results

Local brother and sister Ursula and Ben Nealon were recently announced joint winners of the ‘Gingerbread House Painting’ Competition.  The competition was run by Chris at Inger-Lise’s Coffee Bar, with many local children popping in to try there hand at creating a masterpiece, competition judge, Sally from Landfall Gallery, found choosing a winner difficult. So, she decided the only option was to have two winners!  Kev (Chris’s husband) apparently had great fun assembling the prize house, he said 'it was as technical as building a real one!'  Chris sends her thanks to everyone who entered, and hopes to see all soon for other themed competitions for the kids.

It's snowing again!

I was abruptly woken this tediously cold winter morning by a gloved slap in the face. I immediately wondered what I had done wrong now. As there was no follow up to the initial assault, I just laid assessing the situation and realised it was simply a subconscious action from my snoring wife. How such an angelic voice and face when sleeping can sound like a warthog at feeding time is beyond me.

As I laid waiting for the sting to subside, I realised that l was now sleeping with a fully kitted out close relative of ‘Scott of the Antarctic’. To think it was only fifteen years ago that bedtime attire for my wife was only a subtle squirt of perfume, and me just in my ‘furry lounge suit’. These days my wife takes what feels like hours to arrive in bed, going through a ritual process of adding numerous layers of ridiculously coloured warm bedwear. I on the other hand still only wear my ‘furry lounge suit’, although it is quite a different shape & size these days.

As I turned my bruised head towards the window, I could just see though my black eye that it was snowing heavily again. Hmm this weather did not go so well last time.

As I got up to start yet another exciting day, I heard my wife bark two clear instructions from deep within her cocoon of bedding. ‘Before you starting writing any more rubbish on your website, you can take the dogs for a walk’. Ah, my turn to wrap up in layers of clothing now!

Kids Drawing Competitions in the Village

Two of our children friendly village shops have got into the Christmas spirit by running Drawing Competitions for children. In Inger-Lise’s Coffee Bar, at the ‘Keyhaven end’ of the High Street, any children can draw their pictures at specially prepared tables, whilst mum or dad enjoy anything from a full English breakfast, lunch, sandwich, cake or just a coffee or hot chocolate. The coffee bar even has a children’s menu and baby changing facilities for the very young ones. All entered pictures will be put on display, with the winning picture being judged on Thursday 23rd December. Christine will be providing the winning entry will win a ‘Christmassy Gingerbread House’.

Down at Sullivan Mitchell, one of our local estate agents, there was another ‘Children’s Drawing Competition’ open to any children at pre-school or primary school age. This ended on the 18th December with Lesley awarding a 1st prize of a £10 Milford Models voucher and 2nd prize of a £5 Milford Models vouchers to the winners in two age group categories. It is nice to see are village shops helping to entertain the kids.

White Horse Fundraising closes in on £50,000

The White Horse pub in Milford on Sea has for the past six years entered an enthusiastic team in the 'New Forest Bike & Hike'.

The event allows people to cycle or hike in this ever popular community fun event. Routes are of varying lengths to suit all ages and abilities. Singles and seniors, families and friends, clubs, pubs, schools, youth groups and company teams. There is even a 'Buggy Routes' for Mums, Dads & little ones.  The sponsors are Ringwood Brewery and the event is in aid of Oakhaven Hospice.

 

This year's team of staff, customers and friends from The White Horse raised an amazing £11,307, which makes a total of £49,985 that they have raised over the past six years.



It looks like 2011 will see the £50,000 barrier well and truly smashed! Congratulations to Pat & all from The White Horse for such a great effort.



White Horse Team 2009



Hardeep is coming to Food Week

The planning for Milford on Sea Food Week 2011 (11th to 17th April 2011) is now well underway. We have already had the pleasure to announce 'An Evening with Dick Strawbridge', and we are now delighted to confirm that we have booked Hardeep Singh Kohli, another high level celebrity. Hardeep will be performing his 'Nearly Naked Chef Show' on Saturday 17th April 2011 in our purpose build professional Cookery Theatre which will be in the Community Centre Main Hall.

Tickets will go on sale online soon, and we will also have a 'Box Office' on selected days before Food Week for people without internet access to also buy tickets for the major events.

So, grab a seat and tuck in, as a guest of Hardeep Singh Kohli. This celebrated broadcaster, raconteur, writer and cook combines comedy with inventive cuisine in a wonderfully funny, laid back evening's entertainment.

Just think Ready Steady Cook but with great cooking (Hardeep was runner-up on the first series of Celebrity Masterchef) and funny anecdotes, all delivered by Glaswegian Hardeep in his own unique, articulate and utterly charming way.

Having debuted at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where the show played to sell-out audiences, this is an extended, two-course version of The Nearly Naked Chef, combining more of Hardeep’s winning talents and recipes.

‘Kohli’s evening of cookery and anecdotes… left a reassuringly warm aftertaste.’ **** The Times

‘I was mightily impressed by his ability to keep a capacity crowd in the palm of his hand for almost two hours. His concoction on the night? Haggis and butternut squash vindaloo. Even funnier, it was delicious.’ The Sun

Click link to find out more about Hardeep:
http://www.hardeeplive.com/

 

Milford on Sea Food Week: http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

MoS Club Advertising Opportunities

Milford on Sea Club in the High Street, have recently installed a new media system which is all singing and dancing! As well as providing entertainment, the screens have advertising space. Any local business can advertise their services for a very reasonable cost. Companies could have full screen spreads with pictures, videos and logos etc, or just have data in a ‘ticker stream’ on the bottom of the screen.

To receive a price list or to find out more please contact: Mark Ketchen: markdketchen@gmail.com - 07967 547639
Milford on Sea Club, 67 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG

Join in the Guinness World Record Attempt

There is still time to join in the Jack Boothroyd Memorial 5-aside football competition, and to try and set a new Guinness World Record.

A world record attempt football tournament is being organised in memory of Jack Boothroyd. Jack was a popular Milford on Sea teenager who tragically passed away in October. He attended Priestlands School and was a regular member of Milford Youth Club. Friends at the club have asked if the youth room at the new community centre can be renamed to the Booth Room. His friends from school have posted numerous & emotional tributes on Facebook, and Head teacher Chris Willshire sang the praises of Jack, who he described as ‘a lovely boy’. Jack loved caring for animals & spending time on his BMX bike, and from everything we have heard, his mum & dad, Belinda & Mark, must be very proud of their son.

Mark Ketchen and Richard Millbery are organising the Jack Boothroyd Memorial Competition on behalf of Milford on Sea Club. The competition will be a Guinness World Record Attempt to achieve the Largest 5-a-Side Football Tournament. Pre-final matches will start soon and can take place anywhere. A comprehensive guide pack will be issued to all teams that enter. Mark & Richard also hope to raise money for a children’s charity, and they are using all schools in the area to increase the number of participants. The competition can have many categories, so more teams, and volunteers old or young are needed. The competition will be in a mini league format with finals to take place at Priestlands School during the weekend of 5th March 2011.
If you would like to take part or help out please contact:
Mark Ketchen: markdketchen@gmail.com - 07967 547639
or Richard Millbery: 01590 643209
Milford on Sea Club, 67 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG

New Beer in Milford on Sea

Our friends at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have let us know that a local Hampshire brewer, Bowman Ales, has just produced a special 50th Anniversary ale for the Trust called 'Warbler'. The beer is described as "A conker coloured premium bitter with an initial sweetness giving way to a dry chestnutty finish, smooth, full bodied & fragrant."

If you fancy a taste, the Co-op in Milford on Sea village will be stocking bottles, and Paul at the Red Lion is going to make it available as well.  We also hope to have the beer featured during Milford on Sea Food Week.

www.hwt.org.uk/pages/warbler-anniversary-ale.html

Bowman Ales is a micro brewery based near Droxford in Hampshire.  Find out more here:

http://www.bowman-ales.com/

William Rickman & Milford House

Recently we received an interesting e-mail from a historian in Charles City County, Virginia, USA. Oh yes, we are now an international resource for historical research! Which is quite a surprise, as I normally make most things up! Anyway, Patrick is researching a certain eighteenth century William Rickman.

William Rickman, was born about 1715, probably in England. William Rickman studied medicine, and is believed to have served as ship’s surgeon on the Launcet, a Royal Navy ship. If so, he left the Royal Navy and settled in Virginia about 1760. At the outbreak of the American Revolution he was appointed director-general of Continental Army Hospitals for the state of Virginia, with the rank of colonel. Dr. William Rickman married sometime before the year 1770; his son Jesse Rickman, was born on May 2 of that year. Jesse was born on his father’s farm near Charles City, Virginia, known as Kittewan. Jesse’s mother died while he was still a small child, and in 1775 his father remarried. Dr. Rickman’s young bride was Elizabeth Harrison, sister of future U.S. President William Henry Harrison. She was 24 when she married the 60 year old Dr. Rickman. After William Rickman died in 1783, her stepson Jesse promptly left the family property, possibly due to a quarrel with his stepmother.

Patrick tells us that William Rickman’s home, which was built in the 1770’s, was called Milford, and wonders if there is any connection with Milford House in Milford on Sea? Our own research found the following: ‘Milford House is a splendid Georgian House in red brick. The central part is the oldest, with castellated parapet being built in about 1730 for William Rickman. He died in 1764 and William Reynolds became the new owner of the Manor’. The dates do not appear to exactly fit, so I have no idea if this is the same ‘William Rickman‘? If you can throw any more light on this story please let me know. david@milfordonsea.org

Magical Milford Monday

A freezing evening chill did not prevent an impressive turn out for the annual ‘Carols on the Green’. Yet again the evening had a wonderful Christmas feel, as Milford on Sea High Street became a winter wonderland. From early evening many of the shops remained open and were serving mulled wine, mince pies and other Christmas goodies. The High Street itself had brave stallholders offering hog roast, paella, crepes, hot chestnuts, candy floss and more. The giant lighted Christmas tree on the green provided the backdrop for the carol service, which was led by village’s own Total Voice Choir. As around 300 people joined in the community singing it was hard not to be moved by the magical atmosphere this created. Everyone that had braved the freezing night certainly felt the effort had been worthwhile. As a great finale, Father Christmas arrived on his sledge. The children’s faces were a picture as he & his helpers handed out sweets to everybody. Well done to the Village Community Committee on organising another great night.

For some the night was still not over as they made their way to the Community Centre to see Milford’s Three Tenors in ‘Mistletoe, Mischief & Mince Pies’. Our own Colin Judson opened the show with ‘O Sole Mio’, with his fellow tenors joining him on stage from various directions as the song progressed. The audience had expected to see ‘Wynne Evans’ and were disappointed to find out that he was stuck in Glasgow due to the snow. I don’t know how Colin managed it, but at the last minute he had been able to get John Hudson to join the team. Colin described John as England’s best tenor for the past ten years, and having heard him who could argue. The great arias kept coming, as people were hypnotised by the power and quality of the singing. The infectious humour of the guys between songs really added to the night. The smooth blend of the individual tenor’s voices mesmerised, and when in harmony they created an incredible sound, espacially when singing Nessun Dorma, which sent a wonderful chill down the spine. It was amazing to think these guys are normally playing the Royal Albert Hall, or international Opera Theatres, yet there we all were, watching them in our own community centre. The Christmas themed second half bought songs for everyone to join in with, and with the words to some of the songs not known by all the tenor’s, their play fighting over the scripts made everyone giggle. Colin had one last closing surprise for us all, but I won’t reveal it now as there is still another show to go. If you are going to the Friday Show be prepared for a spectacular evening!

http://www.colinjudson.co.uk/

Footnote: Having enjoyed Monday evening so much, my wife managed to get two last minute returns to go to the Friday show.  After another spectacular performance she excitedly told me; 'we must do that again'.  'What?, see The Three Tenors?' I asked.  'No, I meant I must always remember to get two single tickets miles apart' she giggled.  Oh, she is so funny, so very funny!

Ravenhurst Planning Update

The planning Inspector rejected the appeal from the developers (Penny Farthing) of the unoccupied NHS site at Ravenhurst (next to the White House on seafront) last week. However, the ‘Protecting Milford's Heritage’ group consider that this has been a hollow victory, because apparently even before the Public Inquiry had ended, Penny Farthing had already lodged a new application with the NFDC to change the planning use to Residential.

Several local residents have again objected to the new application, including our local Parish Council who support the view that the site be restored to its original Greenfield status. The revised application is going before the Planning Committee on Wednesday 8th December (9am: Lyndhurst Council offices). We have been advised that the officers report of the NFDC says the application should be granted despite local objection, and also says the developer could then further amend the plans and application without having to seek any further approvals or consultation! It is also reported to say that only 5 local people have objected. However, the ‘Protecting Milford's Heritage’ advised us that there are 8 letters of objection or expressing concern on the website, and some neighbours have stated their letters sent some weeks ago have not yet been registered on the website, so presumably not counted. Desmond Swayne. our local MP has also asked questions on the groups behalf.

Due to the short notice, it is unlikely that  many cannot attend the planning meeting, but anyone who wishes to support the ‘Protecting Milford's Heritage’ group and add their voice they can attend the Planning committee and object, or email members of the planning Committee, Chief Executive of NFDC and copy the Parish Council to quickly register their protest. 

If you need the e-mail addresses we have a list provided bu PMH available on request.