30 Years of Flowers

If flower arranging is your thing, have you heard that it is Milford Floral Art Clubs' 30th Birthday?

 

This month the club are celebrating their 30th Anniversary, and on Thursday 12th September they will be having a demonstration by Carol Norman entitled 'Surprise, Surprise', a celebration cake and Bucks Fizz!

(I might take a handful of flowers from the Pleasure Gardens and sneak in for the cake & bubbles!)

Milford Floral Art Club is always welcoming new members, and they meet in All Saints' Church Hall, 2pm to 4.30pm, Every Second Thursday of the Month.

Simply pop along, or if you would like more information please contact:

 

Milford Floral Art Club

Sheila Quinney | Secretary

e-mail: click here

01590 641867

Website: click here 

 

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Greenbanks Close, Milford on Sea, SO41 0SQ

A Perfect Indian Storm

A "Perfect Storm" is an expression that describes an event that happens to occur in such a confluence, resulting in an event of unusual magnitude.

 

Well, I had one of them on Monday.

 

To explain, it was a day of glorious early September sun, my wife was busy for the evening, and a mate who's wife was away and him up for a beer and curry.

 

My 'wifeless' friend took all of two seconds to accept the evenings invitation, and things got even better when my wife offered to drop us off in the village.

 

First stop for 'the boys on tour' was The White Horse, which has seen some small changes since new landlords Benjamin & Vikki took over recently. Still a bit early for the evening meal trade to arrive, we joined the good number of locals in enjoying a well deserved couple of pints.

 

Next stop was The Smugglers, where it will come as no surprise that some beer was on our agenda, as was a packet of excellent pork scratchings. (Don't tell either of the wives.) The pub was looking pretty busy, which is always good to see. The gardens looked full of colour, with families and a smattering of dogs inside and out.

 

Suitably refreshed, it was now time for the main event, and we wandered over to Zaika, receiving the customary warm welcome.  Beers ordered, the warm freshly cooked pile of papadoms were soon on our table. Six sounded a reasonable number for two, plus of course two spicy. Fellow diners had looks on their faces saying 'they will never eat all of those'. They were soon proved wrong, as slowly the papadums snapped and the pile diminshed. For an experienced curry eater, it is of course all about pacing yourself and balancing the intake of food and fluids!

 

Our conversation was as ever amusing and pointless, ideal for a boys night out. Our mail meal was a feast and tasted excellent. Chicken Patia, Lamb Bhuna, Onion Bhaji, Mushroom Bahji, Pilau Rice and Pashwari Naan. Who could resist such a spice explosion?

 

It was great to hear that Zaika had enjoyed a busy summer season, and on the quality of food served tonight, I was not surprised.

 

As we forgo the coffee for a last Kingfisher, we deliberated a walk to The Red Lion, but whilst our minds were willing, our bodies were now too full to move effectively. Our last effort was the walk home, discovering along the way that the road had become unexpectedly zig zaggy, something that we shall report to the Parish Council later.

 

To end the evening we had a night cap, chatted some more and swiftly forgot everything we had spoken about. - Roll on the next 'Perfect Storm'.

Zaika Indian Restaurant

69 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG
01590 643084
www.zaikanewforest.co.uk
 

Alice & her Onions!

We have received this picture from Alice Yeandle after bunches 

of onions stirred Milford memories for her.

Alice is from Milford on Sea, and is the former parson's daughter. 60 odd years later, she is living in France and following in the steps of 'Johnny the Onion Man'?

Alice recalls how 'Johnny the Onion Man' used to travel on the ferry from St Malo to Southampton, complete with a beret on his head, his onions on the handle bars, and then cycled to Milford on Sea to sell his wares.

Alice asks: Does anyone else remembers this event in Carrington Lane? And, indeed, does anyone remember Alice?

Please enter a comment below if you do.

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

On pressing Alice for some recollections of her time in Milford on Sea, she has sent a colourful description of times and village characters from time gone by. She is obviously a girl that loves to reminisce!

Here goes: "The family arrived in Milford at the request of Alderman Mrs Trokes for my father to be minister of the then Evangelical Free Church, next to Bell's the baker's, opposite Telfords, the book shop and police station. Mrs Trokes had a marvellous shop full of just everything and drove a sleek, black car, one the few in Milford.

I started school in Milford when Mr 'Skip' Austen was headmaster, Miss Woods and Mrs Griffiths were two of the teachers I remember, Miss Woods because she rapped my knuckles too often with a ruler as I was not her brightest of pupils. For some reason, one year, a maypole was erected in the playground and I was chosen to be Maid Marion and lead the whole school out to dance in front of all the parents, I cannot remember my partner but I loved the dancing, a thing my father did not agree with! The caretaker and his wife of the school, who lived on the premises, had a super grey husky dog that played with us all in the playground.

Some people made a deep impression on me, Methusela, as we called him, from Gollege's farm, with a long, grey beard, smartly dressed, walking behind two well groomed cart horses with their gleaming brasses adorning their necks ready for a days work ploughing, reaping the two acre field at the top of Carrington Lane. On his return he would sometimes be seated side sadlle, wearied from his day of walking in the hot sun that we always had in those days.

I also recall; Carrington Grange where we were invited to play tennis, Montigue Dawson with his paintings of the scenes from his house, the Isle of Wight, rough or calm seas. Mr Mogg with his veg shop, I would go in the van delivering and always we stopped at the White House Sanitoruium. Miss Capron who rode into the village from Kivernals Road on her 'sit up and beg bike' singing hymns at the top of her voice. She and her brother had a beautiful house with a well manicured garden, little box trees around the veg patch, a thing I have developed here. Miss Baker, sitting in a bath chair in the front room of her cottage opposite the pub, withered with rheumatism, watching the world go by and always appreciated a little wave from passers-by, and Mrs day who gave me her scrapbook with old fashioned pop-up pictures that I value still.

Miss Marchand with her long, jewelled pieced earrings making her ear lobes drag, putting me off for life to have the same! Mrs Pitt, cycling up and down caring for the Barnes Lane Baptist Church, always making marvellous flower arrangements in a beautiful pink vase which she gave me on our departure which I treasure still. The families of Hobby's, one with a saw mill at the bottom of his garden which caught alight one night and the excitement of the fire engine coming up the lane, the fireman sitting on the front, hand ringing the shinning brass bell. Edgar Hobby, Arthur Hobby. Mr Meffin who rowed us over to Hurst Castle , no speedy machines in those days. The Knights with their sweet/gift shop, one of the first to have a television, Betty the shopkeeper. Smithy gift shop with the very softly spoken lady where I bought my mother many present, black vases by Knash which I have inherited! My great school pal Marion Munden. Oh, so many more!

Off down Long Lane at the early hours of the morning with a group of youngsters to have a swim after cooking sausages and baked bean on the beach for breakfast. Heaving bikes onto the roofs of the beach huts at the end of Sea Road and cycling along a row until some kill joy had up turned nails hammered into the tar covering! Racing home from school at 4pm and all meeting up on the beach to swim to the sand bank that appeared at that time of day. No life guards or flags in those days. Building dams in the Pleasure Gardens, picking primroses from fields near Pennington to decorated the church for Easter. I left Ashley Secondary Modern school at the age of 15 and worked in Milford hospital as Matron's maid. From a very early age I joined the St John's Ambulance brigade knowing I wanted to be a nurse.

My days in Milford unfortunately ended when my parents chose for their retirement Weston Super Mare. I went to Bristol Royal Infirmary to train to be a nurse and met up with many Uni students, one being who was to become my better half. We both qualified, he as a Chartered Accountant, and I was then Sister for the students of the Bristol Uni after having worked as senior scrub nurse in ENT and night sister in Weston. We tied the knot in 1970, had a lovely house on the outskirts of Bristol when my husband, in 71 accepted a post in Paris, to become the liaison partner for Paris and Bristol but after 2 years a client asked for help to set up a business in Normandy. When finalized, he was then offered the post of Financial Director which he accepted for a stint of a year or two! And here we still are now in our retirement!

Life has been good, our three boys are well placed after having done their schooling both in France and luckily in England, Bristol, London and altho' dispersed, wish that their parents stay put where they were brought up. One day we might return to England! My choice would be Milford on Sea.

Well, Mr David, you may well regret asking for a little more, once started I could go on and on and..............when one's nearing 70 the past becomes such a delight to remember!"

The Kemp's All at Sea

Katie Kemp, organiser of The Milford on Sea Community Big Breakfast, and her husband, Simon, are currently living on their boat in Greece.

The adventure started from adversity, when Simon unexpectedly lost his job, creating a time to re-evaluate life.

 

After lots of soul searching and discussion with family and friends, Katie & Simon decided to rent their lovely Milford on Sea home to holiday makers to gain an income over the summer months, and then live on board their sailing boat, Rope Sole, in Greece. Returning to their home and family, church and village, for the winter. They described the process as "at times painful, yet also immensely freeing and revealing."

Rope Sole
click image to enlarge

So, now they are in Greece, a place they have enjoyed since their first visit in 1984. As well as enjoying sailing on Rope Sole, they are making a foray into the latest technology, by creating (learning to create!) a blog. The idea of writing a blog came from family and friends who wanted to keep track of them, and for those who are curious or just love a good story.

 

If you would like to keep up with Simon & Katie in Greece, welcome to life aboard Rope Sole.

Note: The 'Blue & White Plaque Logo' is a photo of a plate made for them by Val Sparkes…a talented potter friend who has The Pottery, at Danestream Farm, Sway Road, New Milton. The plaque also acts as a 'back button for users of the blog.

Rope Sole Blog
www.ropesole.com

sak@ropesole.com

 

If you know anyone looking for a very special self-catering holiday, check out: Lighthouse in Milford on Sea by clicking here.

 

 

New Timeless Shop in Village

Milford on Sea village is soon to see a new shop open, and another new shopkeeper joining the community.

Claire Deegan lives in Hordle and is opening her first shop after establishing her business online.

As of Saturday 21st September, Timeless Fabrics will open at 61 High Street, Milford on Sea. (Next to the Cat & Kitten Rescue Charity Shop.)

New owner, Claire is an ex-computer programmer who was taught at a young age to sew, knit, crochet & tat lace, by her mother & aunts. After redundancy, she returned to college to formalise her sewing skills - pattern cutting and City & Guilds in Lingerie! (This is good, must get my wife down to learn how to create me some special pants!)

Claire is a married mum of 3 children who attend Priestlands School & Brockenhurst College, and at the same time she juggles her husband & two dogs! (Not literally). She is also an enthusiastic tennis player (She claims, more enthusiasm than skill!) playing at Milford Tennis & Squash Club.

Previously, Timeless Fabrics was solely a web based shop, with UK and overseas customers. The bonus of having a physical shop, is to extend the range of services they can offer.

Claire is looking for the Timeless Fabrics shop to be a hive of creativity for all abilities. A sewing machine will be in-house to rent by the hour, a range of patterns, magazines & books available for inspiration and many fabrics, trims and haberdashery to create with.  Timeless Fabrics will also be running a range of workshops to assist in learning new skills and having fun.

Timeless Fabrics take great care in choosing quality fabrics, trims and patterns, sourcing them from all over the world, to stock our sewing emporium. Our stock is regularly updated and keeps up to date with current trends and colours. All orders can be packaged the same day and dispatched swiftly to your door.

Please get in touch if there's anything Claire can help you with, or if there is a particular product you are trying to get hold of. She would love to hear from you.

Timeless Fabrics

61 High Street, Milford on Sea
Tel: 01590 642808 (After 16th Sept 2013) | Mobile: 07713 498459
www.timelessfabrics.co.uk

 

To find out more, visit the 'Timeless Fabrics' blog or find them on Facebook, where Claire shares news, ideas and inspiration!

 

Taxi for Milford!

Living in a village has many advantages, which I am sure we all enjoy. However, if on a night out you like a drink or two, you may well recognise this dilemma.

An evening with friends, or a visit to a Milford on Sea restaurant/pub, leaves the issue of how to get home. Walking is of course an option, but this requires effort and a directional sense in the dark. It can also compromised valuable entertainment time. 

On more than one occasion we have found ourselves in this situation and have tried numerous ways to resolve it. My generous offer that we shared the driving worked for a short while, but once my wife discovered my share was always the outward journey, that option was soon rejected. 

I then had a run of luck, when we tossed a coin for who was going to drive. Well, that was until my wife discovered my double headed coin. A swift & powerful size 6 kick to the groin had me down like a sack of potatoes, hobbling for a week and my favourite coin confiscated. 

Things got better at the recent Comedy Club at the Community Centre. (An excellent night out, and well worth going to if you haven't been before.) We shared a table with a charming couple, David & Eve, and they told us of a travel option we had not heard of before. A taxi.

OK, we have heard of taxi's before, but not a mini cab company that was happy to come to Milford on Sea to transport people on short journeys around the village. Apparently, Abacus Cars from New Milton happily venture across to provide a Milford on Sea taxi service, and will move people around the village for a reasonable price, with a number of village journeys from as little as £5+.

Abacus Cars not ony do local trips, they also cover journeys to airports, docks, shopping trips, tours, - with the motto: 'No job too small, or too big'. They are open from 7am to midnight every week day, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. This is of course, way past when most of Milford is tucked up in bed!

So, next time you are faced with 'who will drive', and need a Milford on Sea mini cab, why not give these guys a try.

--------------------------------------------------
Abacus Cars

Tel: 01425 638100
37 Station Road, New Milton, BH25 6HR

Opening Hours:
Monday: 7am to Midnight.
Tuesday: 7am to Midnight.
Wednesday: 7am to Midnight.
Thursday: 7am to Midnight.
Friday: 7am to 2am
Saturday: 7am to 2am
Sunday: 7am to Midnight.

--------------------------------------------------
We have also discovered another taxi company happy to work in Milford on Sea. Carlos has a high specification Mercedes and is happy to work in Milford on Sea, as well as to do longer runs to airports etc.

Carlos Private Hire
Carlos Miranda
carl1miranda@aol.com
Tel: 01425 620340 | 07718 280110

Wear Pink for Lunch

This month's First Friday Lunch is supporting The Pink Place charity, and being held in memory of their founder Julia Dingwall.

Julia is the daughter of Sonia Sewell, a stalwart in Milford on Sea volunteer activities.

Sadly, many people & their families have been touched by breast cancer, and The Pink Place is a Hampshire based charity tackling the issue and affects. 

The Pink Place was launched in August 2010 with the full support of the Basingstoke breast cancer unit. Today it gives support to breast cancer patients, although they are hoping to offer their service to all cancer patients in time.

The Pink Place Lunch will take place on Friday 6th September at 1pm, and everyone is welcome. The cost is £5 and there is no need to book, simply turn up at the Community Centre, enjoy a lunch & meet some new friends. Also, please wear something pink if at all possible. (Gents as well!)

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

The First Friday Lunch is held every 1st Friday in the Month with the profits donated to the good cause running the event.

Find out more about The Pink Place here:
www.thepinkplace.org.uk

Sonia Sewell | Tel 07941 577001
 

A Privates Story

Local resident Anne Jenks, an organiser with Milford Conservation Volunteers, has found herself to be a unexpected publisher in aid of Help for Heroes.

 

Private Jenks

Whilst in France during WW1, Anne's husband's father kept a detailed diary which he wrote up when he returned. He also collected postcards from wherever he went and drew one or two diagrams of events.

Anne writes: 'Whilst going through some old papers of my late husband, I came across two brown exercise books, closely filled with immaculate handwriting. I had seen these many years previously, but on re-reading recently, I felt they justified sharing with a wider public.

John Stanley Jenks (1896-1975), known as “Stan”, was my husband’s father and a man of Warrington, Lancashire. Prior to the war Stan Jenks was a railway clerk at Warrington, a post to which he returned when the war was over.

The book is one man’s view of his experience of the First World War in France. During the war he kept a diary and wrote this account on his return. In order to preserve Private Jenks’ personal style and phraseology, I have done very little editing. In my view it is so carefully written and so understated that it brings home the real horrors of war. I suspect it also had a cathartic effect for Private Jenks.'

 

Anne has dedicated the book to the memory of Private Jenks and of his son, Frank Garnett Jenks and his daughter, Enid Joan Jenks, both now deceased. She also thanks Dr Michael Haisman, also a resident of Milford on Sea, for his proofreading and his encouragement and support throughout.

 

Setting the Scene

 

Imagine yourself, 20 years old yesterday, recently conscripted into the British Army and in six weeks time you will be setting off to France to fight in a major war for your country! How do you feel? What will you find? Will you survive? What will you experience?

In our modern world of sophistication and technology it is not easy to understand the austerity suffered by soldiers in the First World War and with such courage and humour.

This diary is a factual account of a young man, going abroad for the first time, as a Private in the British Army at war with Germany in France. It brings home the tragedy, the deprivation and the comradeship experienced by so many in this period of British history.

 

The Book: Diary of Private John Stanley Jenks

 

Below highlights the chapter titles, which in themselves provide an evocative expectation of the content.

 

John served with the 25th division, South Lancashire Regiment, in France from December 4th 1916 to August 11th 1917 and then with the 55th division until February 28th 1919

 

Chapter 1: On Active Service
Chapter 2: Up The Line
Chapter 3: First Impressions of War
Chapter 4: Trench Warfare in Winter
Chapter 5: Bombs
Chapter 6: Preparations for the Battle of Messines
Chapter 7: With their Backs to the War
Chapter 8: Over the Top and The Best O’ Luck

Chapter 9: Ypres and Fatigues

Chapter 10: Wounded

Chapter 11: Blighty
Chapter 12: Return to Active Service

Chapter 13: Holding the Line
Chapter 14: The Beginning of the End

 

A Short Excerpt from Chapter 8

'In the dusk we reached the support trenches and in single file moved up to the assembly trenches which lay in No Man’s Land. A shell burst amongst the leaders and two of our company runners were killed and one or two wounded. Eventually we reached our positions and lay in the bottom of the trench awaiting our orders to advance.

What a sensation it was to be sure! There we were, 100 yards from the enemy with his shells bursting very close, waiting for ……….?

What would the morning bring forth? And who would be living to tell the tale two hours hence? It was inevitable that some of us would be killed but I suppose the prevalent feeling was that it would be the other fellow and that at the worst we should be wounded and sent to Blighty.

Midnight! The guns were still roaring on all sides but soon there was an appreciable slacking off. By 1.00 am they began to quieten until within the next hour all that could be heard was an occasional enemy shell bursting near our approaches.'

Get a Copy of the Diary of Private John Stanley Jenks | All proceeds go to Help for Heroes
 

Anyone who wishes can obtain a copy from Anne on 01590 644316 or anne.jenks@talktalk.net. It is also available from Inger Lise's, The Village News and Milford News newsagents.
The publisher has recommended a price of £7.95 which is shown on the book.

 

A Castle Can't Choose Its Friends

At last, I have got around to doing something I have been meaning to do for ages,  I applied for membership of the Friends of Hurst Castle.

 

My wife of course has lots of friends, I on the other hand, simply embarrass the ones I have, and whilst my wife spends time chatting to hers on Facebook, I have to force people to come to the pub.

 

Anyway, by becoming Friends, - we now have some new friends.

 

click image to enlarge

Hurst Castle is always worth a visit anytime of year, and you always discover something new. The café also provides a welcome snack, and for me a well earned piece of cake. Naturally the walk along Hurst Spit is for the fit, energetic and some less sound of mind. Personally, in my view the ferry is a much more tranquil journey.

The Friends of Hurst Castle was formed in 1986 to act as a support group to our local historic site belonging to English Heritage. At that time, the Castle was managed by English Heritage, but since May 1996 there has been joint management; with English Heritage still in charge of the fabric of the building and general policies and the local everyday management provided by Hurst Castle Ferries, run by Sean, Mary & Jason Crane.

 

click image to enlarge

The Friends’ are a willing bunch, and they aim to support the castle in any way they can. Some member fully throw themselves in with projects for the enhancement of the building, to assist educationally, and with research. I of course do none of these worthy things, but simply look forward to reading the regular 'Hurst Tiding' Newsletter and attending the social events.

 

So far this year the events have included a Winter 'Frost Bitters' BBQ, Fish & Chip Cruise, Summer BBQ and Tudor Enactment. (I will be good in a metal helmet with a flaying sword!)

On Saturday 14th September the Friends are organising: 'Concert at the Castle' in the historic WW2 Garrison Theatre. The evening has a Barber Shop quartet "Late Developers", who also sing with the choir "Royal Harmonics", who have entertained the Queen and David Cameron.

Tickets are £16 which includes ferry down from Keyhaven at 6.15pm, entrance to Castle and of course, a return ferry trip. (Tickets available from: Bette Keeping 01590 673985)


click image to enlarge

When I applied for membership of the Friends of Hurst Castle I avoided the paper option, and simply made the payment online. Not only was this efficient, but it also makes it harder for them to reject our application now we have paid!

Should our membership sneak through without recognition, Hurst Castle Ferries offer a 10% discount to Members when buying season tickets and free passage to any Friends who are going to work at the Castle. The Friends’ Committee keeps the Ferry crew informed and there is always close liaison here.

 

The Friends have a workshop at the far end of the West Wing for leaving belongings, tools, artefacts, etc. and for holding meetings. There is also a BBQ facility for members' use on arrangement with the Committee.

 

Also each Monday there is a Volunteer Working Party. This is a regular group of Friends and Association of Lighthouse Keepers members who volunteer at the Castle every Monday, working on restoration projects & enjoy a social get together. (Free ferry and tea to all volunteers!).

 

If you fancy joining the Friends of Hurst Castle you can find more information by clicking here.

 

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

 

About The Garrison Theatre

click image to enlarge

The Garrison Theatre is believed to be the only surviving World War 2 ENSA theatre has been saved by a group of enthusiastic volunteers. Despite having fallen into disrepair, many of the theatre’s original features remain intact despite the Castle’s exposed position at the end of a two-mile shingle spit. Built in a converted Victorian gun emplacement, the hand painted proscenium arch still bears the badge and grenades of the Royal Artillery. The backdrop depicts a romantic restoration scene of Romeo and Juliet or possibly Charles II and Nell Gwyn.

The ravages of time and damp had left the theatre looking tired and unloved. This was until the Friends of Hurst Castle started restoration work in January 2008. The old platform stage, which was removed in the late 1980s, has now been reconstructed. New curtains have been fashioned from hessian, once used to camouflage the Castle’s guns and searchlights, and hang from the original galvanised gas pipe. The only concessions to the twenty first century are modern lights and sound systems. 

Visitors can listen to music from the period and learn the history of the theatre and the origins and role of ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association. And now, after a break of more than 60 years, the Garrison Theatre again stages regular shows during the summer months.

 

Friends of Hurst Castle click here

Annual Membership: Single member £12 - Couples £19
Contact: Barry Fudge (Treasurer) - 01590 641154 - bpfudge@gmail.com
 

RNLI Rescue Draws Crowds

click image to enlarge
Pictures by Michael Pruden

On Bank Holiday Sunday, hundreds of visitors flocked to Milford on Sea Beach to watch the annual combined RNLI Search & Rescue Exercise with The Needles as a backdrop. (Royal National Lifeboat Institute.)

Children and adults alike were thrilled as the lifeboats went about a number of mock rescues, and the helicopter hovered, whilst the whinchman descended and then took his 'patient' back up to safety.

The exercise involved inshore lifeboats from Mudeford and Lymington, together with the Yarmouth boat and the Coastguard helicopter.

Milford on Sea's active and enthusiastic fundraising team were again in action, and the appreciative crowd generously contributed to the collection buckets. An impressive £1065 was raised, and when combined with souvenir sales of £673, it means a large cheque is on its way to RNLI headquarters at Poole.

If you are interested in joining the RNLI Milford on Sea Branch, and getting involved with a fun group of people, enjoying a variety of events, whilst at the same time raising some cash of a worthy cause, please drop me an e-mail at: david@milfordonsea.org, and I will pass it on.



click image to enlarge
Pictures by Michael Pruden

 

New Forest Tour Success

At the beginning of this year summer season, the New Forest Tour Buses extending their routes and added a New Blue Route exploring the coast at Milford on Sea, Keyhaven and Barton on Sea, as well as holiday parks, campsites and attractions such as New Forest Cider at Burley.

 

Press articles have recently announced that the Blue Route is now the most popular of the three.

 

It was also reported that passenger numbers doubled across all theree tour in the first eleven days, with a total of 2,806 passenger journeys were made on the Red, Green and Blue Routes compared to 1,695 last year.

More people coming to Milford on Sea has to be good for all of our local traders, and it proves that the New Forest coastline is a valuable attraction to Forest visitors.

New Forest Tour

www.thenewforesttour.info

 

GREAT DINING BUS Rolling On!

The GREAT DINING BUS is capturing the imagination of foodies, attracting locals and people from far afield alike.

 

We are thrilled with the positive feedback we have received, and the last three tours has seen diners enjoy each tasty course in a different village restaurant.  

 

The future is also looking bright, with two of the forthcoming tours already sold out. One of them has been entirely booked by a group from outside of the village celebrating a birthday.

 

Over the Christmas period there will be 3 Dining Tours taking place. So, if you fancy giving someone a Christmas present they will really enjoy, why not book them a ticket. click here.  If like me you are hapless man, it removes the pain of what to buy as a gift. Even better, it is a great excuse to get together with some friends for a special lunch out.

 

There are two tickets left for Saturday 7th September if you are feeling spontaneous! click here. 

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

The Great Dining Bus Tours

 

The Great Dining Bus is perfect as a treat, a gift, for spending time with friends, special celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just a great excuse to enjoy a unique dining experience whilst savouring great food in excellent restaurants.

 

In addition to the Great Dining Bus (37.50pp), there is also a Strolling Dining Tour (£32pp), and a Spice Tour (£24pp).

These other two tours give people the choice to walk the short distances between courses, for a different type of dining experience. The village is fortunate to have many of the restaurants close to the village green which enables people to take a leisurely stroll between courses.

If you love food and great company, a lunch on the Great Dining Bus in Milford on Sea is for you. Simply book and ‘Jump On’ one of the various Dining Tour options to enjoy each course in a different village restaurant.

 

Each Dining Tour gives people a great opportunity to experience fresh local ingredients and tasty creative dishes as the Milford on Sea village restaurants showcase their food offering and service. The village has a multi-award winning fish restaurant, French restaurant, cosmopolitan bistro, seafront British restaurant, and you can even enjoy authentic regional Indian & Thai food.

 

Booking Great Dining Bus Tickets. You can purchase tickets in two ways:

 

1. In Cash from:

The Community Centre Box Office, Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PH  or from:

The Cave, 2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH.

 

2. Online by Credit Card at: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk (Small Credit Card booking fee applies)

Jump on board, this really is a trip worth taking!

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

Great Dining Bus Tour Dates & Vouchers

 

The Dining Tours run on a regular basis throughout the year, and dates are already available from June 2013 through to April 2014 (See Tour Dates here), after that a new programme will be published.  The courses each restaurant serves changes each time.

Dining Vouchers make a great gift with difference, and would be excellent for birthdays, celebrations, or just a great way to say thank you.  After all, who doesn't love a great meal and company!  The Dining Vouchers can be found on the Great Dining Bus website.

 

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

About the Great Dining Bus

 

Milford on Sea runs what is believed to be the first & only Dining Bus Event in the UK.

The Great Dining Bus first ran very successfully at MoS Food Week in 2012, and the Food Week team now operate the Great Dining Bus as a regular and permanent event in the Milford on Sea village calendar. Around 16 Dining Tours will run in the next 12 months.

 

The Great Dining Bus is for the pleasure of village foodies and people from outside of Milford on Sea, with the added benefit of bringing trade to various businesses in the village.

 

On the Great Dining Bus, diners will enjoy a different course in a selection of Milford on Sea restaurants. There are also 'Strolling Tour' options to add variety. Whichever way the diners arrive, each restaurant will delight in showcasing a taste of their food offering and service.

 

The Great Dining Bus is designed for diners to experience our excellent village restaurants, and as the concept is so unique, we hope to attract local and national exposure, and to put Milford on Sea on the map as a 'Foodie Heaven'!, and recognised as the 'South coast destination for great dining'.

 

Milford on Sea also has much more to offer; being blessed with a spectacular coastline, quaint seaside village & great places to stay, eat & shop. To go with our excellent restaurants, pubs & cafés, the village also has B&B's, hotels, self-catering, caravans & camping, in fact something to suit every taste and budget.

The Great Dining Bus is also encouraging people to come and ‘Stay & Dine’, which is great for the visitors' experience and for local businesses.

 

If you have any queries at all, please contact: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk 

To find out more please visit: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - www.ticketsource.co.uk/greatdiningbus
 

Live Broadcasts on The Needles

click image to enlarge

Sean Crane & his team at Hurst Ferries had an interesting day last Friday, when the spent the day working with BBC Radio and TV.

 

Hurst Ferries look after Hurst Castle and The Needles & Hurst lighthouses on behalf of Trinity House, and BBC Radio Solent had requested Trinity HQ to do a live show from The Needles.

 

Those on high at Trinity HQ thought this was a good idea, and they instructed Hurst Ferries to arrange the weather and get them on site.

 

The TV people then joined in, and decided South Today should also be live from the iconic Needles Lighthouse. You can probably imagine trying to carry heavy (& expensive) equipment to a rock, handle a choppy sea, and then have to try and keep it all working 'live on air' was pretty interesting.

 

Pleasingly, both the H2O Radio Show presented by record-breaking yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and the BBC South Today team, seemed very happy with both shows which were actually on air at the same time.

Like any man after a hard day of satisfying work, - on their return to Keyhaven, Sean was relieved to retire to the pub for a pint!

 

Hurst Castle

www.hurstcastle.co.uk

Full Belly at The Beach House

click image to enlarge

My wife is one of life's planners, and she has a mixed view on surprises. At expected times, like birthdays, she is fine, but jumping out shouting 'Boo' when she is walking the dogs doesn't go down so well.

 

In recent years she has got better with surprises, but I still bear the scars from when she thought we were on day out, only to get on a train to Paris for a surprise weekend. It turned out fine after a severe lecture, and a couple of kidney punches, but since then, for personal safety reasons, most of what we do is in the diary.

As you may expect, when she promptly suggested we go to The Beach House for dinner, with only about 2 minutes notice, it was now my turn to be surprised.

 

Her mission was in search of Chicken Wings. To explain, my wife recently went to Chicago on a business trip, and since returning has yearned for more wings.

 

When we arrived, the welcome was very friendly and we were greeted warmly by Ben the manager.

We were regulars at the old Westover Hall Hotel and were sad at its demise. Since then, we have been to The Beach House a few times and we were interested how it was doing now. Our question was answered pretty quickly, as the place was busy, everyone looked happy and the sun shone on people basking on the sun laced terrace.

As ever, walking through the door into the grand hall and seeing the fine panelling and stained glass windows was a pleasure.

It may come of no surprise that Chicken Wings were a starter, but only for me. I had the Hot Wings, and man were they hot! - just as they should be. So many places now tone down spicy dishes, but pleased to say, not this kitchen.

For main course my wife combined two starters, the BBQ Chicken Wings & Potato Skins with Dips, our helpful young waitress did not blink an eye at this odd request. I had gone the normal route, with a main course from the menu. My Beef Burger & Chips was large and tasty.

For sweet I could not resist the Treacle & Ginger Tart. This was very good, with excellent pastry and sumptuous treacle. I am sure many people like ginger, but personally it would have been perfect for me without the added flavour. (As an aside, is Ginger a spice or a root vegetable? I suspect it is a spice, but either way, vegetables should never go in puddings, and spices should be saved for their rightful place in curries!) We had enjoyed our meal with a bottle of easy drinking French wine at around £12.

Before leaving I had another chat with Ben and he excitedly told me of the future plans. The owners, Hall & Woodhouse are brewers of Badger Beer with a estate of over 250 pubs, and they have plans to invest over £1m+ in refubishing the building. The grand country house is Grade 2 listed, and many months of planning alongside the Conservation Officer has taken place. The final designs will enable the business to grow and provide more practical facilities, whilst retaining all of the character and fine details in this historic building.

We understand that The Beach House will close early in the new year, and reopen sometime in April. The large refubishment project will included a sympathetic extension to the staircase, taking people down to new toilets to be built in the basement, access to the gardens will also be altered to become more accessible, the bedrooms completely overhauled and a bar put in the magificent hall. All sounds good, especially the new bar.

Two day later we were back for lunch. (My wife had decided the day before, so her attack of spontaneity had subsided), this time bubbly Lucy, who had also been in the Westover Hall team, welcomed us.

Once at our table, the sea view was spectacular and the sunny day made everything at sea sparkle. Another 'old Westover face' was attending to us. Guy was as always charming, and told us the menu options and specials in his smooth French accent. (Note: He really is French, he wasn't putting on the accent!) I have to say, Guy genuinely enjoys giving great service and he would be a credit to anywhere he worked.

This time my wife went for the Beef Burger & Chips, and I went for the Fish & Chips, which were great. The fish was Hoki and the beer batter crisp and fresh. Having never heard of this fish before I looked it up when getting home. Apparently, it has a number of names but remains very ugly. It seems part of the Hake family, and used to swim in New Zealand until someone froze it, and it finally reached my plate.

To finish our meal, my wife abstained the pudding, and I had a sweet ending with a Banana Creme Brulée which was set aflame at the table.

The Beach House team lead by Ben, and his wife, Charlie, are doing a really good job. They have created a welcoming and warm atmosphere, and the food is good.

Hall & Woodhouse postition the business as a 'Pub Restaurant with Rooms', which is pretty clever, as it puts them at the top of what any pub can offer. The menu is sustantial & varied, with a mix of modern and traditional dishes at excellent value. This, together with an historic dining room and glorious location makes everything a winner.

Now my wife has become occasionally spontaneous, I wonder what the next surprise adventure will be!


The Beach House
Park Lane, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PT
01590 643044
www.beachhousemilfordonsea.co.uk
www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk
 

Twinning Milford with Paglieta

Town Twinning has always seemed a fun way to get to know another country, with the benefit of spending time with local people, who can show you the real country & customs, as well as building friendship and relationships.

 

You may already know that both Lymington and Hordle has successful Twinning Associations, and it would be nice if Milford on Sea also had their own Twinning Association.

Well, we now have an opportortunity. But.. and it is a big but, ..only if we can find someone to lead the project and enthusiastic volunteers to support on an organising committee.

 

To explain, I recently received an e-mail from Evadne Yeates on behalf of the Town Council of Paglieta, a small town near the Adriatic coast in central Italy. Interestingly, their population is very similar to ours.

 

Evadne told me of a recent Montgomery Day they had held, and a very interesting connection between Paglieta and a former Milford on Sea resident, Richard Carver. It is likely that you may have read the recent story about Richard Carver, Montgomery & the book 'Where the Hell Have You Been'. (If not, click here). 

 

click image to enlarge

Evadne and Paglieta's Town Council are interested in exploring Milford on Sea & Paglieta becoming ‘twinned’.

 

Sadly, I am just too busy to start the whole thing up, or to be on the committee, but I would be happy to lend a hand where I could in the background, with things like marketing & publicity.

 

I dropped a line to the Parish Council, and they discussed the proposal at a recent meeting. Whilst they do not wish to set the association up, they are willing to endorse an association founded by local residents.

 

As far as I can ascertain, Twinning appears ‘something you just do’. The couple of sites below may be of interest: www.ccre.org | www3.hants.gov.uk/localpages/twintown.htm

Below you can see some scenes from Paglieta, it seems a prety place with much to explore.

Anyway, to the point, to set up and run a Milford on Sea Twinning Association we need a leader & driver, plus an enthusiastic supporting committee. To establish our own Twinning Association some work and organisational skills willl be needed, and along the way it should be fun!

 

If you are interested in leading or being on the organising committee for the formation of Milford on Sea Twinning Association please drop me an e-mail: david@milfordonsea.org - It can only happen if people step forward, so if you want this to become a reality, please do not sit and watch, get involved - it should be fun!

 

About Paglieta: The couple of sites below may be of interest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paglieta | www.comune.paglieta.ch.it 

Some scenes from Paglieta:


click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

Lymington & District Town Twinning Association
www.lymingtontwinning.weebly.com

Hordle Twinning Association
www.hordle-twinning.co.uk
 

A Club & Day Out for All

I had often been curious about the Milford on Sea Club building in the High Street, next door to Zaika Indian Restaurant and opposite Dave Gregory's Butchers Shop. I had wondered what went on inside and whether it is a strictly 'members only' club. Well, that was until the recent British Lions Tour was taking place.

My friend and I really wanted to watch one of the big games and could not think of anywhere in the village with a large screen Sky TV. I suspected Milford on Sea Club may be screening the games, but was unsure if we could go in and watch. So, we boldly went through the door, to receive a warm welcome. Explaining that we wanted to see the game, I then spotted a friendly neighbour and we simply signed in as guests and settled down for a couple of pints and to watch the boys gloriously thrash the Aussies!

 

Wandering around I was surprised how large and comfortable the club was. The facilities were also pretty impressive; with modern lounge seating, fully equipped stage, 4 Big Screen TV's which regularly show live sport,  2 Snooker Tables, Pool Table, 5 Dart Boards & Skittles.

 

Milford on Sea Club also puts on regular social activities, such as; Bingo, Quiz Nights, Prize draws,  Poker, Live Music and Discos. The bar offers keenly priced drinks & guest ales, and you can also enjoy some great value food, including Sunday Lunch for £3.50 (Pre-booked) and numerous Bar Snacks.

 

The club really want people to be more aware of what they can offer to everyone. So, if you would like to pop in to take a look around for yourself, you will be warmly welcomed next Saturday (24th August) at:

 

Milford on Sea Club Open Day
Open to everyone, all locals and visitors welcome. Entry is free.

The Club will be open from 12 noon for people to have a look around. The bar will also be open with Special Drinks Promotion at Excellent Prices.

Free Childrens' Party: 2 and 4pm
BBQ: Hot Dogs and Beef Burgers on sale.
Dog Ruff will be entertaining everyone from 6.30pm.

 

Milford on Sea Club

67 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG

01590 645201

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

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 4pm to 11pm

Friday and Saturday: 12 noon to 11pm

Sunday:12 noon to 10.30pm

 

Membership Costs

Joining Fee and Share - £14.05

Full Membership: £10pa

Senior Membership: £5.50pa

(Joining Year Full Membership for Seniors)

 

Everton Hyundai Shield Winners

Last Sunday Milford on Sea Bowls Club hosted the annual Everton Hyundai Shield competition.


Presentation of the
Everton Hyundai Shield by Sean Willson
 of Everton Hyundai
*click image to enlarge

The competition is a Mixed Triples competition open to all Bowls Clubs in the Bournemouth & District and New Forest Leagues.

Twenty teams competed in this enjoyable competition ending in a close fought final between West Moors & Brockenhurst, with West Moors taking the trophy for the second year running.

 

Milford on Sea Bowls Club send their thanks to Everton Hyundai garage for their continuing sponsorship of this competition.


 

Milford on Sea Bowls Club

www.milfordbowls.co.uk

 

Everton Hyundai Garage

www.evertongarageltd.co.uk

 

Updates at Red Lion

click image to enlarge

Our friendly hosts at The Red Lion, Jayne and Stewart have been busy upgrading some facilities since taking over from Paul & June in March this year.

 

The Red Lion now offers three newly refurbished bed and breakfast bedrooms, and free Wi-fi, whilst maintaining the features and traditions of an historic Grade II listed pub. They have also launched a new website:
www.theredlionmilford.co.uk.

 

The former 18th Century coaching inn in Milford on Sea High Street continues to provide a traditional pub atmosphere, serving quality local cask ales, popular draught lagers, bottled beers, stouts, wines & spirits. The home cooked food offer includes 'Daily Specials' and traditional Sunday roasts. The pub is a dog friendly, and the large, welcoming beer garden has a children’s play area. the pub also has a games area including darts, pool, table football and a TV situated in the old stable.

 

There are also regular live music nights at the Red Lion from fantastic local bands, so keep a look out for upcoming dates in: www.milfordonsecalendar.org.

 

The Red Lion
32 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
T: 01590 642236 | www.redlionmilfordonsea.co.uk

 

50 B4 50-Hartnett Holder & Co

After months of promising ourselves a visit, we at last made it to the Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant at Lime Wood. This restaurant does not qualify for our 50 B4 50 Challenge, but it feels only a matter of time before it obtains a Michelin Star.

 

click image to enlarge

Lime Wood, is a magnificent 5 star boutique country house hotel, just outside of Lyndhurst. The impressive complex started as a classical country house, formerly known as Parkhill, which around five years ago was lovingly renovated and extended with the odd contemporary twist to give a unique & relaxed environment.

 

We have been fortunate to have stayed in the past, and have dined a number of times in what was, The Scullery and The Dining Room Restaurant. When launched, the Director of Cuisine was Alex Aitken, former owner of Michelin starred Le Poussin, and he is now heading up the impressive waterfront restaurant, The Jetty at Mudeford, and Kings Arms in Christchurch.

 

After Alex moved on, Luke took over a Head Chef, quickly building a reputation for creating contemporary fine food with local ingredients at the centre of the dishes. He is also a very nice guy and has been involved with events at Milford on Sea Food Week.

 

Earlier this year the restaurant became Hartnett Holder & Co, when Angela Harnett joined Luke in running the restaurant. 

 

Angela learnt her trade under Gordon Ramsay in his first restaurant ‘Aubergine.’ She then joined another Ramsey protégé Marcus Wareing at Petrus. She won her first Michelin star at ‘Angela Hartnett at the Connaught’ in The Connaught Hotel, London. Today, she is Chef Patron in her own Michelin starred restaurant, Murano, a fine-dining Italian restaurant in Mayfair, London.

 

In 2004 she collected her first Michelin star, and in early 2007, she was awarded an MBE for Services to the Hospitality Industry. A familiar face, Angela appeared with Gordon on Hell’s Kitchen and is regular seen on many TV cookery programmes today.

 

When we entered the grounds there was an immediate impact from the beautiful surroundings and delightful garden sculptures. Entering the building it felt like we were coming for a ‘country weekend’.

 

A number of subtle changes had taken place since our last visit, and made everything feel comfortable, welcoming and oozing quality.

 

The biggest changes had taken place in the Dining Room. A complete refit had taken place, and what had previously been a stylish & formal dining space, we now discovered a relaxed central bar, comfortable red leather furniture and classic wooden tables. The room was unpretentious & gave us an immediate impression of what we imagined a quality shooting lodge may be like.

 

Everything was relaxed and comfortable, and all the tableware reflected the high quality of dining expected. The staff were formally dressed, and everyone friendly and helpful.

 

We hadn’t decided who was driving home, but my wife subtly told me when she ordered a gin & tonic. There were two menus, a two course lunch at £19.50 for two course and the a la carte. We could immediately see from the dishes Luke’s passion for local fresh ingredients and elements of Angela’s Italian heritage added to the best of British food.

 

We mixed it up, for our starters my wife had the enjoyable; Pizzetta, Quail Egg, Taleggio & Spinach. I had the Goats Cheese, Compressed Tomato & Basil. Sounds simple, but the dish was not as expected, and as clever as it was delicious. The explosion of multi-level flavours and unexpected textures made this one of the best starters I had ever tasted.

 

Chatting to our waitress we discovered that Angela Hartnett spent around two day a week in the restaurant, this was great to hear, bearing in mind how incredibly busy she must be.

 

For our main courses, my wife had a fresh pasta dish Agnolotti, Pappa al Pomodoro & Basil, and I enjoyed the Milanese Risotto, a rich tasty dish infused with saffron and three year old Parmesan cheese. Friends had told us that portions were not as big as they might have liked, if that was the case previously, it certainly is not the case today, as each portion was significant and more than ample.

 

Full and satisfied, my wife passed on sweet as usual, and as usual I didn’t. I went for the Amalfi Lemon Tart with nectarines, amaretto & almonds. At first glance it looked a lonely, albeit generous, slice of tart on a plate. Proving that first impressions are not always right, when I tucked in, the masterfully made pastry was perfect, and the tart filling wonderful. It was impossible not to pull a contorted face (& accusations of being an embarrassment), as the zingy lemon hit my taste buds, this was then followed by several layers of other delicate flavours. The plate certainly did not need any form of sweet cream or custard accompaniment.

 

There is no doubt we had enjoyed our visit, and will be back!

 

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

50 B4 50-DINING CHALLENGE

Michelin Stars So Far: 21

3 Michelin Star

London | Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester - www.alainducasse-dorchester.com

2 Michelin Star

London | Hibiscus - www.hibiscusrestaurant.co.uk

London | Pied a Terre - www.pied-a-terre.co.uk
Buckinghamshire-Marlow | Hand & Flowers - www.thehandandflowers.co.uk (Twice)

France | Georges V Hotel, Paris - www.fourseasons.com/paris

1 Michelin Star

London | L’Autre Pied - www.lautrepied.co.uk

London | L’Escargot - www.lescargotrestaurant.co.uk

London | The Savoy Grill - www.gordonramsay.com/thesavoygrillLondon

London | Veeraswamy - www.veeraswamy.com

London | Quilon - www.quilon.co.uk
Hampshire | Terrace Restaurant (Montague Arms) - www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk

Hampshire | Vetiver (Chewton Glen Hotel) - www.chewtonglen.com/restaurant

*To read the review on any of the above restaurants, put 'restaurant name' in this blog's search box.

 

50 B4 50 Challenged explained: click here

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

No Michelin Stars, but restaurants visited since July 2013 that are worth a mention:

 

Yarmouth, IoW | The George - www.thegeorge.co.uk

Nice fresh menu, excellent crevettes & lobster dishes. Delightful beachside dining on sunny summer days.

 

London | Dishoom - www.dishoom.co.uk

Described as a 'Bombay Café in Convent Garden. Completely different Indian dining, unexpected menu serving tasty spicy tapas style dishes.

 

London | J Sheeky Oyster Bar - www.jsheekeyoysterbar.co.uk

Excellent fish & seafood restaurant. Voted 3rd in Zagat ' Best Seafood Restaurants in London' after Wiltons & Scott's.

click here