Find Me a Friend Week!

Since having the ridiculous idea to create a tourism website for Milford on Sea in May 2008, we have had 943,572 visits to the website. www.milfordonsea.org

A short while later, a local new Milford on Sea News Blog appeared, (not by magic, I started it!). The concept was to send a monthly e-newsletter to local villagers, this has now become a weekly e-newsletter, we get over 10,000 page views a month, and the 200th Edition of the Enjoy Milford on Sea News Bulletin is coming this week. www.milfordonseanews.org

 

The Enjoy Milford on Sea News Bulletin & Blog carries stories about news & activities from the village, a number of stories have a bit of humour thrown in, plus you will also find a smattering of made up and ridiculous local articles.

 

Anyway, to Find Me a Friend Week!

 

As there is just big 'ol me & the dogs putting all this together (& frankly, the dogs don't help much) - so, I need your help to get us more friends!

 

The Enjoy Milford on Sea Bulletin recently hit a milestone of 2000 e-mail contacts, (a lot of people are certainly willing to read this nonsense!) - But, ....as Milford on Sea has 5000 residents, plus plenty of visitors interested in the area, lots of people are either unaware that the News Bulletin exists, or are avoiding it like the plague!

 

What we need is your help to get more people registered for the Enjoy Milford on Sea Bulletin please. 

Existing Friends: Send an e-mail, or have a chat with your own friends & neighbours to see if they would like to join us & become a friend of our site. You could also send them a link to this article for them to read what it is all about. Everyone's welcome!

New Friends: Simply ask them to send an e-mail to david@milfordonsea.org with a note in the title saying; 'Please send me the e-newletter.'

*Important for you to know: Your e-mail address on our database is totally secure, the data is never shared with any third party and you can 'Unsubscribe' whenever you want and never hear from us again!

Find Me a Friend Week? Ah yes, this is in fact every week, as our site is always looking for more friends to join us! It's just a bit of fun, and you discover things about Milford on Sea, so why not join us now.

 

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

PS: There is also the Milford on Sea Calendar, where anyone can discover what is happening in and around Milford on Sea. www.milfordonseacalendar.org

 

Currently working on an updated version of the Milford on Sea Directory as the next project! Note to self: "Find time to get a life!"
 

Older Driver Awareness Roadshow

Life can be very unfair. At a time of life when people need the independence and convenience a car gives, faculties start to fail and bits start to fall off! People are then faced with the challenging issue of when to stop driving.

 

Tony Harrison has recently been appointed as Milford Village Agent by Age Concern. He will be involved in trying to help older people in Milford maintain both their independence and safety on the road.

 

 

 

 

Older Driver Awareness Roadshow 

 

Have you ever wondered whether you or a member of your family are still safe to drive?

If so, you should come to the Older Driver Awareness Roadshow at the Community Centre on 26th September between 10am and 4pm. Simply pop in anytime during the day for a chat and to pick up some information.

 

The event is organised by the Older Drivers Forum, a not-for-profit organisation consisting of road safety experts, representatives of the emergency services as well as voluntary bodies and local authorities. You can find out more at: www.olderdriversforum.com

 

The aim of the event is to help older drivers to keep driving safely for example by suggesting modification to their cars such as wing mirror adaptors or higher seats and by helping them to retain and improve their driving skills, having their driving abilities assessed and eye sight checked. And for those who have to give up driving because they are no longer safe, the Forum offers advice to help them maintain their independence without having access to a care.

 

If you would like to speak to Tony, his contact details are below:

 

Milford Village Agent by Age Concern Hampshire
Tony Harrison
07806 659452
milfordonseava@ageconcernhampshire.org.uk
www.olderdriversforum.com

 

Millennium Clock Slides Down Wall

click image to enlarge

The more observant villagers will have noticed that the Millennium Clock in Milford on Sea village centre has moved. Others will be not be aware, and quite a few will be saying ‘No one told me about any Millennium Clock!?’

 

To celebrate the Year 2000, the village commissioned a village clock made by ‘Smiths of Derby’. This was erected above what is now Lymington Cat & Kitten Rescue shop in Milford on Sea High Street. The clock was located in the eaves of the building and it has to be said, off centre of the hub of the village.

 

Those that have seen it, may also have spotted that it has not worked for six of the years since installation, and finding a clock repairer with a 40ft ladder is pretty tricky.

 

The Parish Council created an initiative to deal with the issue, and led by Peter Jennions, started a fundraising campaign around 18 months ago to raise £3000 to refurbish and relocate the Millennium Clock. Thanks to generous donations from a number of villagers, the clock has now been moved down, giving it a good chance of being seen, it has also been adapted to illuminate at night.

 

Nice work, and thanks to everyone involved, yet another characterful feature for the village now glows in the dark.

Milford Bowls Club Champions

Rod Somerton - Presidents Cup Winner
Sheila Hall - Rose Bowl Winner
Presentations by Ron West, Club President

The unsettled weather was unable to dampen the high spirits of the Milford on Sea Bowls Club players, as they battled it out for the Annual Club Trophies.

The Club Finals took place last Saturday & Sunday, as the Club Champions for 2014 won numerous games before revealing themselves. (Not literally of course, couldn't have that sort of thing in Milford on Sea.)

The two days consisted of ten hotly contested competitions, which finally decided that the Ladies Champion 2014 is Sheila Hall, who won the Rose Bowl after a close match against last years finalist, Di Goodyear.

The winner of the Mens Champions competition, the Presidents Cup, was Rod Somerton against first time challenger Peter Larke.

The celebrations went on long into the night. After the revelries ended, six large holes were dug around the edges of the green, and the members all joined in a game of giant foot snooker using colour painted footballs. (As you may have guessed, I made this last paragraph up!)

Milford on Sea Bowls Club

Hurst Road, Milford on Sea
www.milfordbowls.co.uk

Milford's Going Street!

We have heard of an interesting entrepreneurial new business, run by Mel Green in Milford on Sea.

 

The first one will appeal to our young people, and will really confuse lots of the older ones. (What ever happened to a good Quick Step eh?!)

 

A new 'Street Dance with Mel' course starts at the Community Centre on Monday 16th September 2013 - 7:45 to 8:45pm - Mixed ability £5 - ages 12+.

For those that may be concerned, this does not actually involve dancing in the road. The dress code of 'comfy clothes you can move in', would not I think be a problem to most readers of these pages!

 

Mel Says; "It doesn't matter whether you've been dancing for years or are giving it a go for the first time - if you like to move and groove to RnB tunes, then please come and join me."

 

I am not sure if the course include the latest craze of 'Twerking', (a lot of you will have to look that one up on Google!), but I'm sending my wife if it does!

 

Mel's other business ventures include:

 

Melduzz Website Design, where Mel will craft an original, effective information Website at an affordable price. she blends the creativity of an Adobe Photoshop trained artist, with the experience and professionalism of our IT Project Manager, who has over 15 years experience of working on major Government IT projects and Website development.

 

Whether you're after fun and funky, simple yet stylish or elegantly understated, Melduzz Website Design will create a unique style just for you.

 

Starting at just £200 for a Home Page plus two Sub pages, the service seems good value for money.

 

Melduzz Home Cleaning, this is where Mel offers a friendly, reliable domestic cleaning service in and around Milford on Sea, £10 an hour, 3 hours maximum at a time and customers to please provide the cleaning materials.

 

Additional domestic services include: Jet washing of driveways, paths, garden furniture, mobile home exteriors. Quotes available on request.

 

Melduzz Car Valeting at £10 an hour for an interior and exterior car clean.

 

Contact Mel if you have something you want cleaning, or just fancy cutting some shapes.

Tel: 07887 935990
info@melduzz.com
www.melduzz.com
Facebook: click here

 

Beach with a Turbine View

Challenge Navitus are opposing the offshore wind farm proposed between Purbeck and the Isle of Wight.

 

The coast from Purbeck in Dorset to the south of the Isle of Wight surrounding Poole Bay is rightly valued. Challenge Navitus state that: ‘Expansive views escape the intrusion of man-made structures, and it is a popular destination for those wanting to “get away from it all”. That could change if the Navitus Bay offshore wind farm is built by Dutch & French companies, Eneco & EDF (Navitus Bay Development Limited) as it is currently proposed.

 

This offshore wind farm would be the world's biggest if it were operating today. It would lie between Purbeck and the Isle of Wight, to the south of a line from St. Aldhelm's Head to St. Catherine's Point. It would occupy an area bigger than Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch put together and contain up to 218 turbines Turbines up to 200m (656ft) tall are currently planned, taller than Salisbury Cathedral, the Bournemouth Eye or the Spinnaker Tower. The farm would be highly visible from all around the region, but especially from Durlston, Swanage, Sandbanks, Bournemouth, Hengistbury Head and the Needles area of the Isle of Wight.’

 

Perhaps not a great new tourist attraction for Milford on Sea.

 

Challenge Navitus have published brand new video-simulations on their website: www.challengenavitus.org.uk for Bournemouth, Sandbanks, Studland beach, Ballard Down, Swanage and Worth Matravers. In the new videos, they have adopted turbine arrays that are as close as possible to the developer’s 8MW and 5MW layouts, so that you can compare the videos with the developer’s images more easily. You will need an HDTV or a high resolution monitor to see the videos properly – on small screens the turbines will just blur out. Make sure you view them "full screen" by clicking on the "box" symbol at the right hand side of the toolbar in the video frame after it starts playing.

 

Challenge Navitus say: ‘Visual impact is just one of the many impacts this development would have on our region, but it is an important one. We encourage everyone to take part in this last stage of public consultation (ends October 11th) before the developer applies for consent. It is especially important to encourage your friends to write to the developer with their views and to sign up on our website. This is not a “done deal” and together we can hopefully stop this badly placed and badly planned industrial project from proceeding in its current form. But we need you to do your bit by registering your concerns with the developer.’

You can see how the Navitus Windfarm will look from Milford on Sea by clicking here.

 

As part of the final period of Public Consultation (from September 2nd to October 11th 2013), the following public exhibitions are taking place should you fancy going along to discover more.

Public Exhibition dates:

Friday 13 September, 2-8pm Lymington Community Centre, Fuller/Mclellan Hall, New Street, Lymington SO41 9BQ

Friday 20th September, 2-8pm New Milton Community Centre, Osborne Road, New Milton, BH25 6EA

-------------------------------------
Challenge Navitus
info@challengenavitus.org.uk
www.challengenavitus.org.uk
 

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