Clubs, Classes & Sports

What's On

Thursday 19 March 2020

Library closes but retains services

Milford on Sea Community Library and all associated activities will be closed from 12:30pm on Friday 20th March 2020 until further notice.

During this time, please keep any library books at home. You will not incur any overdue fees.

During the closure period, the library team will be producing a weekly newsletter with word games, puzzles, quizzes, etc. If you would like to receive this, please email them at mosclibrary@gmail.com and we will add you to the distribution list.

Don't forget that while we are closed you can still borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks online or via the BorrowBox app. Please click here for more information.


Normal Library opening times
(Closed at present):
Monday and Tuesday 2.30pm to 5pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 12.30pm


Milford on Sea Community Library
The Village Hall, Park Road, Milford on Sea SO41 0QU
Email: mosclibrary@gmail.com
Tel: 07950 941818
www.facebook.com/mosclibrary

Battle Plan from No64 Biscuit House

Clare Southcombe-Holmes, owner of No64 Biscuit House in Milford on Sea high street has written to share some ideas she has for the coming difficult weeks:

Well these are certainly unusual times and we wanted to update you of our plan (and we use that term very loosely!!) as well as run an idea that we’ve had that which we hope will help all local businesses…

So for us at Biscuit House HQ it’s business as usual (unless / until otherwise instructed by the Government) while taking every possible precaution to protect ourselves and you, our lovely customers, of course. 

We’re also busily packing and sending out our online orders as usual, a side of our business that, perhaps not unsurprisingly has seen a big increase recently, on part as it’s Mother’s Day as well as the obvious….we’re really hoping this continues and so please, if you’re unable to come in, we are online at www.No64.co.uk – everything in-store is on there. 

But we were thinking, aside from offering local delivery services, shopping & errand running services to those in need, and anything at all we can do for anyone (Glenn & I don’t both need to be here and so if anyone needs anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask) is there anything else we could do, and here’s what we’ve come up with…. 

Local, independent businesses are going to need everyone's help, ours too, and so we were racking our brains as to how we could assist with cashflow, for us all. 

VOUCHERS – soon we may not be able to go to our favourite village pub, bar, restaurant, fishmonger, interiors store, beauty salon, café, butchers, etc BUT what if us (the customers of these businesses, us all) purchased vouchers from those places for when they do re-open? 

The purpose of this is to bring cash into our local businesses, us included, to help keep us all going. That will go a long way to helping with rent, bills, staff wages, etc during what are surely going to be very tough times. 

NO-ONE wants to see any business disappear in our amazing village and so let’s not let it happen! 

As mentioned, it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and so we’re offering free local delivery services, every day, including Sunday, and so if you’d like to order anything, in-person or online, we’ll deliver it for you. 

And our Gift Vouchers are for any amount, and they’re valid for 6 months, and as well as being available in-store you can call us and order (01590 643765) or email your request through to me at clare@no64.co.uk – payment can be made over the phone, via bank transfer, by PayPal or even on delivery (in cash or we have a mobile card machine). 

Finally, on a personal note, as a small independent local business owner who loves what I do, and love my customers I do it for, I am not going to be beaten by this! 

I am going to dip into my secret stash of true British grit and determination, and I am going to carry on. 

So, take extra special care, we’re sending you all our love and thoughts, and we hope to see you all again soon! 


Clare xx 


Clare Southcombe-Holmes 
Owner, No64 Biscuit House

Wednesday 18 March 2020

Takeaway & Delivery Services in Milford on Sea

Milford on Sea village restaurants and businesses offer a variety of Takeaway & Delivery Services.

To see the latest news from each eatery it is worth clicking on their Facebook Links.

Please take a look below, see what you fancy, and treat yourself when you can.


Milford on Sea Takeaways & Deliveries
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RAY'S ITALIAN KITCHEN - Collection
  • Pizza: 8 delicious topping options
  • Pasta: Bolognese, carbonara, arrabbiata, ravioli and more...
  • Breakfast
  • Morning Coffee & Cake
  • Lunches
Click here to see full menu - 01590 645300

11 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QF
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CLOSED - LA PERLE RESTAURANT - Deliveries on Tuesdays to Sunday
  • Chef's Specials Menu
  • Special Occasions Menu
  • Wine Pairing with meals
  • Fish & Chips Tuesday
  • Sunday Lunch

60 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
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BRITANNIA THAI - Takeaway
  • Authentic Thai Food - Full Menu
Click here to see full menu01590 642226

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm to 8.30pm

1 High Street, Milford on Sea, O41 0QF
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VERVEINE RESTAURANT & FISHMONGERS 

Fishmonger Open 8am to 3pm Thurs, Fri & Saturday
  • Fresh fish deliveries to Milford, Barton, New Milton, & Lymington
  • Fish pies and nutritious meals
  • Vacuum pack fish to store in freezers
To Order call: 01590 642176


98 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QE
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THE LIGHTHOUSE SEASIDE BAR & DINING - Collection
  • Fish & Chips
  • Fried Chicken
  • Burgers
  • Crab & Chips
  • Kids Menu
  • Desserts
  • Soft Drinks
  • Wine & Beers
Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PY
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MISTER PINK'S - Takeaways  
  • Traditional Fish & Chips
Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH
01590 642930
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LAZY LION - Takeaways
  • Breakfast baps (Bacon, sausage, egg & veggie/vegan Options)
  • Freshly baked pastries from Jennings Bakery 
  • Fresh coffee
To contact please call: 01590 641111

98 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QE
 01590 641111
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SALTWATER CAFE - Takeaways & Deliveries

Café Open: 10am to 3pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
  • Breakfast
  • Sandwiches
  • Salads
  • Drinks
  • Ice Cream
  • Waffles
  • Milk Shakes
  • Cakes & Sweet Treats
  • Speciality Coffees
  • Afternoon Cream Tea
106 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QE
01590 643518
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PICKLED WEASEL - Takeaways

Deli Opening Hours through Lockdown: Wednesday to Sunday 9.30am to 3pm
  • Hot & Cold Takeaway
  • Delicatessen
  • Coffee and Cakes
  • Pasties, Sausage Rolls, Homemade Quiches
  • Filled Ciabatta Rolls
  • Sunday Lunch
54 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
01590 641155
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THE PADDLE ON THE GREEN - Takeaways

Opening Hours: 
Thursday to Saturday: 8am to 2pm - Sunday: 9am to 2pm - Monday: 8am to 2pm. (Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.)
  • Homemade Savoury
  • Sourdough Toasties
  • Brunch
  • Speciality Coffees
  • Hot & Cold Drinks
  • Milkshakes
4 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
01590 642718
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THE NEEDLES EYE CAFE - Takeaways

Café Side Hatch Open
  • Bacon Rolls
  • Burgers
  • Chips
  • Hot Drinks
  • Ice Creams
Milford on Sea Seafront, SO41 0PY
01590 642458
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THE CAVE (Off-Licence) - Takeaway & Deliveries
  • Free local delivery of wines, beers & lagers
  • Champagne, sparkling wine
  • Gin & Pimms
  • Spirits & Soft drinks
  • Tapas Menu
Local deliveries to Milford, Keyhaven & Everton
Deliveries of Wines, beers and spirits are available on a day to day basis.

For deliveries contact: 01590 642195 or info@thecavemos.co.uk

2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH
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VINE ASSOCIATES - Deliveries
  • Red, White & Rose Wines
Click here to see wine list - 01590 642173 - 0776 0358126

John James, Principal
Vine Associates
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MONSOORI HEIGHTS - Collection
  • Indian meals
Click here to see menu - 01590 644441

69 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG
 monsooriheights.business.site
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COASTAL BAKERY 
  • Fresh bread & rolls
  • Cakes (including vegan and gluten free)
  • Savouries
  • Afternoon teas
Contact: 07809 280178

25 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QF
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SWEET TREATS - Delivered across the village

Elmsleigh Cakes 
www.facebook.com/Elmsleighcakes

Celebration Cakes from South Lawn
Tim: events@southlawnhotel.co.uk
01590 643911

Cakes on Sea

The Little Cake Company 
www.facebook.com/LittleCakeCoMilford
Amanda: tlcc2212@gmail.com
01590 719869  or 07809 280178

Hello Cheesecake

Plus of course, their are tasty cakes in the village cafes and coffee shops for you to eat inside or take out!
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SPECIALITY CHEESE

Rockpool Cheese
46 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
01590 643433

Milford Community unites to battle Coronavirus

A new community Facebook group has been set up called Milford on Sea Covid 19 Mutual Aid

click image to view or print
The group aims to encourage people to volunteer and support neighbours, and are hoping to have volunteers in every street. 

There are hundreds of these type of groups being set up across the country. Please join our village group by clicking here!

You can print also off this form and deliver it to people in your area. But please private message the organisers from the Facebook page or on
moscovidmutualaid@gmail.com, so that they can try to have a coordinated approach, and for them to know which street you are in. 

If you need help you can private message the group through Facebook or via:
moscovidmutualaid@gmail.com

It’s a start and there will be lots more to do as the weeks go on. We will try and keep people informed as best we can.


Milford on Sea Covid 19 Mutual Aid
To contact group directly: moscovidmutualaid@gmail.com




South Lawn launch takeaway... including beer!

South Lawn Hotel in Milford on Sea have launched a creative delivery service for essentials, and meals & drinks from their Cedar Tree restaurant.

Every business in the village is having a tough time, so if you can support in anyway please do, and a takeaway is a good way to do this and enjoy yourself at the same time! 

Here is a sample of what is on offer, and to see the full selection, please click the images below.

  • Bakery & Dairy: Croissants, baguette, loaf, eggs, milk
  • Meals & Desserts: Beef bourguignon, fish pie, gnocchi, cheesecake and more...
  • Drinks: Wine, draught beers by the litre (essentials!)

click image to enlarge

South Lawn Hotel
Lymington Road, Milford on Sea, Lymington SO41 0RF

Tuesday 17 March 2020

Ray's Italian remains open & launches takeaway deliveries

Everyone loves pizza and pasta!, and Ray's Italian in Milford on sea village have launched a takeaway and delivery service free for people living in Milford on Sea and Keyhaven.

You can now get delicious pizza or pasta delivered to your door for £8/£9 or £14/£16 if you have two!

Check out the menu below:

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

Ray’s Italian Kitchen
11 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QF
01590 645300

Monday 16 March 2020

Change to Historical Record Society Meeting

Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society appreciates that these are uncertain times for those members who fall into that age group which is especially vulnerable to the threat of Coronavirus. The Trustees have therefore decided to postpone our next meeting on 26th March featuring the talk on “Horses in the Great War” by Phoebe Merrick. Phoebe has kindly agreed to re-schedule her talk to 29th October, in the Church Hall.

The Trustees are continuing to monitor the situation for the May meeting and a further announcement may be expected to be made at the appropriate time.


Membership Forms & Payment:
If you were planning on handing in your membership form and payment at the March meeting, perhaps you would be so kind as to deliver them to the Membership Secretary – only a short distance from the Church Hall. 

Address: Celia Jones, 31 Deans Court, SO41 0SG.

Thursday 12 March 2020

La Perle launches a Take Away & Delivery Service

From Tuesday 17th March, La Perle Restaurant in Milford on Sea high street is offering a Take Away & Delivery Service.

Delicious home-made cuisine, prepared using fresh, local ingredients can be delivered hot to your door. The service will be available from Tuesdays to Fridays from 5pm. Orders can be placed directly on 01590 643557 or by using the Just Eat app. 

The La Perle team will be delivering flyers in the local area with their take-away menu and some discount vouchers. If you would like a copy, please pick one up from the restaurant. 

Try some healthy options, support a local business, and get a delivery from La Perle! 

La Perle-New Take Away & Delivery Menu-March 2020
click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

La Perle
60 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD

Tuesday 10 March 2020

Beach Huts at risk and sea wall collapse

There is currently a level of concern relating to the sea defences at Milford on Sea and the future of the beach huts at Hordle Cliffs and Westover.

Photo: Pete Linnington
click image to enlarge
A recent article by Jon Waller at the Advertiser & Times highlights a number of issues following the sea wall collapse at Westover, near The White House at Milford on Sea.

Photo: Slipflight Ltd
click image to enlarge
To read the full article, please click here.




Hordle Cliff

Also mentioned in the article are the beach huts at Hordle Cliff which have been cordoned off for some time and remain in danger due to the continual cliff erosion.

Naturally, many of the beach hut owners are concerned what will be done to resolve the situation.

Milford on Sea's beaches are covered by the policies set out in the Poole & Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan, adopted back in 2011. There is quite a lot of reading.
  • Hurst Spit (2 to 5km): Hold the Line, short and long term
  • Milford-on-Sea to Hordle Cliff (5 to 7km): Hold the Line, short term and long term
  • Hordle Cliff to Barton Common (7 to 9.5km): Do Nothing short term, Selective Retreat long term 

Interestingly, the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) sets an aspiration for managing the coastline, it is not a statutory document and is not linked to funding. So even a policy of hold the line does not mean that funding is available to deliver a scheme. Sadly, this does not bode well for the Hordle Cliffs beach huts.

To read the full Poole & Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan, please click here.

To read the section that relates to NFDC coastline, please click here.

Photo: Ian West
click here to enlarge
To add further to the understanding of the geological activity, scientist Ian West writes a detailed study and analysis about Milford on Sea on the University of Southampton website.

You can read his findings by clicking here.


Village Community Committee make final donations

It is an end of an era, and the Milford-on-Sea Village Community Committee is about to make generous donations to 12 charities as its final act before disbanding.

On Monday 16th March at 7.30pm in the Guide Hut the Village Community Committee Trustee’s founder Member Sally Reed, treasurer Bob Burney and committee member Joy Ayling, will be making Donations of £500 to the following local charities:
  • Milford-on-Sea Girl Guides 
  • Keyhaven Scouts
  • Milford Community Bus
  • Milford Football Club
  • Milford Cricket Club
  • Milford Christmas Lights
  • Wessex Heartbeat Appeal
  • New Forest Parkinson U.K. 
  • Honeypot House
  • Scarf
  • The Minstead Trust
  • and the Rose Road Association 

The Milford-on-Sea Village Community Committee was formed in 1978, following the successful Queen’s Silver Jubilee Party.

May Fayre 2010
click image to enlarge
Three major events were then organised; The May Fayre, Milford on Sea Carnival and Christmas Celebrations.

The Carnival became a huge success with villagers, shops and holidaymakers participating.

The Silver Carnival Queen’s Trophy was given by Olive Troke, the first lady mayor of Lymington Borough. The trophy was the centre piece many times in the window displays at ‘Gwen's Ladies Fashions’ in the high street.


Milford on Sea Carnival 2010

click image to enlarge
The Final Carnival took place in 2010 due to lack of volunteers and escalating insurance costs.

The Christmas event is now organised by the Three Milford Church’s, and The May Fayre in 2019 was organised by the Keyhaven Scouts. 

The Milford-on-Sea Village Community Committee were also involved in organising many other events for the village over the years.

The first special event organised was the Queens Silver Jubilee Street Party held in the High Street on June 8th 1977. At which 450 children were presented with a badge commemorating the Queens Silver Jubilee, and a commemorative seat was erected on the Village Green. 

V.E. Day Celebrations were held on May 5th 1995 where Millennium china mugs with the Milford on Sea Crest and minted coins were sold. 

At the Queen’s Golden Jubilee on June 3rd 2002, Royal Mint Commemorative Medals bearing the Milford-on-Sea Village Community Committee logo were given to 600 children living in the Parish of Milford and Everton. A medallion was also given to St Barbe Museum in Lymington and to the late Brian Down who had the designed the logo. The logo was also worn by committee members on t.shirts and jumpers. 

Monies raised were always donated to local organisations and worthy causes.

Recently, donations were given to Leukaemia Busters, British Heart Foundation and Oakhaven Hospice Trust in Memory of past and long standing committee members. 

Sally and Bob wish to thank everyone who has supported and helped Milford-on-Sea Village Community Committee in anyway over the years.  

To preserve the memory of all the good work carried out by the Village Community Committee, Sally Reed has handed the Milford-on-Sea Historical Records Society all of the documents and photo albums relating to all these village events.

Poppy Appeal Organiser Needed

After a number of years of committed fundraising for the Royal British Legion, our village Poppy Appeal Organiser is retiring.
If you would like to take over the role or simply to find out more please contact:

Claire Smith - csmith4@britishlegion.org.uk 
Community Fundraiser – South Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Wednesday 4 March 2020

Results of Christmas Decorations Survey

Diana Brushwood and Tracy Haupt would like to thank all those who took the time to complete their recent Christmas decorations survey. Three questions were asked and a total of 83 people responded. 

A whopping 99% of people liked the 2019 decorations overall, with a number making particular reference to the small trees and getting children involved (37%), the wheels on the bridge (14%) and the robins on the post box (16%).  

click image to enlarge
When asked what people didn’t like, 65% of people said “nothing at all” whilst others referred to the blue lights on the tree (10%), artificial garlands (2%) and the small trees (height and/or dim lights) - 8%. 

For Christmas 2020, 47% said they’d like to see exactly the same as 2019 or more of the same, whilst other ideas suggested included having more trees (19%), a more coordinated approach from the retailers with regards to their tree lights (11%), lights across the one way street/on lamp posts (6%), nativity/grotto/penguins scene (6%) and 5% requesting for the ‘switch on’ to be scheduled at the same time as Carols on the Green.

click image to enlarge
With a recent county wide ruling preventing anything being attached to cast iron lamp posts and the village being within a conservation area, with many listed buildings, this limits what is possible. However the ladies are determined to try and add something extra this year, whilst complying with the majority vote. 

Fundraising will be required again to make Milford on Sea village looks special again next Christmas, and details will be released in due course.



For more information please contact either: 

or Diana at - dianabrushwood@gmail.com

click image to enlarge

Saturday 29 February 2020

New Gardening initiative by the Dementia Action Group

New Gardening Group at the Community Meadow for anyone who would benefit from being supported to take part in a friendly gardening activity. 

The group starts on Thursday, March 5th, and will meet in the Church Hall at 10.30. The first session is open to anyone to see whether they would like to join.

It is being run by Pauline, a trained gardening therapist and funded by the Dementia Action Group, but is open to anyone who thinks they would enjoy it. Maybe you have a friend, partner or neighbour who would benefit from the group and you could come along together. There will be a small charge for refreshments etc, but the group is free. 

click image to enlarge

Thursday 20 February 2020

Paddleboard taster, lessons or experiences

The New Forest Paddle Sport Company based in Milford on Sea high street are currently running a promotion for February.

Last year they had lots of disappointed locals who hadn't pre-booked so missed out on sessions in 2019.

This year they are offering a 10% discount on all bookings booked and paid in full this February.

If people are unsure what session they would like, they are also offering a 10% off gift vouchers for February as well.

If you fancy giving it a try, contact Sean on 01590 645270 or on:


The New Forest Paddle Sport Company
46 The High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
www.thenewforestpaddlesportcompany.co.uk

Camera Confident Photography Workshops

Part 1 of the Camera Confident Photography Workshops run by CJ Wood Photography at the Milford On Sea Community Centre went very succesfully.

Part 2 will take place on Sunday 22nd March from 10am to 4pm.

There is space available on the next course, why not come and have a go yourself? - Get to know how to use your camera beyond the "auto" settings and learn to take fabulous photographs every time!

For more information and to book your place, please contact: Chris Wood on:
Chris.Wood@CJWoodPhotography.co.uk or to visit his website, please click here.

New improved website for Community Centre

The Milford on Sea Community Centre has an updated website.

You can check it out by clicking: www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk 



Milford Christmas Decorations Storage - Update

Tracy and Di would like to thank Adrian and Nikki from Solent Grange, for offering a storage solution for all their Christmas decorations for the village. So very kind of them to come forward and help out, as otherwise items may have had to be disposed of.

Wednesday 5 February 2020

Volunteers for Community Centre Movies

The Milford on Sea Community Centre (Screenings and Movies) needs volunteers. No specific day or time, just during preparation for events and/or on screening days.

The first ever screening at the Community Centre was The Beaux Stratagem on 3 September 2015 from the National Theatre. Between then and the end of December 2019, the Community Centre has screened 254 events – a joyous mixed bag of “live” opera, ballet, theatre, musical theatre, exhibitions, movies and special events.

The screenings have been attended by over 11,700 people making an average attendance of just over 77% of capacity. They have generated an income of £113,335 of which at least 40% (£45,334) will have provided profit to the Community Centre over these four years. But more than that, they have brought joy and great cultural highlights (often live) at an affordable cost and minimum travel to our friends in the village (and a bit further).

This magnificent performance has in the main been down to James Flintoff and his helpers and our sincere thanks go to them all.

However, if this wonderful facility is to continue, they need several people to volunteer to help make it happen.

There are many and varied roles that they need help for, ranging from people to select screenings etc. to administration and organisation of the activities, and Front of House support on the night.

If anybody is interested in getting involved in any way and would like further details please contact Paul on pware.lane@yahoo.co.uk or 07477 582376. Also, James would be more than happy to answer any questions that you have on jcflintoff@gmail.com

Paul looks forward to hearing from you – please remember that without volunteers we might lose this wonderful facility and events.


Monday 3 February 2020

Tribute to Mike Harfield

Following the sad passing of Mike Harfield, founder of Harfield Motor Services in Milford on Sea high street, we have received this fitting tribute from his friend, Richard Ludlow Fisher:

"I first met Mike well over thirty years ago just after I’d bought an old Sierra 4x4 somewhere else. He nursed it back to health just so that I could use it long enough to have it stolen and used for a ram raid in Lymington.

Mike helped with the selection of a replacement, which he and his team took on along with about a dozen more of my cars over the years since. He advised against a Citroen as it was too “French”. We often had the sort of conversation that brought out his enthusiasm and true love of cars and their various foibles that only true petrolheads can enjoy. If a vehicle needed new tyres he’d always give customers the choice of premium brands or budget alternatives, which he referred to as, “round and blacks.”

If he needed your car for more than a day he’d gladly keep it indoors overnight and often magically come up with a free replacement if you really needed it just so you could get around.

He always went out of his way to be courteous in the intensely challenging environment that only the motor trade seems to be able to throw up. He was very much a “hands on” proprietor as well and, if his staff were snowed under, he’d just roll up his sleeves and fix the problem himself.

Unlike so many others, Mike was always keen to try to repair rather than just throw away and replace parts that could cost his customers a lot more money. As a result of this approach he succeeded in maintaining a very strong and loyal client base whose individuals always came back.

It is a testament to his relationship with his staff that they have stayed loyal and developed with him over many years.

I had to take my wife’s car in for a service the other day and the garage seemed the same, smelled the same and, on the face of it, looked the same.

All the same great guys were repairing all the same sort of stuff in the same way but there was someone so obviously missing from the place.

So it really wasn’t the same after all."


click image to enlarge

Saturday 1 February 2020

Lunch at South Lawn Hotel to sponsor Village Minibus

You can help to sponsor our new Village Minibus by enjoying a wonderful lunch at South Lawn Hotel with a group of family or friends.
 
South Lawn Hotel are generously supporting the minibus service which is being planned for residents of Milford on Sea, Everton, Keyhaven, Lymore and Downton, by sponsoring a monthly charity lunch. 

This is how the sponsorship works. Once a month, South Lawn will provide a three course lunch (their Market Menu), including coffee, for eight people who may travel to the hotel on the bus. The cost of this set menu, is £24. But instead of paying the hotel, the eight diners will pay the minibus fund, making it a total donation of £192 per month. 

The first lunch took place in January, when the volunteers who run the Seahorses Playgroup were delighted to take part. There was plenty of choice to suit all tastes and everyone agreed that both the food and service were excellent. 

This opportunity is open to any local organisation, group of family or friends. 

1. You must book your month through one of the organisers, who are: 
2. They will notify South Lawn

3. You can then book your date with the Hotel. 

4. One person in your group collects the money (8 x £24 = £192) and pays it directly to the Charitable Trust’s Minibus Fund. 

5. You then pay the hotel for drinks and any extras. If more than eight people book together for the meal, your additional diners each pay their £24 to the hotel. 

Contact the organisers, Kath or Liz for more information. 

------------------------------------------------
The Charitable Trust are now ready to purchase the bus. 

Everton Hyundai are looking for one which will meet the needs of the various groups who will use it. We want one that people can get in and out of easily! The service aims to make a difference to the lives of people who might otherwise become isolated, as well as providing transport for local organisations and residents. We are very grateful to South Lawn for all their support for the community.

Milford on Sea Charitable Trust is a registered charity 1172750

Housing protest song by local musician

Locally acclaimed songwriter and Milford on Sea resident, Alex Hall, will release a new song featuring a top BBC Orchestra violinist to help raise funds for SLAM - the School Lane and Manor Road residents action group whom unanimously oppose the approved controversial plans to build 42 new houses on greenbelt land in School Lane, Milford on Sea. 

The single lyrically discuss the controversy of housing development and will be released through his YouTube channel and on his official website on January 29th - with all download proceeds going to aid SLAM (School Lane and Manor Road) action group to aid in their campaigning. 

Two years since unveiling its scheme, Pennyfarthing Homes Ltd won its challenge against New Forest District Council’s refusal of the development in April last year. The company’s proposal was rejected last year by councillors who said there was too little affordable housing for the site which had previously lost its green belt protection specifically to provide cheaper properties for villagers. 

Alex, who embarks on a tour in China in March with Motown Icon Martha Reeves, grew up in Milford on Sea and attended Milford CE Primary School between 1990-1996. He continues to occasionally play locally and works in London where he writes music for TV and Film and works with established touring acts. 

Alex has expressed his views on the development: "On hearing about the development, I was devastated. I felt immediately moved first and foremost - to create some music - but also to use my profile to help take action against the development - it’s a sickener on so many levels. There is an affordable housing crisis across the country, and to use greenbelt land to build what is essentially a luxury homes project is outright plain wrong. We must as a community - past and present stand up for this. Milford on Sea offered so much to me growing up - I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood. I attended Milford School and used to play adjacent to those fields almost daily."

He continued; "Upon hearing the news I visualised how saddening it would be that the future children there won’t be able to appreciate the biodiversity there. If we sit back and accept projects to be agreed on this scale then it is only an incentive for more greedy planners to navigate for more developments in the area. We must take them aware of our presence now.’ 

"The song is a lament and an irony towards the word ‘progress’. As much as planners and politicians talk of economic progress, there seems to always be an environmental and social detriment to it. I wanted to make people question what the idea of progress is- and the song is in essence an open letter to the planners, developers and the nay sayers to the project. I hope it helps them question their values and decisions - but more broadly - how all of us must question the political systems in place which undercut legislation for the sake on economic progress. I hope people are as inspired and touched by the song as I was when I heard about people like SLAM and people like Chris Packham who used their voice in objection to the plans." 

The single will be released on 29th January and will be available for purchase via www.alexhallmusic.co.uk - all proceeds will go to SLAM. 

You can also view a free streaming YouTube lyric video by clicking here.