The area around the Whitefield Road, Station Road, Osborne Road cross roads could be considered to be the first commercial centre in New Milton. Look at the attached 1909 Ordnance Survey map .

OS Map 1909

North of the Railway station is the Milton Hotel. Opposite is a garage. There are railway sidings and shops on the bridge, notably the grocers Misselbrook and Weston and on both sides of Station Road leading down to the cross roads with Whitefield and Osborne Road. We can see that shops carried on south of the cross roads on the left, or west side, but that there were large houses on the east side.

The shops that extend from present day Lloyds Bank up to the Taxi Office were built in about 1904 and are called Bank Terrace. This photograph is taken in about 1904.

Hospital Sunday c 1904

The camera is pointing south along Station Road towards the Whitefield Road entrance. The image shows a ‘Hospital Sunday’ parade which was a welfare fundraiser with the money being used to help the poor of the parish receive some medical care. Note on the left of the image the scaffolding and piles of bricks from the building of Bank Terrace. On the corner in what is now New Forest Sports can be seen a builders merchants and iron mongers. This later became White and Pitman, a milliners and drapers shop. Those who were schoolchildren in Milton in the 1970s will remember it as a fabulous toy shop called ‘Toys Agogo’.

The Crossroads From The Air

To give some idea of how the area looked, examine this aerial photograph taken in about 1920 which shows the shops running south of the railway bridge. You can see the size of the private houses that were on the east side of the road. They ran from where today the shoe repair shop is now located down to the cross roads with Ashley Road. Note also that in the early days Whitefield Rd extended only as No. 30 where it came up against farmland. Behind No. 30 was Dealey’s coal yard. This later became the Quaker Meeting House. If you walk past this building look at the gable end. You can just make out a painted advertising sign for good stabling and hay.

There were of course a number of coal yards and offices selling coal in and around the Station Approach area. Several of these retail outlets were located in huts little more than the size of a garden shed.

Looking North to Station Approach

They were perched on the embankment which today is the boundary of the Practical Van Hire yard as seen here in the above photograph. There was also at least one estate agents office in a similar building. One coal office hut that survives today is still in use but as a taxi office.

The bank on the corner of Osborne Road was initially operated by the Wilts and Dorset Bank as seen here in this image below.

New Milton 1910 Station Approach

This bank was bought out by Lloyds bank in 1914. It is worth noting that this building has always retained its original use and is one of the few in Station Road to have done so. On the opposite corner is Novelle’s Post Office. Mrs Novelle moved the post office here in about 1900. It is now in use as Cookies Corner sandwich shop.

Later other shops were built from the Post Office corner heading up towards Station Approach. These included Alfred Barrow’s dairy shop, which later became a fishmongers and is now used as Trevor Shaw’s ladies hairstylist. Next door was a business run by Mr Percy Beale, which later became a butchers shop owned and was run by an appropriately named Mr Bull. It is now the Hourglass micro pub. The next shop up was Mr. John Farwell’s dairy shop and tea room. In later years this was used by Porter and Clarkes before their move across the road into Milton Hall. It is now Betfred .

On the corner with Station Approach was a building that was initially used by Harrisons Tobacconist but from 1910 onwards used by Mr Kirkman the chemist. He also developed photographs and sold film as well. When he moved further down Station Road to the shop which is now Costa Coffee, the premises was taken over by Alderson radio shop. It later became the New Milton Launderette. It was then used commercially by Mitchells Estate Agents, but is now the aptly named New Miltan tanning shop.

As shops continued to be built south along Station Road, so the retail area of town moved down towards the Station Road, Whitefield Road crossroads area until we came to have our shopping area on both sides of the length of the road. We now have a diverse mix of shops and cafes for Miltonians and visitors to visit.

Nick Saunders

Nick Saunders is a local historian who would be pleased to hear from any reader who has information relating to local history. In addition he would be interested to see any postcards or photographs of our district. Tel: 01425 618549

Madeira

Madeira lies in the Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa and is an autonomous region of Portugal. Volcanic, green & rugged with high cliffs, it is known for traditional gastronomy, Madeira wine, golf courses, levada walking, mountain walks, hiking, sailing, dolphin & whale watching, scuba diving, paragliding & amazing surf - something for everyone. Visiting Madeira is having unique experiences never to forget, more than just a trip it’s a collection of memories. It’s also one of the safest holiday destinations in the world and has a year-round summer climate with only around a 4-hour flight from the UK.

The Capital Funchal is known for its harbour and botanic gardens. It’s a great place to celebrate New Year with an amazing firework show which many cruise ships attend. Experience the gondola lift which transports people from the old town of Funchal with 360 degree views over the landscape. It takes about 15 minutes up to the Monte; a wellknown beauty spot with splendid views over the city and beyond. Then take the famous toboggan ride; more than 10 minutes of pure adrenaline, thrilling & unforgettable. Sit in the basket and watch your two runners in traditional dress descend through picturesque villages. This dates back to the 19th Century when it was used as a means of transport for local residents.

The village of Santana on the north coast is famous for the small traditional Madeira stone houses with thatched rooves extending down to the ground. It is a beautiful village and has served the locals as stables & dwellings for centuries.

Porto Santo is a small island 27 miles northwest of Madeira lying in warm waters. It is 10 kilometres long and 6 kilometres wide. The south coast has uninterrupted long sandy beaches while the northern coast has high & rugged cliffs overlooking the sea. It’s a great day trip from Funchal by ferry. The main city of Porto Santo is Vila Baleira where Christopher Columbus lived between 1481- 1483 and whose house is now a museum and displays maritime history.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to old & new clients & I’m ready to plan your next amazing adventure. Contact me to arrange your Madeira trip or any other destination, flights, cruise, ski, long or short haul. With over 40 years’ experience I will find that dream holiday. Independent and bonded agent with personal service.

Carole Bodley

Contact Carole Bodley 01425 440008 or email carole.bodley@travelcounsellors.co

‘The Christmas Wish’ by Lindsey Kelk

Successful lawyer Gwen Baker is newly single and broken-hearted. Back for Christmas in the small village where she grew up, she bumps into Dev, her teenage crush who has grown into a handsome, funny man. But things take a turn when Gwen wakes up to find that Christmas Day has become Groundhog Day, and she will keep repeating it until she finally mends her heart.

This is such a great concept that explores angles of the central character’s life, and all the facets of a traditional British family Christmas. There are a lot of comedic moments and touches of drama. All you need is this and a selection box to get you through the festive season.

Published by HarperCollins ISBN 9780008407865

‘Three Holidays and a Wedding’ by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson are strangers on a plane when the snowstorm of the century causes some terrifying turbulence. The trauma makes them confess their hopes and fears to each other.

After an emergency landing, Maryam and Anna find themselves in the picturesque town of Snow Falls, a place where movies are made and magic is in the air. Will Maryam and Anna get a connecting flight before Christmas? Will they turn their lives around before they leave this magical town? You’ll have to read the most festive book of the year to find out! In the year 2000, Christmas, Ramadan, and Channukah happened at the same time and this novel takes place during the rare triple festive season.

This is a wonderful celebration of friendship, family, faith, and of course… a little bit of love.

Published by Corvus ISBN 9781805460596

‘Midwinter Murder’ by Agatha Christie

From the Queen of crime comes a new omnibus to take you through winter, one chilling story at a time. This is a collection of short stories, with all your favourite Christie characters, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple as well as Tommy and Tuppence.

This is the perfect compendium for those long winter nights by the fire, with dangerous snowdrifts, poisoned parcels, and strangers coming in from the cold. This edition includes ‘Christmas Adventure’ which is a rare publication. The perfect gift for any Agatha Christie fan and a great way to celebrate one hundred years of Christie crimes.

Published by Harper Collins ISBN 9780008328962

Emma Russell

Fading autumnal colours still brighten the edges of the garden, and carpets of russet red leaves line the forest floor. Bare trees make it much easier to spot the bright red breast of a robin or the yellow flash of a goldfinch. Stock your bird feeders with sunflower hearts and these beautiful birds will devour them, giving you a wonderful display of their glorious colours.

Goldfinch Image by J Las Wilson via Pixabay

On the ground, starlings are strange birds. From a distance, they are awkwardly shaped and shabby-looking. Anyone who’s ever eaten at an outdoor café will know how they hop onto tables and plates, on the scrounge for crumbs and nibbles. But when the sun shines on a starling, you can see a galaxy of stars and iridescent colour flared across their feathers. Even more remarkable, is a starling in flight with a thousand companions, in the bending swirl of a murmuration. Starlings tend to gather an hour before sunrise and sunset, getting ready to leave or return to their roost. If you are lucky enough to see this phenomenon, it is a wonder to behold: the thrum of wingbeats overhead, a whirring flap of feathers, and the sharp twists and spirals of synchronicity. Starlings Murmurations UK | Starling Roost Sites (starlingsintheuk.co.uk) has a roost map if you feel like venturing out to see one of nature’s most spectacular sights.

Winter stoat Image by Cam Hudson via Pixabay

Last year, I spotted a stoat in its winter coat, known as an ermine. Usually, stoats have a sleek chestnut brown coat, good enough to camouflage them for most of the year in muddy fields and hedgerows. In winter, their coats can turn white, all except the tip of their tail, to enable them to move about in snow-covered territory. Stoats are savage hunters, they eat bird’s eggs and all manner of rodents, but they are also incredibly bold and capable of killing rabbits four times their size.

As the days grow shorter, it’s harder to drag yourself from the warmth of home and out into nature. Daylight is essential to our wellbeing, just ten minutes of sunshine a day can make all the difference. Hopefully, there will be some crisp, bright, sunny days this month. During the festive season make some time to wrap up warm, get outside and enjoy nature, whatever the weather. Merry Christmas!

Emma Claxton Russell

Introduction

At Prince Publications, we take immense pride in being more than just a magazine; we're a vibrant part of our community's fabric. Each month, our pages come alive with a curated selection of local events, connecting our readers to the heartbeat of our community.

Diverse Event Coverage

From the bustling markets and local festivals to school plays and charity fundraisers, our magazine is a comprehensive guide to what’s happening locally. We understand that each event, big or small, plays a pivotal role in fostering community spirit and togetherness. That's why we go the extra mile to ensure our event coverage is as diverse and inclusive as our readership.

Supporting Local Talent

Our monthly event sections are dedicated to showcasing local talent and activities. Whether it's a local band’s gig, an art exhibition, or a community workshop, we are committed to highlighting the richness of our local culture. By doing so, we not only support the artists and organisers but also offer our readers an opportunity to discover and engage with local talent.

Interactive and Informative

Our approach to event coverage is both interactive and informative. We provide not just the 'what' and 'where' of events, but also insightful stories about the people and organizations behind them. This not only adds depth to our content but also fosters a deeper connection between the event and our readers.

A Platform for Local Businesses

For local businesses, our event section offers an excellent platform for promotions. Businesses can leverage our reach to amplify their event's visibility, ultimately attracting more attendees and fostering stronger community ties.

Your Monthly Cultural Compass

With Prince Publications, you won’t miss a beat of what’s happening around you. Our magazine is your go-to cultural compass, keeping you informed, engaged, and connected with the local community. Whether you're a long-time resident or new to the area, our magazine is a window into the heart of our community.

Conclusion

In every issue of Prince Publications, you'll find a rich tapestry of local events that define and enliven our community. We believe that by bringing these events into the homes of over 50,000 residents, we're not just informing; we're enriching lives and strengthening the bonds within our community. Stay tuned, stay involved, and let's celebrate the local spirit together!

Introduction

The strength of a community is often measured by the vibrancy of its local clubs and societies. At Prince Publications, we recognise and celebrate this vibrancy by dedicating a special section in our magazine each month to the various local clubs and societies that are the backbone of our community.

Spotlight on Diversity

From gardening clubs and book groups to sports teams and arts societies, our community is a rich tapestry of diverse interests and passions. Our magazine takes readers on a journey through these groups, highlighting their activities, achievements, and the unique contributions they make to our local culture.

Connecting Communities

One of our core missions is to connect people. By featuring different clubs and societies, we not only shine a light on their work but also help our readers find groups that resonate with their interests. Whether you're looking to join a new hobby group, participate in community service, or attend local events, our magazine serves as a perfect starting point.

Supporting Growth and Involvement

For local clubs and societies, our magazine offers a platform to reach a broader audience. This exposure can be pivotal in attracting new members, volunteers, and even sponsors. We take pride in being a conduit through which these groups can grow and further embed themselves in the community fabric.

Stories of Impact

Every club and society has a story, and we're here to tell it. We delve into how these groups were founded, the challenges they've overcome, and the impact they've had on individuals and the community at large. These stories are not just informative; they're often inspiring, showing the power of collective effort and shared interests.

A Resource for Everyone

Whether you're a lifelong resident or new to the area, our coverage of local clubs and societies is an invaluable resource. It offers a glimpse into the community's soul and an invitation to become an active part of it. It's about building connections, nurturing interests, and fostering a sense of belonging.

Conclusion

In each issue of Prince Publications, we bring to you the pulse of our local clubs and societies. It’s our way of acknowledging and appreciating the groups that knit our community together. So, dive into our pages and discover the myriad ways you can engage with and contribute to the vibrant community life that surrounds us. Let's celebrate and sustain the spirit that makes our community a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

I must admit that I hadn’t visited the Sammy Miller Museum for a few decades when I was asked to interview the man himself. I was impressed by the displays of motorbikes, all shined and polished to perfection, but I was awe-struck by the trophy cabinet that stretched along an interior wall and contained hundreds of cups, awards, and medals. With a wealth of experience in trials, road racing, motocross, sand, and grass track, these trophies represent a lifetime of dedication and thousands of miles of motorbike riding. This overwhelming collection of achievements represents one man, Samuel Hamilton Miller.

Sammy on Gov132 - the Ariel bike he won numerous races on

It takes Sammy a while to reach me in the archives corner of the museum, as visiting fans stop him for a few words and selfies with their hero. He is sprightly, brighteyed, and exudes a confident energy, this is a man who remains active. I congratulate him on the museum, an incredible place for bikers and nonbikers alike, Sammy’s response is an acknowledgment of his own mindset and a nod to the mindset of those who surround him, “The secret here is, we don’t have thinkers, the world is full of great thinkers. We only have doers, thinkers never get anything done.”

Sammy was born in Belfast on 11th November 1933 and evacuated to the countryside during World War II. He spent his time traversing the rugged Irish hills on bicycles with his friends, which proved to be superb groundwork for offroading later in life. On his 17th birthday, his father gave him a Villiers engine, and Sammy designed and built a motorcycle around it and named it the S.H.S., the Samuel Hamilton Special.

Sammy Miller

The angle on the forks and the length of the wheelbase were something Sammy worked on until it felt right. Whether by coincidence or by design, today’s modern trial bikes have exactly the same dimensions and head angle. When the bike was ready, Sammy entered S.H.S. in local trials competitions and blew the competition away. It wasn’t long before he ventured further afield to Glasgow to enter the Scottish Six Day Trials, a competition he would go on to win five times.

Sammy was also very successful in road racing, he placed 3rd in the World Grand Prix Championship, but it was highly dangerous in those days, “If you didn’t push it to the limit at every corner, you weren’t in the results.”. Trials could be considered a safer sport, but Sammy says, “When I look back at what we used to do, if wasn’t fact it would be fiction.”

Sammy came over to England from Belfast to work at the Ariel factory in Selly Oak near Birmingham, to develop a trials bike, the 500cc Ariel HT5. In 1964, the factory went into decline and Sammy was approached by Bultaco in Spain to design and develop a new trials bike, the Sherpa T. The top man at Bultaco, Francisco Bulto, had set up Rickman’s in New Milton as the importer and he suggested Sammy move close to them so that he could help with any mechanical problems.

Sammy Miller in front of his Museum

After Bultaco, Sammy was approached by Honda in Japan, to develop their trials bike. Working in Japan was difficult because the process was always confounded by too much thinking and not enough doing! So, Sammy came back to New Milton and developed the bikes himself, made frames, forks, and engines, and shipped the parts to Japan. At this point, he could have gone into mass production and opened a factory, but he has no regrets about his decision to open a museum, especially one that has the finest collection of motorbikes in the world.

Jeremy Williams - Mick Doohan - Kenny Roberts - Giacomo Agostini - Maria Costello - Sammy Miller

The Sammy Miller Museum has been put into a heritage trust, so it’ll carry on as Sammy’s legacy. There’s a restoration department where most of the bikes are rebuilt by Sammy and his chief mechanic Jim. There is no favourite bike, he loves them all and Sammy has ridden each and every one of them. He still rides around the back field for ten minutes at the end of each working day, “I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to stay active.“ Wise words from a man about to celebrate a milestone birthday. When I ask how much time he spends in the workshop he responds, “Only six days a week, I’ve got to take the wife out on Sunday.”

Sammy with his daughter Jane and son Stuart

Sammy lives with his wife Rosemary and a charming cockerpoo named Fergus, he has two grown-up children, Stuart and Jane, who were raised in the area and live nearby. When he’s not working on bikes or riding them, Sammy enjoys walking, cycling, and swimming at Barton-on-Sea. Sammy Miller MBE is a living legend, and his museum is the top attraction in the area. There are regular motorbike ‘ride-ins’ and charity events, check out the website for details

Emma Russell

Bertie's Reunion After a summer of short walks on the lead due to a shoulder injury, Bertie was starting to look pretty fed up! It has to be said that we were also looking forward to getting out and about with him.

By the end of September, he had been to the beach a few times and walked through the Nature Reserve at Highcliffe and so I decided that it was time to meet up with all our pals from Eastleigh again.

I knew that there were some new puppies in ‘the pack’ and was looking forward to meeting them and their owners, as well as all our existing pals who had been sending best wishes to Bertie over the summer.

We set off on a rare dry sunny October morning and duly arrived at the car park. Although it had been 6 months, Bertie knew exactly where we were and started ‘talking’ very excitedly. As soon as he was out of the car I let him off his lead and with bounding joy he galloped over to the group. His first call was to work his way around all the humans saying hello to old friends and introducing himself to new ones. After that, it was time to re-connect with his doggy pals and meet the youngsters.

I should say that I was keeping a very close eye on him as I didn’t want him to have a set back. The pups got a bit lively and so I put him back on his lead much to his disgust; Bertie sat at full arms and lead length away from me and gave me what can only be described as a ‘hard stare’!

As we walked around he was off his lead for the most part and everyone seemed pleased to have us back. I caught up on all the news and he read all the ‘peemail’. We had a lovely time and it ended as usual with a dip in the stream for both of us as I led him in and out via the shallow part of the bank.

Once home, he curled up for a well earned sleep with a happy sigh of contentment, looking forward to the next time.

Bertie would like to wish all his fans a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sally Prince