This Page will be used for information which we want to urgently make available to everyone, such as Last Minute deadlines, event postponements and cancellations plus news from various local Authorities such as the Police etc.  Might be a good idea, if you are interested in what is going-on in New Milton if you Bookmark this page and make frequent visits to see the latest information.

New Milton Remembers

Every year on Remembrance Sunday, hundreds of people come together to participate in the New Milton Remembrance Day parade, and this year was no different.

 Parade Marshal, Colour Sergeant, Russell Kerslake, supported by Christchurch Scout Band and the New Milton Army Cadets, led the Parade to the War Memorial for 11am, for the 2 minutes silence, followed by the wreath-laying ceremony involving 60 organisations.

Residents and visitors, families, Armed Services veterans, youth and community groups assembled on a grey Sunday morning, to pay their respects, for the many lives sadly lost during the two world wars and subsequent conflicts of the past. 

This year, it is 106 years since the end of WWI in 1918, and we remember especially all those who lost their lives in the 1^st and 2^nd World Wars. 

In New Milton, we remember all 223 local servicemen who lost their lives in the two world wars – 83 in WWI and 140 in in WW2, and their names appear on the War Memorial. 

The Last Post sounded at 11am and Brigadier Paul Jepson, President of the local Royal British Legion recited the Exhortation.  After the Reveille, Freeman of the Town, Goff Beck, recited the Kohima, followed by wreath-laying. 

Joining us for the wreath-laying was New Forest District Council Chairman, Councillor David Hawkins, who laid a wreath on behalf of New Forest Council. 

Our Mayor, Councillor Alvin Reid, laid a wreath on behalf of New Milton Town Council, also laying a wreath as the nominated New Forest Armed Forces Champion.

 New Milton Town Clerk, Graham Flexman, gave a warm welcome to local resident, Jim Justice, a 99 year- old D-Day veteran, who had been in combat as a Green Jacket in the Rifle Brigade.

The Reverend Andy Perryman led the Service of Remembrance in the Memorial Hall, and the service was supported by local schools Durlston Court School, Arnewood School, and Ballard School, each school delivering equally interesting, but poignant, presentations about the lives of New Milton service personnel active in the D-Day operation.

Cllr David Hawkins, Chairman of New Forest District Council, and Cllr Alvin Reid, New Milton Town Mayor (also New Forest District Council’s Armed Forces Champion) attended the launch of the Poppy Appeal at New Milton Memorial Hall in October.   On display was a wonderful knitted poppy work of art featuring a flowing torrent of poppies – purple, red and white – and a Tommy Soldier and Nurse figure complete with a knitted purple poppy dog.  Supporters and members of the New Milton Royal British Legion had created over 4,750 poppies for the display, representing approximately 10,000 hours knitting.

The Royal British Legion host the Poppy Appeal to raise money to support serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.  Find out more on the Royal British Legion website https://www.britishlegion.org.uk

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New Freeman of the Town

On 25 September 2024, at a Special Meeting of the Town Council, New Milton welcomed its 4^th Honorary Freeman – Sammy Miller MBE.

The award was then celebrated with a reception at Sammy’s Motorcycle Museum in Bashley.

The event was attended by local dignitaries and VIP guests including local MP Sir Desmond Swayne and his Lady wife Moira, Town Councillors, as well as Sammy’s family and friends.  Sammy has received more than 1,400 trophies, awards and prizes over the course of his long and illustrious career, as a champion trials rider. He was made an MBE in 2009. 

This latest honour recognises the service Sammy has provided to the town and his unstinting work in setting up world-famous Motorcycle Museum of over 500 exhibits which opened in 1996.  The museum attracts over 20,000 visitors per year, from all over the world and continues to expand.  It was the winner of the RAC Historic Awards Collection in 2022. 

 New Milton Town Councillors were delighted to support the proposal by Cllr Steve Clarke to honour Sammy at a meeting of the Full Town Council on 24^th June this year.  His appointment follows that of former Town Councillor Goff Beck in April this year.  The Freedom honour is the highest that the Town Council can bestow and has previously been awarded to former Cllrs Alan Rice, John Hutchins and Goff Beck.  It is awarded to residents who have rendered eminent service to the Town.  It is an honorary title with few practical advantages save the purported right of an Honorary Freeman to drive his sheep (if he has them) along the High Street, and the right to march at the head of the Remembrance Day Parade. 

Whether we will see our latest Freeman on his motorcycle driving his sheep before him on his way to the Memorial Hall at the Remembrance Parade on 10^th November remains to be seen.

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New Milton Plant a Tree

Download Location and Price List + Order Form

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Neighbourcare Urgent Appeal

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