v THE HERALD, 2 HIGH STREET, HYTHE, SO45 6AH v No 498 • FREE Every 3 Weeks • 8th-29th October 2026 Est: 1994 The Your Community Magazine Quickstep Laminate Floors, Luxury Vinyl Tiles SJ SAVAGE BUILDING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE • Extensions • Loft Conversions • All aspects of building works including Decorating 07788 868262 stevesavo@hotmail.co.uk Blackfield - SO45 1UB 023 8089 0600 Car Sales and Workshop Calshot – SO45 1BE 023 8089 1046 Workshop Holbury – SO45 2LG 023 8144 0588 Car Sales www.right-autos.co.uk STAIRLIFTS STAIRLIFTS Freedom Stairlifts Straight Stairlifts Curved Stairlifts freedomstairlifts.co.uk FOUR SEASONS DENTURE CENTRE MORE THAN JUST A DENTAL LABORATORY If you want the best quality dentures in a relaxed, friendly and professional environment then call today for a free consultation Tel: 023 8084 6443 Mobile: 07919 074360 1 HOUR DENTURE REPAIRS North Road, Dibden Purlieu, Southampton SO45 4RE NEED NEW DENTURES? • Reliable and Efficient Service • Serving Trade, Domestic and Commercial Customers • Three sizes of bags available GRAB BAGS - A CHEAPER FLEXIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO A SKIP Tel: 023 8081 1757 • www.abbeygrabbag.co.uk • Call us for Prompt Delivery of a Bag • Fill Like a Normal Skip • Call again for a swift collection. • We can also collect your own grab bags 15 Marsh Parade, Hythe 023 8084 4741 FRAME SHOP HYTHE PICTURE FRAMING East Boldre Village Hall Re-opens Following Major Refurbishment Residents and visitors gathered on Saturday 12th September to celebrate the o cial reopening of East Boldre Village Hall, following an extensive refurbishment programme that has transformed one of Hampshire’s most important community assets. Built in 1918 as a concert hall for the Royal Flying Corps and the only surviving WW1 building on the Forest, it has an important role in local aviation history. e hall was o cially reopened by guest speaker, historian Dan Snow. He said “It was a pleasure to reopen East Boldre Village Hall and see this historic building and important community space be given a new lease of life and I’m delighted to play a small part in marking this point in the hall’s history. Village halls are at the heart of many communities providing a place for people to meet, celebrate and build connections.” Dan praised the e orts of everyone involved in preserving and improving the hall for future generations. He o cially declared the hall open before joining residents in celebrating the completion of the project. e refurbishment has been made possible by nancial Cutting the ribbon, left to right: Dan Snow and Mike Husband Chair of the Trustees (Credit: Paul French) Continued on page 3
Page 2 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v PICK UP YOUR COPY FROM HYTHE • Age Concern • Amberley Jewellers • BeBe’s Café • Bells Furnishing • Beyond the Fringe • The Boathouse • BH Marine • Boots • Cards for all Occasions • CGM Solicitors • Citrine Estates • Cornerstone • Crew Barbers • Dancewise Studios • Ebenezer’s • Eden Health & Beauty • The Frame Shop • Fred. Olsen Travel Agents • Freedom Boat Club • Fully Woolly • Herald Publishing • Honeys • Hythe Chiropractic Centre • Hythe & District Social Club • Hythe Community Centre • Hythe & Dibden Parish Council • Hythe Ferry Office • Hythe Hospital • Hythe Kebab Centre • Hythe Library • Hythe Photographic & Electrical • Hythe Pier Museum • Hythe Post Office • Hythe & Waterside Lettings • The Indian Kitchen • Jane Bidwell Flowers • J R Hardware • KJ’s Mobility • Lovells • Luis Liu • LW Repairs • The Maples • Marina Fish Bar • Master Spares • Millie’s Tea Rooms • MM Sales & Lettings • Modern Chinese Takeaway • Oxfam Bookshop • Oyster Financial • C A Parfitt & Son • Paul Jeffreys • Pearsons • Philpotts • Rocco’s • Room 13 • Seadown Vets • Seashells • Shell Garage • St John’s Hall • Tenovus • Toys Ahoy • Travellers Rest • Visual Cuts • Waitrose • Warings • Waterside Furnishings • Waterside Health Centre • Waterside Physiotherapy & Osteopathy Clinic • Waterside Tours • WessMaps DIBDEN PURLIEU & BUTTS ASH • Age UK • Arrosto Di Caffé • Badgers Holt • Benjamin Wells • Coppice Gate • Dibden Purlieu Newsagents • Forestside Dental • Forestside Health Centre • The Glen • Joyners • Netley View Post Office • Sam Long Fruit & Veg • Shawfix • St Andrew’s Church • St Anne’s Community Centre • Tails 2 Fish & Chips DIBDEN & MARCHWOOD • All Saints Church • Applemore College • Berkeley Parks Church Farm • Clayfields Post Office • Horrill Centre • Premier Express • Pococks • The Podium • The Roebuck • Tesco Petrol Station • Waters Edge • Welcome • White Horse BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY • Age Concern • Blackfield Baker • Blackfield Garage Services • Blackfield Newsagents • Compuco • Fawley Royal British Legion • G J’s Plaice • Gang Warily • Harts & Mortons Hair & Beauty • Langley Tavern • Lepe Beach Café • New Forest Bistro • Priest Croft • Right Autos • Tesco • Wendys Café • Zoutorias FAWLEY & ASHLETT • All Saints Church • Calshot Activities Centre • Charisma • Charles Ley Court • The Falcon • Fawley Garage • Jolly Sailor • Jubilee Hall • Premier Fawley Express/PO • Right Autos • Sundial Cottage Rest Home • Yew Tree Workshop HOLBURY • Boots • Computaplace • Expert Domestics • Eyre & Elliston • Forest Home • HairWorks • Holbury Dry Cleaners • Holbury Fish Bar • Holbury Pets • Holbury Service Station • Holbury Tool Hire • Jasper Vincent Solicitors • ML Convenience Store • Montage • Old Mill Inn • PC Buildings Supplies • Travis Perkins • Vibrant Forest Brewery • Walbank Opticians • Waterside Carpets BEAULIEU, BROCKENHURST, EAST BOLDRE, EXBURY & PILLEY • Belle & Blossom • BH Marine • Chapel Store, East Boldre • Drift Inn • Exbury Club • Exbury Gardens Shop • Fairweathers Garden Centre • Pilley Stores • The Royal Oak • Turfcutters Arms, East Boldre TOTTON • AFC Totton • Age Concern • Arrosto Di Caffé • Best One • Calmore Community Centre • Calmore Service Station • Castle Investments • Complete Bathrooms • Debra •Eight Wealth Management • Eling Heritage Centre Café • Footner & Ewing • Goodies • Graysons Hairdressers • Hairtalk • Hairway Barbers • Hanger Farm • HCC • Images Hairdressers • Masons • Maydays • McColls • More Than Hair • The Old Farmhouse • Salmon Leap • Sunnyfields • Sweet Thoughts • Tesco Express • Testwood Arms • Three Score Club • Totton Civic Centre • Totton Community Centre • Totton & Eling Bowls Centre • Totton & Eling Tennis Centre • Totton Library • Water Lane Post Office • West Totton Centre • West Totton Launderette ASHURST, CADNAM, COPYTHORNE, LYNDHURST & NETLEY MARSH ASHURST: Forest Inn • Happy Cheese • Longdown Farm Shop • New Forest Inn, Ashurst • Welcome CADNAM/ COPYTHORNE: • Coach & Horses • Co-op • The Empress of Blandings • Le Chateau • White Hart Inn • Woodington Feeds LYNDHURST: Fox & Hounds • Fenwick2 • Lyndhurst Community Centre • The Lyndhurst Tea House • Lyndhurst Working Mens Club • Mailmans Arms •Oakhaven • New Forest Gallery • Peggy May’s Coffee Shop • Tesco • Waterloo Arms MINSTEAD: Trusty Servant NETLEY MARSH: • Discount Warehouse ROMSEY AREA • Age Concern • Carlo’s Tea Rooms • Co-op, Halterworth • Crosfield Hall • Gilberts Nursery • Home Hardware • Nisa • North Baddesley Community Library • The Phoenix • Romsey Library • Seafare Two • Teacups Café • The Duke on the Test • Wellow Village Stores SURROUNDING AREA BRAMSHAW/BROOK: The Bell • Bramshaw Village Stores • The Green Dragon • Sir Walter Tyrrell NURSLING: • The Four Horseshoes OWER: • Mortimer Arms Hotel CALL 023 8084 5700 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A PICK UP POINT Advertising: 023 8084 0815 Editorial: 023 8084 5700 E: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk W: www.herald-publishing.co.uk Distributed FREE across the area and also available online Brockenhurst
v CALL US: 023 8084 5700 v 8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 3 THE FRAME SHOP Restoration of Oils and Watercolours Undertaken THE FRAME SHOP, 15 MARSH PARADE, PYLEWELL ROAD, HYTHE SO45 6AN PICTURE FRAMING 023 8084 4741 Est: 1987 Waterside Carpet Cleaning PROFESSIONAL CARPET CLEANING! Using Prochem Equipment and Materials • SPOT/STAIN TREATMENT • Fully Insured 023 8066 0878 or 07770 337917 www.watersidecarpetcleaning.com • ROOFS • PATIOS • GUTTERS • CONSERVATORIES • WINDOWS ✦ Fully Insured ✦ 07960 915741 info@mossbossuk.com www.mossbossuk.com Acorn Building Contracts Ltd u Reliable, local builders offering affordable, quality workmanship u Our employees are fully qualified and fully insured u All aspects of building undertaken including extensions, structural alterations, roofing, ground works, kitchens, bathrooms, carpentry and plastering u Drawings arranged u Insurance work undertaken u Local Approved Contractor For free quotations and friendly advice please call Office: 023 8024 3336 Mobile: 07786 656865 Email: acornbuilding@gmail.com or visit our website: www.acorn-builders.co.uk You will not be disappointed Send your news to The Herald by email: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk contributions from many organisations and from a team of volunteers giving up their time. £450,000 was raised for the building works from various funds, donations of over £54,000 and a willing team of volunteers saved £10,000 by helping install the kitchen and decorating once the building works had been completed by Westmade Ltd. Guests were able to see rst-hand the improvements that have been made and to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for the village hall. ese include increasing the seating capacity by 50% in the main hall, there is also a separate meeting room; new more comfortable chairs, updated toilet and kitchen facilities, state of the art audio and sound equipment for talks, presentations and lm shows and a much better kerbside appeal. Mike Husband Chair of the Trustees said: “We are delighted to reopen the hall after this major refurbishment. The hall has always been at the centre of village life, and these improvements will ensure that it continues to provide a welcoming space for community events, activities and celebrations for many years to come. We are honoured that Dan Snow was able to join us to mark this special occasion. The hall can now host a wider range of activities and events, serving as a hub for residents of all ages and helping to strengthen the sense of community that makes the village such a special place”. New Trustees and Volunteers are always welcome as are donations at: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ebvh-2026 e hall is open for bookings, please email: bookings.ebvh@gmail.com or call: 01590 626368. East Boldre Village Hall Re-opens Following Major Refurbishment Continued from front page Local Couple Celebrate Emerald Wedding Anniversary Local couple, Terry and Chris Ashmore, celebrated their Emerald Wedding Anniversary on 14th August, surrounded by their family. For 28 years, Terry has been Chairman of RNLI Calshot Station as well as the local fundraising branch. The branch committee send very many congratulations to Terry and Chris on their 55th wedding anniversary. Terry and Chris Ashmore (centre) with their family Thank You To Our Hedgehog Knitters A big thank you to all our knitters, we have had hundreds of wonderful knitted hedgehogs donated, to raise money for East Boldre Hedgehog Rescue. To help raise extra funds for food and supplies for the hedgehogs, some of the fabulous hedgehogs made by our talented readers are now on sale in e Herald o ce, with all the money from the sales going to the Hedgehog Rescue. Some of the hedgehogs knitted by our talented readers
Page 4 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v SEND ALL YOUR LOCAL NEWS TO THE HERALD v • Fascias • Soffits • Guttering • Cladding • Repairs • EPDM Rubber Roofs • Flat Roofing • Moss Removal • Exterior Painting 15% OAP Discount • All Maintenance Work Call 07776 476913 gcgutteringandflatroofing@gmail.com 20 year Guarantee G C GUTTERING & FLAT ROOFING Waterside based Locksmith with over 40 years’ experience within the window and door industry. YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT TRUSTED LOCKSMITH CORGI REGISTERED, NCFE AND CITY & GUILDS QUALIFIED WITH OVER 450 GENUINE LOCAL REVIEWS • NO CALLOUT FEE OR VAT CHARGED • FREE ON-SITE QUOTE/ADVICE • FREE 12 MONTH WARRANTY • HIGH SPEC PARTS FITTED, 1ST CLASS SERVICE & THE LOWEST PRICES TO MATCH! If you need a lock think KeyLock Locksmiths • Lost keys • Locked out - Non-destructive entry • Onsite Key Cutting Service • Moving home - New locks & keys required • Door lock adjustments with repair and replacements for all multipoint locking systems • Door realignments/servicing • Hinge repair/adjustments • Broken/misted double glazing units replaced CALL 023 8089 9989 OR 07771 994536 24HRS TO SPEAK TO A LOCAL FULLY QUALIFIED LOCKSMITH Best Friends Represent Team GB At Gymnastics World Championships Two 13 year old girls from Noadswood School recently travelled to Pamplona in Spain to represent Great Britain (GB) at the Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships. Daisy Purdie and her best friend Isla Burrow were selected as part of the GB squad following months of trials, competitions and qualifying events against talented gymnasts from across the country. Both girls started gymnastics as toddlers and from a very the lives of aspiring gymnasts; training many hours every week, o en travelling across the country for training and competitions. As well as looking a er their bodies, resting when they can and eating the right foods to support their training. eir journey to the World Championships began with a trial process in the spring. ey had to attend three trials and achieve the required scores to qualify. Following their successful results, they were selected in their nal, with Daisy’s group nishing seventh in the world! For both girls, the experience was about so much more than the nal results. ey are both extremely proud to be Great Britain gymnasts, wearing the GB kit and representing their country on a world stage is something they will never forget. ey are both incredibly proud of what they have achieved and of how hard they have worked to get there. ey are also hugely grateful to their coaches at Sparkles Gymnastics Club and Basingstoke Gymnastics Club, as well as their families, friends and everyone who has supported them throughout their gymnastics journeys. Both girls would love to become gymnastics coaches themselves one day, inspired by the coaches who have helped them along the way and hoping that they can eventually pass on everything they have learned to the next generation of gymnasts. e girls are already looking ahead to their next international competition on 15th October, in Bulgaria, where they will represent their region at the Plovdiv Cup. ey can’t wait for the European Championships next year and are hoping they will have the opportunity to trial for the GB team again. When asked how they feel about representing Great Britain, the girls said: “We are both extremely proud to be Great Britain gymnasts. Representing our country has been an amazing experience and something we will never forget. We can’t wait for the Europeans next year and hopefully have the chance to trial again.” respective combinations to represent Great Britain. Isla competes as part of a trio with two other gymnasts from Basingstoke Gymnastics Club. Daisy competes in an Aero Dance group and travels to Sparkles Gymnastics Club in Reading to train with her teammates, while also training at Basingstoke. This means a huge amount of travelling and training for both girls alongside their normal lives. Over the summer holidays the girls Isla Burrow and Daisy Purdie were training for three to four hours most days, as well as travelling to and from their training sessions and competitions. e week before the girls le for Spain they attended a team GB camp in Lilleshall in preparation for the World Championships. At the Championships Isla’s trio competed alongside 47 routines from around 25 di erent countries, nishing 20th overall - an amazing achievement at such a high level international competition. Daisy had an absolutely fantastic quali cation, nishing fourth in her Aero Dance combination. e top eight quali ed for the nal, meaning Daisy and her teammates secured their place in the young age showed a real talent and love for the sport, trying di erent disciplines over the years, even taking ballet lessons to help with their execution, movement and performance within gymnastics. Daisy and Isla are now FIG-level aerobic gymnasts, training at Basingstoke Gym Club. e girls became best friends through their love of aerobic gymnastics, which made being able to experience representing Great Britain together even more special. eir success is the result of an enormous amount of dedication and commitment; both girls live
v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v 8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 5 DECORATOR INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING General Small Maintenance Works Reliable, Prompt with a High Standard of Work Fully Insured • Free Estimates NICK CROUCHER 07395 042193 MPL Roofing & Guttering Services • Fascias, Guttering, Soffits, Cladding and much more PVCu work • All roof repairs, gutters, flat roofs, chimney repairs • Moss removal 15% Discount for OAP’s Established 30 years 07920 122984 023 8087 9135 mplroofing@hotmail.com Earlier this year, Claire and Tracey, Managing and Senior Partners at TMT Legal Services, shared the story of the wonderful care their late father, Michael Terrill, received at University Hospital Southampton, as well as the challenges faced by relatives who do not want to leave their loved ones’ side during di cult times. ey are incredibly proud to share the impact of a fundraising initiative held in Michael’s memory, which has already made a di erence to patients and families on the Elderly Care Unit (G5). anks to the kindness and generosity of everyone who donated via JustGiving, together with a generous contribution from TMT, an incredible £5,000 was raised. e nal total included a fun ‘Guess the Bear’s Name’ competition, which raised £57. e giant teddy bear was kindly donated by Conveyancing Executive Sophie Eklund. While fundraising totals are always worth celebrating, what matters most is the di erence that money makes to people’s lives. Following the donation, the ward has been able to purchase a range of items designed to improve comfort and wellbeing for patients and their loved ones, including televisions, radios and camp beds for relatives staying close by. e team at G5 recently shared an update with TMT, explaining just how valuable these additions have already proved to be. One story in particular touched everyone’s hearts; A frail couple had been admitted together, with one facing a much more di cult prognosis. anks to the equipment funded through the appeal, they were able to spend precious time together on the ward, listening to their favourite CDs and reminiscing about happy memories. e camp beds have also provided immediate support for families during di cult times. Within a day of being set up, one was being used by a relative wanting to stay close to a loved one. e feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the family expressing just how grateful they were for the comfort it provided. e fundraising has enabled the ward to invest in further improvements, including dementia-friendly clocks, enhanced tea and co ee facilities and comfortable visitor seating areas, helping to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for patients and visitors alike. In a message to TMT, the ward team shared their appreciation and G5 Ward Leader, Lee said: “I would like to add further thanks to yourself, the team and Michael’s legacy, as your generosity has transcended the boundaries of G5 and is supporting our other areas.” Claire and Tracey added: “While Dad may be gone, his impact continues to be felt every day. Through the generosity of those who knew him and those who simply wanted to help, patients and families are receiving comfort, support and precious moments together when they need them most. For that, we are deeply grateful. Thank you to everyone who supported the fundraising and helped raise an incredible amount in Dad’s memory.” £5000 RAISED IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL TERRILL, BRINGING COMFORT TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES Lee and staff from G5 with some of the items purchased so far
Page 6 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 31 YEARS v Waterside Furnishings & Re-Upholstery 023 8020 7895 16 Marsh Parade, Hythe (Opposite Hythe Club) Est 2006 REPAIRS ANTIQUE, MODERN & MARINE REFURBISHED FURNITURE FOR SALE RE-UPHOLSTERY Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom with free design service Tel: 023 8084 3787 Email: showroom@pcbuildingsupplies.co.uk Web: www.pcbuildingsupplies.co.uk Leaky taps, wonky shelves, flat-pack nightmares, squeaky doors, pictures hung straight, TVs on walls and most of those other jobs you need doing. Reliable, tidy, fully insured, and won’t leave you with a bigger mess than you started with! New Forest & Waterside: SO40–SO43, SO45, SO51 Jim – 07379 383307 HANDYMAN NO JOB TOO SMALL To advertise your business in The Herald, contact Sue on 023 8084 0815 or email: sjones@herald-publishing.co.uk Queen Elizabeth II Sculpture Unveiled At Romsey Abbey A new life-size bronze sculpture of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been unveiled at Romsey Abbey, providing a lasting tribute to the late monarch and her special connections to the town. e artwork was o cially unveiled on Friday 4th September by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire alongside the Countess Mountbatten of Burma during a ceremony attended by residents, community representatives and invited guests. e event included live music, speeches and an exhibition showcasing the story behind the sculpture’s creation. Hampshire sculptor Amy Goodman created the bronze statue to complete Test Valley Borough Council’s Queen Elizabeth II sculpture project, which marked Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. It follows the unveiling of a companion sculpture in Andover in 2024. e Romsey sculpture depicts the Queen at the time of her coronation, stepping into a lifetime of service. e detailed robe incorporates imagery inspired by memories, stories and artwork shared by local residents and schoolchildren during an extensive community engagement programme. e design also celebrates the Queen’s connection to Romsey, Broadlands and Romsey Abbey. Amy Goodman said: “It has been a real privilege to create this sculpture of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for Romsey. Throughout the project, I’ve been inspired by the many stories, memories and contributions shared by local people, which have helped shape the design and make it deeply connected to the community. The sculpture reflects the Queen at a pivotal moment in her life, stepping into a lifetime of service, while also celebrating her special links to Romsey and the Abbey. The bronze of the statue works in harmony with the Abbey, and it already feels like she belongs there. I hope residents and visitors enjoy the artwork for many years to come.” Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North, said: “This has been a truly special occasion and marks the completion of a project that began as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. What makes this sculpture particularly meaningful is the way the community helped shape it. Residents, schoolchildren and local organisations shared their memories, ideas and artwork, helping create a tribute that reflects not only Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable legacy, but also the communities she had such strong links with. The sculpture stands as a lasting reminder of a life dedicated to service and duty. We hope it will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come.” e sculpture has been installed in the north churchyard of Romsey Abbey, chosen for its historic links to the Royal Family and the Mountbatten family of Broadlands. From family weddings and royal visits to its close association with Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Abbey has played an important role in the story of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. Visitors can also view an exhibition about the creation of the sculpture in Romsey Abbey over the next two weeks. e exhibition features artwork and contributions from local people that inspired the nal design as well as a video showing the project from the beginning. A sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II has been unveiled at Romsey Abbey
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 7
Page 8 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v Services: Handcrafted Traditional Oak Framing & Local Installation Call us today for a Free No Obligation Quote 023 8198 0182 Opening Hours Monday-Friday 9.30am to 4pm Hello@newforestoak.co.uk www.newforestoak.co.uk Garages, Porches, Canopies, Pergolas, Gazebos, Garden Structures and more…… Happier Ageing Starts at Home Compassionate Home Care from Nurse Next Door Southampton At Nurse Next Door Home Care Southampton, we believe ageing should be a positive and fulfilling experience. We are dedicated to Making Lives Better by providing compassionate, personalised care that helps people remain safe, independent, and happy in the comfort of their own homes. Led by Angela Neill, Registered Manager, our team goes the extra mile, going above and beyond to bring happiness, comfort, and peace of mind to our clients and their families. Our services include: • Personal Care • Companionship • Transportation & Accompaniment • Medication Support • Meal Preparation • Dementia Care • Respite Care • Post-Operative Care • Catheter Care • Overnight Care • End-of-Life Care We provide flexible care tailored around each individual’s needs, choices, and lifestyle. FREE, no-obligation home care consultation available. Supporting Happier Ageing across Southampton and surrounding areas Contact Angela Neill – Registered Manager • 023 8202 9933 • angela.neill@nursenextdoor.co.uk Nurse Next Door Home Care Southampton Making Lives Better®, one visit at a time. RNLI Great Waterside Raft Race Another Splashing Success! e gusts and occasional downpours did not deter spectators from turning out in their numbers for the 2026 RNLI Great Waterside Ra Race on Sunday 30th August. e whole side of Hythe Marina was lled with spectators, with others watching from Prospect Place and Hythe Pier. 13 ra s with nearly 100 crew competed for trophies and medals. is year’s race and trophy winners were: Decorated Race: 17 Port & Maritime Regiment in ra HMS Budget Cuts Formula 1 Race: Ebenezers in ra EbiGeezers Ladies Race: Ebenezers in ra EbiGeezers Pub Race: Ebenezers in ra Ebi-Geezers Kayak Race: Chris Hendy e Big Race: 1st 17 Port & Maritime Regiment in ra HMS Budget Cuts, 2nd Gentlemans Club in ra e Bamboo Express, 3rd Ebenezers in ra EbiGeezers Most Ingenious Trophy: Jolly Sailor Best Presented Trophy: MC Truck & Bus e Ashmore Cup for best overall e ort: 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RNLI Hythe & Calshot Fundraising Branch Press O cer, Dan Poole said: “It was yet another superb effort from competitors to helpers alike, and we were absolutely delighted with the turnout, especially as the weather on the day was unsettled. With 13 rafts competing, there was a great atmosphere. Each year, our small team of volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the event goes to plan, so I am pleased it has paid off once again. With the money still being counted, it is too early to report the final sum, but we can be sure it was another successful fundraiser. Special thanks must go to our Chairman, Terry Ashmore, who spends several months organising and planning the event each year”. New to the ra race this year was Calshot Tower National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), whose members are constantly keeping watch along the coast and monitoring radio channels to provide a listening watch in poor visibility. e NCI and RNLI Calshot Station entered a joint ra named ‘Not On Call’ for the rst time. As usual, there was a Fun Fair, RNLI Sea Safety, RNLI Souvenirs, Vibrant Forest Brewery, Howley Co ee Co, hot food and refreshments, and various other stalls. Main event sponsor - Vibrant Forest Brewery, were on hand to present the trophies and medals, and the ra e was drawn by Sir Julian Lewis MP, where several excellent prizes were won, donated by local shops and businesses. e commentary was once again provided by John McGuinn, and St John Ambulance were on standby in case they were needed. Since it began in the 1980s, the race has been organised by RNLI Hythe and Calshot Fundraising Branch. is year it has raised just under £6,500, so far, with funds still coming in. The Branch would like to take this opportunity to thank sponsors, volunteers, and competitors for all their hard work and kind support, not forgetting the many spectators for their continued generosity. Next year, the race will be held on Sunday 18th July, when they will be celebrating the ra race’s 40th anniversary. 2026 RNLI Great Waterside Raft Race (Credit: Darren Ashmore)
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 9
Page 10 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v F @heraldpublishing v www.hannahs-electrics.co.uk • hannahelectrics@gmail.com Local Youth Football Club Opens New Hythe & Dibden Youth Football Club (YFC) reopened the resurfaced 3G pitch at Applemore College on e site is busy year round. Training runs between 5pm and 9pm every weeknight, and it takes an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 visits a week, with teams travelling in from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex. “It is how far the club has come, having done so well in about ten years, and so quickly. Obviously it looks amazing, and the kids are here playing now, boys and girls of all ages. The legacy is fantastic. I am hoping that it allows everyone to be a part of the club and the community, and to enjoy sport.” comments Terry Cox, former Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC. e change has been sharpest in the girls’ game. Hampshire FA’s facilities case study credits the pitch with growing the club’s female pathway by 5,000% in eight years. More than 200 girls now play for Hythe & Dibden, with a clear route through to women’s football, and the club expects that number to keep climbing. e role the facility has played in the explosion of girls’ football is hard to overstate. Hampshire FA have published a video case study on these results. e club’s Girls Football Development O cer Steve Norris told the county FA: “For a lot of our girls their time at the club is their only time in football, and I think if we were calling off training sessions left, right and centre we would have far less than the nearly 200 who we have today.” Friday 4th September, alongside their new pavilion that gives the 27 year old club a permanent home for the rst time in its history. Teams from across the club took to the new surface a er a ribbon cutting at 5pm, watched by families, volunteers and guests from Hampshire FA, New Forest District Council and Applemore College. Nine years a er the original pitch was laid, the scale of what it now supports is easy to underestimate. Around 650 children now play for Hythe & Dibden, more than the number of pupils on roll at the secondary school the club plays at. Another 160 adults volunteer as coaches, managers and committee members. Set against the local population, those numbers are striking. Based on census age estimates for the parish, around one in four Hythe and Dibden children of primary and secondary school age play for the club, and roughly one in every 25 residents is directly involved in it. Cutting the ribbon - left to right: Clare Williams, Headteacher, Applemore College, James Golding, Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC and Terry Cox, former Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC Continued on page 11
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 11 v SHOP LOCALLY FOR SERVICE & VALUE v NEW FOREST PLUMBING AND MAINTENANCE 24/7 LTD *YOUR LOCAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY CALL OUT PLUMBER* We provide a wide range of plumbing services, with an established reputation for quality, service and customer satisfaction. www.newforestplumbing.co.uk Contact us on 07912 092557 or 023 8194 0237 newforestplumbing@yahoo.com UPVC, WOODEN DOOR, WINDOW SPECIALIST LOCK PROBLEMS? We Can Help with ALL types of Locks • Fix or Replace • Gain Entry 24hr Emergency Call Outs • Specialised Non-Destructive Entries • Safe Unlocking Expertise • Broken Key Removals • Insurance Purpose Lock Changes & Repairs • Swift Burglary Repairs, Extra Door & Window Security Upgrades • Police Approved Keysafes – Emergency Boarding • Anti-Burglar Bars/Grilles For Windows & Doors, • Free Security Checks • Crime Prevention Advice Awarded Police Recognition, Donald Bugsy Edwards • All Work Guaranteed • No Call Out Charge • No VAT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT LOCKSMITH BE WISE CALL KEYWISE 07453 327708 or 023 8155 0025 24 HOUR SERVICE Pavillion & Resurfaced 3G Pitch “Going back to 2016, 2017, Applemore had not really been a community site before. There was a growing community club with capacity issues, and it had been difficult to get girls’ football going. There was a massive need in the area which needed to be filled. This project has been a real success story, and it shows what can be achieved if you do things properly.” comments Sacha Nicholas, Facilities & Investment Manager, Hampshire FA. e original 3G pitch was laid in 2017 through a partnership of national and local funders, including Sport England, the FA, the RFU and the council. What has happened since is less common in grassroots sport. Rather than returning to funders for another grant, every fee paid to use the pitch goes into a dedicated resurfacing fund managed by Applemore College, which pays to replace the surface roughly every ten years. As the site’s largest user, Hythe & Dibden YFC contributes the bulk of that fund. In practice, the people who use the pitch have paid for its renewal, and the model will pay for the next one too. “That partnership, with the school, with the FA, with the club, has made sure that when it came to needing to be replaced, it is here. It is investment from everybody to ensure that everybody can continue to use a great facility.” comments Jamie Burton, Health & Partnership Manager, New Forest District Council. For Applemore College, the shared site has become part of how the school presents itself to the families it recruits from. Clare Williams, Headteacher, Applemore College comments: “When you go into primary schools it is really clear as a selling point. There are loads of students we talk to in Year 6 who basically choose here because they play for Hythe and Dibden. It always gets a big cheer when you talk about it. From the community aspect, that is the biggest jewel.” Since 2020 the club has operated out of three donated shipping containers on temporary planning permission. e new pavilion, built on top of that structure, adds home and away changing rooms, a classroom large enough for a full squad, a kitchen and kiosk, extra toilets and secure kit and equipment storage. e changing rooms in particular are what allow the club’s girls’ and women’s sides to keep growing. James Golding, Chairman, Hythe & Dibden YFC comments: “We’re proud to have been able to call Applemore our home for the last 9 years. Now it really feels like a home, for the long term. This building alongside the resurfaced 3G pitch will give us the platform to maintain and build on all of the great work that’s been done in the past, as well as being a legacy for future generations.” Continued from page 10 Enjoying the new Pavillion The resurfaced 3G pitch has been reopened
Page 12 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v EMAIL YOUR NEWS: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk v All aspects of Plastering & General Decorating Covered Free Quotations Fully Insured Mobile 07941 255335 Phone: 023 8089 8324 parkesij@yahoo.co.uk www.ijs4plastering.co.uk LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU CHOOSE from Care UK Live every day your way at Carpathia Grange in Hythe where you can continue with much-loved hobbies, try new activities and make new friends all in a welcoming, safe environment. From pampering sessions in the hair and beauty salon, movie marathons in the cinema, to socialising in the café and bar - enjoy a ful lling lifestyle tailored to you. Choose what makes you happy At Carpathia Grange you can ll your day with activities you enjoy. From cra ing, baking and gardening to laughter- lled days out, we’ll support you to live life to the full. Highlights include trips to New Forest National Park. Lepe Beach and Hythe Marina Village. Fulfilling lives and dreams Dreams really can come true with our Wishing Tree which all residents can take part in. When you hang your wish on our tree, we will do our best to make it happen, no matter how big or small your request is. Recently, residents have taken to the skies and own over London in a 1930s Dragon Rapide plane: sailed in a hot air balloon; hit the airwaves on the radio; and even got a tattoo. Home-cooked meals to savour Care UK’s award-winning dining experiences focus on providing choice and accessibility for all. Meals are tailored to suit any dietary needs you may have, including modi ed diets if you have di culties with swallowing (dysphagia). Rest assured that no matter your needs, you’ll enjoy highquality, tempting meals, as well as sweet and savoury treats. To nd out more about Carpathia Grange, call: 023 8098 7514 or visit: careuk.com/carpathia-grange Carpathia Grange Care Home, 2 Southampton Road, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire, SO45 5GQ. Foxie’s Great Skele-Fun Trail is taking place around the grounds of Foxlease Park in Lyndhurst. e trail is a short walk around the main paths and through part of Foxlease House with Halloween skeleton-themed fun along the way. There is free parking, toilets and a small souvenir shop on site with some refreshment options but no cafe. e trail will take around 45 minutes to an hour to complete including activities. Open to all - families, individuals and groups. e trail will be running 1pm until 5pm, weekends only between now and 25th October and then every day from 26th October to 1st November. Tickets are not timed, last arrivals by 4pm. Organised/uniformed evening group bookings are available on any date between now and 1st November (inclusive). If you’d like to make a group booking please email: bookings@foxlease.uk Tickets are £4 per participant and include Foxie’s SkeleFun Trail badge. Advance bookings can be made at: foxlease.uk/events Please contact: bookings@foxlease.uk for any accessibility queries before booking. Foxie’s Great Skele-Fun Trail
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 13 WILTON ROYAL BALMORAL 40oz Normally £24.99m2 .........NOW £14.99m2 WILTON ROYAL CHARTER 40oz Normally £31.99m2 .........NOW £14.99m2 WILTON ROYAL WINDSOR 100% WOOL Normally £21.99m2 .........NOW £19.99m2 STAIN FREE WILTON Normally £37.99m2 .........NOW £29.99m2
Page 14 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v All joinery and carpentry requirements undertaken • Bespoke wooden windows, doors and staircases • PVCu windows and doors fitted • Decking, pergolas and out buildings • Custom made wardrobes and cupboards • Fencing and gates Contact us for advice and quotes Tel 023 8066 8021• Mobile 07467 594993 fillisjoinery@outlook.com Professional quality joinery for over 25 years All aspects of Plastering undertaken Fully Qualified, Reliable, Quality Service Free Quotations Call Joe: 07713 724610 @jbplastering92 M.D.S. DIGITAL INSTALLS/SERVICE • DIGITAL AERIALS/FREEVIEW • SKY DIGITAL/FREESAT DIGITAL • EXTRA TELEVISION POINTS • TELEPHONE LINES/POINTS • TELEVISION SYSTEMS SETUP/TUNED • WALL MOUNTED TV’S QUALIFIED, FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE FREE SURVEYS/QUOTES BEAULIEU: 01590 611011 MOBILE: 07717 194441 Scarecrow Festival A Huge Success is year’s Hythe Scarecrow Trail and Festival, was a huge success, with over 80 scarecrows to nd on the trail and a day of family fun rounding o the week. e Scarecrow Festival was held along the Promenade this year, with additional events and activities to previous years, including a climbing wall, brought along by New Forest Scouts, which proved very popular. Another addition to this year’s festival was a fun Dog Show, sponsored and judged by Marley’s Grooming Studio. e winning dogs were: Prettiest Girl: Mango Handsome Boy: Milo Best Dressed: Pepper Best Trick: Tess Most like to take home: Maud Returning for a second year was the Bake O , which this year was sponsored and judged by Millie’s Tearoom. e winners were: Best Adult Traybake: Karen Britton Best Adult Whole Cake: Holly Woodford Bluey and Bingo on School Road, 3rd Dolly Parton on Malwood Road West. Best Business Scarecrow, chosen by Lambertlux: The Little Mermaid by Jane Bidwell Flowers Best Animal Scarecrow chosen by e Ocean Rooms: The Purrfect Cat Ladies in Meeple Play Cafe Best Literary Scarecrow, chosen by First Step Home: Edgar Allen Poe on Edward Road Funniest Scarecrow, chosen by TMT Legal Services: BT Ted on Michaels Way Best Dressed Scarecrow, chosen by e Maples Guest House: Toy Story by Toys Ahoy Organised by Waterside Mortgages, the event once again raised funds for Hythe Alive and e Fire Fighters Charity, two organisations that make a real di erence to the local community. Best Child Traybake: Jessica Best Child Whole Cake: Isabelle and Reggie Runner-Up Child Traybake: Lola Entertainment during the day included Magician Iain McKeown, Fantasy Allstars Cheerleading, Pilates with Alice and Dancewise Studios. The Scarecrow Festival concluded with the presentation of the Scarecrow Awards, congratulations to the winners: Public Vote: Bluey and Bingo on School Road Best Community Group, chosen by Hythe Fire Station: Waterside Christmas Fire Engine, in Fully Woolly Best Children’s Scarecrow, chosen by Toys Ahoy: Despicable Me on Fairview Drive Best Resident Scarecrow, chosen by A J Gleeson: 1st Sir David Attenborough on Langdown Road, 2nd Best Children’s Scarecrow Winner of the Public Vote and 2nd Best Resident Scarecrow Songs-4-U Seeks A Volunteer Conductor Singing group Songs-4-U rehearses on Wednesday afternoons, 2pm-4pm, in one of the rooms at St Andrews Church in Dibden Purlieu. Since John Madgwick died last year, they haven’t had a conductor, they are looking for a volunteer to conduct them and soon get them ready for Christmas concerts. ey have a pianist who also chooses the songs that they sing. ey are a friendly sociable group, it would be a pleasant a ernoon for the right person. For more information please call Anne on: 07979242886. Lyndhurst Scarecrow Trail On 10th and 11th October, a whole host of straw lled characters will be descending on the homes and businesses of Lyndhurst for the annual Lyndhurst Scarecrow Trail. To join in the fun pick up a trail map for £3, from Tesco (Lyndhurst branch) and New Forest’s Finest Fish and Chip shop on Lyndhurst High Street. All proceeds from the trail go towards two local schools: St Michaels and All Angels Infant School and Bartley C of E Junior School.
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 15
Page 16 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v WATERSIDE NETWORK GROUP: MEMBER FOCUS A long-term member of the Waterside Network Group is Steve Dodgson of Top Flight Taxi. Steve operates a silver VW Caddy, licensed by New Forest District Council to carry up to six passengers or 1 passenger and one wheelchair user. Top Flight began in 2014 when Steve decided to set up his own business a er working for many years with local taxi companies. Back then he was operating a Mercedes E Class and was kept particularly busy driving customers to airports, cruise ships, and private functions. at all changed in 2020 with the Covid outbreak when, what with lockdowns and restrictions on travel, work dried up for a very long time. Steve returned to licensed travel with the silver VW Caddy, a vehicle that is now a regular sight up and down the Waterside. Top Flight Taxi is the ideal choice for Southampton cruise terminals, as well as Southampton and Bournemouth airport transfers. e additional space that the VW caddy o ers over standard vehicles means getting you and your companions to your cruise ship or plane, along with all your luggage, is that little bit easier. Equally, if you’re making a local trip where reliability and professionalism are a must, then Top Flight Taxi will look a er you. Lunches, dinners, theatre trips, business meetings or just assistance getting to appointments or the shops are all part of Steve’s daily routine. e VW Caddy’s ability to take a wheelchair is another bonus, meaning Steve can assist private individuals and residents of care homes to get to where they need to be with as little fuss as possible. For availability, please contact Steve Dodgson at Top Flight Taxi directly using the contact details opposite. Top Flight Private Hire’s VW Caddy A DIFFERENT WAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR LOCAL GROUP by Claire Curl, Fair Bills Fundraising is something so many local charities, clubs and community groups rely on, but nding new ways to bring money in can be challenging. What if one of those ways could be through simply making connections? e UW (Utility Warehouse) Connectors programme gives eligible local organisations the opportunity to earn additional income by introducing people who may be interested in UW services. Unlike traditional fundraising, there’s no need to organise a cake sale, sponsored event or ra e. You simply make an introduction, and UW takes care of the rest. It could be a really simple way for a group to generate some extra funds alongside the fundraising you already do. I’m Claire, a local UW Partner, and I’d love to hear from any local charity, club or community organisation that would like to explore whether this could work for them. I’ll explain exactly how it works before you decide whether it’s suitable for your organisation. ere’s also currently an extra £400 bonus available for eligible Connectors, subject to the relevant terms and conditions. It’s people helping people. Get in touch on: 07823 554 362 and let’s have a chat, or visit: www.uw.partners/claire. curl Claire Curl, Fair Bills
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 17
Page 18 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com LIONS DONATE £500 TO SOLENT DOLPHIN Romsey & Waterside Lions have given £500 to the Solent Dolphin Charity in Hythe which runs boat trips on the Solent from Hythe Marina to give passengers with disabilities free 2-hour trips up and down the estuary. e M/V Alison MacGregor is a purpose built catamaran for 12 passengers including carers. It has a ramp access and so is accessible for wheelchair users or those with walking di culties. e Charity is run entirely by volunteers, and the boat is crewed by experienced mariners who freely give their time to help entertain others who are less fortunate than themselves. Right: Lion President Andrew Trowbridge presenting the cheque to Skipper Jeremy Moss and the crew for the day NEPAL FLASH FLOODS APPEAL Hythe & Waterside Rotary has successfully donated £700 to the international disaster relief charity ShelterBox, following a generous response from the local community at the Hythe of Activity event held in September. e club stepped in to top up the funds collected from the public during the event, ensuring a substantial sum could be sent immediately to aid families devastated by the recent ash oods in Nepal. e £700 donation has already been forwarded to ShelterBox. e charity specialises in emergency shelter and essential household items, ensuring that the funds will directly provide emergency shelter aid to displaced families facing the a ermath of the oods. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone in the Hythe and Waterside community who gave so generously,” said Allan Glass, President of Hythe & Waterside Rotary. “Local generosity, combined with our club’s top-up, means we can provide fast, tangible support to families who have lost everything in Nepal.” Hythe & Waterside Rotary continues to support both local community projects and international disaster relief e orts throughout the year. If you would like to know more about Shelterbox and the amazing work they do, please visit: www. shelterbox.org Stallholders Wanted Hythe Alive are looking for stall holders for this year’s Mistletoe Fayre on Saturday 28th November. If you are a local cra er or perhaps a local community group that have Christmas events to take part in please email: info@hythealive.com ‘Chat About’ Social Club Join Hythe Library on Wednesday mornings 10am to 12noon to meet and socialise with new friends who are also retired. Feel free to take along existing friends or get to know their regulars and enjoy a free hot drink and maybe even a biscuit. No need to book, they look forward to seeing you there.
8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 19
Page 20 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Traditional chimney sweeping for open fires & log burners • Stove servicing • Flu camera inspections and Drone surveys. HETAS registered • Fully insured • Certificates issued No stress, No mess Areas covered: SO15, SO40-43, SO45 SO51 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: Jim - 07379 383 307 Internal & External Decorating Wallpapering & Dustless Sanding FULLY INSURED PROFESSIONAL PAINTER & DECORATOR MARK 1 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VOLUNTEER AWARDS Age Concern New Forest held their Annual Volunteer Party in the summer to celebrate their wonderful volunteers’ achievements. Long service certi cates for 3, 5, 10 and 15 years of volunteering were presented. Volunteer of the year was awarded to Jeanette Brammer, who has been volunteering for 4 years at their Dibden Purlieu Charity Shop and very generously gives up so much of her time, she runs the shop to cover the manager’s and other volunteer holidays and absences, some very last minute. Age Concern New Forest’s - Waterside & Totton Goodneighbours award was presented to their volunteer Mandy Hobart for completing 159 tasks between April 2025 and March 2026. is is the second year running Mandy has completed the highest number of tasks, taking local older clients shopping, or doing their shopping for them if they cannot get out, she also takes them to a variety of medical and other appointments. Her help to the charity and their clients is invaluable. eir volunteer of the year award for Waterside & Totton Goodneighbours was presented to Katrina Mack who has been a Goodneighbour and Befriending volunteer for 14 years. Katrina has been a welcome befriending visitor for many years and though Goodneighbours helps support local older Jeanette Brammer, Dibden Purlieu Charity Shop Volunteer Katrina Mack, Goodneighbours and Befriending Volunteer people in the community with medical appointments and shopping. One of their Volunteers, Deryck Marley is a Bee Keeper, he gave a very informative talk about Bees, their life cycle, honey and his experiences. CEO Teresa Blakey said they all had a lovely a ernoon celebrating all these achievements and felt extremely proud that Age Concern New Forest has such support from their 120 Volunteers across all their services. LIONS BOOKSTALL Romsey Lions hold their regular book stalls in e Cornmarket, Romsey. eir next book sales will be Saturday 10th October and Saturday 14th November from 9am to 2pm. ey welcome donations of good quality paperbacks for the stall and also gi s for their bric-a-brac section. Donations can be taken along to the stall on the day of the sales or alternatively you can call: 0344 963 2463 to arrange for a collection to be made. Lions are both men and women, and there are no age restrictions to membership other than you must be over 18. ey are approachable people from many walks of life, and they enjoy an active social life. A few hours a month are all it takes to help others less fortunate in the community. If you would like to learn more about being a Lion and make new friends then get in touch with them on: secretary@ romseylions.co.uk or contact them on their direct club telephone number: 0344 963 2463. e Lions have a motto ‘Ordinary People Doing Amazing ings’. And they do year a er year. Dancing in Hythe If you enjoy dancing, go along to Hythe and Dibden Parish Hall in West Street, Hythe, on Wednesday afternoons, 2pm–4pm for Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing. Admission £5. Refreshments provided.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=