The Millennium

This was one of the ideas that was put forward at the beginning. It was to be a record of the village in the year 2000 and became know as The Village Domesday Book Project.

Various ideas for content came and went and information, both historical and modern were gathered by John Marsh and his team. It stayed as a good idea however, the impetus to bring it about began only when the year 2000 was upon us. So much was happening and nothing was being recorded for the year. At this point I put my hand up and spoke up and it is now time in 2024 to put it on our parish website.

I stated at the beginning that I did not wish to write it, and, THEY, the people must write it. Ideas and thoughts were gathered from individuals and groups and with willing volunteers, cajoling, bullying and many reminders the contents are here for all to read.

Just read and enjoy what the Parish got up too!

ANN

The Millenium fund Raising

The Fun Run

Having volunteers to be a Committee Member (how dumb can you be?), I thought I had better come up with a fund-raising idea.

But What? I couldn’t sing, dance or tell jokes – perish the thought, but, I could run. So the idea of the Fun Run was born. Initially I had envisaged a 10k run for adults across the Forest, however, it was soon decided that this was to be an event in which children could participate. Therefore, courses of various lengths, appropriate to age groups from 4 years to adult, were put in place on the Common.

All the committee participated in the hard work and many non-committee members helped on the day, Sunday 21 June. Fox & Son, Fordingbridge very generously donated prize money, Harrison & Son gave coloured paper for race numbers and Forbuoys of Fordingbridge donated Mars Bars for all finishers.

The weather forecast for race day was good and the forecasters were spot on. It was sunny and hot, so hot, in fact, the Mars Bars had to be kept in a cool box to prevent them becoming chocolate caramel sauce. There was a finishing banner supported by scaffolding from which our commentator (eat your heart out Murray Walker!) could give an idea of what was happening, and we had our very own Olympic judge, Jim Biddle.

Then came the first race, approximately 25 entrants, aged 5 to 8 years. They were exhorted to start slowly as they had a long way to go, 1300 metres, and it was very hot. We should have saved our breath. Within 20 yards of the start, the track narrowed very slightly and what followed I can only describe as being like a pile up at the first fence of the Grand National. The difference being we had a heap of small human bodies not horses and ours got up and ran on as though this was part of the course.

After this the other races proceeded relatively incident free. The adult’s race, three times round Hyde Common, 5100 metres, was memorable because it included some people who had never raced before; indeed some had never run since childhood but all managed to gain their Mars bar.

After the races, many competitors and their adoring public went to the village hall to tuck into a delicious cream tea. The Fun Run made a profit of £80 – not a great deal but the day had been, as the title suggests, great fun and had involved a lot of the community. A similar event was held in 1999 with a longer race of 10k for adults. This day too, proved to be equally successful.

I would like to thank everyone who assisted with the two Fun Runs. If I had named them all individually there would not have been enough room for this report but without them there would have been no Fun Runs. Thank you all.

Marion Gregory.

Cream Teas

Little did I think when first suggesting ‘Cream Teas’ as a way of raising money for the Millennium Fund, just how successful they would be.

The ladies, and in some cases the gentlemen of the village provided scrumptious cakes, tempting the most jaded of palates. All the cakes and scones were homemade and the majority freshly baked on the morning of the cream tea. In fact, what made the cream teas so popular, was the quality and variety on sale. This drew a wide range of compliments from all who attended.

People came from miles around. A couple joined us regularly from Stubbington, not only for the lovely food, but also the ambience of the occasion. Organisers of caravan rallies and Ramblers Associations would telephone at the beginning of the year to arrange their outings to coincide with our teas.

Brookfield Nursery, Stuckton provided us with bedding plants, hanging baskets, and tubs to sell. John Fryer became quite a celebrity in his straw hat waxing lyrical about every plant he sold. You may not have wanted a plant when you arrived, but you certainly left with one!

The Cream Teas would not have been such a success without the hard core of helpers who turned up every time.

Mary and Angels Sims who organised the kitchen and made sure everything was spotlessly clean, cream whipped, jam in covered bowls, cakes cut, plated and cling filmed, pots of steaming teas ready to be served.

Jan Scriven who made sure the front of house was well organised, ensuring tables were cleared and plates of scones and cakes replenished.

Marion Fryer who tirelessly dispensed numerous cups of tea, even to people sitting in their cars in the Village Hall car park because they could not get a seat inside! Jean Biddle for cheerfully manning the till and for her lemon curd which is undisputedly, the best in the world.

Dave Deacon for providing wonderful fruit and vegetables for the produce stall and for his marvellous washing up skills.

The Cream Teas provided not only a place where visitors to our delightful village could rest and enjoy lovely food and surroundings, but also a regular meeting place where the locals could meet and chat with their friends.

May I in conclusion add a huge thank you to all the people who not only provided cakes but also supported us time and time again. The hard work put in by all the background people really made the Cream Teas what they were.

Christine Young

The Christmas Cream Tea

One day I was asked ‘Could we do a Cream Tea at Christmas? ‘Of course, not’ says Derek, ‘no one has Cream Teas then’. ‘I know but !’

So started an event that turned into the most popular event ever put on in the Village Hall. Christmas is always a time of great excitement and activity, especially for children, and Derek (my husband) thought it would be a wonderful idea for Christmas time: although I was at first sceptical, as it turned out it was a great idea.

To begin with a group of willing helpers arrived at the Hall the evening before to decorate it.

Huge swags of ivy and fir with silver stars and baubles hanging from them were hung across the Hall. Ivy twined round rope, huge red and silver bows attached, and all draped along the walls.

Not only did it smell nice, but it gave a cosy, country Christmas feel to the place. People said ‘they had never seen the hall look so festive’.

A small group of men, ably led by Derek, built the most amazing grotto in the storeroom.

It started off a fairly simple affair and ended up a totally remarkable structure featuring sledge rides, twinkling lights, a magical fairy castle and Father Christmas’s sitting room complete with fireplace and Christmas tree.

In fact, Father Christmas was so impressed by the men’s efforts that he agreed to visit the Christmas Cream teas every year to talk to the children and hand out presents.

Of course, being the real Father Christmas, he could not be expected to arrive by car so alternative transport had to be found, and that is where Clare Godfrey stepped in.

She offered him a ride in her horse drawn trap, gallantly pulled by Carmen (the kindest Norwegian Fjord pony imaginable). Father Christmas was delighted as it was just like home from home for him.

Clare also arranged further transport for the Christmas fairy.

The whole entourage produced quite a spectacle as Father Christmas and the Fairy drove through the village accompanied by the sound of sleigh bells jingling and Christmas carols.

Cheers from the children and their parents greeted them as they arrived at the Village Hall.

Clare thoughtfully brought along some carrots for the children to give to the ponies, which were much appreciated, I am sure. Father Christmas also brought some friends along with him.

These included Rudolph, Snowman, and Nobby the Gnome to ensure that the children found their way into the grotto and safely back to their mums and dads afterwards.

As people ate their cream teas entertainment was provided by The Ad Hocsters a marvellous group of male singers, and The Stuckton Chapel Singers who led the community carol singing. Even Father Christmas was known to join in!

People came and went or stayed for the whole afternoon, in fact it was remarked that the Hall needed to be twice as big for this event. It was lovely to see people from all age groups enjoying themselves.

Christine Young

The Grand Draw

Possibly the most adventurous of the fund-raising events carried out by the Millennium Fund Raising Committee was the 5,000-ticket raffle which was organised by Colonel Terry Scriven.

The aim was to sell 5,000 tickets with a star prize of a weekend in Paris for two.

The Committee Members were each allocated their quota of tickets and set about selling.

It was not long before the ‘have you got your ticket for the 5,000 draw’ became a common phase throughout the Link Villages.

Selling 5,000 tickets had become a little ambitious but appropriately almost 2,000 tickets were sold, and tickets appeared to find their way to almost all parts of the United Kingdom and many overseas countries.

The committee were very appreciative of the contributions made by Bath Travel, and the supermarket stores of Safeway and Waitrose.

There were many prizes and fortunately quite a few went to local people and to the delight of everyone Michael Hornsby won the star prize of a weekend in Paris which April his wife was pleased to accept at the draw on his behalf.

As the cost of the weekend could be transferred to any holiday of their choice Michael and April decided to put their winnings towards a holiday in the Channel Islands and judging from their postcard had a wonderful time.

Thanks to the hard work of the ticket sellers and all those who bought tickets the Millennium Fund made a handsome profit of over £1,130.00

Colonel Terry Scriven.

The Whiskey Well

The Parish War Memorial Hall Committee kindly agreed to pass the running of the Whiskey Well at Frogham Fair to the Millennium Committee for 1997, 98 and 99 and for the proceeds to go to the Millennium funds.

Colonel Terry Scriven undertook this fund-raising task and was ably assisted by a team of volunteers, which included Molly Barton, Topsy Saxby, Jan Scriven and Doctor Gordon Percy.

The Team, taking their fund-raising task very seriously, were determined to break all previous Whiskey Well records and in true military style everyone had a clear task and a detailed job description! Jan and Gordon undertook the role of ticket sellers.

Molly and Topsy were responsible for controlling the draw of counterfoils and ensuring that only the winners received the whiskey and that there were sufficient bottles for all the winners. Terry supervised!

1997 was a great success with mission accomplished the amount raised beat all previous Whiskey Well profits with a total of £402.00 – some said this was due to Gordon dancing with customers to get them to buy more tickets.

Sadly, Gordon died before the 1998 Whiskey Well but the team felt him there in spirit when they achieved even greater success with a profit of £441.00.

The pressure was on for 1999, but the now professional Whiskey Wellers were undaunted, achieving yet another record profit of £445.00.

It had been a successful three years, which had produced a significant contribution to the Millennium funds.

Colonel Terry Scriven.

Pony Tail Roulette

ON – Frogham Fair Saturday 29th August 1998

A special New Forest version of Cowpat Roulette last played to my knowledge at Damerham. The star performers were Ann Sevier’s mare Rosabella and a foal.

This is how it works.

At Frogham Fair the second ring was fenced off and was measured out as an exact rectangle 37 yards by 27 yards or 999 (unmarked) square yards.

For the last event of the afternoon Rosabella, a New Forest Pony and her foal, stepped into the ring and, wait for it, sooner or later raised their respective tails.

The ‘owner’ of the square chosen by Rosabella for her deposit will be the winner of the FIRST PRIZE of £ 250 and the square chosen by the foal will score the SECOND PRIZE of £ 100.

The two referees (a solicitor and a surveyor) will don their respirators! and,

Firstly, fix with stales the two single centre points of each collective group of droppings.

Secondly, determine the numbers of the two-winning square’s by setting up gridlines at right- angles from the measured perimeter.

In the unlikely event of a split decision the higher numbered squares will prevail.

The majority of these numbered squares had been sold off beforehand to punters chancing £1 to guess where the first deposits would be in the ring.

Holidaymakers at Sandy Balls holiday camp at Godshill took particular interest. It was with considerable relief that the two referees could announce a clear result without too close an inspection!

£600.00 was raised for the Millennium Fund

Robin Richards

The Barn Dance

Two Barn Dances were held in the Village Hall to raise money for the Millennium Fund, in the Autumns of 1998 and 1999.

The hall was decorated to give it the effect of a barn, with green camouflage netting hung from the beams to lower the ceiling and straw bales dotted around.

The evening was led by a band called the Halestones who provided us with good music and took us through our paces, there was plenty of fun as everyone tried their best to master the steps.

Halfway through the evening people sat down to enjoy a ploughman’s supper, which was laid on by various members of the Committee and a few willing helpers.

This gave everyone the opportunity to have a well-earned rest and chat to friends.

The Elizabeth Quartet

Singers	Voice Type
Elizabeth Reavley	Soprano
Anne Gildersleve	Contralto
John Slade	Tenor
Nigel Reavley	Bass

The singers, who all sing with well-known choirs, or are soloists, meet up from time to time, as they enjoy singing together. They were joined by Derek Barnes, a well-known Sussex organist and choirmaster of St Bartholomew Brighton

Elizabeth Reavley

Forest Slide Show

All the committee members came up with ideas for fund raising and they were so varied and interesting, that I offered to give a talk with slides on A year in the life of a New Forest Pony and its owner the Commoner. Followed by nibbles and a concluding section on Flowers on the Forest.

On the night we set out 40 chairs in the hall thinking that that would be enough, but the people kept coming and coming and in the end the Hall was packed, we ran out of chairs and people were on the floor at the front of the stage.

These poor people had their nose on the screen and their view of the local scenes must have been impossible, but an enjoyable evening was had and a good sum of money made.

This was typical of the support given to the fund raising for the Millennium.

Ann Sevier

The Millenium

Above are some of the main events in our ‘Fun’ Fund raising. The money was coming in all the time in large amounts and in bits and pieces.

The parish raised enough money for the following projects with the first one being completed in May 1999 by Hyde Church.

The Millennium Window

The new stained-glass window in the church of the Holy Ascension, Hyde was the first of the many projects to mark the Millennium, which was started in the village, and was the first to be completed.

It began in September 1996 when the Parochial Church Council first considered how the Church might best mark this historic 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.

On that evening at a regular meeting of the P.C.C. with the vicar in the chair, suggestions were invited from those present.

At once, and without hesitation, and with what appeared to be divine inspiration one of the members cried out ‘A stained-glass window’.

This was received with acclaim and was without dissent agreed to be an absolutely right and suitable way for our Church to mark this wonderful occasion.

After some short discussion, I was invited to become the Project Officer and that is why I have been asked to write this account for our Millennium Book.

I asked for and received authority to pay Mr Taylor up to £ 5,000, if we finally approved a design, to cover the whole work, including installation. It was a most excellent way, we all agreed, to spend some of Miss Annie Wyatt’s recently received large bequest to improve and beautify our Church.

The Vicar, Churchwardens and myself went to his studio at Littleton Pannell, near Devizes and then and there decided to offer Mr Taylor a contract, which he accepted.

We made it clear that there was no great hurry, but that we should want to install the window in the Summer of 1999.

We invited him to go forward to the next phase, which is the production of what is called a ‘cartoon’, this is a precise full scale picture of the finished window, it is in colour and is, in effect a blue print. Mr Taylor got on with our work at commendable speed and it was finished in early Autumn 1998.

A few further suggestions were made and readily adopted in the cartoon and so work began by the end of 1998. I should perhaps add here that Mr Taylor’s workshop cum studio is smaller than the church room, dominated by a big broad bench, racks for glass, tools, and lead in what I should regard as a great muddle, and a kiln, quite small, about the size of an 18- inch television in one corner.

With a couple of us and Mr T you could just about turn round!

While all these exciting preliminaries were going ahead very satisfactorily, the Vicar and the Churchwardens were seeking approval from our Bishop to install the window itself.

This has to be done when any significant alteration is made to the fabric or furnishings of any Anglican Church and is achieved by a Grant of a Faculty.

This proved to be no easy or straightforward matter as the Bishop delegates his authority to the Diocesan Advisory Committee.

To our surprise and chagrin the D.A.C. did not like our design, their objection was that it did not say enough about God. Our team came back strongly, arguing that the whole concept including all things made by God was exactly right, and the brass plate below would be inscribed ‘To the Glory of God and to mark the Millennium’.

The D.A.C. relented and just as well, because unknown to them, Mr Taylor’s work had got quite a long way forward by then.

My wife and I went over, four times in all to see how he was getting on, and I think it was on the second or third visit that the window itself had actually started to take shape.

We were given lessons in how it was all done and watched fascinated while pieces of our window were painted and then fired.

His nimbleness with glass, and lead and the nonchalance with which he bullied into shape was an eye opener. I have almost invariably been unsuccessful in cutting glass to size, so I was spellbound.

Came the day when it was finished.

The artist was keen to get on and install as soon as possible, partly to get it out of his studio. I was keen too, because it was a tremendous success and partly so that we might all enjoy it at once.

The P.C.C. however preferred to delay the installation so that it might be unveiled and dedicated on the day of our Patronal Festival, and this was duly arranged, and carried out (if that is the right word) with great sympathy and feeling by Bishop Gordon Roe, who was then retired and living in Bournemouth, but sadly died just three months later.

The Church was full (I wish it was always so) and the large number of children were grouped round the Bishop.

So, this happy event concluded, without a hiccup or a cross word.

The window will be a fitting mark of respect and honour for this great Christian anniversary and will last as long as Hyde Church does.

It has been greatly admired by those who come to worship there, whether regulars or visitors, and particularly by children who vie with each other in counting how many birds and animals, flowers and trees, even insects they can identify.

Well, done our Church.

Lord Hill – Norton

The Millennium Monument

The erection of a commemorative stone, suitably inscribed, was one of the ideas favoured by the community for celebrating the Millennium when asked to give their opinion in a questionnaire which was distributed prior to the 1996 Frogham fair.

It fell to me as a member of the Millennium Committee of the Hyde War Memorial Hall to work up the project.

The preferred location for the plinth was on Hyde Common near to the School and Church. However, Hampshire County Council the new owners of Hyde Common preferred a location on the edge of the Forest at Abbottswell Car park.

The design was more problematical. A lump of stone set down on the open Forest had to be safe from harm to and from inquisitive animals (not to mention human being).

Something circular and smooth.

My first notion was for a domed steel plaque on top of the stone.

Following the style already established at The London Dome seemed to be a pleasing shape which could be read from all sides.

The Abbotswell site has a magnificent view that could be graphically explained to visitors by means of an engraved map. The theme of the passing century, time, distances and bearings.

Separate rings were provided for the Capitals of the European Union and finally, the angle and distance of the planets exactly at Millennium midnight.

Unfortunately, the cost of creating and then etching a broad domed steel plate was technically difficult and as a result too expensive. We had to settle for a flat surface set into the partially rounded stone.

The Committee decided to double the original size of the Monument and there was a commensurate increase in the budget to about £ 3,000 in situ.

John Marsh came forward with the suggestion of using reconstituted stone simulating Portland stone produced by the local firm Grecon (Romsey) Ltd. This was followed through, and the finished product delivered on time.

The artwork for the plaque proved to be more difficult. John Davidson, a leader of the Hampshire County Council Countryside Service was both helpful and encouraging throughout the planning of the project.

He volunteered their Art Department who proved unable to perform and the work went to R Elliott & Co. Ltd of Portsmouth. Not only did Mr Davidson agree some of the cost of the artwork but he also arranged for a concrete foundation to be laid at Abbotswell.

This support was greatly appreciated.

The polished stainless-steel disc was made and etched by Galsworthy Ltd of Bath. Grecon delivered the stone to Abbotswell on the morning of Monday December 20th, mercifully a dry day.

Ian Godfrey helped to line up the North/South axis for the compass rose then Dave and Andy Deacon took over the delicate operation of sticking the steel disc into the recessed head of the stone.

With great ingenuity a tent was purposed – built over the stone (looking like a great privy for the millennium, surely not) and a gas heater suspended in order to raise the temperature enough to set the epoxy glue.

Near panic as the plaque oozed fast setting glue and refused to lie down; but in the end all was well and the tent buttoned up concealing the completed monument until the official unveiling at 12 noon on Friday 31st December.

The ceremony was performed by Jim Biddle with Jean at his side, a happy coincidence with their golden wedding anniversary.

The appearance of Mr Young’s steam roller from Chilly Hill added weight to the occasion enjoyed by a large gathering many of whom moved to The Hyde War Memorial Village Hall for a celebration lunch.

Robin Richards

Millennium Mugs

The Committee decided that it would be appropriate for each child below the age of 16 (in the parish) to receive a mug as a memento of the Millennium.

We wanted something unique that would reflect our area as well as the year 2000. We also felt that it should be produced locally.

Josephine Blackwell of The Studio, Godshill Cross was approached. She produced a design depicting New Forest ponies with Hyde Church in the background which won immediate approval.

The pottery mugs were light grey with dark green decoration.

The Committee brought chocolate Easter Eggs filled with Smarties and put one in each mug with a wrapper saying it had come from the Millennium Committee. These were delivered in the week prior to Easter, 2000 and have been very well received.

Marion Gregory

The Capsule

We go to the celebration week in July.

The Mother’s Union were given the use of the Village Hall, on the Tuesday of the Millenium week and invitations were sent out and the children asked to draw a picture or write a poem on the back and return it.

These were to go into a Time Capsule.

The pictures and stories were amazing.

They were on show at the Mother’s Union AGM, well done to you all.

The Time Capsule is oblong A4 size, within are the invitations, photographs, list of helpers, food, games plus the Parish Magazine ‘The Link’ and details of other events that happened during the week.

On the lid is: HYDE MOTHERS UNION PARTY JULY 2000.

The Time Capsule was then welded and placed in the loft of Hyde Primary School. The capsule will be opened in the year 2030 or when someone remembers it!

Enid Jukes

A Personal View

In 1995 I decided that my Millennium gift to the parish would be a map siting all the houses in the parish surrounded by thumbnail sketches/paintings of all the buildings and houses.

I thought there were say 40-50 houses to deal with (remember we were newcomers of only three years residence) this would entail a production rate of approximately 8 ¨C 10 a year to meet the deadline so in my innocence I started on My Personal View.

Then I discovered the actual size of the parish would require a total of 408 images resulting in at least 80 odd a year to meet the deadline.

A rough outline of the parish boundary being Frogham to Ogdens to North Gorley to the A338 up to the top of Stucton Hill to Blissford to Chilly Hill back to Frogham.

The services of Julie Snook, a cartographer registered with the Ordnance Survey, was obtained to provide an authorised map with each house designated with a number.

There were some surprises, the most extreme being met by the owner dressed from head to foot as a teddy bear and living in her garage.

I was also at times regaled with stories of some of the long-standing families which I have deliberately forgotten and have no intention of repeating.

First, I drew the line sketches in ink and pencil, from there I prepared the final painted version in Victoriana sombre and sepia tones (so I thought) Then I had my first cataract operation and discovered the vivid colours in acrylic paint that I had produced

It turned out fortuitous as it meant they would be seen clearly in the final situation in the village hall foyer where the lighting level is low

W Roy Brown

The Village Millennium Week

Millennium Celebrations continued throughout the year with different events put on by not only the Committee but other groups and organisations.

It was decided to have a week 24th to 29th July to celebrate village life with an event every day of the week in the Village Hall. Later in the year it culminated in the celebration weekend.

The articles below give a flavour of what happened.

Monday 24th – Hyde School – 10am-11am Country Dancing Display 2pm – 3pm Concert

10am-11am Country Dancing Display 2pm – 3pm Concert

On Monday, Hyde Primary School put on a performance at Hyde Memorial Hall to celebrate the Millennium. The Reception and Yr. 1 class did some country dancing and songs.

The Yr. 2 and class 3 sang an African song and read out some animal poems and then Yr. 5 and 6 read out some poems on their thoughts and wishes for the new millennium.

Yr.6 did a series of sketches about their memories of Hyde School.

Lots of people from the village came to watch. Afterwards refreshments were served. We all had an enjoyable day.

Rose Birch and Hale Harding

Children Party – Tuesday 25th – 3.45pm – 5.30pm

Ask any child from 5 -11 years what kind of party they would like, and the answer would be MacDonalds. So, when the members of Hyde Mothers Union decided to give the village children a party to celebrate the Millennium, they just did not ask.

We were given a generous amount of money, and the invitations printed, thank you Terry and Sylvia Sims.

We will give them a real old-fashioned jelly and ice cream tea.

Not only were invitations sent to the children of the school and the village, but they were invited to draw a picture or write a poem on the back, then returned to us and would be placed in a time capsule.

And come they did, big boys and girls, little boys and girls, and it was lovely to watch the big ones taking care of the young ones making sure they were looked after in the rough and tumble of the jolly games.

Fortunately, someone had the bright idea of making sure each had a name card, much easier than asking ‘what’s your name dear’, and very useful for quietly calling to order the one who enjoys being heard as well as seen, no! no names! And in the games, they were each given a coloured card, no forever choosing your best mate for your side, we organisers might be old, but we’ve learnt a trick or two.

I must mention the Hall Committee had done us proud with decorating the Hall, streamers and balloons of every colour gave us a great start.

Sandwiches, cakes, orange and lemon drinks soon filled the tables, every kind of jelly crowded the kitchen tables with a fridge keeping the ice cream frozen.

I must admit to being a little apprehensive as to how we would get fifty children to sing grace before starting on the good things to eat. I doubted if more than a handful would know it, but they joined in with great gusto Hallelujah praise ye the Lord.

Enid Jukes

Social Evening – Wednesday 26th

Many Villagers gathered at the Wine and Cheese Party to see Dr Julie Snook unveil a large- scale map of the Parish which was to be the centre piece to the Millennium Map.

She had carefully plotted each and every household in the Parish and when mounted in the Hall would be surrounded by sketches of each house all carefully cross referenced.

The Link Lunch – Thursday 27th

The Link lunches are a monthly event at the Village Hall and is a get together which happens on the first Thursday. During the Millennium week an extra celebration lunch was organised.

Attending:-

Cooks and Servers:-

Menu

• Chicken Casserole, New Potatoes, Peas and Carrots. Lemon Meringue Pie or Trifle
• Glass of Wine, Grape Juice, Squash, Coffee or Tea
• A slice of delicious Fruit Cake decorated and made by Penny Pennicot

A most happy occasion in a beautifully decorated hall. Everyone enjoyed a splendid meal in the company of good friends, there was a buzz of merry conversation throughout, rounded off with a delightfully decorated cake.

Everyone thanked the cooks and The Millennium Committee upon leaving.

Betty Keith

Saturday 29th – Celebrations of the W.I. and it;s Talents 10.30am – 5.00pm

As part of the Millennium Celebrations Hyde and Frogham Women’s Institute put on an all-day exhibition to illustrate the talents that existed among the members.

This was simply entitled Celebrations of the W.I and its Talents. Exhibits and demonstrations ranged across a wide number of activities – Art, Embroidery, Lace making, Calligraphy, Quilting, Book- Binding, Decoupage, Cookery, Photography and even a Woolly Corner called, From Ewe to You.

There was also a section showing the varied topics that can be studied at the W.Is own college Denham College. Archery, Computing, Golf, Drama and Foreign Languages to name but a few of the courses available to members.

Ploughman’s lunches were served and tea, coffee and cakes was available all day.

Beryl Fletcher

The Celebration Millennium Weekend

Saturday 26th to Monday 28th August

Frogham Fair

The morning was grey and overcast, good news, the tourists wouldn’t disappear to the beach. Fair Today signs put out, leading up to Jim Loader’s field.

The field at 8am looks like a skeleton with just three marquees, stakes and ropes marking out the two Arenas and posts marking stall and game sites, plus toilets, – an elderly creaking wooded caravan type structure, newly painted, and with smart new loo seats.

John Fryer with stalwart workers Dave Deacon, Derek Young, Foster Herd and Rick Neil are moving 460 straw bales yet again.

Those who sink thankfully onto them later in the day will never know the number of times they’ve, been heaved, pulled and pushed.

Ringwood Public Address bring in the caravan, lay cables, erect speakers, ‘1-2-3-4’

rings out as Bill Dow, the ‘Terrier Race’ doyen of 19 years, sets up bales to hide the degutted veteran bike which will pull the rabbit ahead (hopefully) of the racing dogs.

Money will be won and lost on frustration or joy for the dog owners. Peter Brown for the umpteenth year, puts up his display of times past in the Forest.

Joined later by other crafts men and women showing the Townies how it used to be done in the countryside.

The Treasurer’s caravan is in place, an empty safe waiting to be filled? In the second field,

100 straw bales are set out as a maze, with Frogham Fort in the centre, 3 more hold the Lucky Dip sawdust,

Treasure Island is set up, David Bradley’s smart new pirate figures stand round the island, the two Sheaf Tossing poles with crossbar set at the record height of 29ft (nothing metric here please).

Crockery is put on the ‘dresser’ for the Plate Smashing, 20p for 3 balls, and vent your angry! Skittles set up, no time to mow the lane this year, but it HAS been cleared of cow pats. Who put up the Dart board stakes?

– must be for midgets, or people on their knees. But perhaps that’s why the children love it? Tea tent maestro Betty Keith ticks her list as 90 odd cakes arrive.

1.45pm, the gate opens, and the world pours in. Half an hour later a Scout leader comes up the hill to say the 1st car parking field is nearly full, and the 2nd padlocked.

Help! Sue Herd, Fair Organiser summons 2 strong men and they go down to be met with the welcome sight of our village stoic Ann Sevier, a former long-time Fair organiser, today in Special Constable uniform, wielding a pair of bolt cutters.

Ann to the rescue, and problem solved. Phew! Back on the field, Book stall and Bottle Tombola, a big money spinner going great guns.

The Terrier Races are in progress, under the watchful eyes of Bill, sporting a bowler assisted by Robin Richards.

The Tote has a queue of punters, the Birds of Prey have done their first demo, a real crowd puller, as is the Mighty Smith the Strong Man who sets up a Tug of War between 50 children.

Crowds admire Roy Brown’s pen and ink drawings of each house in the Link Villages, the well-polished veteran cars in the Frogham Concourse, and the Gypsy Caravan.

The Godshill Players draw a crowd for their, A Nice Cuppa Tea, playlet, and the young Jazz bytes play to an appreciative audience, including a black labrador who howls in accompaniment!

Locals eat cake and chat in the tea tent. Visitors munch bacon, sausages or beefburgers from BBQ chefs Claire and Ian Godfrey, in their 12th year (achieving their aim of taking £1,000).

Punters win bottles of scotch on the Whiskey Well, buy drinks from Sue Deacon with Laura and Matthew, and Ice Cream cones are dispensed too fast to melt, wonderful sticky job that! The

W.I stall has sold out – well what do you expect? Young and old win cans of drink at the Can Bashing and Ball into Bucket stalls, an adult wins a tray of pork, an under 12 – 2lbs of sausages (a kilo what’s that) on the skittles.

Youngsters win sweeties and matchbox toys for rolling Ping- Pong balls into holes and garages, 20 coconuts knocked off their perches and won.

No-one goes hungry at the fair! But now the last of the 24 Footballs have been kicked into goal and won, the crowds start to leave, and cash starts to pour into Michael Hornsby and David Andrew in the treasurers caravan. Counting begins.

One last event – the Wheelbarrow Race. Strictly for young bucks, pushing a wheelbarrow up a 1 in 3 Blissford Hill. New record – 28 seconds.

No time for us to contemplate a good day – it is time to clear the field for Jims stock. Let’s start moving those bales again!

Some say the English Village fair is a thing of the past. What rubbish. In the year 2000AD our Frogham Fair is alive and kicking.  LONG LIVE FROGHAM FAIR

Sue Herd

Thanksgiving Service

How best to celebrate? It was an open meeting when all were invited to come and tell the assembled committee their good ideas that someone first asked the obvious question – whose birthday is it anyway?

Although some seemed less than comfortable talking openly about Jesus Christ in the Village Hall the conclusion was obvious.

Prominence had to be given to the One whose birth is the reason why this date is so special.

There was an empty tea tent available after the Frogham Fair and an empty day before the Bank Holiday Monday children’s fun day and barn dance.

Worried that some might lack the enthusiasm for a celebration, the idea of a thanksgiving service was born.

But how best to include all and avoid division?

As someone had observed, a year or so back, about the nation’s millennium dome at Greenwich ‘we will get the dome we deserve’.

For the Event in the Tent and for the Christians locally this was a reminder; the contents of one service would reflect where we were spiritually, as always, the greatest challenge is the Person to whom we wanted to give thanks.

Prayerful discernment and God-given wisdom are all important when faced with such a dilemma.

Thank the Lord that he guided us.

Another challenge was the recognition that there were many who had no obvious Christian faith or held entirely different beliefs.

They would be bound to ask, what was this Thanksgiving Service for? or Why did they do it? We could not avoid the timeless questions;

Who are we? Where do we live?

Why are we here? Where are we going? At the threshold of a new Millennium, they had to have the opportunity of finding out that there was more to life than making money, enjoying ease, playing games, surfing the net, travelling further and faster than ever before.

Willing volunteers did the footslogging, and every household received an invitation.

We were led to one verse in the Bible that makes the clearest of statements. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13 v 8).

We remembered the powerful preaching of a Forest-born evangelist and he was available to speak.

Christians from each local church became truly enthusiastic about the prospect of this shared act of worship and offered their contributions.

We were encouraged by the inspiration of a poem specially written for the event.

We found young and old able to worship through drama as well as song, and the Salvation Army sent 24 bandsmen instead of the 12 we requested.

Another of the joys of the event was the harmonious way in which people, many with differing convictions, united and worked together, and, at the last time in the Village Hall, asking for the Lords blessing on the service.

Whether it was stewarding, car parking, running the crèche, making the tea, humping straw bales and seats, wiring the P.A. system, or whatever was needed, there were always volunteers.

The beauty of the flower arrangement gave our well-loved tea tent a different feel.

We were treated to refreshments afterwards.

We thank the Lord that more than 250 filled the tent that afternoon to give thanks to a mighty Saviour, and for a heaven-sent opportunity to bring good news to all, especially those who might not otherwise have been ready to hear the lifesaving gospel of Jesus Christ.

Dunton

The Special Millennium Weekend

What a great time we all had at Frogham Fair. Thank you to everyone involved for all their hard work.

The splendid marquee/tea tent (lent to the village by Mr and Mrs Wintle of Stuckton) then became a Church for the wonderful Sunday service.

All the people who took part, and the 200 plus people who attended really felt the reality of the message that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever’.

Bank Holiday Monday and the marquee changed again, this time becoming the venue for the children’s party, the barn dance and then the disco.

The children’s party was attended by about 50 children who all enjoyed Keeko the clown, the Punch and Judy man, the bouncy castle and the delicious tea.

All the parents enjoyed it too, then the Halestones (from Hale) struck up the music while we all barn danced and ate delicious barbecue.

After that we just about had enough energy left to disco till midnight with Geoff’s disco.

Even councillors were seen doing the Twist (no names, Ann!) and Chris, the St John Ambulance man, were a great dancing example for all of us to try to copy.

It was a really special time for all those involved.

The Millennium Committee would like to thank anyone who helped at, or attended, any of these events.

After all the hard work by the Committee over the past few years we would like to thank everyone for supporting our activities this year, from the unveiling of the Millennium Stone onwards.

Dave Deacon (Chairman of the Millennium Committee)