Transition - You may have already heard of the Transition Towns Initiative. It was started in 2005 in Totnes, Devon. They started to look at the food they ate and when, the energy they produced and used, the waste they made, their journeys and use of transport and the skills that people are taught. They have since brought out the Totnes Pound – a local currency, for paying local people.
Towns around the country have followed suit and there are now, not only Transition towns, but cities, districts, villages, and now a forest.

New Forest Transition - In November last year, New Forest Transition had their first event, attended by over 90 people from groups and organisations across the Forest already participating in transition like activities eg growing their own food, producing their own renewable energy, recycling our waste products and training. The event brought people together and something started to happen. Groups began to form. Talk was productive and unstoppable. The result was 10 new groups across the forest formed. There are three theme groups tackling:

FOOD, TRANSPORT, EDUCATION and RENEWABLE ENERGY

But also 9 locality groups in

FORDINGBRIDGE, BROCKENHURST, LYMINGTON, HYDE, NEW MILTON, RINGWOOD, HYDE, HALE and MINSTEAD

New Forest Transition now has their own website (www.newforesttransition.org) showing events, news articles and separate pages for each of these newly formed groups. If you would like to get involved in your local group or one of the theme groups please contact Richard Barnett (Chair of the NF Transition Hub) chair@newforesttransition.org or on 02380 292531.
New Forest Transition is currently planning an Eat Local Grow Local Campaign

Well, I am now having a bit of a rest after a very full and fulfilling fortnight. I am one of the choristers at St. Thomas' and I thought you should all know the fun we have had during this festive season.

As those of you who attend St. Thomas' regularly know the choir usually sing at least one anthem a week. Well on the Sunday before Christmas we sang over 7 anthems in one day!

Apart from the usual services we also had the Christmas Carol Service of readings and music, Midnight Mass and the Christmas Day service, singing at various nursing homes and the local hospital and raising money at 'The Fishermans rest'.

The start of our Christmas fun was when we were invited to Daphne (alto) and Ivor Johnston's for a party. Food and laughter were in abbundance. Some of the junior chorister became part-time waiters and the evening ended with a choir practiice at the house where regular choristers were joined by their partners and parents in singing. Grateful thnks goes to Ivor and Daphne for allowing an ever expanding choir to take over the house for the evening.

Simon Daish started off the annual carol service with the first verse of 'Once in Royal David's City'. In between lessons the choir, ably led by Fern (former organ scolar) and Martin Penrose (Musical Director of St. Thomas'), sang a variety of new and well known anthems. Itwas nice to see back in the choir Tom (former organ scholar on university hols) and Kathy (a rare day off for a manager of a shop)

Some chorister then spent Christmas week singing at various nursing homes in Lymington which culminated in a group meeting and spending an enjoyable two hours singing in various wards and the outpatients department at Lymington Hospital.

Midnight mass and Christmas Day services were tiring but enjoyable and many of us returned to sing for all services on the Sunday after Christmas.

The next Choir practice is on Friday 2nd January - what do they say about no rest for the wicked! - where new members are always welcome. At present we are on the lookout for sopranos and junior choir members although other voices will of course be always welcome.

A Chorister

Bell ringer, Alison Hyde, has recently announced her engagement to Oliver (Ollie) and all the bell ringers offer our best wishes to them and a very happy life together!

Oliver popped the question on Christmas Eve and, of course, Alison said the big YES!

A wonderful occasion, now the hard work starts in the preparation for the big day!!

Best wishes,
Helena Carr.
Tower Secretary.