In Beloved Memory
Some of you have been reading this newsletter for I've lost track but think it might be 10 years now since the first one. Thank you for your messages of appreciation over the years and for supporting the local businesses we've recommended. This week though I'm taking the liberty of talking about something personal.
Many of you know that three years ago my husband Bill died from Melanoma Cancer. A mole on his arm, removed a year previously with standard 'protocols' having been followed, had metastasised terrifyingly in multiple places in his brain as well as his liver and lungs. Despite swift treatment with immunotherapy and 'stereotactic' radiotherapy he died just 8 weeks after diagnosis.
As well as being a much loved husband and dad, Bill was very much part of our local community including Trustee at St Barbe and previously at Priestlands School, and active member and Treasurer at Lymington Tennis. From the lovely tributes when he died and the things people say when I meet them I know he's still much missed, not just by me and his sons.
Olly's Alps Arc
I knew that one day at least one of our family would be ready to do something positive in Bill's memory. And now my elder son Olly, a keen cyclist who has previously taken on a number of sporting 'challenges' as personal achievements, has set his sights on something enormous. This summer in memory of his dad, he will attempt to cycle an 'Arc of the Alps', from Trieste to Nice. It's 1,900 kilometres, including 35,000 metres of elevation and taking in some of the most iconic ascents on the Tour de France. He will tackle it alone and has targeted to complete it in 8 days.
The photo above was taken a few years ago half way up the infamous Col de Joux Plane in the Alps. Bill and I just about made it with rest stops on e-bikes, Olly had a few days previously managed to cycle up and down it 9 times in one very long day as an 'Everesting' Challenge'! His target this summer is mega, but if anyone can do it!
Focus on Melanoma
The most likely time to be diagnosed with melanoma is later in life. But the underlying cellular damage is most often caused by intermittent, intense sun exposure and severe sunburns experienced much earlier, particularly during childhood and adolescence. For almost as long as I can remember Bill had been incredibly careful about the sun, but like many of our generation, in our early years we were in hindsight reckless in pursuit of a tan.
We wanted to support a charity which felt relevant to our experience and sought advice including from the oncology team at Southampton General. Melanoma Focus fitted the bill: it brings together specialist clinicians to share and further their knowledge and understanding and also informs and supports patients - if we'd known about it 4 years ago we might have dug deeper, and especially pushed for more frequent scans.
It is also working hard to build better awareness and understanding of melanoma amongst the public, including May is Melanoma Awareness month: after the record-breaking May heatwave we've just experienced it's timely to consider that 'More people die of melanoma per year in the UK than in Australia. Nearly 9 in 10 of cases of melanoma are preventable, yet increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. There are now over 20,000 new cases each year in the UK.'
This is the link to Olly's Just Giving page. If you're interested in following his progress over the coming weeks, there are further links from there to his 'rangarides' (!) Instagram page and his Strava feed which he'll be updating regularly with reports on training and preparation, and when he begins the challenge itself on 30 July - with a tracker I'm glad to say! Thank you so much from our family if you would like to make a donation.
OLLY'S ALPS ARC - IN MEMORY OF BILL PORTER
Mole-Mapping at The Arches
It's not yet widely known but as well as its full range of highly valued physiotherapy services, The Arches in Lymington offers mole screening too. Ruby is an experienced Dermatology Specialist Nurse with significant expertise in imaging skin lesions using the specialised high resolution 'Fotofinder' digital imaging system, including advanced magnification 'Dermoscopy' which helps to distinguish between benign growths and life-threatening cancers like melanoma. (This helps doctors spot warning signs that are completely invisible to the naked eye and has the added benefit of reducing the need for surgical biopsies.)
Following a full body skin check, a report will highlight any immediate recommendations. Images are then securely stored, ready for subsequent monitoring and comparison. By following up at recommended intervals, small changes can easily be detected and early signs of skin cancer picked up.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ARCHES MOLE MAPPING CLINIC
Mother-Matching on the forest
This gorgeous little chap was too curious to hide as we walked past on Tuesday morning.
It's Dogstival Weekend!
During this blistering week the organisers have been keeping a close watch on the weather forecast, because the safety and wellbeing of every dog attending is top priority. The good news is that the weekend is looking much cooler, with temperatures expected to peak at around 22°C during the hottest part of the day and with some cloud — 'pawfect weather for a fun-filled day out with your four-legged besties'. But taking no chances, plans are in place to help keep dogs cool and comfortable:
- Not one, not two, but THREE dog pools
- Multiple paddling pools
- Water mutt refill stations across the site
- Pirate Pete on his ATV water refill bowser patrol all weekend topping up bowls and pools — give him a wave, he never says no to a dog cuddle
- Plenty of natural shade from trees
- Marquees and shaded chill-out spots
Top tips for an amazing weekend of waggy tails, happy pups and festival fun are to arrive early, take regular rest and hydration breaks (dogs and humans) and enjoy the vibes!!
News and Events Update
Enormous congratulations to Fairweather's Garden Centre: last week's RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year, Hosta ‘Red Ninja’, was theirs! It has generated lots of excitement within the horticultural world thanks to its remarkable deep red foliage and it follows Fairweather’s previous success with Agapanthus ‘Blackjack’, winner of Chelsea Plant of the Year in 2023.
Congratulations too, to Colten Care's Linden House, whose garden was growing particularly beautifully when we visited on Sunday as part of Lymington Open Gardens. And on that subject, Exbury Gardens at this time of year is a treat to behold and in which to lose oneself for a few hours to 'just be', amongst the trees and shrubs, beside the lakes and down by the river too. For RHS members there's also free entry to Exbury, for the whole of the month of June.
The National Park Authority has asked me to mention that this is the final weekend for nominations for the New Forest National Park Awards, which acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful people who work year-round to support the New Forest’s environment and rural economy. Categories include Best Supporter of Local Produce, Champions of Commoning, Farming and Nature and Sustainability, plus special awards for Young Environmental Champion and Young Farmer. If you know someone who would fit one of these titles, do click the link!
This weekend as the Solent Music Festival reaches its climax there's also a fun-sounding Barn Dance to look forward to at the Treehouses of the Countryside Education Trust - CET Barn Dance is tomorrow evening. And on Sunday at Lime Wood there's a rather special Moth and Nature Morning. And on Tuesday the New Forest Meddlars will be Morris Dancing on the Quay! (I'm afraid the Countryside Workshop: Nightjar Birdwatching next Thursday evening is fully booked, but in the next few weeks on the heath after sunset we have a good chance of hearing one.)
Looking slightly further ahead we now have details of the Blues Festival at the Turfcutters Arms on Sunday 14 June, see rather fabulous poster below!
I've just added Members' August events below too - it's made the list of upcoming events longer than ever, but lots of people are starting now to plan their summer holiday calendars and activities.
And now, wishing you all a very lovely final weekend of May!
Best wishes Jane
Read the rest of this week's newsletter here
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