New Milton Advertiser 25th December 2020

10 · Friday 25th December 2020

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News

Love of books inspires Abigail (6) to publish

Homophobic abuse sentencing A MAN charged over hom- ophobic abuse has been sentenced to 100 hours of un- paid work in the community. When he appeared before Southampton magistrates Jamie Pollington (30), of Clydesdale Way in Totton, admitted the offence, said to be aggravated due to “hos- tility based on the presumed sexual orientation of the vic- tim”. He also pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine. As well as the unpaid work requirement, the Bench ordered Pollington to pay £50 compensation and £180 costs. Youngsters join in Santa Dash PENNINGTON Infant School pupils became the latest entrants to complete their own Santa Dash in aid of Oakhaven Hospice. Youngsters in Father Christmas hats dodged rain showers to run round the site for the charity, which appealed to the community to hold their own socially distanced events after it had to cancel its traditional mass fundraiser this year due to the pandemic. Donate at www.oakhaven hospice.co.uk/donate-2/ Warning over £1k purse thefts CHRISTMAS shoppers are urged to be extra vigilant after nearly £1,000 was stolen in two purse snatches at Totton supermarkets in as many hours. The thefts took place in Morrisons and Asda on Thursday 10th December, and both purses were taken from women’s handbags which had been left open in their trolleys. Local police posted on Facebook: “Please be vigi- lant. Don’t leave your hand- bag open in your trolley as it is incredibly attractive to an opportunistic thief.”

Wick Antiques Ltd Established in 1981

Wick Antiques was founded by Charles Wallrock 32 years ago. Having previously supplied Harrods antiques department for 22 years, he offers his expertise and professional knowledge to help you buy and sell your antiques.

BY ANTONELLA LAZZERI School pupil praised for her writing talent releases first novel A SIX-YEAR-OLD bookworm has self-published her own nov- el after being inspired by the response to a short story she wrote at school. Abigail Coster, from Lyming- ton, who has already devoured texts by Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare, was praised for her writing talent by her head teacher who told her: “I expect you will write a book one day.” The Pennington Infant School pupil promptly decided not to let her tender years hold her back and started to write one – ending up with a 20-chap- ter novel called The Girl Who Had Adventures. Proud mum Joanna told the A&T how Abigail has had a love of books and reading since she was tiny. She said: “Abigail reads fero- ciously. It’s almost all she ever does. She wanted to learn to read as soon as she could, and A FERRARI supercar took the place of Santa’s sleigh to de- liver toys and teddy bears to Honeypot Children’s Charity in the New Forest which provides respite breaks for young carers. The Ferrari Portofino came courtesy of the Meridien Mode- na and Ferrari North Europe car showroom in Lyndhurst. On hand to receive the gifts was Bumble, mascot of the Blackfield-based Honeypot charity which offers children aged five to 15, who are carers for an adult, a chance to enjoy a week’s break full of fun in the Forest.

Busy sailing season fails to make up lost harbour funds Francesco Balli, regional manager for Ferrari North Eu- rope, added: “We hope that by bringing a Ferrari experience to the children we can help create a moment of joy, providing res- pite from what has been an in- credibly difficult year.” DESPITE a busy season be- tween lockdowns, Lymington Harbour Commissioners re- ported one of its key revenue streams was down by nearly a third this summer. The not-for-profit harbour au - thority, which operates berths and facilities at Town Quay, the Harbour Master Pontoon and Dan Bran Pontoon, also has responsibility for maintaining safety in the river. Describing the impact of the reduced revenue as “signifi - cant”, harbour master Ryan Willegers said the authority had worked hard to mitigate losses by reducing costs and taking advance of the government’s furlough scheme and business rates rebate. He continued: “There are a number of costs we simply cannot get away from – such as dredging, and maintaining the navigation aids in the river and maintaining our moorings.” But the start of the vaccina- tion programme has led the au- thority to feel “cautiously opti- mistic” about the future. “Many more people holidayed in the UK this year and I think that trend will continue, which is certainly good news for us,” added Mr Willegers. The short and long-term vis- itor berths, which are let out and managed by the commis- sioners, represent a substantial proportion of its income, gen- erating a combined £230,000 in the last financial year. The recent 32.6% reduction in visitor revenue was primarily down to the first national lock - down between March and July when facilities were closed to visiting sailors, Mr Willegers ex- plained. Financial reports reveal that income generated from visitor berths was down 82% in May and 61% in June. The authority was also unable to let out berths overnight before the easing of the first lockdown restrictions on 4th July, which compounded losses. The number of visitor berths available for short-term let was also reduced this year after the authority switched a propor- tion to longer-term seasonal lets shortly before the first lock - down in a bid to mitigate losses. Mr Willegers said: “When we did reopen fully in July we also limited bookings initially whilst we tried to get a handle on the number of visitors we could ac- commodate with safe social dis- tancing in place.” “At school they were set a task to write a short story during lockdown. When her teacher read Abigail’s, she told her, ‘Wow that’s amazing. I wonder what is going to happen next’. “Abigail asked me if she could continue the story. To be hon- est, she already had the next chapter in her head.” Abigail carried on writing until she had finished a full 20 chapters. The book is about an unnamed little girl with magic powers, but superstitious vil- lagers banish her to grow up in the wild. Joanna said: “She discovers a dragon and a land she didn’t know existed. It is a very lovely story. You would never imagine it had been written by a six- year-old. “We showed it to family and friends, including one who is a teacher and they all said we should publish it. Abigail used an inheritance from her grand- mother to pay for the publish- ing. We are so proud of her.” The book is available to buy by emailing Joanna via arc books24@aol.com or visiting the Facebook page of ARC- Books. Meridien Modena sales man- ager Glenn Butt said: “We are delighted to highlight and sup- port this fantastic local chil- dren’s charity, Honeypot. It was brilliant to meet Bumble and we wish everyone asso- ciated with Honeypot a very happy Christmas and fantastic 2021.”

Items we are actively looking to purchase

Abigail Coster penned The Girl Who had Adventures

Cities and David Copperfield and has now started on Shake- speare.

her reading ability is now far beyond her years. She has con- sumed books like a Tale of Two

Ferrari creates a buzz at Honeypot

We pay top prices and will come to your home.

A supercar from Lyndhurst dropped off toys and teddy bears

Half hulls

Ornamental pieces

For more information please visit our new showroom at Riverside Business Park or call us on 01590 677558 Mon - Fri 9am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm

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Unit 2 Riverside Business Park Lymington, Hants SO41 9BB

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Wick Antiques Ltd