stevieb1.. You may be a new PPL but you're starting to sound like a number of private pilots I've experienced.
I can't believe that they go out of their way to be unhelpful because in ATC it's far easier to say "yes". If you are outside of their airspace they may not wish to talk to you because they are busy with other things. Does that not sound reasonable?
Why not telephone Solent and ask if you can sit in with them for a couple of hours to learn about their problems? You might learn something yourself.