Andy Potter Radio Derby Opens Windmill

Opening 2014 - Andy Potter 014Radio Derby’s Andy Potter praised Heage’s ‘glorious windmill’ in officially opening the 2014 season on Easter Saturday.  Driving himself up to the windmill on a vintage tractor.  Andy was then welcomed by Brian Naylor, Vice Chairman of the Friends of the mill.

Andy amused everyone present when he demonstrated the boundless knowledge he had gained on a reconnaissance visit earlier in the week! He regaled the crowd with just some of the facts he learnt about the mill – such as there were 126 shutters in the six sails! In cutting the tape he wished the mill a great season and a nice steady breeze such that flour could regularly  be milled.

Opening 2014 - Andy Potter 012The Mayor of Amber Valley BC , Cllr Angela Ward, who is also the Chair of Heage Windmill Society, was attired in her full regalia and spoke of  the urgent need for some new volunteers to help keep the 200 year old mill working and open to the public. Anyone interested was invited to come to mill and make themselves known. They could be assured of a warm welcome.

Also present was  John Kirkland, Chairman of Bowmer and Kirkland, who is a Patron of the Windmill. He spoke at length of the considerable efforts and commitment shown by the retiring Chairman of Friends, Peter Straw, who had been in office ever since the mill opened in 2002. Mr Kirkland presented Peter with a scroll which recorded him as the first ever Honorary Life Member of Friends.  

The gallery below shows more pictures from the opening, including: the presentation of a scroll to retiring Friends Chairman Peter Straw; a presentation of flowers to John Kirkland’s wife Sheila; the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the planting two years ago of a Hornbeam tree (hornbeam timber is traditionally used to make the cogs for the mechanism inside the windmill); and the unveiling of a plaque to show that the windmill’s new garden plot is dedicated to the memory of Margaret Bonsall – ‘Artist and tireless supporter of Heage Windmill.’  The photo below shows Bryan Bonsall flanked by sons Justin and David.

Miller for a Day

Would you like to find out what it’s like to be a miller?

We can offer you the unique, exciting experience of being ‘Miller for a Day’ and working directly with a skilled miller.

If you are interested – whether male or female – you need to be reasonably fit and able to climb the steep mill stairs many times during the day.  You will need to be at the mill from about 10.15 am to 5.00 pm so you can learn how to set up, operate, and close down the mill.  In so doing, you will become familiar with parts of the mill not normally open to visitors.  If the wind is blowing, we may even be milling flour!

If you are interested, you can contact Lynn Allen on 01773 715 177 (mob 07973 548 551), email her lynnallen13@hotmail.com.  Or, you can fill out a registration form.  Click here to download the form – HWP 026D- M4 Miller for Day Registration

We make a moderate charge of £50 for the experience, the proceeds going into the mill maintenance fund.

Heage Windmill needs Volunteers

Would you like to be a Trustee or Friend of the windmill?

Since Heage Windmill was restored and opened to the public in 2000, it has become a major tourist attraction, attracting around 6000 visitors per year.

The mill is operated as a Charitable Trust and, to keep her operating, we require two groups of volunteers: The Trustees and The Friends.  The Trustees cover the overall necessary legal management whilst The Friends, a group of volunteers coming from assorted disciplines, actually maintain and operate the mill.  This stalwart band has been essential to the machinery restoration, serve as tour guides, serve at the shop and visitor centre, and help run education and social  activities.

With the passage of time, due to age, illness and moving away of some our initial  key  persons, we are in seeking some new recruits in both areas.  So, we are appealing to talented persons,  friends, volunteers and maybe past visitors, to come forward to offer your hidden, or not so hidden, talents to participate in our activities.

The Trustees have a  key role of  ensuring conformity to the Charity Commission’s requirements (including financial matters), planning and managing the development of the site, and ensuring that  Health & Safety criteria are maintained for both staff and visitors. Candidates must be over 18 years of age.  Some understanding of business skills, such as tourism, IT, finance or publicity is helpful but not essential.  What IS essential is your enthusiasm, to ensure our wonderful mill thrives.

The Friends, who actually operate the mill, need some more friendly folk, who will  be trained to be guides or shop workers or who might bring their own already developed maintenance skills and adapt them to the needs of the mill and the surrounds. From these posts it is then possible to move on to became an approved miller.

If you are interested, please email us here or telephone Alan Gifford on 01283 702299