Here we are at the beginning of another year at the mill, and quite a few things have been happening down there, or are planned to happen. So I thought I’d note a few of them down so that everyone’s in the picture. Here are some nuggets of news – in no particular order, but all, I hope, of some interest.

TRUSTEES

The Mill is managed, legally, by a number of trustees. There are six of us at the moment, and there have been some recent changes. To begin with, in February Jeff Gill decided to step down as Chair of the trustees. Nigel Parslow was elected in his place, and it’s good to know that Jeff will be continuing as a Trustee – thanks to him for his hard work. Secondly, David McKeown was re-elected as a trustee after a couple of years of absence. David was our Chairman for several years and led the mill through its critical refurbishment period, so it’s great to have him back.

SITE

Last year we decided to instal two new picnic tables and Tony Andrews constructed the bases in the autumn. Tony and Nigel built the tables and installed them this week, and the grass round the bases will be re-turfed where needed. We‘re hoping they will attract more families to visit the site, both on open days and at other times. The base for the new bench donated by the Owen family is also in place and this will soon be paved with yellow Cambridge gault bricks to match the other one.

We’ve also spread two tons of gravel on the car parking area, which should reduce the puddle problem, and replaced the broken mirror across the road from the exit. Don’t the daffodils look lovely, by the way?

MILL

As you know, there is a long term aspiration for the mill to grind grain again under wind power. That’s  many years ahead, but we are taking the first small steps. Nigel Parslow, assisted by Tim Drury, has been talking to mill experts Dave Pearce and Martin Davies (Cambridge Mills Consultancy)  about what work would be required and the development of a long term plan, which has big logistic and  financial implications. In the short term, Nigel and Tim have freed off the windshaft and the brake mechanism so that the sails, which had been jammed, can now be pushed round again. We may also remove the striking rod, which is sticking out of the back of the mill, until the stocks at the front can be drilled to accommodate the rod. No easy task.

The mill will also be painted this year as part of the established 5 year cycle. We’ll need a cherry picker for this job, which will be useful for any other high level work – such as moving the striking rod.

WELCOME GUESTS

We really want to stay in touch with our visitors, so that we can keep them informed of progress and future events. To this end, please can we all make sure to ask every visitor if they are willing to share their email address with us? The visitor’s book is a good place for this, and we’ll make sure it’s kept outside on the table, and not in a dark corner of the mill. We should promise not to bombard them with marketing material, just to let them know when something’s going on that might interest them.

UNWELOME GUESTS

We’ve had reports of noisy and disruptive visitors to the site, who seem to be particularly keen on parking their cars and playing music very loudly. Not only does this disturb our friends and neighbour Anne in the Mill House, it also carries the risk of scaring away more legitimate visitors such as families with children. The practicalities of some sort of barrier are under investigation.

EVENTS

The snowdrop event is behind us, and what a great one it was; we made over £1000. We plan to hold another quiz night in the village hall – the booking has been made, and the date is 13 September. Please put it in your diary!

MARKETING

We’ve been looking for someone to professionalise our marketing and communications – in particular to redesign and maintain our web site and printed material. We don’t have the skills inhouse, but we have found a young person from a nearby village with the right knowhow who we hope will be willing and able to help us. Discussions are ongoing but watch this space! In the meantime we’ve been talking to Nutwood Pubs, who own the Pheasant, about some form of collaboration. They are keen on the idea of mutual publicity, and perhaps mounting some form of event later in the year.

John has revised the mill brochure, and it will be going to the printers soon.

There, that’s it, you’re up to date, and I hope you found it an interesting read. If you did, please let me know and I’ll produce more of the same in the future.

Kind regards

Neil