Report from the Windmill Preservation Trust.
Negotiation of the lease has been delayed by Health and Safety matters. The Lease seemed to be acceptable and ready for signature but after receiving a report by the Borough's Health and Safety advisor it was considered that we should not accept the lease until matters of a 'landlord's fittings' nature were corrected. The advisor considered that the gap between the stringers of the stairs and the hand-rails was too great and that children could fall through it (if they tried hard). He also criticised the reefing gallery and was concerned about the strength of the floors, suggesting that a structural survey should be made and that parties should be limited to ten persons. A further problem arose when, following a false alarm, a fire engine arrived at the mill during the visit by Mayors of London Boroughs hosted by our previous Mayor (and good friend) Cllr John Mylod. The engine could not negotiate the entrance to the field which indicated a serious hazard.
Following approval by English Heritage an intermediate rail has been fitted to all the staircases and landings. Over the last week-end the new rail certainly helped young children. The report by the structural engineer has been received and this considers the strength of the floors to be satisfactory. As Martin reports, we shall however continue to restrict the number in parties to ten as we find it easier to control and movement between floors is quicker. The reefing gallery is fairly sound but we do not take visitors out onto it in any case. Trees have been removed from the east side of the entrance to the field and, when the stumps have been removed, access will be satisfactory.
Trevor and Roger have prepared a risk assessment to cover open days and visits run by the Friends and the code of practice to be followed on these occasions is in preparation.
The other item holding signature of the lease is negotiation with the Borough's planning department to obtain agreement to proposals for the visitor centre. This is in progress.
Christmas Sale at the Windmill
We will beholding our Annual Christmas Sale at the Mill on Saturday 2nd December from 10 am to 1 pm.
Christmas Cards, Memorabilia, and the DVD of the Mill will be on sale.
There will also be a Raffle and Refreshments.
London Open House Weekend 14&15 September
You did not have to go into London for the London Open House weekend for there were 3 places in Upminster that were open, The Tithe Barn, Upminster Court (probably for the last time as the council are selling the property) and of course the Upminster Windmill.
At the windmill we had 130 visitors on the Saturday afternoon and in order to cope they had to call Trevor for help. On the Sunday afternoon there were 150 visitors and we gave them all a guided tour in groups of 10 (the committee have decided that this a safe number for a group, therefore limiting numbers in the windmill to approximately 50 at any one time). We were really stretched but with the help of Joyce explaining the history of the windmill from the outside of the mill, and Norma, John, Trevor and Bob giving the inside tours (4 tours each without a break but they did down a cup of tea in order to keep them going), and then there was Martin who tried to co-ordinate the groups and also make the tea, but less said of him! We must not forget Sheila who was manning the successful stall under the gazebo.
It was a most successful weekend although tiring, and our visitors did give us complements, and they also went away enlightened.
If there had been three additional guides on each day, it would have helped. The Friends of Upminster Windmill are always looking for new volunteers (guiding, manning the stall or making the tea/coffee). If you are interested why not telephone Bob Sharp and offer your services, we are all novices who have a desire to pass on our Upminster heritage.
Did you know that in addition to the normal Upminster Windmill monthly openings in 2006, there have, so far, been 31 additional openings for schools, youth, and adult groups? Having Sixth Form College put a play on in the windmill, this took three days of rehearsal, and also last years Mayor of Havering, Councillor John Mylod, entertained other London Mayors at the windmill.
Last year the committee distributed over 100 Teachers’ Information Packs to all junior and senior schools in the borough and some schools in adjoining boroughs, this is starting to bear fruition, as more schools want to visit the windmill.
Bob and Richard have given 8 talks so far to various groups, old and young, around the borough.
We also promoted Upminster Windmill at Planet Havering and the August Bank holiday show in Harrow Lodge Park.
Volunteers man all this work, but it is worth it, as it keeps the Upminster Windmill in the forefront, so that when it comes to be renovated the residents of Havering are aware that it is an important feature.