Last year was a good season in spite of poor weather on occasions. The Romford Tractor Group visited us on 13^th May and 16^th September with their vintage tractors and stationary engines. May 12/13^th was also National Mills Weekend and Havering Amateur Radio Club ran station GB2UW at the mill on both days, operating on the HF (short wave) and VHF frequency bands. Both the Tractor Group and the Radio Club will come again next year and we hope to have other attractions as well.

A number of Brownie packs visited the Mill on their normal pack evenings and we are pleased to arrange such visits for special groups. We have not had any Cubs yet, so if you know of a pack which would like to come please let us know.

The top class of the Oakfield Montessori School (Harwood Hall) visited us in October. This is an annual event for them. Our Schools Liaison Officer, Sheila Stoker, has tried to raise interest in other schools but has not had much success as yet, so if you are a teacher or a school governor perhaps you could help.

Also in October a group of twelve children from Belarus, with their interpreter Svetlana, came for a tour of the Mill. They were spending four weeks in this country, brought over by Chernobyl Children Life Line which is run by people from the Baptist Church in Upminster and Hornchurch. Svetlana was brilliant and the children obviously enjoyed the visit. It is sad to think that many of them will not live to much more than forty because of radiation poisoning.

Approximately 1200 visitors came to the Mill on open days (260 on the Sunday of London Open House week-end). Our sales revenue was approximately £476 and we received over £625 in donations. We also received a donation of £100 from the Upminster and Cranham Resident’s Association, who are very keen to support us.

The regular Open Days at the Windmill will be 20/21^st April, 11/12^th May, 15/16^th June, 20/21^st July, 17/18^th August and 21/22^nd September. The Essex Mills Group is conducting the Sussex Mills Group on a tour of some Essex mills on Wednesday July 10^th starting at Upminster at about 10 a.m. Any of our Friends would be welcome to come to our mill and meet these enthusiasts. The tour will probably take in Stock, Mountnessing and Stanstead Mountfitchet mills.

We are also hoping to arrange a visit to a working windmill during the year, probably either in Kent or Sussex. Geoff Wood, the Essex County Council mills visit co-ordinator has also said that he would let us know when he and/or the Essex County Millwright are likely to run Mountnessing mill – this might only be at a few hours notice.

This was very successful and raised £795 after expenses - a marvellous result. Our sincere thanks to Gill and Stephen Roome for organising the event and setting the questions, which were wide ranging and humorous.

The hire of the hall was donated by a Friend and a number of raffle prizes were also donated.

As it was found to be impractical to hold a meeting, a paper vote was taken during the Quiz Night and the Constitution adopted at the inaugural meeting was amended as per the sheet attached to this Newsletter. Anyone requiring a complete copy of the amended Constitution should contact Bob Sharp or Frank Morley.

John Winn has arranged a Barn Dance in the main hall at Hall Mead School on Saturday 16^th March. Tickets will be £5 each - bring your own food and drink. Doors open at 7.00 p.m and we would be glad of helpers to set out the hall and to clear it at the end. Dancing is expected to start about 7.30.p.m. If you will be able to help prepare the hall please let Bob know. Please contact one of the following for tickets: Bob Sharp 01708 226040, Richard Saville 01708 221903, Tony Latham 01708 454463, Jane or Richard Moorey 01708 225845.

The Thurrock Male Voice Choir have offered to present a concert in aid of the Windmill and this will take place in the Methodist Church, Hall Lane on Saturday 23^rd November. Further details will be given as soon as available.

The Friends will be represented at Planet Havering and at the Havering Show. Anyone interested in helping at these events should contact Bob Sharp.

Stephen Wicks has offered to organise a walk round the Upminster area in support of the Windmill but we have no details at the moment.

Saint Laurence Parish picnic will be held on the Mill field this year instead of at Stubbers. This will not be on a normal Windmill Open Day but the Mill will be open for the event. More details as soon as available.

It is thought that we could have some more social events – say a cheese and wine evening at the Mill – and it would be a help if one or two Friends could form a small group to organise such functions. Please inform any member of the Committee if you are interested.

A number of jobs have been put in hand, but we cannot do too much until we are sure that satisfactory insurance cover is arranged. Action on this is in hand and will probably be arranged in conjunction with the British Association of Friends of Museums, of which we are now a member group.

Richard Saville and Brian Hayden are making wooden safety fences, similar to those used by BT engineers round manholes in the pavement, to be put round the trap-doors in the various floors of the Mill when we have these open for maintenance work. Martin Withers and Bob Sharp have sealed cracks in the cap roof which were letting rain water in.

One of the next jobs is to put up lights in the container so that we can actually see what we have stored in there. A 50m cable reel has been purchased to allow temporary connection to a socket in the Mill when we need lights in the container.

We are investigating the prices of a good aluminium ladder and some safety equipment to enable work on the sails when the insurance aspect has been sorted.

Saint Laurence Church gardening team have donated a redundant rotary mower to enable us to keep the hard track up the Mill field clear and thus avoid damaging the grass. The mower has been thoroughly overhauled by Lance Jackson.

We welcome the following new members who have joined the Friends since the last newsletter:

Mr Alan Green                        Tony and June Mason                    Mr Gordon Muir

Mrs Joy Caldwell                    Mr and Mrs R Jenkins                   Mr W Hill

Malcolm, Laura, Mark and Russell Charlton 

The Email address for sending correspondence to Bob Sharp is

bobsharp@ukonline.co.uk

If you change your address please let me know so that I can keep our records up to date.

Thank you

Brenda Coombs, Membership Secretary

1 Highview Gardens, Upminster, RM14 2YU

01708 221298

Email bd.coombs@virgin.net

Becomes Section 2 and is amended as follows:

In furtherance of the above Aims and Objects the group, through the Executive Committee, shall: