Some members have already done jobs which have not required a long presence at the mill. However, work has been limited whilst insurance was being arranged.

We have now arranged insurance cover for Friends working at the mill in any capacity, through the British Association of Friends of Museums, of which we are a member. At present this is £2M for Public Liability and £10k for Accident. BafM are looking at the Public Liability cover and this may be increased.

We are also looking at the purchase of safety equipment.

Work such as cleaning of the exterior and sealing of leaking weather-boarding is a priority as this will be immediately visible to the public and will advertise the fact that we are trying to make progress.

With a sufficient number of volunteers we should be able to arrange regular working parties, either on week-day evenings or at week-ends when the mill is not open to the public. Perhaps we can arrange groups for specific tasks and thus reduce pressure on Bob who is very involved with the setting up of the building preservation trust.

We will have a meeting at the Mill on Tuesday 11^th June from 7.00 pm to consider how to start the ball rolling.

Anyone interested should contact Bob, particularly if they are unable to come along on that evening.

We need more guides on our open days and would appreciate volunteers for training. This is not a difficult job. A little knowledge of the history of the mill and its working is all that is necessary, together with patience, humour and a readiness to climb the stairs two or three times during the afternoon. General help would also be appreciated. Getting ready for the visitors takes time and effort and sometimes it is also necessary to supervise the queue of visitors to make sure people are taken in turn.

Windmill opening on Saturday 15^th and Sunday 16^th .

On the 14^th and 15^th June the ‘Planet Havering’ show will take place in Harrow Lodge Park. Planet Havering is described as a ‘Family Entertainment to promote a Quality Environment in Havering’. This event is aimed at conservation and ecological issues and many schools visit the show, especially on the Friday. We will share a stand with the Havering Conservation Officer. Last year we had enquiries from school teachers who were interested in bringing parties of children to the mill. We need to arouse more interest this year. The educational value of the mill has often been emphasised and it is important that we create more interest among the schools in Havering and at least the nearer boroughs of Greater London.

Bob Sharp will be on the stand on the Friday but, as the Saturday is the normal windmill opening, he would greatly appreciate offers from some Friends to staff the stand on the Saturday. If a number of people could each give an hour or so, this would be very welcome. Assistance with preparing our display and setting it up would also be welcome.

The Sussex Mills Group are visiting Essex on Wednesday the 10^th and are being given a tour of some Essex mills, hosted by Essex Mills Group. Any of our members who would like to join the tour would be welcome. Mountnessing, Stock and Aythorpe Roding mills will be visited. The tour will commence at Upminster Windmill at 11.30 a.m.

The normal week-end opening will be the 20th and 21st.

Stephen Wicks is organising a ‘fun walk’ round Upminster on Sunday the 11^th - see FUTURE EVENTS below.

The normal week-end opening will be the 17th and 18th.

We shall be at the Havering Show on the Sunday and Monday (25^th and 26^th) of the Bank Holiday week-end and, again, we would be glad of volunteers to help staff the stand and also to help with the preparation of display material.

The September week-end opening on the 21^st and 22^nd will coincide with London Open House Weekend and I expect we shall have a large number of visitors on that weekend. On Sunday 22^nd the Romford Tractor Group will be at the mill with their vintage tractors and stationary engines.

Possible barn dance

Concert by the Thurrock Male Voice Choir in Upminster Methodist Church on Saturday 23^rd.

A Fun Walk for the Windmill is being arranged for Sunday 11 August 2002. Please see enclosed sheet for more details.

If you can assist as a ‘Walking Steward’ please add a note on the FUN WALK form when you return it to Richard Saville.

‘Non-walking’ helpers will also be required in the windmill field during the afternoon. We are hoping to follow the walk with a barbeque in the mill field. If you would like to help in any way please complete and return the reply slip enclosed or telephone Richard Saville (01708 221903).

Trevor Watts, one of our guides, has recently visited Sarre Mill on the Isle of Thanet, in Kent. He found it an extremely interesting and enjoyable visit and would like to arrange a date for Friends of Upminster Windmill to share the experience.

Sarre Mill, built in 1820, is a typical Kentish Smock Windmill and is one of England’s few remaining commercially worked mills. Most of the original machinery survives and is still in use today. On windy days you can see the mill at work. It produces high quality stone-ground flour in the traditional way.

In addition to exploring the five different levels within the mill, you can view some interesting items of agricultural machinery, domestic and agricultural implements. There is a Mill Shop which sells Sarre Mill flour, bread and cakes and a varied selection of craft-work. On the ground floor of the old granary, the Tea Rooms serve hot and cold snacks and afternoon teas.

A visit to Sarre Mill is a ‘must’ for windmill enthusiasts and an ideal training opportunity for guides. We hope to have a fifteen seater minibus available for the occasion. The visit will probably be arranged for a Saturday. If you would like to go please telephone Trevor, as soon as possible, on 07932 950148 (after 7 pm) so that a date can be fixed.

We are arranging a visit to the Houses of Parliament in July. The date will be either 1^st, 2^nd, 8^th or 9^th July. The tour, for up to 16 people, will start at the Victoria Tower. We shall visit the House of Lords first (including the robing rooms) and then proceed to the Commons.

The start time will be 10am or 11am and the cost will be £26 for the party, payable to the guide on completion of the tour. We therefore need as many people as possible (up to a total of 16) to reduce the cost per head. If you would like more information please telephone Bob Sharp (01708 224060) or Brenda Coombs (01708 221298) after 10^th June or complete the reply slip enclosed.

What other social events would you like to be arranged? Suggestions from members would be greatly appreciated. Would you like to organise a future social event? Please contact Brenda Coombs (01708 221298) or Richard Saville (01708 221903) with your ideas and offers of help.

A sweatshirt has been specially designed for the Friends of Upminster Windmill. The sweatshirts, (unisex), would give guides, helpers and other Friends of the group an ‘identity’. A sample sweatshirt was displayed at our Annual General Meeting and we would now like to know how many of them will be required.

The sweatshirts are of good quality cotton, light grey in colour with a discreet grey/black motif of our Mill on the front top left side. We have been advised by the producers that, as the sweatshirts are designed as outer garments, they are generously sized and the larger the size, the longer the sleeve length.

An order form is enclosed and approximate sizes are indicated.

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

Derek Chetwin Stephanie & Victoria Clayton Richard Hay Jeremy Orbell Colin & Dawn Finch Gina Kemp Mr & Mrs A Mundy, Joel & Max Mary Purvis Brian Moore

Individual Membership fee is £7.00 per year and Family Membership is £10.00 per year (for family members at the same address). If you would like a membership form for a friend please let me know.

Brenda Coombs, Membership Secretary

1 Highview Gardens, Upminster, RM14 2YU

01708 221298

Email bd.coombs@virgin.net

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