Newsletter - March 2012

To all Friends of Wheatley Windmill

The Committee recently agreed that members of the Society should be called Friends – hence the above salutation. We hope to see you at the AGM, which will be held on Wednesday 11 April at 7.30pm in the Merry Bells coffee room, High Street, Wheatley.

As those who came to last year’s AGM and also those on email know, Ash Lenton was elected as Chairman. He has gathered together a team of volunteers who, having undergone training with a climbing instructor, are now able to climb up to attach and detach the sail cloths. We plan to do this on all the Open Days and – if there is sufficient wind – to turn the sails. When it is possible, we will grind flour.

Over the last few months Ash and his team have worked hard on maintenance jobs both inside and outside the mill. This included maintenance and repairs to the spur wheel, the brake wheel, the wallower, the governor, and the fan tail. We have repainted the windows and started to repaint the sails.

There is always work to do on the mill both on the ground and up in the air and we always need the help of volunteers. So, if you would like to join the team, do please contact Ash.

Photos and videos of the team at work can be seen on the Facebook page: Facebook/ Wheatley Windmill.

We would also be glad of more volunteers on Open Days, when people are needed to act as stewards in the mill (training will be given) and also to serve tea/coffee and cake. If you are able to help in either of these roles, please let me know.

This newsletter is being sent by email wherever possible, thus saving on stationery and postage costs. If you have received a paper copy but have an email address, please send it to me; you will then also receive any special news items sent out during the year.

With best wishes

Janet Redfern