Heage Windmill opened by a well-known Auctioneer
On a wonderful sunny morning, on Saturday April 16th, the well-known TV Personality and local Auctioneer Charles Hanson drove, on a vintage 1947 Fordson Tractor, towards Heage Windmill where he was greeted by a large gathering, made up of well over 100 visitors and Friends of the windmill.
He was welcomed by Roger Hatcher, Trustee and Chairman of the Friends of Heage Windmill, who said this visit was a long-standing event, having been originally planned to take place in 2020, but was somewhat delayed by the onset of Covid 19. Roger went on to say how, throughout the pandemic, the mill had continued to mill grain whenever possible and thanked all who had made this happen.
He was followed by Kevin McDonald, Vice Chair of Heage Windmill Society who said he was pleased, on behalf of the Society, to also welcome a local ‘Antique supremo’ to such an antique and jewel in its own right - Heage Windmill. He said that the recent passing of John Kirkland (of B&K) had robbed the windmill of its first patron but was pleased to announce that his son Jack will take over that role and maintain the strong link between the Kirklands and the windmill. Kevin thanked all the trustees and volunteers for their efforts but singled out founder Trustee Alan Gifford and John Boucher, Consultant Millwright, for their roles as driving forces over more than 25 years which had helped make the windmill, the only working one in Derbyshire, the great tourist attraction it now had become.
As an antique expert Charles then said he felt honoured to be invited to open a 225-year-old antique, working machine. He recognised that this required significant effort by the volunteers and commended their work and went on to cut a tape and declare the mill “well and truly open”. He was presented with a large bag of Heage flour and his wife was presented with flowers. Then, joined by his wife Rebecca and their young children Matilda and Frederick, Charles went on tour of the mill.
He finally signed the Visitor BAook as follows:-
‘Provenance and pedigree personified is Heage Windmill – and a jewel in Derbyshire’ - which says it all
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