Category: events

Classic Bikes… and more!

It was more than just motorbikes when a Classic Bike Rally assembled at Heage windmill on Sunday, September 10th when, in spite of some inclement weather, some 50 machines were on display.

Along with the bikes, we had a couple of 1933 Morgan three wheel cars and even a custom made Mercian racing pedal cycle.

The Army Bike brought by Ralph and Jane Taylor of Nether Heage

A surprise display was a 1939 wartime dispatch rider’s motor bike, restored and presented by Ralph and Jane Taylor of Nether Heage.

However event organiser for the windmill, Lynn Allen, presented a new award for the event – a Certificate for the Best Bike on Show’, to Graham Walker, who had come on a beautiful 1950’s Norton 19R.

The instigators of the concept of the Windmill rally – Graham Walker and Colin Clemens – told Lynn Allen, event organiser for the windmill: ‘It was always great to come to such a super venue as Heage windmill; everyone is so friendly’.

Despite the weather, many did a tour of the windmill and bought goods from the bric-a brac stall, with all proceeds going to the upkeep of the windmill.

 

American Vehicles a big hit

A glorious sunny day was lit up even more at Heage Windmill with the presence of many large American cars, hot rods and trucks.

Thanks to all those who brought their monster vehicles, namely members of the East Midlands Hot Rods.

On display were several Chevrolets, Fords and Plymouth models.

The event was well supported with craft stalls, mobile refreshments and, of course, the mills renowned ‘bric a brac’  stall.

A ‘significant’ amount was raised for mill funds.

Many people toured the mill, too; and the mill bill, which had been recovered after being stolen in the break in earlier in the week, attracted a lot of attention.

E Type Jags at Heage Windmill

Our classic windmill was complemented last weekend (August 6th) by a display of classic internal combustion engineering married with classy design in the shape of the E-type.

We were visited by more than 20 models of that truly iconic car – the E Type Jaguar – built between 1961 and 1975.

It was exhilarating to see various versions of these multi coloured darlings of the 1960’s and 70’s roaring up the drive and coming to rest in the inner car park.  All these sleek, low profile cars were in superb condition, too.

As Richard Eaton – the Derbyshire & Cheshire E Type Owners Club rep – explains: ‘These are sports cars with true pedigree, based directly on the Le Mans winning D type Jaguars of the 1950s. I don’t believe that any other car has made such an impact on the motoring world; even today they remain eye catching and tremendous fun to drive.’

Thanks to Richard for organising this visit.  Hopefully we’ll see you again next year!

Cobweb Closes the Windmill

The now traditional spinning of a spiders web at Heage windmill took place in lovely sunny conditions at Heage on the windmill’s last day of opening.

Friends of the mill and visitors were all guided by head ‘spider’ Lynn Allen along with her assistant, Jack Evans, into the intricacies of making a web from very stretchy elastic and then carrying and laying it on the field adjacent to the 220-year-old windmill.

This year a good number of adults turned up as well as some children proving that this is an event for people of all ages.

The windmill closed for the winter at 4-00pm on the 29th October and re-opens on 31st March 2018.

In spite of her slumbers the Mill will wake up from time to time as Flour will be on sale at the mill, as available, on the second Saturday of each month, from November until March, from 10-00am until 1-00 pm.

The Mill will also be open for Santa Day on December 3rd when we welcome Santa to use it as his grotto. More details will follow on this event at a later date.

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Gifford

 

Trustee HWS

 

The windmill will be open during 2017 (11-00am to 4-00pm) every weekend from

 April 1st until the end of October.

Santa Day Great Success

Over 400 visitors came to the windmill to enjoy Santa Day last Sunday, December 3rd.

After a very cold week the day dawned cloudy but dry and relatively mild which pleased our Santa who was glad to get away from all that snow up in Lapland.

Santa arrived on a motorised sledge, (kindly loaned by Amber Valley Rotary Club) and was greeted by a crowd of happy and excited youngsters. He soon made himself comfortable in his grotto on the ground floor of the windmill and during his visit saw over 100 children, each of whom received a specially wrapped present from him.

All our visitors enjoyed the entertainments and refreshments available in the nearby marquee and on site, whilst they waited their turn to meet Father Christmas.

To pass the time while waiting, there were various games to play, raffles, Hug a Husky and food, including the very popular hot food van providing a range of things according to taste.

Angela Ward, Chair of the Friends of the Windmill said: ‘It’s been a great day.  Every one of our volunteers has worked hard to make it a success and, above all, the profits will all go to keeping the windmill working. It was also good to see so many people on site enjoying themselves.’

Classic Bike Day – Great Success

At what is now a cherished annual event, well over 100 classic motor bikes made Heage Windmill their destination on Sunday 21st May.

On a bright if largely cloudy day, visitors poured in to see, touch, snap and discuss the bikes, which were of all types, ranging  from tourers to out and out racers.

There were some well known makes such as BSA , Honda, Royal Enfield but notable were a trio of beautiful Vincents, some Harley Davidsons, an MV Augusta and there was even a rare Russian machine on display.

At one point, David Hitchcock from Alvaston appeared on  an unusual bike: a genuine US Secret Service Motorcade Support Vehicle.  In his shades and dark leathers, he replicated the cyborg villain from Terminator 2!

There were a number of back up stalls, including a Tombola and a selection of lovely jewellery, whilst refreshments were in high demand.

All in all the day was a pronounced success, with great feedback from all involved. All profits will go into keeping the mill working and improving the facilities.

Vintage Cars light up National Mills Weekend

The Veteran Car Club made it a memorable National Mills weekend, organised by the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), and supported by Heage Windmill, who welcomed large numbers of visitors on both Saturday and Sunday.

There were 27 cars from the Veteran Car Club, whose members owned cars dating from the 1930s and earlier.

The oldest car was a 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 Tourer whilst the ‘newest’ was a Riley 12/4, dating from 1937.

The cars arrived and departed throughout the day and attracted much attention from mill visitors.

In a corner of the site the Nunsfield Radio Club set up a mobile radio station and made a total of 114 contacts with places as far away as eastern Russia and the United States. They also managed to contact 14 similar clubs who were based at other wind and water  mills in this country, although radio air conditions did not favour local contacts.

Classic Bikes this Sunday, September 10

This Sunday we again have a rally of classic road and racing motor bikes, from a variety of countries including Britain Italy and Japan, all assembled at the windmill, from 11-00 until about 4-00pm.

There will be a great assortment of these bikes, most carefully restored to their original gleaming condition by their now loving owners.

The bikes on show could well include a BSA Rocket, a Kawasaki 750 Dragster, Suzuki T20 – dating from 1967 – as well as more well-known models, such as Matchless, Royal Enfield and Triumph.

There will be great photo opportunities as well as maybe a chance to sit on one of the ‘beasts’.

The event will be again backed up by our popular bric-a brac stall (weather permitting) where the item you have been looking for could just be available.

There will also be a burger van on site for the day. And, of course, our dear ‘Old Lady’, the 220 year old  windmill, will be open for guided tours.

Aleena Naylor opens Heage Windmill 2017 Season

Heage Windmill Opening 2017 - Aleena Naylor 002BBC Radio Derby presenter Aleena Naylor, accompanied by husband Paul and daughter Unity, officially opened Heage Windmill’s 2017 season.

As is usual at our windmill openings, our guest of honour made a grand entrance driving a vintage tractor kindly provided by John Allsop of Belper.

Amidst the celebration was poignancy at the sight of the Derbyshire flag flying at half-mast in memory of Andy Potter, the last Radio Derby presenter to open the windmill in 2014.  Andy died only a few months ago.

Opening proceedings, Trustees Chairman Piers Bostock, welcomed volunteers, friends and visitors and spoke of Andy Potter as a great friend and supporter of the windmill.  Aleena said she was ‘very moved’ to see the flag, then wished the windmill well for the season ahead and cut the ribbon – with a bit of help from Unity.

The Derbyshire flag flies at half-mast in memory of 2014 opener Andy Potter
The Derbyshire flag flies at half-mast in memory of 2014 opener Andy Potter

Heage Windmill Opening 2017 - Aleena Naylor 010Angela Ward, Chair of the Friends of Heage Windmill, thanked all the volunteers for their support and then made an impassioned appeal for more volunteers to help keep the sails turning.

Following a presentation of flowers to Aleena – and a cuddly rabbit and Easter Egg for Unity presented by our own Easter bunny Wosemary Rabbit – Aleena’s family went on a tour inside the windmill, conducted by miller Danny Ashley.  The photos below show what a great family day out can be had visiting the windmill.

The Bank Holiday celebrations continue on Monday when Wosemary Rabbit will lead an Easter Egg Hunt.