Tag: windmill

Classic Bikes a Big Hit

Last Sunday, September 9th, the visit from over 300 classic motor bikes made for another memorable Heage Windmill event.

About 500 visitors came especially to see these gleaming, machines and talk to their proud owners.

As there was sufficient wind, many of those visitors were able to see the sails turn and quite a few toured the windmill and once again obtain flour, stone milled by the wind at Heage.

The classic bikes were of all types, ranging from tourers to out-and-out racers, and there were many well-known makes on show, such as BSA, Honda, and Royal Enfield.  Very notable were some beautiful Vincents, Harley Davidsons and an MV Augusta.

The best bike, judged by Colin Clemens and Les Cross, was a Triumph Trident T160, 1976.  The proud owner Bill Myles was presented with a certificate and the recently launched ‘Dave Cleaver’ trophy, commemorating a man who just loved bikes. This was presented by Colin Clemens who organised the bikes on show.

There was the ever popular Bric-a-Brac on site plus 2 tombolas – one for adults and one for children. Also, refreshments were in high demand both from the Burger Van – many thanks to Alex for bringing it – and from the Visitor Centre.

All in all the day was a great success, with great feedback from everyone involved. All profits, of course, go into keeping the mill working and improving the available facilities and we thank everyone for their support.

Amber Valley Classic Car Club are dropping into the Mill on Saturday 16th September – this will not be a big event and will be weather dependent.

Then on Sunday September 23rd at Heage Windmill there will be the 2nd visit from the vintage tractors – normally a big event.

Italian Cars – un bellissimo evento!

Our first ever rally of Italian Cars – courtesy of Abarth East Midlands & T.I.M UK Motors – proved a great success.

They also brought one the best days we have known at Heage.  It felt positively Mediterranean, just like being in Italy…

Graham Wickham’s Fiat 124 Spider, judged to be the best car on show

There was a wide assortment of cars on show including Fiat, Maserati , Ferrari and  Lamborghini.  The best car on show was  judged to be a Fiat 124 Spider, owned by Graham Wickham

The event was jointly organised by the mill and Attila Csorba, representing   the car owners – and all profits will go to the windmill maintenance fund.

In addition to the cars, the windmill itself received many visitors who also enjoyed a display of pyrography (burnt wood sketching) and helped swell the windmill’s funds even more at the bric a brac stall.

 

 

 

Aimee has ‘amazing day’ as Miller

Aimee Bedward from Birmingham – a dedicated mill enthusiast – was given the ideal birthday gift by her friend Phil: a ‘Miller for the Day’ experience.

This enabled Aimee to enjoy a day’s  training and activity at Heage Windmill, including milling some grain.

Under the supervision and guidance of millers  Anthony Sharp and Tim Castledine, Aimee first started the sails turning, to the delight of watching  visitors.

The sails turned for about an hour requiring her to make frequent adjustments in a variable wind.  It was then decided to introduce Aimee to the process of milling.  She successfully milled 20 Kg of excellent quality Wholemeal Flour.

Later Aimee was in the cap (at the top) of the mill to close the Mill down or, as we say, ‘put the old lady to bed’.

Aimee said she had had ‘a simply amazing day’.

Fancy being a Miller for the Day or gifting someone that experience?  Click here to find out more…

Windmill hosts mill experts

Some 40 international experts on wind and water mills visited the windmill on Thursday, Sept 8th and were very impressed with Derbyshire’s unique, 220-year-old, six sail wind mill, mounted atop her squat stone tower.

All were members of TIMS (The International Molinological Society) with representatives present from 11 countries, some coming from as far away as Japan and the  USA. The visit was part of a week-long tour of some 30 mills, mostly in central England, displaying the wide variety to be found in the area.

The International Molinological Society (TIMS) is the only Society which fosters worldwide interest and understanding of wind, water and animal-driven mills.

The sails were turning when they arrived, to be welcomed by John Boucher (himself a member of TIMS) who was a leading light in the restoration of the mill in 2000. He gave a short talk on how the mill had been restored and then the delegates were free to roam the mill to examine the mechanisms for themselves, with a mill guide on each floor to answer any specific questions.

The society members were very impressed and one delegate commented that ours was a ‘most unusual’ windmill, situated in a ‘beautiful location.’

At the conclusion of the visit Lynn Allen, who had organised the arrangement for this visit, was presented with a ‘TIMS’ mug to add to the mill collection.  They also bought numerous books about the Mill plus various souvenirs of their visit – so the name ‘Heage’ will be spread around the world!

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Windmill receives Best Volunteer Project award

Angela, Lynn and Alan with the windmill's award
Angela, Lynn and Alan with the windmill’s award

Heage Windmill has won Best Volunteer Project in the Derbyshire Heritage Awards for its Trouble at Mill Appeal (TAMA).

The award honours the magnificent efforts made by volunteers at Heage to get the windmill quickly back in action after wet rot was discovered in the cap structure.

The event was attended  by Angela Ward, Chair of the Friends of the windmill, Lynn Allen representing the fundraising team and Alan Clark, who was one of operations team, both teams being set up to deal with the emergency following the discovery of wet rot in August 2015.

As Angela reports: ‘It was quite nail biting as I think we were in the most contested category and I believe there may have been 6 or 7 worthy contenders. When Andy  Potter (Radio Derby) announced the winners as Heage Windmill, I felt so privileged to represent the Friends & Volunteers of the Mill, such an excellent team of hardworking, committed and enthusiastic people who give their time freely to ensure that the ‘Old Lady’ keeps turning for everyone to enjoy.  The award was just the icing on the cake after a demanding time getting her better!’

 

The award plaque will be on permanent display as soon as this can be organised.