Successful picnic to raise funds for Hinxton Watermill
PICNIC POTTER PACKS THEM IN
Fundraising can be a piece of cake – if only the weather stays fine. The sun managed to shine long enough on the Picnic Potter at Hinxton Mill and £500 was raised towards a facelift for the historic building.
More than 80 picnickers and supporters of the mill paid for a plot in the garden of the mill’s neighbours, Sue and Chris Elliott at Miller’s Cottage, and visitors happily munched their way through the last open afternoon of the 2009 season.
“The weather was so unpredictable in the week before the picnic we did worry that we would be unlucky. High winds almost wrecked the garden and we had to clear away tree branches and debris after one stormy afternoon,” said Sue.
“But thanks to the generosity and efforts of a lot of people who rallied round we were thrilled to add another big contribution to the upkeep of the mill.”
The building was saved from demolition back in the mid 1980s by a campaign by villagers and Cambridge Preservation Society, which was relaunched in September as Cambridge Past, Present and Future. The working water is operated on its monthly summer open days by a team of volunteers led by Martin Fordham.
At least £3,000 will be needed to repaint the exterior of the wooden mill, several rotten timbers have to be treated and replaced and the bridge wall in front of the mill was badly damaged by last winter’s harsh frosts. The money raised by the picnic will be added to a fund which has been growing steady over the last two years. It is hoped enough will be raised so that work can be done next spring, in time for the next opening season beginning in May.
“We thought of holding a picnic fundraiser because there aren’t many places on this stretch of the river where you can sit and have a relaxing afternoon. All of the £10 fees for a picnic space went straight into the repainting fund and the rest was raised from selling pots and pots of tea and encouraging people to eats lots of cake. We also had some very welcome donations,” said Sue.
“I’m really grateful to everyone who provided for the cake stall - we had lots of delicious things to sell on the day, some people even got up at unearthly times that morning to cook for us and others helped us set everything out despite the threatening early clouds. But as the sun came out so did the visitors and we couldn’t have managed without Ali Williams who slaved all afternoon over a steaming teapot.”
For more information about Hinxton Watermill go to Our Attractions page or ring the office on 01223 243830 to learn about more ways you can help fund the work on the mill and support the organisation.
Fundraising can be a piece of cake – if only the weather stays fine. The sun managed to shine long enough on the Picnic Potter at Hinxton Mill and £500 was raised towards a facelift for the historic building.
More than 80 picnickers and supporters of the mill paid for a plot in the garden of the mill’s neighbours, Sue and Chris Elliott at Miller’s Cottage, and visitors happily munched their way through the last open afternoon of the 2009 season.
“The weather was so unpredictable in the week before the picnic we did worry that we would be unlucky. High winds almost wrecked the garden and we had to clear away tree branches and debris after one stormy afternoon,” said Sue.
“But thanks to the generosity and efforts of a lot of people who rallied round we were thrilled to add another big contribution to the upkeep of the mill.”
The building was saved from demolition back in the mid 1980s by a campaign by villagers and Cambridge Preservation Society, which was relaunched in September as Cambridge Past, Present and Future. The working water is operated on its monthly summer open days by a team of volunteers led by Martin Fordham.
At least £3,000 will be needed to repaint the exterior of the wooden mill, several rotten timbers have to be treated and replaced and the bridge wall in front of the mill was badly damaged by last winter’s harsh frosts. The money raised by the picnic will be added to a fund which has been growing steady over the last two years. It is hoped enough will be raised so that work can be done next spring, in time for the next opening season beginning in May.
“We thought of holding a picnic fundraiser because there aren’t many places on this stretch of the river where you can sit and have a relaxing afternoon. All of the £10 fees for a picnic space went straight into the repainting fund and the rest was raised from selling pots and pots of tea and encouraging people to eats lots of cake. We also had some very welcome donations,” said Sue.
“I’m really grateful to everyone who provided for the cake stall - we had lots of delicious things to sell on the day, some people even got up at unearthly times that morning to cook for us and others helped us set everything out despite the threatening early clouds. But as the sun came out so did the visitors and we couldn’t have managed without Ali Williams who slaved all afternoon over a steaming teapot.”
For more information about Hinxton Watermill go to Our Attractions page or ring the office on 01223 243830 to learn about more ways you can help fund the work on the mill and support the organisation.
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posted by Cambridge Past Present and Future at
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