On 3rd April our village hall saw the results of many weeks' work & planning by Michael Hardy to have a reunion of people who were involved in one way or another in the windmill restoration, subsequent mainteneance, or wardening of the windmill. Many people have died since the restoration work began in 1971, of course. Michael and the rest of the committee realised that many of us have not seen each other for years or even decades and he thought this celebration could provide the opportunity for people to meet up again, or for the first time.
Rosemarie Smith of Windmill Farm and her son, Nick, the owners of the
windmill, together with some members of The Chiltern Society and the
Windmill Restoration Committee were also guests.
For that reason, Michael introduced everyone by name to the rest of us in
the audience and explained briefly what we all did in support of our
windmill.
He also explained the many new displays in the exhibition, some of which
will be on show in the windmill when it opens on 1st May. He has certainly
done a lot of researching and preparation of durable displays, including
many newspaper cuttings. Certainly not all were from the Bucks Free Press
or Bucks Herald, but other local and national newspapers.
The restoration of the 350-year-old windmill actually started on 9th October
1971, when a crane removed the cap roof, windshaft with brake wheel and the
cap frame.
The ladies of LG&LR WI served their usual welcome tea, sandwiches & cakes.
Michael introduced Barbara Wallis, widow of Christopher who had very
competently master-minded and supervised the restoration right until its
completion - he died in 2006. Barbara cut the celebratory cake, which was
made by Julie Oldroyd, Jill and Chris Baker's daughter - very worthy of the
occasion.
No-one had time to take full advantage of the comprehensive and really
interesting collection of displays about the windmill.
Norman Tyler
