Dear Sheila,

I had to go to see Lord Northbrook at his large new classical home near Bramdean recently.

Close to the entrance there is this windpump, which I seem to remember was in a sorry state some years ago.  The sails are rusty red and are going around merrily in the wind, though making a rather clackety sound.  I suspect this to be the bearings in need of some grease and tlc. 

One gets a good view of it from the house and Lord Northbrook said they are very fond of it.

With best wishes,

Andrew Rutter

Mills Archive Trust Research Competition
£500 and £50 Prizes 

Two prizes are to be awarded to anyone actively engaged in traditional mills research.  Competitors must be over 18 years old and producing original work of around 25,000 words for a chance to win the £500 prize and 5,000 words to win the £50 prize.  In addition to the money, the larger entry will be produced and printed in its own right whilst the successful smaller entry will be printed in a special edition of the Mills Archive’s newsletter, Mill Memories.

The deadline for submissions is 31^st May 2012; full details are available online from the website www.millsarchivetrust.org  or by surface mail from: The Research Management Board, The Mills Archive Trust, Watlington House, Watlington Street, Reading, RG1 4RJ.