Managing the Mill - Mill Trust and Patrons

THE TOWN MILL LYME REGIS Dorset, England


		ABOUT THE TOWN MILL TRUST,
		ITS PATRONS, VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS

		Ownership of the Mill The Town Mill is owned and operated by The Town Mill Trust, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The Trust was established in 1991 and formally constituted in 1994, with the aim of saving the then derelict mill site from partial demolition and conversion into flats and houses.


		The Trustees The Trustees, who are all volunteers, are responsible for the overall direction and management of the Trust and its assets. The Trust formally took over ownership of the mill from West Dorset District Council in January 1995. However, over the ten-year period from 1991, the volunteers who had formed the Trust, led by David West, raised renovation funds of some £800,000 from individuals, local authorities, the Rural Development Commission, and the Heritage Lottery Fund. From the outset, the aims of the Trust were to renovate the buildings in the mill complex for the benefit of people in Lyme Regis and to return the milling equipment to working order. These aims were realised in 2001, when this once derelict mill complex was declared fully open.



The Current Trustees and their Areas of Responsibility:

Godfrey Thomas - Chairman, Finance, Fundraising, Tenants;

Kevin Benfield - Publicity; Martin Diplock - Property; Bob Eliot - History;

George Eyre -Trust and Governance Matters; Diana Forrest - Company Secretary, Shop;

Hilary Highet - Visual Arts; Paul Light - Galleries, Malthouse Use;

Allan Swannell - Projects; Audrey Vivian - Local Liaison.



Mill Patrons

Founding Patrons Our founding Patrons from 1994 were John Fowles, the world-famous author and Muriel Arber, an eminent geologist. Sadly, Muriel passed away in May 2004 at the age of 90 and John died in November 2005, aged 79. In 1983, whilst Honorary Curator of the Lyme Regis Philpot Museum, John Fowles had written about the importance of the historic but derelict Town Mill site and the need to save it. It was, therefore, very fitting that 18 years later, on 26 May 2001, he was the guest of honour at the official opening ceremony of the fully restored and working Town Mill.


Current Patrons The Town Mill Trustees are delighted that the following people with strong interests in the local area have agreed to become our new Patrons of the Town Mill:

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Hugh who became a Patron in 2005, is a celebrity chef and noted TV presenter. His permanent move to Dorset in 1997 led to three series of the River Cottage cookery programmes on Channel 4. He has subsequently gone on to write best selling cookery books based on his River Cottage experience.

Ann Jellicoe. Ann, who became a Patron in 2006, is a playwright (The Sport of My Mad Mother, The Knack) who also pioneered the concept of Community Plays in the late 1970s. Following the huge success of her first Community Play, The Reckoning in Lyme Regis, she set up a Theatre Trust to explore and develop her ideas.

Roger Mayne. Roger, who became a Patron in 2006, is one of the country's top photographers, some of whose work is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery. He was recently awarded the internationally-prestigious Lucie Award, the profession's equivalent of an Oscar. Roger is married to Ann Jellicoe.

Phil Street. Phil, who became a Patron in 2006, is currently the Lyme Regis Town Crier. He is among the world's foremost town criers and combines this post with many other voluntary activities in Lyme whilst still finding time for a demanding job at Westland Helicopters in Yeovil.

Anne Swithinbank. Anne, who became a Patron in 2005. is a nationally recognised garden expert and panellist with Radio Four’s ‘Gardener’s Question Time’. She brings a wealth of gardening knowledge to the Mill and has already cast an eye over the Miller’s Garden to offer her expert advice in further developing the garden.



		Conservation Award

		In 2002, the Trustees of the Town Mill were delighted to hear that the Mills Section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) had, after a detailed inspection by one of its senior members, agreed to grant the Town Mill its prestigious Mills Section Conservation Award

The Award was made 'in recognition of all of the work, including the organisation of the project and the funding, as well as the repairs to the buildings and machinery, that has been undertaken to put the mill back into working order and open to the public'. John Hanson, who was long at the forefront of efforts to save our derelict mill, nominated the Mill for this award.


		The Conservation Award, in the form of a specially cast bronze plaque, was presented on 27 October 2002 by James Waterfield, the Vice Chairman of the SPAB Mills Section. David West, the retired first Chairman of the Town Mill Trust, accepted the award on behalf of the Town Mill. This is only the third SPAB Mills Section Conservation Award made to a watermill. It is also the first to be made to a watermill in the south-west of England



Management of the Town Mill


The overall management of the mill complex and the volunteers is in the hands of a part-time Mill Manager appointed by the Trustees. The mill also has a part-time Arts Coordinator and Mill Gift Shop Manager.



		Volunteers


		The day to day operation of our two art galleries, the garden, the watermill and the mill gift shop is undertaken by dedicated groups of volunteers. New volunteers are always welcome in any of the various areas of our operations. Experienced volunteers are on hand to explain how specific areas work and to train volunteers where necessary.
Find out more about the specific areas where volunteers are needed on our Volunteers Page Or use the contact details at the bottom of this page to contact the Town Mill Manager for further details of how you could help.


Mill Supporters

As a charitable organisation, the Town Mill Trust welcomes supporters of the Mill. For a small annual fee (currently £10) Mill Supporters receive regular Newsletters about progress, developments and events at the mill complex. They can also opt to receive invitations to first night openings of art exhibitions at the Town Mill Galleries.

		Supporters, along with mill volunteers, and their immediate families also enjoy the privilege of free entry to the watermill as well as a 10% discount in the mill shop, art galleries. restaurant, pottery and frame-maker. Use the contact information at the bottom of this page to contact the Town Mill Manager for more information.


	The Town Mill Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3PU, England Tel: 01297 443579 e-mail info@townmill.org.uk