Five members of the Whitchurch Silk Mill board as well as their Visitor Experience Manager Lisa Gale will be making the most of the ‘Rule of Six’ to get together for a fundraising walk.
On Saturday 24th April they will be setting off from the Silk Mill to follow the course of the River Test as far as Longparish and back, covering between 7 and 8 miles.
They will be with Simon Coates, one of the Mill’s supporters who has undertaken to walk 10 miles a day for 8 months (a total of 2000 miles) in aid of 16 charities in the region, of which the Silk Mill is one. Read more about his challenging project at www.charityhikes.org.uk.
Simon was inspired to add the Mill to his list of charities by his close friend Lisa Gale, who manages the exhibitions and events programme which delight visitors at the Mill.
Simon said, “Whitchurch Silk Mill brings to life for new generations the history of Britain’s oldest working silk mill still in existence, providing an opportunity for them to gain first-hand experience of the skills, techniques and methods used to create beautiful silk fabric in an industrial setting. It is a cause close to my heart.”
Whitchurch Silk Mill has been closed for 7 out of the past 12 months. Despite receiving “lifesaving grants” from government grants, the Silk Mill’s reserves have shrunk alarmingly since the pandemic started.
Essential maintenance and repairs to the 200 year-old building and picturesque riverside gardens risk being delayed if additional funds aren’t found. For more information and details of how you can contribute go to www.charityhikes.org.uk.
