Thanks to Heather from National Trust for sharing this with readers, in her own words. Ed
The National Trust may not have a restaurant, tea-room or even a kitchen at Bembridge Windmill but what it did have last week was a Michelin Chef.
As a result of a Twitter conversation struck up between Windmill Custodian Kathryn Wilson and Robert Thompson of the Hamborough in Ventnor, Robert spent a morning at the windmill sharing his passion and enthusiasm for bread and baking with children from Bembridge Primary School.
Hands-on action for the children
With his only protection from the elements being the Trust’s small gazebo, Robert soon had the children mixing and kneading different types of bread explaining each stage in a fun and lively manner.
The children really enjoyed the hands-on nature of the activity as well as tasting a selection of bread and scones which Robert had made earlier together with cream and jam.
Only surviving Island mill
Bembridge Windmill is the only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight and one of the Trust’s smaller places.
It is no longer in working order but is a much loved feature in the village community and the Trust is very grateful to Robert for giving up his time to help local children make the connection between the windmill, milling and the bread they eat each day. And who knows? He may even have inspired one of them to become a future Michelin starred Chef.
Bembridge Windmill is open daily until 30 October, from 11am – 5pm (last entry 4.30pm).
