Thanksgiving celebrations at Hopwood Hall Estate

Photo: Fred Leao Prado Wall

Thanksgiving event at Hopwood Hall Estate

Volunteers were thanked for their support of the ongoing restoration of Hopwood Hall Estate in a special Thanksgiving event and open day on 26 November.

There were 110 people who came throughout the day to celebrate, enjoy mulled wine and a sumptuous spread of food, whilst visitors learned more about the renovation project and how to become involved in the rescue of the Grade-II* listed building.

The public open day coincided with Thanksgiving – an important date in the American calendar when people give thanks – and as Hopwood DePree – who is leading the restoration of his ancestral home– hails from America, it seemed like a fitting day to hold the celebration.

This is the second year in a row for what hopes to be an ongoing tradition at the hall, with the ‘Hopwood Foundation Friends’ volunteer group recognising it as their annual ‘Friendsgiving’.

Hopwood also presented certificates to the 'Hopwood Foundation Friends volunteers to thank them for their sterling work for the hall.

One of the star visitors was George Higgs, a Hopwood Foundation Friend volunteers who dressed as The Herald of Christmas and welcomed everyone as they arrived.  

George also dresses as Father Christmas for local events and on Christmas Day he visits children who are in hospital in the Oldham area.