Hopwood Hall Estate's annual 'Christmas/Friendsgiving'

Christmas Friendsgiving at Hopwood Hall Estate

On Saturday 2 December more than 200 people attended the annual Christmas Friendsgiving event at Hopwood Hall Estate in Middleton.

Mince pies, delicious cakes, tea, coffee and mulled wine were served and everyone raised a cheer to thank the amazing volunteers of Hopwood Hall for their efforts. The volunteers had decorated Hopwood Hall with seasonal flowers and displays including two real eight foot trees donated for the day by Newbank Garden Centre in Royton.

The event was sponsored by Action Together Rochdale and volunteers were presented with 'Certificates of Appreciation' by Hopwood Foundation chairman, Hopwood DePree who personally acknowledged their unique contributions. Former Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Lorraine Worsley Carter also made a speech and added her own words of thanks to all.

Everyone present, volunteers, potential volunteers, Hopwood Foundation Friends, guests and supporters revelled in the glow of community spirit.

Guests were delighted to meet and chat with 95 year old Teresa Harrington who as a young girl of just 15 years old had worked at Hopwood Hall when it was occupied by the Lancashire Cotton Company. Teresa was delighted to be back at the hall again and could recount many tales of her time working there.

In addition a number of former students of the educational establishment based in Hopwood Hall around 30 years ago came along and were able to see their old student accommodation in a new light as they toured the newly created workshop and spoke to the volunteers about their renovation work at the hall which includes creating new stained glass windows to replace those that have been broken and preparing new plasterwork.

Attendees were also able to buy gifts from the temporary Hopwood Foundation gift shop including hand-made wooden toys, hedgehog houses, floral displays, lavender scent bags and Christmas wreaths, all made locally.

More than twenty people signed up to be volunteers at the hall and they will subsequently be gardening, archiving, doing conservation work, making lead windows and plaster mouldings.

If you would like to become a volunteer at Hopwood Hall Estate and join the ‘friends’ in their various activities, please contact: office@hopwoodhallestate.co.uk