It was by accident rather than choice that Brenda Jones and her husband Jim came to live in Bourne a quarter of a century ago. Their home was in Liverpool but employment prospects were not good and so they decided to seek opportunities elsewhere, preferably a place less densely populated. 

They searched the map and found two suitable locations, Scotland and Lincolnshire, but after several job interviews, they decided to head south to start a new life with their two children Gary, aged 14 and Caroline, aged 12. The company Jim first worked for was based in Spalding and with no permanent accommodation, they lived in a caravan at Pode Hole for seven weeks before buying their present home in Stephenson Way. They were among the first tenants to move in while the estate was being built in 1976 and are still there while Gary and Caroline are both married with families of their own and pursuing successful careers in Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Jim found new employment in Bourne and they were soon involved in local affairs, motivated by a love of the countryside and our past history. They have been associated with the Civic Society since its formative days in 1977 and Jim became a committee member in 1982, later being replaced by Brenda who was also appointed social secretary in 1984, vice-chairman in 1990 and then on the death of Mike Atkins in 2000, she was elected chairman and so fulfilled the wish he had that she should succeed him. Her proudest moment since then was in June 2001 when, at a special lunch given by the Rotary Club of Bourne, she collected their annual silver rose bowl award on behalf of the Civic Society for the most outstanding community achievement during the previous 12 months. Three years later, in June 2004, the award was made yet again, this time to acknowledge the work carried out by Jim who had restored the mill wheels practically single-handed during a year-long project.

But this is no desk bound appointment. Brenda is very much a hands-on official of the society and both she and Jim spend most of their spare time at the Heritage Centre based at the 19th century Baldock's Mill, ensuing that the historic building is always clean and presentable and that new displays are constantly being added. She sweeps, cleans and polishes the interior until it gleams while Jim carries out all of the maintenance work and often cleans out the Bourne Eau that runs past the building at the back, while both can often be seen walking the area with black plastic bags picking up wayside litter. They are also always ready to open the mill if visitors to the town, a school party or organisation, wants to tour the Heritage Centre outside the normal opening hours. There is great admiration for the work they do and it is accepted among members that without Brenda and Jim, the future of Baldock's Mill as a community amenity would be in doubt. 

Both have a love of nature and the countryside that was difficult to sustain in Liverpool but they found everything they wanted in the Bourne area and soon after arriving, they discovered the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The organisation has a link with Grimsthorpe Castle where visitors are welcomed each summer to walk designated paths and they have a shop to supplement their income and boost membership. It is now situated in the old stables but in those days the trust had a caravan near the main gate and when Jim and Brenda decided to join, they cycled there and back to obtain their membership cards, a memorable journey because they had just bought new cycles and Brenda had never ridden one before.

She is now an active worker for the trust and as Membership Secretary for the Bourne area, welcomes newcomers as indeed she once was herself. The cycle has also come in handy because both are fund-raisers for the Lincolnshire Old Churches Trust and always participate in their annual cycle ride round around the parishes, taking in as many churches as possible between 10 a m and 6 p m on a Saturday in late summer and contributing to the trust's funds in the process.

The Heritage Centre, which they now consider a second home, staged an exhibition to mark Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in June 2002 and most of the display work was carried out by Brenda and Jim whose work included giving the building a spring clean, fresh paint on many of the walls, and new displays. The work never ends but it is always voluntary and for the community and the previous month, in May 2002, the couple received The Local newspaper's Rose Award for their dedication to the society and to the countless hours they spent on keeping the mill in trim.

REVISED JUNE 2004

See also   Baldock's Mill   The mill wheels restoration project