“The early summer sun shone for around 65 residents of WJ Mills Trust in Cornwall as they came together for a tea party to celebrate 90 years since the renaming of a street in St Day after the charity’s benefactor.
William John Mills, who was born in St. Day later moved to Devon where he built up the Duchess of Devonshire Dairy. He never forgot his roots and established the charity to look after the ‘poor and needy.’ Since 1933 the Trust has provided homes for around 500 local people right in the heart of this historic village.
The tea party coincided with annual festivities known as St Day Feast, which celebrates the area’s proud mining heritage. The event sees children and adults dancing through the streets in traditional dress to the sounds of the Carharrack and St Day Band.
The following day, local children were given the afternoon off to parade from their primary school, stopping to pay their respects at the end of Mills Street, which holds a very special place right at the heart of the village.
The amount of good cheer and appreciation for the work of the Trust, was matched only by the amount of pasties, scones (jam first!) and pots of tea!”
Donna Birrell
Many thanks for sending in your story Donna, looks like you all had a fantastic day!
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posted 12 September 2023