MNTV turns 40 - Saturday 13th June 2026 - Lyme Park

Organising a celebration for such a big event takes time, the date was sorted and a room was needed - of the 3 properties we contacted(in 2024!), Lyme Park came up trumps and the room was booked.

‘Suddenly’ it was 2026 and next to sort were the speakers, Tim Jarvis (ex-Chairperson for MNTV, currently living in Essex) said he’d be honoured, but wasn't sure he could make it in person. Hazel Pryor and Charlie Spiller (both joined MNTV in the early days) would be delighted to, so that was sorted. 

Roll forwards to Thursday 11th July and, after a little persuasion, I set off driving in the pouring rain from my home in Edinburgh for Manchester with my parents with home made cakes in the boot of the car and my speech in my laptop case as that was coming too.

Friday arrived and it was raining again, I iced my cakes and practiced my speech that I had spent weeks perfecting, it still wasn’t perfect - it was still raining!

Lime Cakes, fully decorated - Jan-Christof Telford

Saturday dawned and after a poor night's sleep the car was packed with cake and party paraphernalia. Jenny arrived at Lyme Park just ahead of me and my family. Party Paraphernalia and Me dropped off. It was time to start setting up - we had given ourselves 2 hours to get everything ready before our guests arrived. Bunting was put up and cakes were arranged on our wooden cake stand. It was then that someone asked where the plastic glasses for the bubbly were? After a couple of words not to be repeated, I raced across the carpark to see if our car was still there. It was, but Mum and Dad were nowhere to be seen. Managing to track them down, there were no glasses in the boot, but they’d definitely come in the car from Edinburgh! Oh why had I unpacked them when we got to our accommodation, Mum and Dad very kindly said they would return to our accommodation and locate them in the cupboard I thought they were in. Thanks Mum and Dad.

Having got that under control there was another more fun problem, Daniel had been detailed to get two helium balloons, a 4 and a 0. Neil opened the bag they were in and the 0 came out perfectly attached to its ribbons and weight. The 4 however had different ideas and wasn't attached to its ribbons and weight and went sailing up to the ceiling, thus proceeded a game of ‘how many people does it take to get a helium balloon down’, the answer is 3! After trying this pole and that rod plus some sellotape it was finally retrieved but it was a bit deflated and would no longer stand proud, never mind. Thanks to Rangers Chris and Claire plus estate worker Jason for their expertise. 

With Bunting inside and outside, banners put up, care of Jenny, the tables and chairs were set up as was the laptop with pictures from the last 40 years projected onto a big screen - we were ready to go, just! By this time it was 2pm and our guests were arriving, still no glasses…they arrived at about 2.30pm (my thanks must go to my Mum and Dad for that and also for driving down with me for the event). With guests arriving it was time to start mingling…now you’ve heard about the set up I’ve asked Sue B to tell you about how the party went…..

Gosh - what can I say?! - apart from it being a lovely, happy and sociable afternoon; a gathering of current and ex-volunteers from our group, all  together to celebrate an amazing achievement - 40 years of volunteering on Sundays on National Trust properties mainly in the North West, with some weekends at further afield NT properties too.

Bag Design side 1

The committee, led by Ally as our most recent Chairperson, had done a fantastic job in organising today: plenty of nibbles, drinks and cake; lovely decorations and bunting; a fabulous slide show of photos from past workdays and social events as a reminder of what we’ve done over the last 40 years, and of the people we’ve done it with; as well as organising an MNTV ‘40th’ Tote bag, designed with the names of the properties we volunteer at, as a lovely memento of the occasion.

As well as past and current volunteers, and a couple of their dogs, we also had support from the Lyme Park Rangers who came along for the afternoon (some even on their days off) and formerly thanked us for all the volunteering hours we’ve put in at Lyme Park, as well as National Trust properties generally, over the past 40 years.

Bag design side 2

A National Trust photographer circulated during the afternoon taking photos while we were catching up with people we may not have seen for a while then, a little after 3pm, Ally gathered us together for the speeches. 

It started with Ally’s speech, written and read with the usual flair and enthusiasm that we would expect from Ally! 

As Chairperson (and also the program organiser for our workdays), Ally is immensely proud of everything that MNTV has already achieved, and is continuing to achieve, and this was reflected in her speech - it was not only informative but funny and uplifting, a speech with a sparkle, just like Ally:-) 

Ally giving her speech - Jan-Christof Telford

We then heard from our 3 guest speakers, Hazels in person was witty and full of stories,  Tim and Charlie hadn’t actually been able to join us themselves, both had sent their thoughts to Ally and these were read out by Daniel and Denise, two of our committee members. 

In particular Charlie, who lives in the Lakes and was so looking forward to being with us, but due to a last minute staffing issue at work couldn’t be here, was particularly upset at missing our 40th party. 

David receives his 10 year award  - Jan-Christof Telford 

Afterwards five long-service awards were presented by Chris, Lyme Park, Lead Ranger, these were David and Jenny who both received 10 years, Neil who received 15 years, Denise achieved 20 years and Adrian who has done a whopping 35 years. Also receiving long service awards but unable to be at the party were Martin with 10 years and Sue D with 15 years.

Jenny receives her 10 year award - Jan-Christof Telford

Denise receives her 20 year award - Jan-Christof Telford

Neil recieves his 15 year award - Jan Christof Telford

Adrian receives his 35 year award - Jan-Christof Telford

After the cakes had been eaten, or boxed up for tomorrow's workday at Lyme which I was leading, we took down the bunting and the fairy lights, the projector was turned off, and everyone made their way home. 

Neil gave Ally a lift to her accommodation, as the cottage where she was staying with her family was a few mins walk away from Boarfold Scout Camp where Neil is a Warden and where he was staying the night. We squeezed the balloons in the car for Ally’s 3 year old Niece, apparently she loved them!

The Balloons and fairy lights up in Allys accomodation - A Hardy 

 

It was a wonderful afternoon - a joyous celebration as well as a time of reflection for what we’ve already achieved - we’re certainly looking forward to getting back out there and doing much more volunteering.

Social - Winter Walk at Dunham Massey - Sunday 4th January 2026

 Happy New Year!

On Sunday 4th January 2026 instead of our usual Sunday workday we had a social event, a winter walk at Dunham Massey followed by cakes in the tea room (yummy).

Seven volunteers attended the walk and we spent a lovely hour strolling through the parkland, we saw lots of frozen ponds, a few deer and plenty of cakes!

Dunham Massey House

Cake stop - so many lovely cakes

Group photo

Social - National Trust Castlefield Viaduct and Christmas Markets - Sunday 21st December 2025

On Sunday 21st December we had a social event to Castlefield Viaduct and Manchester Christmas Markets, this was to replace the usual workday that we would normally have on a Sunday.

Denise and her partner, Paul were joined by Jean and Tim.  

The 330 metre long Grade II listed viaduct sits in Castlefield, the oldest part of the city of Manchester.  The viaduct was built in 1892 by Heenan and Froude (the same engineers that worked on Blackpool Tower).  The viaduct used to carry heavy rail traffic in and out of Manchester Central Station and Great Northern Warehouse until 1969.

Since 1969 the viaduct has stood unused, the National Trust have since transformed the viaduct into a 'sky garden'.

 

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

At the end of the walkway there is a visitors centre which which was very welcome after a cold walk through the viaduct.

Moss

The National Trust have secured funding to support Phase 2 of the viaduct re-development.

Phase 2 - photo taken from the visitors centre

After the visit we made our way into Manchester and stopped at the Christmas Markets for a drink and a bite to eat.

It was a lovely day, the viaduct was so peaceful and an interesting place, good views of Manchester too.

Social and Workday at Alderley Edge - Sunday 7th September 2025

On Sunday 7th September we had our first combined social event and workday.  We were due to work at Chirk but due to low volunteer numbers the workday was cancelled and we instead had a last minute change of plan...

During the morning we had a tour of Wood Mine which was a guided tour conducted by the Derbyshire Caving Club as part of their open weekend.  Four of us attended the tour and had an amazing morning learning about the history of the mine and touring the underground tunnels and chambers.  Please see a selection of photos from the mine below.

After exiting the mine we encountered torrential rain so had a very wet walk back to the rangers yard to contemplate whether or not we could go ahead with the afternoon workday task of putting up bird boxes.  There were only three volunteers for the afernoon session but due to the nature of the task it was easily completed with such a small group.

After a short lunch break the rain stopped and we managed to get out in the woodland to put up bird boxes, it's the first time I have used a drill on a workday and we discovered that silver birch are the best trees to drill into!

We all had a lovely day.  We plan to organise another mine tour social in Spring 2026.  There are plenty more bird boxes to put up in future workdays.

Denise Clark
Worksite/Social leader

Social - dinner at Spoons then a night at the theatre - Monday 2nd June 2025

We had our first social of the year today.  Six of us met in Macclesfield for dinner at Wetherspoons on Park Green then walked round the corner to MADS theatre to see their production of The Girl On The Train - an adaptation of the best-selling novel and film.  It was a really good show and kept us all enthralled from start to finish.

Daniel

MNTV social - Sunday 5th January - what should have been a walk at Tatton Park

With no ranger picking up the first Sunday of 2025, it was decided that a walk around Tatton Park and a bite of lunch after would be the order of the day.  Unfortunately, with amber weather warnings in force with the threat of snow we decided to cancel the meet up.

We will be back out and about at Lyme Park on 12th January and hope to see you there!

Ten Pin Bowling at Parrs Wood - Thursday 18th April 2024

Seven of us attended the much awaited social event at Parrs Wood Bowling Alley on Thursday 18th April.  Can it really be 12 years since we last went bowling in 2012!

Despite the venue undergoing major renovations it was a good evening and a great atmosphere... only half the lanes were open so it was busy.

Two games of bowling and a drink for £10, not bad value in the current climate.

The bowling alley still had its perspex screens sectioning off each lane and because we had just gone over the six people allowed per lane we were allocated two lanes.  We decided to have a girls versus boys event.  Four girls against three boys... it was a nail biting second game but the girls were the winners with 610 points and the boys trailed behind at 421.

After the bowling we spent a short time in the amusement arcade.

Despite the renovations and the building not being fully operational it was a lovely evening catching up with people I had not seen in a long time.

Denise 

Cancelled Workday - Sunday 10th March 2024 - Chirk Castle and a Wedding

The plan for today was for a trip to Chirk Castle but with it being Mothering Sunday and the weather looking a bit dodgy we only had two people signed up, so it was agreed to cancel the workday and hope that next time we venture that way a few more people will sign up. 

The workday may have been cancelled but that didn't stop 4 members of the group travelling to the Lake District for the weekend to attend the wedding of former worksite leaders Matt Smethurst and Lisa Tyrer. The wedding ceremony took place at Cockermouth Town Hall on Saturday 9th March at 2pm followed by a great celebration at Buttermere Youth Hostel. It was a cold day but we wrapped up warm as much as we could in our finery, the photographer provided some confetti to throw over the happy couple. Lisa's dress was exquisite with embroidery on the skirt it had flowers and butterflies on it. 

                                                                                              

The MNTV committee were delighted to loan the MNTV bunting that member Tricia had made for our 30th Birthday and I can tell you it went round the room once and a little bit more, I hadn't realised quite how long it was. There was also a shorter section of bunting that hung in the entrance way of the youth hostel.

The evening consisted of woodfired pizzas and salads and much cake. There was also a quiz written and presented by the bride and groom.

On Sunday the majority of guests who had stayed at the youth hostel went home after a full cooked breakfast. The rest took a walk to or round Buttermere Lake and although the weather wasn't great it was still enjoyed by most. Once the walk was finished we commenced the big clear up, the bunting came down as did the fairy lights and the table cloths were packed away.

Monday dawned and as we had done the majority of the clearing the day before we hoovered and cleared the remaining bedrooms and divvied out the food.

I was delighted and honoured to attend, I had a great weekend, Many Congratulations to Matt and Lisa, come and see us soon.