Marlow Choral Society Concert for Harry

The Marlow Choral Society Christmas Concert held on 11^th December, compered by Robin McCallum ITV weather presenter, raised £2,560. Pictured is Jackie Duxbury Concert Director who presented a cheque for £1000 to Richard and Judi Mills for the Harry Mills Meningitis Research Fund. The Choral Society has also given £1,650 to the Willow Foundation, setup by sports presenter Bob Wilson and his wife in memory of their daughter. The Willow Foundation provides days out for children and young people who are terminally ill.

It is wonderful that Harry is still remembered by so many people. It was a terrific evening made all the more poignant because the Marlow Choral Society sang at Harry’s funeral. The £1000 will contribute to research to find a vaccine for this terrible disease.

Next concert May 14^th – new members always welcome and we meet Monday nights at the Methodist Church Hall 8pm in Marlow.

Meningitis Research Foundation Magazine Features Harry

Edition 3 of the 2010 Meningitis Research Foundation Microscope magazine featured Harry. Click on the image to expand the page:

Sharon Runs for Harry Again

Sharon Fox who new Harry when she was a member of the team of John Hampden Grammar School cleaners, ran the Wycombe Half Marathon again to raise funds for Meningitis Research. Sharon raised £30 which is particularly poignant because she lost her 13 year old son in an accident in 2006.

Harry's Lunch 2010 - A Great Success

2010 was the most successful Harry's Lunch ever. With a record number of over 120 guests, the event raised an amazing £3250 for the Child Bereavement Charity. Ann Chalmers in a moving speech on behalf of the charity said that the funds were vital in their work of supporting families and professionals dealing with bereavement.

It was a wonderful occasion on a sunny day on Wednesday 22^nd September attended by many local people as well as others from further afield. The lunch took place at the historic former nunnery St Katherines in Parmoor near Frieth . Guests were welcomed with a Pimms and canapés reception and serenaded with the beautiful voice of Lizzie Fulton, a talented Marlow singer.

A delicious lunch followed with coffee and hedgehog biscuits to complete the meal.

The success of the lunch was largely due to the generosity of local businesses and individuals who donated wonderful prizes either for the raffle or Silent Auction. There were also many people who sponsored various aspects of the lunch like the Pimms Reception and and wine for the lunch. Joint organisers Wendi Parcell and Judi Mills said “ we were overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of everyone involved with the lunch”.

St Katharine's has been the venue for all three annual Harry's lunches to date, and has enthusiastically embraced the annual theme - sunflowers (2008), butterflies (2009) and hedgehogs (2010). '" Beth and her staff always go the extra mile to make sure Harry's Lunch is a truly special occasion & we really appreciate their time, understanding and hard work. Harry was a very special boy and it's wonderful to have such an event to remember him by as well as raising valuable funds for charity," said Judi Mills.

The next 'Harry's Lunch' is at St Kathrine’s,Parmoor will be on Weds 21st September 2011.

Please click here to see photo's

Sponsors Raffle and Silent Auction (click)

See Feature in the Bucks Free Press

Nina Hamelink Wins Harry's Fair Play Award

Congratulations to Nina who won The Harry Mills Fair Play Award at Spinfield School.

Marks and Spencer Marlow Raise £954 for Harry

Marks & Spencer Simply Foods in Marlow have raised £784 in total for Harry’s fund at the Meningitis Research Foundation. A sponsored walk raised £262, sponsorship raised £180 in and the remainder was raised in store. Additionally M&S have added a further £170.

The M&S team are pictured on the sponsored walk in June - pictured from left to right Cameron, Jill, Wanda, Doug, Clowie and Yvonne.

Click here for more photos

Funds Raised in Harry's Memory

 
TOTAL FUNDS RAISED

The total funds raised in memory of Harry are as follows (all on-line and off-line donations) :

Meningitis Trust £4,691
Meningitis Research Foundation £100,371.00
Youth Sports Trust £14,402
Child Bereavement £3,750
Oxford Transplant Foundation £4,500
Bisham Church £1,000

TOTAL   £128,714.00

Many thanks from the Mills family for all your efforts. This is a fantastic sum of money that is still growing. A wonderful tribute to Harry's memory. 

Please visit the Meningitis Research Foundation for for an update on Meningitis B Vaccines research and Harry's story.

Harry’s Lunch Weds 22nd Sept 2010

We're delighted to be running Harry's lunch for the third year on Wednesday 22nd September 2010. It will be held once again at St Katherines in Parmoor and the chosen charity this year is the Child Bereavement Trust.

The menu will be a choice of Salmon with Pesto Crust, Chicken Provencale or the vegetarian option of Aubergine and Mozzarella Bake/ Towers. This will be served with seasonal vegetables and minted potatoes. This will be followed by a dessert of Chocolate Brownie with Cream or Meringue Hedgehogs with Fruit Couli. Tea and Coffee will then be served.

Please could you advise us of your choice when booking your ticket.

We do hope you can come along and bring your friends. It would be lovely to see you all again this year for this fun and sociable occasion and also to raise valuable funds for charity. As you know we do like a theme and this year is no different. It is to be Harvest time with the addition of hedgehogs!

Tickets remain at the same price of £25.00.

For tickets or more information please contact Judi 01628 483962 hithemills@clara.co.uk or Wendi on 01628 475150 wendiparcell@sabrehost.net.

Thanking you for your continued support.

Wendi and Judi

Marlow Merlins Rugby Awards Evening: 7th May 2010

An annual event, the Merlins Awards Evening is an opportunity for the parents & boys to get together over a curry and celebrate achievements both on and off the pitch.

The Harry Mills award was presented by Ali Buckle, Head Coach & Judi Mills and recognised ‘enthusiasm, passion and commitment’ to rugby and Marlow RFC in particular. This year’s winner was Leighton Jones who despite not having anyone playing for the Merlins, faithfully coaches every week, a smile on his face, through wind, rain and snow, thereby demonstrating Harry’s values.

Ali went on to say "Leighton Jones is Fixtures Secretary and a senior player at the club and asked the Merlins whether we needed any coaching help at the start of last season. He has two girls and a very young son, none of whom play rugby, so he comes down to help out purely because he loves the club, the game and the age group. He makes training fun, and the boys have really benefitted from his unique coaching style this season. A worthy winner of our most special award, which this year took the form of a nice "Harry" engraved tankard."

Marlow Merlins U15s Easter Rugby Tour & Dorset Tournament

Over Easter, Marlow Merlins toured in France, playing Montigny-le-Bretonneux u15s. Hard fought, the boys played well but eventually lost to the stronger French side.

John Watson (Marlow Merlins) presented the winners with a pair of ‘Harry’s socks’ and said that the team would be remembering Harry with a minute’s silence during their game on 25^th April.The French players were touched by Harry’s story and wanted to wear the socks at their next match, Thierry Lucidarme (Montigny-le-Brettoneux) sent the attached photos of his team wearing ‘Harry’s socks’ during a match the following weekend.

Harry’s socks were also presented to Dorset (see email below)..

“Just to let you know that that the Merlin's remembered Harry today. We travelled to North Dorset, we told them of Harry and what he meant to us and gave their captain a pair of "HM" socks. We then had 30 seconds of clapping and a noisy 3 cheers for Harry. We came second in the rugby but made some great friends and hopefully they will visit us next season.” The teams are pictured observing a minutes silence for Harry.

Marlow Mini Rugby Tournament 28th March 2010

The Marlow Mini Rugby Tournament played host to over 2000 young rugby players and supporters. Since Harry died, a special trophy has been awarded in his memory to the winning u12s side.
London Irish were the victors. A strong team, this is the second time an U12 side from their club has won the Harry Mills Memorial Cup. England & Wasps player joined us for the presentation along with Rhys Durkin from London Irish who himself had meningitis as a baby and has come along to the presentation of Harry’s Cup every March since 2008.

Steve King: Great North Run & Marlow 5

Steve King joined 54,000 runners for September 2009’s Great North Run in Newcastle and 2,000 entrants for the Marlow 5, running for the Meningitis Research Foundation. He completed the both races in excellent times and raised a total of £1650.

Guy Lambert: Marlow 5 - 9th May 2010

15 year old Guy Lambert ran the Marlow 5, a 5mile road race around Marlow. He achieved an impressive time of 40mins 33secs and raised £50 for the Meningitis Trust. He intends to run it again next year when his mother Jane runs for the first time – is he worried? Nah!

John Hampden Grammar School - Harry’s Rose Garden

John Hampden established a permanent memorial to Harry and Year 8 pupil, Benny May (who died in an accident May 10^th 2007) in the form of a rose garden. Located in the main quad with a simple stone plaque, the garden is an oasis of tranquillity amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday school life.

Vicky and Michael Hit Their £500 Target

Vicky Tippell (on the right with Jenny - Harry's sister) and friend Michael 'Spiderman' Greene have hit their £500 target running the Bath Half Marathon. To date £680 have been raised for the Meningitis Research Foundation. You can still donate at their Justgiving site.

They can be seen on the attached photo looking remarkably cool and relaxed after all the exertion.