Deer Rudding

The house known as Deer Rudding, about two miles along the road at Millhouse, opened its garden today to raise money for a local charity.  It is a private house with an immaculately-kept eight-acre garden, and so is of great local interest.
The photo shows the ruins of the original farm cottage in the foreground, with a barn-conversion annexed to the newer house in the background.
Until 2006 it was the home of our then MP, David Maclean, who was Conservative Chief Whip, until he was obliged to stand down owing to multiple sclerosis.  David used to enjoy making chutney, labelled as ‘Old Mac’s Chutney’, which he and his wife, Jay, would give to friends.
I once took a photograph of him for the local newspaper, wearing a policeman’s helmet at a village fete.