Update – Page 2 – Petersfield Men's Shed

The Open Day was a resounding success with over 100 visitors, the rain stayed away, and we also attracted 15 new members. My thanks to everyone who contributed towards the event.
We are now open every day, Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm. The wood shop is fully operational for your own projects, and we are going to start birdbox and other workshops soon. The only requirement before using is that you must have received training for the general area and each specific piece of equipment; to arrange email Nick at equipmentandtraining@petersfieldmensshed.org.uk
Mike Bookham has set up an IT and Electronics team to develop both the upstairs IT and Craft rooms and launch workshop sessions. Watch this space.
A Gardening Group is in full swing developing the grounds.
Ray hopes to start a guitar playing group, contact Ray at rayvogt@aol.com if interested.
As soon as we have storage, we will empty the small shed and bring together a team interested in developing and equipping the metal shop.
We are waiting to receive a donated shed to create the bike shop. Michael Cowen has already gathered a sizable team who will fettle bikes to sell or donate to charities.
Murray Whewell has taken over as Secretary from Neil Slatter and joins the MC.
We are thinking of having a BBQ for members and partners and suggested date is early evening on Friday 5^th May, just before the coronation weekend. We’ll provide the food, and you bring your own drink. If you are keen, please email me at chair@petersfieldmensshed.org.uk and confirm one or two places.
Our AGM will be taking place in late May, probably at the Half Moon. TBC.
Talking of socials, the management committee (MC) would like to appoint a member to take on a Social Secretary role. This person would work with the MC to organise future social gatherings like the BBQ above, arrange trips and visits to local places of interest, invite members, sort tickets and payments and possibly arrange transport. The scope of this role is wide and just needs an enthusiastic member, if interested please email me at chair@petersfieldmensshed.org.uk
If you have other interests that we are not yet discussing, please drop me an email chair@petersfieldmensshed.org.uk with your ideas; we are so lucky to have very flexible premises which can accommodate a wide range of activities. Like Ray above, the MC are very supportive to include all member interests where we can.
Lastly, as per our constitution, I have given the MC notice that, after 3 years as Chair, I will step down in a year’s time at the AGM in May 2024. I have requested expressions of interest from the MC members to take on a Vice-Chair role over the next year to allow a smooth transition. I will keep you posted of progress.

I am delighted how we have progressed so far and with all members continued input we shall continue to develop and expand – thank you to everyone for your support.

Steven Watts, Chairman

Boy, we’ve been busy!

We took possession of 16 Heath Road, Petersfield in October, the premises consisting of a house, 2 large garden sheds and grounds. Since then, we have:

Sorted the bigger shed with new windows and door, removed partition walls, made good, decorated, and are now running new electrics, lighting, and installing work benches and major equipment to create our woodworking shed.
Upstairs in the house, we have cleaned and re-laid all the carpet tiles found in the sheds to the bedrooms and landing and have re-purposed donated office furniture and desks (mostly from Swan Medical Group) to create our IT Suite, Electronics Suite, and a Shed Office.
Downstairs in the house, we have created a Social Room (again with donated chairs and lots of woodworking magazines for inspiration), the kitchen is almost sorted with a donated cooker and many utensils, and we now hold a Social every Friday morning; do please come along.
Our signage is all up including an amazing oak sign made by member John. You may notice we have named the Shed after one of the founder members John Ide, who sadly passed before seeing our efforts come to fruition.
The grounds have received an initial tidy ready for a garden group to take over next Spring. Who knows, we could grow our own veg and entering garden competitions?!
We have yet to start work on the smaller shed as this has been predominately used to store the many donations of equipment, we have received for which we thank each and every one. Our plan is to create a metal work room here, more news later.
The management committee has changed and grown:
- Michael Cowen has taken over from John Liddall for Membership, (thanks to John for his past efforts),
- Mike Bookham has taken over from Simon Brown for IT, (again our thanks to Simon for his past efforts),
- Malcolm Wigmore has joined for Donations and Sponsorships,
- Peter Reeves joined and has led the woodworking shed development,
- Martin How joined and will lead a team of Key Holders who will gradually increase our opening days, again watch this space,
- We are still looking for someone to take over as Secretary from Neil Slatter.
Membership to Petersfield Men’s Shed is now fully open so do please take a look at us and we hope to welcome you as a new member soon: a membership form can be found at https://petersfieldmensshed.org.uk/membership/.

As you can see, busy, busy!

Progress has been amazing, all thanks to the many volunteer members giving their hands, expertise, skills, and time.

We are now starting to plan a proper launch of the Shed, inviting all those who have helped us along the way, local dignitaries, and hopefully John Ide’s widow Patricia to cut the ribbon and officially open us. We are aiming at late January/ early February so again keep watching.

Lastly, I wish everyone involved or connected to Petersfield Men’s Shed and their families, a very merry Christmas and Happy 2023.

Steven Watts
Chairman