So, after over 15 months of hard work erecting our Men’s Shed, we were told in early February 2022 that the lease on the building we were in was ending at the end of March

We sweated blood and tears and my heart attack in the period September 2020 to December 2021 making two fabulous workshops: one ‘clean’ and one ‘dusty’. Pictures of the workshops are in my previous blogs, but here are a couple:

Our benefactor the Furniture Helpline had lost two contracts so they couldn’t afford the £16000 a year rent for the warehouse where our shed was so they had to give up the lease, which meant we had to go as well. The £3000 local council grant which we secured to build the workshops would all go to waste, as we had to dismantle the whole shooting match. It was a sad day for all the guys who had put such a huge effort in erecting the place, only now to be told we had to tear it down:

We’re storing all the building materials and machinery/tools in a colleagues garden in various sheds and a bought carport, but currently we have nowhere else to go. There was no leeway in staying in the place, so reluctantly we had to dismantle it. Anyone got a spare 14 sq mtr shed/building we could have to start up again? We’ve had help from the district and town councils but none from the Regeneration Company who own the site, profit comes before anything I guess. My chaps are devastated, not least because for a time they will have nowhere else to go twice a week and trade banter and jokes with like minded guys while making wooden projects.

It’s very sad and I’m very upset at the reasons we have basically wasted 2 years and lot of money achieving absolutely nothing. Oh well onwards and upwards as they say.