Positive start for Men's Shed

Following two meetings to discuss setting up a Men’s Shed for the village, a small group is now meeting weekly in the village. and chairman Bob McPhail (54) has started to write a constitution and apply for funding.

Bob, who came up with the idea and arranged the events, admitted he was “buzzing” after the meetings.

“When I called the first meeting and there were about 15 people there – it was amazing,” he said.

“Now when I’m out and about there are people stopping me in the street asking about the group.

“Everyone is buying into it.”

The Men’s Shed will offer a place for locals to meet up and get involved in activities, such as making improvements to the area or sharing their skills.

Bob, who thinks the group could get around 30 members, is now looking towards securing funding for the group and is welcoming donations.

He said: “We don’t have any equipment.

“We want to make benches for the park, bird boxes, planters for the village, and we need tools.

“Everyone is a volunteer – no one is making any money from this.

“If we can make the area a nicer place to live and visit, everyone is a winner.”

Meetings are held at Cotlands Park football facilities every Tuesday, from 10am to 1pm, and members of the public are invited to attend and join.

An open day is planned for April 4, also from 10am to 1pm, which will involve displays and demonstrations highlighting the work of the group.