I’d like to give you an update on events surrounding Bordon Men’s Shed:
In December The Men’s Shed were asked by the Phoenix Theatre to build a pirate ship for use in the naughty pantomime Robinson Crude-Soe which was played in mid December ( I was away at the time), as reported before.
We have also been commissioned by the Phoenix to help with other productions including making a representation of a boxing ring for a play in June. We were contacted by Selborne Primary School to make some play toys for use in the outdoors area, including a mud kitchen, sand pit cover, a bucket pulley system and stands for play trays. These projects are ongoing, The Phoenix also asked us to move some kerb stones, which were used on the tank testing area and were languishing at the back of the Phoenix’s land. These were to be placed at the entrance to the front of the theatre as shown below:
…to stop cars going through that area which is for pedestrians. There is access for wheelchair users. We spent time pressure-washing them ready for painting the same colour as the blocks shown. This will happen tomorrow (Friday). We have been lucky in that the Phoenix have said we can keep the centre shed behind the theatre for as long as we need it. It has been very useful for the projects so far, although it is a bit cramped with 8 of us in there! We have installed some benches and machinery in there to be able to do some small jobs. Our thanks go to Jacquie Bruton in Headley for allowing us to store some of our benches and cupboards in her garage.
As to the permanent workshop: Our planning application to place two ex-site cabins supplied by Wernicks of Farnham in place of the existing storage containers, has at last been accepted by the EHDC Planning Department. They have told us we can expect a decision on the application after March 11th. If this is favourable we await the freehold of the theatre and the land around it which they have applied for through Homes England and is expected very soon; this is essential for us to proceed as it will allow the Phoenix to do much more with their future projects without referral. When that is granted it will be all systems go although there is a lot of work to be done.
I receive a lot of requests asking about the Men’s Shed and when it will be opening, so hopefully will have a lot more interest when it does finally open which I would expect to be this summer, hopefully.
This is the paint job:
Bordon Men's Shed 