The Phoenix Theatre in Bordon had a successful run with the panto Robinson Crusoe last weekend. Due in no small part to the pirate ship built by the Bordon Men’s Shed ( see photo). This was built over several days by 4 members of the Shed but most especially Reg Bettles, who devised the design and was the driving force behind the build. Unfortunately I did not see the panto because I was out of the country, but I’m assured there were sell out crowds for all performances. Well done to all concerned.
The Phoenix Theatre in Bordon asked the Bordon Men’ shed to build a pirate ship for the Phoenix Players production of Robinson Crusoe taking place in the 2nd week of December. It’s a adult ‘saucy’ panto. We built the pirate ship out of an old prop shed that was left in our temporary workshop behind the theatre. Once constructed, more artistic people in the theatre will decorate it. Ho ho me hearties!” Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
This is a diagram of the proposed site cabins to replace the storage containers shown above. Two of them will be joined together to make a large workshop.
We had a successful pre-planning meeting with EHDC planning department this morning and it all sounds very hopeful. We were given pointers about the formal planning application which we will take on board and apply for planning permission very soon.
The re-opening of the Phoenix Theatre in Bordon was successful on Saturday 26th October.
The Bordon Men’s Shed was invited to attend to show what we are doing and to demonstrate some of our skills. It was a very successful day and we gathered many names of people who are interested.
This Saturday 26th October, the Phoenix Theatre is re-opening after a major refurbishment. The Men’s Shed will be there in the outbuilding behind the theatre demonstrating our skills and some of our equipment. Come along, meet the gang and see if you like to join us.
Pending a permanent workshop to be placed behind the Phoenix Theatre, they have offered us a temporary workshop in the outbuilding behind the theatre. There are three rooms, one is used by the Deadwater Valley Trust as a workshop, another is used as a storage area and we have been offered the middle room until after the grand opening of the theatre at the beginning of October. We spent the morning repairing leaking areas in the roof with flashband along the ridge tiles. Hopefully our repairs have been successful. When the room is empty we will move some work benches in and demonstrate some of our skills. Here is Ian one of our members up on the roof doing part of the repair.
The members of the Bordon Men’s Shed have and will continue to help craftsmen in other countries not as prosperous as ours. This is achieved by providing a collection service for unwanted tools and equipment. These come from ‘garage clear-outs’, craftsmen and engineers who decide to stop continuing with their hobby, either from illness or through age concerns, and family members perhaps wanting to donate such tools and equipment following a bereavement.
Bordon Men’s Shed has been doing this for some years now and arranged for TWAM (Tools With A Mission – A Christian charity sending tools across the world – see https://www.twam.uk/) to come and collect our latest donation. As Keith Holburn of TWAM Says:
‘TWAM have 5 vans nationwide and the South Central Van based in Aldershot has covered 43,000 miles this year. Our collection today (31st July) was the last pickup having travelled from Aldershot down to Chichester, then via a collection at Petersfield Men’s Shed to Bordon before returning to Aldershot. The van is scheduled to take the tools to TWAM HQ in Ipswich tomorrow (1st August). So far TWAM has delivered 20 container loads of repaired and refurbished tools to many very grateful people in various countries.’
Last year TWAM delivered to a number of countries in Central and Southern Africa twenty 20ft containers of repaired and refurbished tools which are creating livelihoods and transforming lives.
Attached photographs show Bordon Men’s Shed member Ted Wood and Keith Holburn, Member of the TWAM Board of Trustees and Van Manager (South Central) loading the van and showing some of the load.
Bordon Men's Shed 