Latest News

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:

Phoenix kerbs 1 - 21 Feb 25#1.jpg
Phoenix kerbs 2 - 21 Feb 25#2.jpg
Phoenix kerbs 3 - 21 Feb 25#3.jpg

…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:

Panto a huge Success

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.

Bordon Men’s Shed builds a Pirate Ship

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!

Temporary Workshop

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.

Dangerous Work!

TWAM Donation

Bordon Men’s Shed and TWAM

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.